Her Master Defender (The Masters Men Series) (2 page)

Copper jerked at the unexpected contact. Her foot kicked something on the sidewalk.

“Dang it,” she said looking down. When she’d dropped the mug, she had also dropped the bag of clean sheets. The bag had soaked up most of the spilled coffee.

“Great, coffee-dyed sheets,” she grumbled bending down to pick things up.

“It could be worse,” he said.

Glancing up Copper cocked an eyebrow at him since he hadn’t bothered to help. Obviously, Mr. Hot only dealt with the prospect of danger, not cleaning up after.

“You could have dropped them inside.”

“Good point,” she said standing again. “I’ll just throw these back in my car then meet you at your office.”

“I’ll wait,” he said and leaned against one of the overhang’s supports.

“I think I can handle walking across the street myself.”

“Humor me.”

Rolling her eyes, Copper turned away and walked to her SUV parked in the alleyway next to her business. As if she needed a protector. She’d been in Iraq for heaven’s sake. She knew how to take care of herself.

He doesn’t know that
.

Dropping the wet bag on the backseat floorboard, she opened her hands as if letting the negative thoughts go. She should be thankful there had even been anyone around at this hour. Most of the shops didn’t open until nine or ten. At least she didn’t have to sit in her car by herself and wait for the police. The crisis she could deal with. Being alone and thinking about it was not something she handled well. She walked back to where he stood.

He pushed off from the support and stepped off the sidewalk. Copper noticed him favor his right leg as he started across the street. Guilt for her earlier uncharitable thoughts pricked uncomfortably. She thought about shortening her stride only to realize even limping he covered ground faster than she did. As the wind gusted, throwing her blanket style coat open, she gathered it close around her. That’s when she noticed he didn’t even have on a jacket. No wonder he wanted to get back to his office.

Once inside she again started looking for her cell phone. He held up a landline and dialed.

“My brother’s a cop,” he said as he held the phone to his ear. “I can get someone here faster. You might want to call whoever was your first appointment.”

“Good idea. I wouldn’t want them showing up while the police are there,” Copper said frustrated and, though she hated to admit it a little shaken up. He nodded and motioned to a chair in front of the desk.

“Hello, this -- sure.”

She glanced at him and saw him rubbing his temples. She hoped she hadn’t bothered him while he had a headache. Deciding at this point it didn’t matter, she got back to her calls while he waited for the person on the other end of the line.

One appointment this morning and another this afternoon were all she had scheduled so far, so it didn’t take long to make calls. All too soon she found herself with nothing to do. Too edgy to sit she noticed a coffee maker with a half-full pot. When she pointed that way, he nodded. Having dumped hers, and doubting she would have time to get her usual cup from the diner, Copper took advantage.

“This is Dos Masters, I--"

Copper turned to look at him when he stopped talking mid-sentence. They wouldn’t put him back on hold already, would they? She saw a tense jaw and closed eye in his profile. Obviously, the person on the other end of the line interrupted him. Mr. Hot, rather Mr. Masters, didn’t appreciate it. She was glad to have his real name. Thinking of a control freak as Mr. Hot didn’t seem right. The even tone he resumed speaking in almost made her change her opinion. As frustrated as he had appeared, he didn’t take it out on the person.

“I know he’s not there. I’m his brother. I’m calling to report a break in at,” he glanced at her. Copper pulled a business card from her coat pocket and handed it to him. “1210 Laurel,” he read then handed the card back to her.

Okay, then, he doesn’t even want your business card. Great, haven’t even introduced yourself and you’re being dumped. The absurdity of the thought had her shaking her head. Hadn’t she just decided he wasn’t her type?

“Copper Kerrigan.”

Copper looked at him again, thinking he’d asked her something, but his back was to her.

“Caring Therapeutic Massage,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck as he rattled off her business phone number.

Copper just stared. How could he possibly know all that with such a quick glance at her card?

“We’ll be waiting across the street at Master Security, I can watch the property from here,” he said before hanging up.

When he turned to face her, his coloring was off. He couldn’t be going into shock could he? It wasn’t his business that was trashed. He had a gun so he probably faced this kind of thing more than she did. She crossed the room. Every nursing instinct in her told her something was wrong.

“They’ll be here in ten minutes or so. Why don’t you have a seat?” He again swept an arm toward the large leather chairs while working his way around the desk to his chair. He didn’t sit down, but leaned so hard on his knuckles they were white against the desktop.

“Are you okay?” she asked, reaching toward his face. He moved back trying to avoid her touch, but she grazed his cheek with the back of her hand before he could. Her hands, though still a bit cold from outside, could tell his skin was too warm and a bit clammy.

“You’re feverish.”

“I’m fine,” he said, stepping out of her reach. “Please, have a seat.”

“Now I feel guilty making you come out when you’re sick,” she said, walking to the other side of the desk and sitting as he’d asked.

“You didn’t make me do anything, and I’m not sick. It’s just the sudden change in temperature from outside to in here.” He bent his head as if studying the prints on the desk in front of him.

She didn’t believe him, but he obviously didn’t want to discuss it. She, however, did not want to sit in silence because then she would start worrying about the break in. Add to that her penchant for not taking subtle hints, and sitting quietly was not an option. Leaning forward, Copper rested an elbow on the desk. “What are we looking at?”

He glanced at her, though he barely lifted his head. His dark shaggy hair hid most of his eyes from view. Their intensity still hit her as if they were staring straight into her own. It should probably intimidate her. Copper wasn’t good about doing what was expected. She was more of a damn-the-torpedoes-full-speed-ahead kind of girl. She smiled.

“It’s a schematic for a security system.”

