Page 42 of The Tycoon

He swung his gaze to hers.“What makes you think she’s dead?”

“Jerry wouldn’t want you dead if she was just in jail or in a care facility somewhere.No, I figure she committed suicide, and he blames you for that.How am I doing?”

“Spot on.She died six months ago.Jerry was already working for me on the platform when he had to go back to Denver and deal with the arrangements.”

“And he never considered that she might have been stalking you?He thought you’d dated her and then left her after she’d fallen in love, right?”

Cole shrugged.“That would be my guess, but I never dated her.I didn’t even know about her until the stalking started.”

Regan patted Cole’s shoulder.“We’ll figure it out when we see what else Mason has uncovered.In the meantime, we need to get off this platform.I’d like to be back in your apartment before nightfall.

“I’ll call the helo to pick us up in an hour we can eat in the cafeteria, if you want to while we wait.”

“As good as the food is, I’d rather just go home.And I’d like to read everything Mason sent.”

He nodded.“Me, too.”

I wonder what Mason emailed to Cole.Was there more than Cole told me?

A car was waitingat Centennial Airport when Cole’s plane landed just before four in the afternoon.

“I always forget about rush hour traffic.”Regan groaned when she realized the time.“Or should I say the rush hours traffic.”

“It will be fine.At least, we’re going south and will miss most of the traffic slowdowns, and you’re not doing the driving.”Cole jutted his chin toward the waiting black SUV.“Looks like we have Raoul today.He must have lost the contest.”

Regan widened her eyes.“Your drivers have contests to see who will be driving you?Isn’t that their job?”

“Yes, but these little games of chance make it more interesting.I don’t see any harm in them, as long as I get picked up on time.”

She stood with her arms crossed.“That would be like me and Mason drawing straws to see who’s your bodyguard each day.That’s ridiculous.”Regan pointed her right index finger.“And that will not happen except under dire circumstances.I’m your bodyguard.”She tapped her chest.“Me.Not Mason.He’s your chief of security, not your bodyguard.Remember that.”

Cole watched her with a smile creasing his face and showing his dimples.Then he lifted his hands in the air to chest level.“I promise I’ll have them stop the practice.Will that suffice?”

Sighing, she gave him a single nod.“I work hard at this job.When I have plans with a driver, I expect it to be that driver, not someone he told the plan to and who might, therefore, get it wrong because they heard it secondhand.”

He released a deep breath.“Regan.Stop.Take a breather.I said I’ll stop the practice.I’ll make sure they know that unless there is an unforeseen tragedy, they are to report for work on the days and in the cars that are required.”

Regan dropped her arms to her sides and shook them out.When she looked at Cole again, she was in command of her temper.“Thank you.That’s all I ask.”Then she grinned.“For now.”

He barked out a laugh.“I can see that life with you will never be dull.”

Life!Does he plan on keeping me on permanently?I can see where that would be the best of all possible worlds for me, but what about Cole?Does he really want a bodyguard 24/7?

“I can’t imagine working for you will ever get dull, either.”

“I think we should take some time off from the case.Drinks.Dinner.Dancing.Do you still have that little red number you wore to the theater?”

A little surprised at the change of topic, she just shook her head.“It’s at my apartment.But I have three beautiful gowns.Can you find some place where I can wear one of those?Please.”

Cole grinned.‘I’m sure we can figure out something.”

They went directlyto Cole’s apartment from the airport.Regan showered and then dressed with care, pulling the red gown with all the sparkling crystals over her head and letting it slide down her body, shimmering with every movement.

She pulled the sides of her hair up with two clear combs that wouldn’t detract from her earrings.When she stepped out of the shower, she found a small package on her bed.Inside, she’d discovered a pair of the most exquisite diamond waterfall earrings.They were the perfect accessory to her dress…any of her dresses, which she was sure Cole was going for.

She had to tell herself that it was the job.The earrings were just part of the job, part of the disguise, part of fitting into Cole’s life.

Right now, she didn’t care about that.She was dressed like Cinderella at the ball, and she would enjoy herself…to a degree.Dinner.Dancing.She tried to pretend she was just going as Cole’s bodyguard, but it felt like more.He was doing this for her.She had no doubts about that, but why?Was it just so she’d have somewhere to wear her dress?Heck, she’d wear this to carry out the garbage, if she needed to.But she would wear them.Every.Single.One.She didn’t know how or where, but they would not just languish in her closet for years before finally being donated to charity.Of course, who she was wouldn’t own three magnificent gowns, either.And yet, she did.