Chapter 236
1021 Words
“I need to see Dallas, please, if he’s available.”
Cordelia glanced up from the flashcard pictures that Jack had given her to practice identifying emotion. She blinked in surprise at the man standing in front of her, and got to her feet almost as a defensive instinct. No way she could keep letting him tower over her like that.
In front of her loomed the most gigantic man that she’d ever seen. She was no stranger to big men, of course, since the personal security and bodyguard fields crawled with the guys. Dallas was huge, so were Mark and Griff. And Hunter was tall and solid muscle – she knew this from being pressed under his body one night in the car as they had observed Michael Ferguson. But this guy? Holy Lord. He was even bigger than Dallas and that was sure as hell saying something.
She unstuck her voice. “I’ll ask him if he’s free right now. Could I please get your name?”
“Matt Kingston,” the monster-sized guy said. “Thank you.”
“Sit down, Mr. Kingston. I’ll be right back.”
He sat, leaving her to wonder how he managed to fit in a human-sized chair. She walked down the hall to Dallas’ office and tapped on the door.
“Yeah, come in.”
She poked her head in, saw her boss was reading a report. “There’s a man here to see you. He says his name’s Matt Kingston.”
Dallas’ handsome face registered surprise. “King’s here?”
She paused. “Oh. He’s King?”
“Yeah.” Dallas shut the report. “Send him in, alright?”
“Sure thing.”
Now that she knew just who the hell was sitting in the lobby, she approached him with real curiosity. King was hands-down one of the most intriguing security figures in the state, and his reputation definitely preceded him.
There he was, all dark hair and dark gray eyes and tattooed forearms, totally relaxed in jeans and a t-shirt. If he was aware of the whispering around him, he didn’t give any indication beyond a slight raise to his mouth that showed amusement. Everything about this man screamed s*x and confidence, and she found herself slightly breathless by both. A man like this was a man and no f*****g apologies… and any straight woman with a pulse would respond to that.
He looked up at her as she came over and he smiled. “He’ll see me?”
“Yes. Follow me, please.”
A flash of relief went over that hard, handsome face, and then it was gone. That was when she was sure that King was there with his hat in hand. He was there asking for something – either help or a favor – and she wondered just what a guy like him could possibly need help with. He looked like he ate problems for breakfast while bending steel beams with his pinky fingers just for fun.
She led him back to Dallas’ office and ushered him in. “Did you want some coffee, Mr. Kingston?”
“No, thank you. I’ve hit my coffee quota for the day, trust me.”
She nodded and watched as Dallas came over to greet King. The two men shook hands, and did that all-male shoulder clap thing that women never seemed to be able to get away with. Cordelia saw mutual respect between them – lots of it – and she took a few seconds to just enjoy the delicious view. The whole room was bristling with so much testosterone, she wouldn’t be surprised if it imploded on itself. Also? Between the two of them, they’d kicked the hotness factor up to maximum and far, far beyond.
Ummmm. They are damn gorgeous, both of them.
She gave them a final glance and then left, shutting the door behind her.
“Sit, man.” Dallas waved at the chair in front of his desk. “How you doing?”
“Good.” King sat, all rippling muscles and restrained power. “And congrats. I hear you’re getting married soon.”
“I am. In ten weeks.” Dallas grinned. “Can you believe it?”
“Since we’re talking about Olivia Jameson, you’re goddamn right I can believe it.” King’s gray eyes were compassionate as he asked the next question. “Is she doing better?”
“She really is. She’s making peace with what happened, and she’s finally able to look at her scars and not hate herself.”
King nodded. “I’m glad.”
“Yeah.” Dallas paused. “And I hear you got yourself a serious relationship. I think hell’s now a skating rink, huh?”
King laughed, the sound deep and dark as it rolled out of his broad chest. “Yeah. I’ve heard that before.”
“Yeah. Me too.”
“So.” King stared at Dallas. “Can I get right to it?”
“Shoot, Kingston.”
“OK. A few months ago, me and my team took down a kidnapping ring. You remember all those babies being taken from hospitals all over the state?”
“Sure I do. That was you guys who busted it up?”
“Yep.”
“Good job, man.” Dallas shook his head in open admiration. “I’ll come and buy every one of King’s Men a drink some night soon.”
“And we’ll let you, believe me.”
“I bet y’all will.”
“So King’s Men is obviously out of it now, and everything’s in the hands of the cops and D.A. but I’m staying on top of things. Just out of curiosity, you know. Checking in and following the case. The asshole kidnappers all started singing like canaries the second the cops showed up, and have spent months throwing each other under buses and squealing like stuck pigs. They told anyone who would listen about the bosses and the organizers and the adoption agencies involved.”
“No honor amongst baby kidnappers, I suppose.”
- Writer
