Page 41 of The Tycoon

Chapter10

When they awoke the next morning, Cole was again wrapped around Regan, though she must have moved during the night, since they were in the middle of the bed rather than on the sides they’d started on.

“Um, Cole?”

“Hmm?”

“We need to get up.”She tried to move out of his arms, but he tightened them around her.

“Too comfortable.We can sleep awhile longer.”

She sighed and took in his scent.Even in the early morning, he smelled wonderful.Like sandalwood and fir forests and man.The aroma soothed her soul, and she tumbled back into slumber.

When she awoke again, she was alone in the bed.Cole’s side was still warm, and she heard the shower running.How did he manage to get out of bed without her having the faintest inkling?She was losing her edge when it came to Cole.Her feelings were coming into play, and she couldn’t afford that.How could she keep herself safe from…herself?

His charm crashed through every one of her defenses.She’d told herself she would never love anyone but Danny, and he’d found someone else to love.He’d married a Korean woman on his first tour there.

Regan joined the Rangers.She couldn’t think of a better way to get him out of her system than to concentrate on being the best Ranger she could be.And she was, but then she fell in love with Kip and they married.He was killed less than six months later.She didn’t want to make the Rangers a career after that, so she’d resigned her commission and retired last year.

The long and the short of it was she wanted children…eventually, and the life of a Ranger didn’t lend itself to that.

When she got out of the shower, she dressed and then repacked her go bag.By then, she smelled the coffee.

Cole had brewed some in their little four cup pot, and it was hot and fresh just waiting for her.

“You didn’t have to wait for me to have coffee.”

He laughed.“I didn’t.I drank the first pot.I’m somewhat of a coffee junkie.”

“Ugh.I’m aware.I don’t guess we’ve had any leisurely mornings to indulge in our caffeine addiction.”

Cole shook his head.“We really haven’t.We’ll remedy that when we get home.”

Home.“Oh, we definitely will.”She poured a cup and leaned against the small counter the coffeepot was on.“What is on the agenda for today?”

“Most of the day will be spent traveling.When we get back we’ll order dinner in and wait to find Sykes until tomorrow.”His jaw clenched.“And I will find him…one way or another.”

“Hopefully Mason will discover something that will help in our search.”

Cole’s phone, lying on the counter by the coffeemaker, started buzzing.He picked it up.“Speak of the devil, Mason, what do you have?”

Regan kept her gaze on Cole.She’d learned to pick up a lot of what a person didn’t say by their body language.

“Who was Jasmine Brandon?Am I supposed to know her?”

Regan watched as Cole paced and ran his hand through his hair.The result looked like he’d been in a tornado with the hair spiking in all different directions.

“Ah, yes, now I remember.She stalked me.If I remember correctly, she was hired as an assistant to John Cataloni, Vice President of Platform Operations.Then, not long after, I found her waiting at my home in Castle Pines, then at the apartment.I finally had to let her go and get a restraining order against her.She was showing up everywhere I was, every event, every charity.What does that have to do with Sykes?”

Regan closed her eyes.She was afraid of where this conversation was going.As his bodyguard, Cole should have told her about this threat.

“Ah, gees.And Sykes holds me responsible for that?”Cole ran his hand down his face and released a deep breath.“This just keeps getting worse and worse.He’s not about to give up, we both know that.”He listened to Mason for a moment.“Well, that’s not good.Okay, keep searching.And get in touch with Captain Bradshaw at the twenty-fifth to let him know what’s happening and what we suspect.Regan and I will be home later today.”He ended the call, then turned and sat on the end of the bed.

“So, let me guess.Something happened to that woman and he blames you.”

Cole released a sigh.“First, Sykes made bail.Second, apparently, she’s his sister and worked for my company for a while.She developed an unhealthy crush on me and stalked me after she was let go…for stalking me.”

“How did she die?”