“So I’m guessing it doesn’t look like a mess of squiggly lines to you.” If she’d learned nothing else from growing up with two alpha males in the family, then serving four years in the Navy, she knew admitting when you didn’t know something always put guys at ease. It seemed her gimpy knight in shining armor wasn’t immune, if the slight, very slight, smile on his lips was any indication.

“Actually, right now, that’s exactly what it looks like,” he said and rolled it up.

“Headache?”

For a moment he stopped rolling the prints. “No,” he said. Standing, he finished rolling the prints up, slipped them in a cardboard sleeve and took it to a shelf on the opposite wall.

Copper noticed the limp again. “Your leg hurts, then?”

“Not much.” He turned back, but his gaze gave nothing away.

“Sorry, I was a nurse before I opened my shop. It’s reflex I guess. I see someone hurting and I want to fix them,” she said. “Not that you look like you need to be fixed. I mean, oh Lord, I didn’t just say that did I?” She clapped a hand over her runaway mouth hoping to stem the flow of stupid qualifiers.

When he returned to his seat and met her gaze, he didn’t appear irritated so much, as amused. Before he said anything his attention was pulled to the window. “Yeah, you did, but it looks like you’re rescued from trying to reword it.” His head tipped toward the door. “Cops are here.”

Copper stood and looked out the window as she set her coffee cup on the desk. “Well, I guess I better go take care of business.” She turned back to face him, but he was around the desk and walking toward the door with a cane. Dang it, she’d known his leg hurt. “Thanks, but you don’t need to come. I can handle it.”

He looked her in the eye, as if taking her measure. Copper raised an eyebrow at the consideration, but didn’t say anything. When he nodded, she felt like she’d won a prize. Strange because as a rule she didn’t care what people thought of her.

“I’m sure you can,” he said continuing to the door and pulling it open. He leaned against it as he spoke. “I’ve been here since around five. I didn’t see anyone, so my guess is it happened sometime between one and four-thirty. If they want to talk to me just send them over.”

Copper narrowed her eyes a little and considered him before she left. “How did you come up with that specific a time frame?”

“There was too much going on down here last night until midnight with the shelter benefit. I saw you stop in your office before you left town after that, but didn’t see any other activity there before I left around one.”

“Are you always so aware of your surroundings and everyone around you?” Copper asked, and wondered at the slight tensing of his facial muscles with her question.

“Not always.”

Copper heard a load of guilt in the quiet admission. She could also see it was not a topic she should pursue having just met the man. Besides, she had to talk to the police.

So why are you standing here staring at the man
?

“Well, thanks again. Maybe I can buy you a cup of coffee later for your trouble,” she said holding out her hand. He hesitated. When he did enclose her hand in his, Copper felt warmth and strength in his firm grasp.

“Not necessary.”

Copper had grown up with a Colonel for a father. She knew a dismissal when she heard one. This time she forced the smile as she stepped passed him and outside.

# # #

Dos watched through the window in the door as she crossed the street. The early morning sun made her hair shine like a new penny. Now that he knew her name, the thought made him grin. She was aptly named. Her height, he tipped his head as he considered it, five ten or so caught attention as well. She didn’t slouch, but carried herself with an air of confidence he appreciated. The reality of her up close had been a thousand times better than his imagination had made her from a distance. Her voice, like liquid silk, had sluiced over him like a warm spring rain. Her radiant face was a beacon in his ever-darkening life. When he’d caught her by the waist as she backed out of her office, desire to pull her close had unexpectedly slammed him in the stomach. His blood pressure rose now just remembering the moment.

Having a fantasy was one thing. He could never have more thanks to the fear of passing on the damned virus coursing through his veins. Irritated for even thinking of it had him turning away from the door.

Get a grip, Masters.

He shook his head and turned away from the door, fantasy time was over. How could he have not recognized her? He’d seen pictures of her for years in the Colonel’s office. Granted, she looked better in real life than a framed photo.

Halfway back to his desk, his cell phone vibrated in his pocket. Dos pulled it out and glanced at the display as it vibrated again. Having called the station, he knew refusing to answer was not an option. Doing that would make his brother worry. His main objective these days was to stop his family from worrying about him.

“Hey, little brother, what’s up?” he asked, in what he hoped was an upbeat tone.

“You tell me. I just got in and the officer at the desk told me you called.”

Dos heard the concern in Tres’ voice. “Someone broke into a business across the street. I called it in for her.”

“Her?”

“Don’t you start,” Dos chuckled, as he sat down. “Mom’s bad enough and you know better. But yeah, her. Maybe I should fix you up. She’s a real looker.” There was an understatement. She was a beauty.

“Okay, we’re even,” said his brother, and Dos relaxed, enjoying the mutual teasing.

“Don’t worry, I wouldn’t anyway. Having learned her name, and gotten a closer look at her face, keeping my distance would be best.”

“Why?”

Dos took a deep breath at the suspicion in his brother’s tone, as if Cardone or one of his men would pop up in Braedon’s Edge any minute. His whole family worried over him all the time. If it wasn’t his brothers concerned for his safety, it was his mother about his health. He hated it. However, getting mad at them didn’t help, so he gave his explanation in a more civil tone than he felt.

“Her name’s Kerrigan,” he said, waiting to see if Tres would make the connection.

“As in your C.O.?”

He should never have doubted his brother the detective.

“Yeah, she even has red hair,” Dos said grinning. “Like the Colonel used to. And in the short time she was here, I got the feeling she inherited his determination and drive as well.”

“Quite a combination,” Tres said, and then paused.

Dos sensed his brother’s unease through the line. “What?”

“Nothing, it just seems a little coincidental her being here after the Colonel sent you home to recoup.”