Safe at Last (Slow Burn 3)

“Size her up enough?”

Beau’s dry question shook Zack from his observations. The other DSS operatives liked to give him shit for having a keen eye for detail. He sat back and studied people, and let others do the talking. More often than not he found out far more by merely watching and listening than he would by simply talking to the person. When people thought no one was looking they tended to relax, to lower their guard, and in those moments they’d become careless or simply betray their character.

Zack could be depended on to recall the minutest details his coworkers often missed. Body language. Subtle nuances that gave people away. Fidgeting, nervousness. He didn’t miss much.

In this case, though, Beau thought Zack was viewing her with male interest, not sizing her up in a businesslike fashion. But Beau was wrong. Not that the woman wasn’t beautiful, but this was a job. Not a pickup bar.

Zack shrugged. “She’s got money. Not sure how much a gig like this pays, but I’m betting she’s got another source, whether it’s a husband, boyfriend or money she made herself. Could be a bored heiress, but she seems quite intelligent. I’d bet my next paycheck her knowledge in this field is solid. I would also bet that she has an advanced degree.”

Eliza quirked an eyebrow upward. “You got all this by looking at her for five seconds? I would hate to see how I’ve fared in your analyses, since we’ve spent a hell of a lot more than a few seconds together.”

Zack grinned. “You’re the shit and you know it. You don’t need me to give you pretty compliments.”

Eliza rolled her eyes. “Well, duh! I know I don’t need them, but they are nice to hear from time to time. Women like compliments and I’m no exception. Hanging around all the testosterone at the office hasn’t made me grow a penis and forget all about my girl parts.”

Beau and Dane cracked up, their shoulders shaking. Zack shook his head ruefully. Yeah, he adored Eliza. She had a sharp wit and tongue to match. She was intelligent, compassionate, loyal and was damn good company when Zack’s melancholy kicked in more than usual.

Though he’d never shared any of his past with Eliza, or with anyone else at DSS for that matter, he knew Eliza saw more than she let on. As a result, she gave him shit on a regular basis, prodding him and basically refusing to allow him to feel sorry for himself. She had an uncanny ability to peg his moods when they were at their worst, and as a result she never let him withdraw from the others when he would have otherwise retreated into isolation for days at a time. Hell, she even routinely showed up at his apartment to watch a football game with him. Or she’d make him buy her dinner, have a few beers and shoot the shit. It was Eliza’s equivalent of an ass kicking with a side of get the fuck over it.

It occurred to him that maybe he should have confided in her. Her skills were impeccable and she could very well have been of help in his search for Gracie and his attempt to find out what happened to her. But he was beyond that now and he wouldn’t indulge in regret for what he’d sworn he was putting behind him. Not to mention she’d have likely thought he’d lost his goddamn mind for hanging on to a ghost for twelve years.

Zack shoved his hands in his pockets and glanced around the gallery impatiently. He hated waiting, and even more, he hated that they’d been summoned here when clients usually came to them, not the other way around. Why it was important for the meet-and-greet to happen on the client’s turf he wasn’t sure, but he suspected it was a power play. A dick-sizing exercise so DSS would know how “important” this guy was—or thought he was.

Whatever. He didn’t call the shots. Caleb and Beau did, though Caleb had pulled back considerably since marrying Ramie, and Beau and Quinn had taken more of a lead in the day-to-day running of DSS, even if it had been Caleb’s brainchild.

DSS had been formed in the wake of the horrific abduction, torture and rape of Tori Devereaux, the baby sister and only sister of Caleb, Beau and Quinn. Caleb was determined that no one in his family ever be threatened again, and if they were able to help others in the process, even better. The company had suffered a few setbacks in its infancy. But it had only made Beau all the more determined to learn from those mistakes, hire better—the best money could buy—and expand. As a result, DSS was thriving, with more requests than they could logistically take on. They carefully vetted their prospective clients, particularly since some came under the guise of wanting access to Ramie and her extraordinary powers. And Caleb was insanely protective—and rightfully so—of his wife because the price she paid in using her powers was utterly terrifying.

A few moments later, a tall, well-dressed man walked from the back of the gallery, his stride confident and purposeful, his gaze direct and indecipherable. He wasn’t at all what Zack would have expected, though he wasn’t sure exactly what he had expected. Whatever it was, Wade Sterling didn’t fit any preconceived notion Zack might have summoned.

He wore wealth while not appearing to wear it. There were no gaudy trappings or overdone dress. He wore expensive but simple slacks, and a silk button-up shirt. No tie. His watch was several G’s but again didn’t scream expensive. And the shoes likely cost one of Zack’s entire paychecks.

But he had a hard look to him. Dangerous even. Again, not the look of the stereotypical art gallery owner or at least Zack’s idea of one. Something about him hit a nerve with Zack, who bristled, immediately on guard.

A quick glance at his teammates told him their reactions were mixed. Dane was unruffled and as unreadable as ever. No one ever really knew what he was thinking. Beau looked pensive while Isaac, Capshaw and Brent just studied the owner intently.

Eliza seemed to have a similar reaction as Zack’s. In fact her eyes narrowed and her lips thinned, almost as if she was calling bullshit on the whole thing. But she was smart as a whip and he trusted her instincts. Her reaction validated his own.

Sterling’s expression, neither a smile nor a frown, was as bland and unreadable as Dane’s as he approached.

“I apologize for keeping you waiting,” he said in a calm voice that despite his statement didn’t reflect genuine apology. “I was unavoidably detained by an important business matter. I hope you weren’t too inconvenienced and that Cheryl, my personal assistant, took good care of you.”

Dane was the lead on assignments even though the Devereauxs were actually the owners and “in charge.” Dane was the face of DSS. He handled the media and statements and headed the negotiations. Caleb and Beau both deferred to him as the front man. Everyone answered to Dane. Well, except Zack, who answered solely to Beau. It was an unspoken agreement that Dane seemed to take in stride.