Page 6 of The Tycoon

Once they were strapped in, Cole tapped on the window between the passenger compartment and the driver.

The car pulled out and headed toward the theater.

Cole turned toward her.“I noticed you didn’t relax until we were safely in the car.If you’re posing as my date, you’ll need to appear more relaxed with me and other people.Can you do that?”

One side of her mouth quirked up.You’re on Mr.Kincaid.I’ll be the best fake girlfriend you’ve ever had.“Of course, I can.I am an excellent actress.You’ll see.”She reached over and patted his knee.“It will all be fine.”

“I hope so, otherwise I’ll be the laughingstock of my group of friends.”

“Who are your friends?I need their names both the male and the female.”She had an eidetic memory, so she would remember anything he said to her.In that regard, she was just like Sheldon Cooper on The Big Bang Theory television show.

He laid his arm across the top of the seat.“Mostly my brothers and my sister, but I have a few college buddies that I still see.”

“Their names, please.”

“You don’t have anything to write their names on.You’ll have to wait.”He turned away and looked out the window.

A sure sign that he’s holding something back.

“Are you purposely withholding information from me.If I’m to do my duties correctly, I need the information.I need the names of your friends, male and female.I have an eidetic memory.I remember everything, so tell me, please.”

He sighed and started to run his hand through his hair.He was seconds away when he seemed to remember where they were going and that he needed to appear professional.

“I’m ready when you are.”

“Very well.They are Jeremy Johnson, Dean Swenson, and Isabell Groves.”

“Is Miss Groves more than a friend?I will remain outside her home, if you need to visit her privately.”

“What?No!”He ran a hand around the back of his neck.“She’s not that kind of friend.Her husband was a dear friend of mine.He was killed in a car accident last year.I do what I can, as much as she’ll let me do, to help her with whatever she needs and to give her little boys a male figure in their lives.”

“That’s very kind of you,” she said softly.“How old are the boys?”

“They are two, five and six.”He smiled.“They are pistols, no doubt about that, but they’re good boys.They just need some direction sometimes.A little more than their mother can provide.”

“I’m sure she appreciates it.Handling all the details that need to be taken care of when a spouse dies, takes a lot of stamina.It’s very hard to separate from his things.And then to have young children to provide for and to parent alone…I can only imagine.”

He tilted his head and watched her.

She turned away, but she didn’t move her body from pointing at him.

“You speak from experience.”It was not a question, but a statement of fact.

Regan worried her hands, folding them over and over on her lap.“My husband was also a Ranger.We were sent into Bolivia on a covert mission to capture a drug lord.The whole thing blew up in our faces.His men were prepared and attacked before we even reached his stronghold.Kip was killed and I barely escaped with my life.When I finally got back to the states, I grieved for about a year and then resigned my commission about a year ago.Mason offered me this job, and it sounded right up my alley.”She looked up and locked her gaze with his.“Cole, I’m good at what I do as long as you cooperate with me.”

He took her hand and squeezed.“I’ll do my best to make your job easy.But I can’t guarantee that it will be.I have received threats from an environmental group ever since the accidental oil spill in the gulf.We will be traveling there next week.We’ll be flying to Houston and taking a helo out to the platform.I intend to find out what went wrong and who did it.”

“I’ll be ready for whenever you wish to leave.”She pulled her hand from his.Her traitorous body tingled at his touch.She couldn’t have that.Being attracted to her employer was not acceptable.

“We’ll be leaving on Monday.I have some work to do on the plane.I suggest you bring reading material.”

“I always have a book in my go bag.”

“Good.”

The rest of the ride was quiet.Regan would have to run checks on the friends he listed.The incidents of friends turning traitors, though not numerous, still existed.She would know all there was to know about his friends before she was done.

Arriving at the Buell, the driver let them out, and they walked down the covered courtyard to the theater.The walkway itself was amazing.The ceiling was lit up with thousands of lights that could change color, depending on pre-programmed computer instructions.