“Well, it is. It’s a small company, but it’s considered one of the premiere security services in the world. The company offers everything from bodyguards to high-end personalized security services. You have a highly regarded investigative team, and the rumor is you often work with intelligence agencies. I can give you a rundown of the finances. They’re quite healthy.”
“There’s the smarty pants I remember.” He stopped right outside the big bank of floor-to-ceiling glass doors. The entryway looked sleek and modern. “All right, I’m going to bet we’re meeting with Big Tag. If I could, I would pick Alex, but Ian’s going to have heard the gossip that we used to date and he’ll move heaven and earth to be here this morning.”
“Who would tell him?”
“Everyone you met last night,” Deke admitted. “This place runs on gossip. Let me show you.”
He slapped a key card over the security system and the door came open, allowing them into the lovely lobby where a woman with dark hair and a sunny smile was at the reception desk. Deke walked right up to her. “Hey, Yasmin. What’s the word about me and the lady I’m bringing into conference this morning?”
Yasmin’s eyes lit with apparent glee. “Oh, so many words. Some people are saying she’s your old high school girlfriend and she’s recently discovered the company she’s working for is evil and she wants to stop them. But I’ve also heard the rumor that she might actually be the head of the evil company and she wants to start a new group of super-soldiers, and you’re her first victim.”
“What?” Maddie asked, horrified. “Why would anyone think that?”
Deke simply shook his head. “Happens more often than you think.”
“Oh, and there’s already a betting pool going, and I’m supposed to offer you these.” Yasmin pulled out a box of…
“Are those condoms?” She felt her whole body flush with embarrassment.
Deke held them up. “They are indeed, and you need to get used to weird sex talk because it flies around here constantly. Sarcasm is the language of this particular land.” He looked down at the box and nodded. “Hey, the old guy must be in a good mood. He gave me extra larges. If he’s pissy, I’d get smalls.”
“Those wouldn’t…” Yep, she blushed again.
Deke snorted and slid the box into his laptop bag.
“Well, it’s not like it probably changed,” she said under her breath. “I don’t think they get smaller as you age.”
“They do not,” he agreed.
“So it’s the first one?” Yasmin asked. “Because I could use some insider info. Summer camp is not cheap.”
Deke leaned over and asked her a question Maddie couldn’t hear. Yasmin whispered something back and Deke nodded. “I would definitely bet on that.”
He straightened up and glanced down at his watch. “We should hurry. He’ll give us hell if we’re late. Are you ready?”
She wasn’t. She wasn’t ready at all. “Sure.”
She could absolutely present her case. That wasn’t what worried her. It was what came after. It was turning everything over to Deke and what that would mean. It would mean that Deke could do the security heavy lifting. It would also mean being vulnerable to the man who’d broken her heart before.
“Murphy,” a deep voice said as they entered the main offices. There were rows of offices down one side and roomy cubicles in the middle. A big man with blond hair leaned against one of the cubicle walls, a mug of coffee in his hand.
A stunning woman with strawberry blonde hair joined him. “Deke, it’s good to see you this morning. And your friend.”
Maddie stepped forward, holding out a hand. “Madeline Hill.”
“I’m Charlotte Taggart. This is my husband, Ian.” The woman shook her hand. “And are you planning on twisting Deke’s soul for your own terrible purposes?”
“Not at all.” She did not get the humor in that statement, but it was obviously amusing to everyone else. “I have a problem with the company I work for. I suspect my boss might be doing something he shouldn’t. I need some help proving it, though.”
“Let’s move into the conference room.” Ian Taggart had a couple of inches on Deke. “I’ve assembled your chosen Avengers, Deke. Do you really think you’re going to need all three of them? Sending Boomer out into the field can get expensive. It’s way cheaper to feed him here at home.”
She followed when Deke walked into a big conference room. There were already people inside, some of the people from the night before. MaeBe Vaughn was seated with her laptop in front of her and the guy named Kyle at her side. She also recognized the man named Boomer.
Ian Taggart moved through the conference room, taking the place at the head of the table. His wife sank down to the seat at his side.
Deke held a chair out for her. It was the chair directly across from Ian Taggart. Luckily the table was long enough that there was plenty of space between them. The head of the company reminded her of a lion. It was probably the color of his hair. Or maybe the hard look in his eyes as he stared at her like he could see deep in her soul.