Queen of Men (King Maker 2)

I didn’t have to glance at my screen. I’d already seen the evidence, but I’d wanted to size the man up for myself.

“Going forward, no wires or transfers are to be made without verbal authorization from me.”

The smirk disappeared. “What about—”

I waved him off. “If any transfers are made without my verbal authority, the person who did it will be fired.”

The satisfaction I got out of watching the smugness leave his face caused my mouth to curl into a wicked grin.

“Close the door on the way out,” I added.

Once he was gone, I picked up my phone and dialed Griffin.

“Yo,” he said.

“Are you an American now?”

He chuckled. “When in America…”

I ignored him. “I need you to have your people look into my email account. On the surface it appears I sent emails to the accounting department directing them to wire money to offshore accounts. Find out where they originated. Then I want you to do a background check on everyone in the accounting department.”

After leaving the Special Forces, Griffin built a company from the ground up that specialized in physical and cybersecurity.

“You think this is an inside job?” he asked.

“I think there’s someone out to destroy my name.”

“Or just good old-fashioned thievery?” he guessed.

I wasn’t buying it.

“Someone is going through an awful lot of trouble.”

“Do you think it’s—”

“No,” I said immediately without thought.

“Maybe I should look into it?” His brow quirked. “Bailey could be in danger.”

The thought had crossed my mind. Once she’d mentioned a note she thought someone I knew had sent her.

“I dinnae ken,” I said, falling into the familiar cadence of home.

“Do you want me to follow her?”

Where there might have been humor, like when I’d asked him to play driver, he sounded serious.

“If I knew where she was.”

He swore, “Do you want me to find her?”

It had only been a few days and I hadn’t wanted to pull that trigger.

“Dinnae be a bampot,” he cursed.

Hearing his concern, I gave him the only answer I could. “Aye. Find the lass.”

But what to do when she was found?

Seven

Before Turner’s lips touched mine, I stepped back and shook my head.

“We shouldn’t,” I said, unsure, sounding small, but glad it came out firm.

My reasoning was sound. I wouldn’t leapfrog into another man’s arms. Especially when he would make it too darn easy.

His hands dropped from my waist.

“Sorry,” he said, his eyes finding the ground. “I’ll walk you home then,” he suggested.

“Maybe I should stop by Mary’s and see the baby.” Even to my own ears, I could hear the excuse, as he probably could.

I might have stopped that first kiss, but I was drawn to Turner like a moth to a flame. And maybe he was the best man for me. I couldn’t be sure as long as my feelings were still twisted in my heart. I needed time. Time I hadn’t taken to get over Turner and ended up in a disastrous relationship with Scott.

Turner quirked a brow. “Are you afraid of me?”

“I’m not,” I said adamantly with my hands folded over my chest.

I would never be afraid of him, but I did feel way too vulnerable and moved out of the confining room into the larger classroom. My hand lovingly ran across the top of the wooden desk I’d sat at so very long ago.

Stepping out into the night, I found the dark all-encompassing. It was so very different than the city that never slept. Tonight, a blanket of clouds hid the stars and the moon. I stood in place, looked up, and breathed in deeply. The air was so very different here, free of smog and other pollutants.

“You miss it,” Turner said, breaking into my thoughts.

Slowly, I lowered my head to meet his eyes, but not too much considering Turner was far taller than me. “Maybe,” I confessed. “You?”

A tiny smile crept onto his face, reluctant and wary. “I missed you.”

A wave of emotion ran through me, making it hard to ignore the gorgeous guy in front of me. Despite my protest a minute ago, I couldn’t help what happened next. As inadvisable as it was, I reached out a hand to touch his cheek. He leaned into it. In that moment, all the memories we shared flashed across my mind.

Memories had me unconsciously on my toes, leaning up to place a heartfelt kiss on his cheek. It was a bad idea for many reasons, especially when he turned, allowing our lips to brush across one another’s.

Turner felt like home and it would be too easy to lose myself in his touch, his embrace, and his kiss. Thus, I dropped back to my feet and tucked a wayward strand of hair behind my ear, unable to meet his gaze.

When I did, his easy smile was in full bloom. He took my hand in his like a schoolboy with his first crush and gave it a little squeeze.