The Mogul and the Muscle - Claire Kingsley Page 0,30

She did something on her phone, then tucked it away in her purse. Her heels clicked on the pavement and she brushed her thick red hair behind her shoulders.

The restaurant was just close enough that we weren’t sweating by the time we stepped into the comfortable lobby. I held the door for her, then went inside and did a quick visual sweep. The restaurant was elegant. Nothing of note. No sense of danger, other than the ever-present tingle I always felt when I looked at Cameron.

Everly Dalton, the woman she was interviewing, was already here. Pretty. Blond. Big smile. She and Cameron exchanged introductions and Cameron complimented her shoes.

“Are you ready to be seated, Ms. Whitbury?” the hostess asked.

“Yes, thank you.”

I could only see part of the restaurant from here. Despite the fact that we still didn’t have hard evidence that Cameron had been targeted—or was in real danger—I was still going to do my job. Thoroughly.

Plus, she’d messed with me the other day. I’d mess with her right back.

“I’ll go first,” I said.

Cameron only lost control of her expression for a second, but I saw it. A spark of annoyance made her green eyes flash. God, she was sexy when she was trying not to argue with me. Without a word, she gestured for me to go ahead of her.

I followed the hostess through the interior of the restaurant. The décor was subdued for Miami, sleek and modern with wood and chrome accents. About half the tables were taken. Couples, small groups, business meetings. Nothing unusual.

The hostess led us to a private terrace with a single table. I held up my hand and went out first. I didn’t really need to inspect the entire area, but irritating Cameron was too tempting to resist. I could practically hear the snarky comments she was trying to hold back.

I checked the table, moved the chairs and inspected beneath them. Did a quick walk around the terrace and looked over the balcony. An awning provided shade and planters held bright green plants. Nice ambiance. And obviously perfectly safe.

“Clear,” I said and took up a position off to the side, my arms crossed.

Cameron and Everly came out onto the terrace and Cameron cleared her throat. “Sorry. Jude is… security.”

I kept my lip from twitching in a smile, wondering what she’d stopped herself from saying with that little pause. Jude is overprotective? Jude is a pain in my ass?

Probably the second one.

“I suppose someone like you needs a bodyguard,” Everly said.

“My friends seem to think so,” Cameron said.

They both pulled out chairs and sat.

I stayed where I was while Cameron chatted with Everly. She’d flown her out from Seattle for a second interview. Cameron was creating a charitable foundation to organize her philanthropic efforts, and she was considering Everly for the executive director position.

I’d done a little digging on Ms. Dalton, just to see if there was any connection between her and anyone else in Cameron’s life—specifically someone who could be a suspect. I hadn’t found anything. Everly was an executive assistant to the elusive Shepherd Calloway, a businessman in Cameron’s tax bracket. But her background checked out—nothing suspicious.

The waitress brought them mimosas and, a short time later, their breakfast orders. Cameron talked about her plans for the foundation. How it would be structured and what she’d need from an executive director. Everly’s eyes were bright, a smile never far from her lips. She spoke with enthusiasm about her ideas. I could see why Cameron wanted her. She was smart and had a cheerfulness that even I found endearing.

Cameron folded her napkin and set it on the table. The interview seemed to be winding down.

Everly took a deep breath and her smile disappeared. “There’s just one issue I wanted to talk to you about. I’m not sure how I feel about relocating. Miami is beautiful, and this sounds like such an amazing opportunity. But my entire life is in Seattle.”

“I thought that might be an issue after we talked the other day,” Cameron said. “If you don’t want to relocate, I have no problem opening the foundation’s headquarters in Seattle.”

“Really?” Everly asked.

“Absolutely. I won’t need to be there in person on a daily basis, and technology makes communication simple. If you want the job, we’ll open the office in Seattle.”

I liked Seattle. I wouldn’t mind going with Cameron to Seattle when she needed to be there in person.

Not that she’d need me to travel with her. This job wasn’t permanent. In fact, the more time