Rich (Benson Security 5)

Harry grinned. “Magenta says hi too.” He turned somber. “I can’t let you do this alone, Rach. You didn’t abandon me when I was a scared kid in uni. If you hadn’t taken me under your wing, I would have dropped out and moved into my parents’ basement forever.”

“I didn’t take you under my wing,” she snapped. “Do I look like a mother hen? I simply organized you. Goodness knows you needed it.” She glared at his hair. “You still do. Doesn’t Magenta care that you’re going around looking like that?”

“What? I’m growing it long so I can wear a leather queue.”

“A queue?” Ryan said.

“It’s what guys call a hair tie, so it sounds manly,” Elle said.

And yet again, Harvard felt like he was Arnie in Kindergarten Cop. “We about done here? Because, in case you guys forgot, we have two cases we need to get sorted. And time’s a-wastin’.”

“You don’t have two cases,” Rachel said. “You have one.” If looks could melt your face off, his would be gone.

“Rachel,” Harry said, “if you let me do this for you, I’ll make Magenta name our first child after you.”

“I need popcorn for this,” Ryan muttered.

For a long time, Rachel stood fuming at him, and then she pointed at Harry’s chest. “I don’t want a baby named after me. But I do want Magenta to swear that she’ll be nothing but sweet and delightful every time we meet.” Her eyes narrowed. “No matter what I say or do.”

Harry ran a hand through his hair, making it look even worse. “I don’t know if I can pull that off. She kind of hates you.”

That revelation was stated in such a matter-of-fact voice that it took a minute for it to register with Harvard, who then barked out a laugh. Which earned him a smack to his chest from Rachel.

“Give me your word that you’ll make this happen, or you can go home right now,” she told Harry.

“Fine.” He sighed. “But this sucks.”

“Whatever.” She waved a hand toward the door. “You may hack to your heart’s content.”

“Thanks!” Harry wrapped Rachel in a hug, and she patted his back like she didn’t quite understand how touching worked.

“Okay,” Harry said when he was done. “I’d better get going. It’ll take a while to go through all this stuff, so I’ll call when I’m done.” And with a cheery wave, he disappeared through the door.

“Do you think he realizes that he just promised a debt in order to do you a favor?” Elle asked, sounding bewildered.

“I don’t think Harry knows what day it is, let alone what just happened,” Ryan said.

“I’m going to my office.” Rachel swept past them. “Please don’t follow. I’ve had enough of you all.” And then she was gone too.

Ryan let out a long sigh. “I am the only normal one here,” he said.

Chapter Nineteen

After a long, annoying day, full of people that irritated her, all Rachel wanted to do was go home. But Harvard had other ideas.

“We’ve got to eat,” he said as he drove them toward Soho instead of Kensington.

“That’s what ordering in is for.”

“This place doesn’t do takeout.”

“Well, order from somewhere that does.”

He ignored her. “Can you walk in those shoes?”

“Do these look like walking shoes to you?” They were four-inch pumps, and yes, she could wear them all day, but not if she had to walk a marathon through London’s streets.

“I’ll try to park as close as I can then.”