Caped and Dangerous - Isabel Jordan Page 0,5

was all undeniable), that was only part of why she was so fascinating to him.

Her confidence, her smart mouth, her dry wit, her tireless work ethic…all of that was infinitely more intriguing than her delicate beauty.

And she barely gave him the time of day unless he provoked her into a fight.

He ushered her into the security office ahead of him with a hand on her lower back. She stiffened under his fingertips and shot him a hard-eyed glance over her shoulder he couldn’t quite interpret. He shrugged, as if to say, “What did I do wrong this time?”

She just shook her head and frowned at him like she always did. He couldn’t tell if she thought of him as an annoying gnat buzzing around her head, or as a predator she needed to keep an eye on at all times, lest she get bitten. He hoped it was the latter.

Oh, I’d bite you alright, Freckles.

But her frown and stern glare vanished in the blink of an eye when she came face-to-face with his head of security, Tony.

“Ms. Glenanne,” Tony said, standing up to take her hand. “It is always such a pleasure to see you.”

Greer grinned at him and gave his hand a shake before tugging him into a quick hug. “I keep telling you to call me Greer, old man.”

He chuckled. “That was fine when you were a little girl, but you’re a grown woman now.”

Killian snorted. Didn’t he fucking know it?

Greer shot him a sour frown before turning back to Tony. “I’m going to have to stop by and thank Elizabeth for those cookies she sent to the nursing home last month. My mom really enjoyed them.”

Tony sandwiched her hand between both of his and gave her a fatherly smile. “She wishes she could do more. Your momma…she’s good people.”

The light in Greer’s eyes dimmed a little, but she nodded and added a quiet, “The best.”

Killian made a mental note to ask Tony what was going on with Greer’s mom that made her sad. Money couldn’t fix everything, but it could fix a helluva lot. Maybe there was something he could do to help.

Greer would probably maim him if she knew he was digging around in her problems and throwing money at them, but he was willing to take his chances. Seeing the light in her eyes dim for any reason was un-fucking-acceptable.

“So,” Greer said in a bright tone, obviously ready to change the subject. “I’m assuming you brought me here to pick up my protégé. Again.”

Tony looked almost apologetic as he told her, “I’m afraid there was some property damage this time. Two computers were damaged when she crashed through the ceiling tiles and fell on them. She wouldn’t say what she was trying to do, but I imagine she was trying to get to the research labs again.”

Greer pinched the bridge of her nose with her thumb and forefinger and let out a deep sigh. “I’ll pay for the computers, of course.”

Like hell she would. Those were $6,000 computers. Killian knew she didn’t have that kind of money. He was about to tell her as much when she added, “I don’t suppose we could just show her the research lab so that she gets this…whatever it is…out of her system?”

Tony shot him a quick glance. Killian gave him a head shake in response. No way was he going to let Bryn into that lab. First of all, everything in there was so highly classified that only a handful of people in the world were allowed to know it existed. And second of all, if the kid got over whatever hard-on she had for his business, he might never get to see Greer again, except on the news.

Tony rubbed the back of his neck, obviously uncomfortable with the idea of saying no to Greer. “I’m afraid that won’t be possible. We have government contracts and the security clearance for that lab is higher than you and Ms. Terrell would be granted.”

“I figured as much,” Greer said on another gusty sigh. “Had to ask, though. Tony, I’m so sorry about all this. What can I do to make it up to you this time?”

She was actively ignoring him, Killian realized. It was his company, his building, and she was trying to work around him.

Well, if that wasn’t a punch to the junk, he didn’t know what was.

Killian cleared his throat so she was forced to look at him. “We’ve let this go too many times already. Each time,