The Emerald Key Read Online Free Page B

measures.”
    She stopped at the landing trying desperately to shake off the feeling that she knew him—much more intimately than she should. When she inserted the key in the dead bolt lock, a section of the steel-clad door blurred. Cass moved so Nic couldn’t see. Minerva’s face appeared and she mouthed the word “safe.” Cass nodded and opened the lock.
    *
    Nic followed Cass, every nerve on edge. When Greg had called and told him a friend had security problems, he looked at it as an opportunity to experience life in Littleton. Greg wanted Nic to join him in a new security firm. Greg made a good investigator and cop, but he wanted something more and starting his own PI firm with Nic would fill that need.
    Nic’s own firm did well, but he didn’t care for Philadelphia. Though he loved the activity and excitement of a big city, a person tended to get lost in the impersonality of it all. He preferred the ambience of a small town. After less than a year, he felt ready to move. Maybe a smaller town and joining Greg would fill whatever he seemed to be missing. And, at less than a two-hour drive from Philly, Littleton lay close enough so if his current clients still needed him, he or a contact could easily be there. He and Greg each had their own strengths and together, they would be a formidable team.
    Although only thirty-five, Nic had spent his entire life moving from place to place, never staying anywhere long enough to put down roots. A product of the foster system and the military, he finally felt ready to settle down and this seemed as good a town as any. At least he had friends here. Friends who cared about him. Friends whom he worked well with. He glanced at Cassandra. Friends with very interesting contacts.
    Coming face-to-face with Cassandra Richards surprised him. He didn’t like surprises. They meant a loss of control—something he swore would never happen to him ever again. Iraq had taught that lesson well. He’d learned early to depend only on himself. Trusting others only got you hurt. The military had taught him to trust the members of his unit, but others? Not willingly.
    He studied the woman. She seemed familiar to him, as if he knew her. She had dark chestnut hair curling softly into a long braid down her back and gold eyes that reminded him of fine brandy—unique and mesmerizing. She had a slender build, but with gently rounded curves in all the right places and a cute nose a lot of city women would pay big bucks to have.
    But she had a boyfriend. Why did that bother him so much?
    He’d never been in this town—never met her before, but he knew her. Knew the way she chewed her lower lip when she felt nervous—like now—and knew she liked her tea unsweetened and hated eggs and her favorite color was green. He also knew how to touch her to bring her to fulfillment. But when he looked at her, a sense of deep despair nearly overwhelmed him, as if his heart had been ripped from his chest. He knew she was the reason, but had no clue why.
    He followed her up the steps, watching her back the whole way, enjoying the way her hips swayed, enhanced by the long skirt she wore. He also knew how shapely her legs looked under that skirt. He shook his head, trying to concentrate on tamping down his raging libido. He’d known her all of thirty minutes and all he could think about was bedding her. He focused on something else, like what the hell was taking her so long to unlock the damned door? Finally, she opened it.
    “Wait here,” Nic said as he pushed past her into the apartment. “Until I’m sure it’s safe.”
    He reached for his gun, stopping when he remembered he’d left it locked in his glove compartment. Wandering around the town, looking at houses and apartments, he hadn’t been expecting any trouble. He’d forgotten the first rule of the security business—always expect trouble. Nic reached into a nearby holder and grabbed an umbrella, brandishing it like a sword. At Cass’ raised eyebrow, he