Axel thought about sending Bryson a gift. This assignment was sure to be no hardship at all, as much as he’d grumbled about it. Ella Brooks was one woman Axel wouldn’t mind shadowing, day and night—especially night.
Axel did a double take to recognize the woman reentering the kitchen. There were the same light gray eyes, and the hair was the same dark brown, though it was somewhat hard to tell in the almost painfully tight knot she’d put it up in. It was still Ella, but it was also easy to see that she’d put on her armor.
The transformation was fascinating. She’d been adorable when he’d first seen her, but now she was . . . fierce.
“Nice look,” he said.
Her brow rose slightly. “I’m not trying to impress you, Mr. Carlson.”
“Believe me, I’m getting the message loud and clear,” he said with a chuckle. “Here’s the secret, though. I find a woman in uptight clothing and schoolteacher hair to be quite the turn-on. It always makes me wonder what she’s hiding underneath,” he added with a grin.
“You’re infuriating,” she said with a huff before going to her coffeepot and sighing in disgust at the realization that he had indeed drunk the last cup.
He’d considered making a fresh pot, but that seemed to be overstepping. Okay, since he had let himself into her house, maybe overstepping wasn’t the right word. Fine. He just hadn’t wanted to. He’d never mastered the art of making a good pot of coffee. Wasn’t that what drive-thru coffee stands were for?
Instead of replying to her latest insult, he took his time studying her outfit, a dark pencil skirt that skimmed the top of her knees, and a white blouse he was sure fitted nicely to her breasts, but which was covered by a dark blazer, still fitted, but not giving him quite as delicious a view as her shorts had. Her outfit was completed by a surprisingly sexy pair of heels. Maybe that was her concession to the rest of the hard clothing.
If not for the sleek heels, she’d pull off the look of the untouchable business female quite well. Of course, he did love to breach the walls of the toughest of challenges. Yeah, he had a feeling Bryson was going to be trying to kick his ass before this protection detail was over. It’d be worth the fight.
She quietly went about making a fresh pot of coffee and was silent while it brewed. Only after pouring herself a cup, pointedly not offering him one, did she come and sit down.
“I in no way need protecting, Mr. Carlson. My very loving, yet misguided cousin believes differently. We’re at an impasse,” she said, delicately taking a sip.
Axel smiled. He was beginning to like this girl. Hell yeah. His job hadn’t been fun in quite some time, so this verbal sparring with Ella was more pleasurable than he would’ve imagined when he’d gotten the call from Bryson.
“Well, you can continue to fight him,” Axel said, getting up and pouring himself a new cup of coffee, not because he wanted it, but because he enjoyed irritating the proper Ms. Brooks by taking more than his fair share.
“I told Bryson I would allow the security system. That’s as far as I’m willing to take it.”
“You’re stubborn, Ella. I’m more so,” he challenged.
“You don’t know me at all, Mr. Carlson.”
“I think I’m beginning to get the picture,” he replied.
“Good. Then you realize you’re wasting both our time, and you’ll kindly bow out now, won’t you?”
“Have you practiced that tone, Ella? Does it work on most men?” When she looked at him quizzically, he leaned back, one leg crossed over the other. “The arrogant heiress tone,” he finished.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I’ll be sure to tell my cousin how much I irritate you,” she said with a smirk.
“It’s okay, I’ll tell him myself.”
“We’re getting nowhere. Just tell me what you’re going to do and then leave.” He was wearing her down.
“Your cousin cares about you. There’s nothing wrong with that. And the fact is that you’re messed up in something a lot bigger than you realize or care to admit. I’ve read about the case you’re involved in. Pretending there isn’t danger just makes you a fool.” Axel had generally found that blunt was the best strategy.
“Do you always insult your clients, Mr. Carlson?” Ooh, he’d certainly hit a hot spot there.
“When it’s necessary.”
“Well, I don’t take kindly to strangers cutting me down, especially in my own home. I’ve agreed to this concession, but you’re quickly pissing me off, and I’m about to tell both you and my cousin to take a leap off a really tall bridge . . . into shallow water.”
“So you want to go skinny-dipping?”
“Listen, Mr. Carlson—” she began.
“Do I honestly look like the type of man who goes by my last name?”
“I don’t really care, and I prefer to keep it formal,” she corrected him. “I’m not foolish. I don’t jump into the cars of strangers or seek out men online. I don’t go and get drunk in a bar and then stumble down the empty sidewalks at two in the morning. I’m careful, cautious, and determined to make it on my own. I have a protective family who seem to think it’s not okay for me to make a few mistakes. Yes, I’ve been in less-than-perfect circumstances before, but I always come out on the other side. This is just one more time. You can give me all the lectures you want, but it isn’t going to change who I am, so don’t try to pretend you know me, and don’t try to play the suave playboy thinking it’ll appeal to me. You can cut the crap and we can get down to business, or you can leave and I’ll deal with my cousin.”