Page 14 of Unhinged

“I just can’t believe the landlord’s going to foot the bill for that without any evidence. At this point, isn’t it all conjecture anyway?”

Knox settled back in his chair. “I’ve known the owner for several years. Piers Davenport dabbles in real estate and owns several businesses around town. He’s a good guy. He saw the news and decided to grant her request on a temporary basis.”

“How long?”

“Four weeks. He’s given the go-ahead to install additional cameras around the property, so I’ve put in an order.”

Luke nodded. Maybe the phone call was a fluke, but maybe it was more. Probably wasn’t a bad idea to make sure some stalker wasn’t after her. She’d at least be safe at work and, if nothing else, it would give the office the added benefit of tighter security for their patients.

Knox studied Luke. “I’m supposed to head to D.C. soon. I can either take this once I get back or you can head this one up. How soon are you looking to start?”

Luke turned his gaze back to the screen. Under her grim composure, the woman looked… scared. Luke wasn’t sure why, exactly, but something in her expression called to him. “I’ll handle it.”

CHAPTER

SEVEN

Hannah entered the lobby of the health center and stopped dead in her tracks, arrested by the sight in front of her. Raúl caught her eye and waved her over, and she found her feet carrying her closer against her will.

Next to the building manager stood a sandy-haired man, tall and broad-shouldered. Despite the constrictive suit he wore, the man’s build spoke of power and raw masculinity, his muscular arms and legs straining against the material.

Her gaze slid over his chest and up to his angular face. His hair was military short, with just enough on top to run fingers through the silky strands. Hazel eyes sat over high cheekbones, and a neatly trimmed beard covered the lower half of his jaw.

Hannah typically opted for the men she dated to be clean-shaven, but the facial hair on this man seemed appropriate, as if it enhanced his features rather than detracting from them. He was too rugged to be considered traditionally handsome, but he was gorgeous in a rough sort of way. He looked as if he could bench press her with one arm, and her blood ran hot at the thought of his hands all over her.

She had little experience with men of his caliber—okay, none—but she knew instinctively that he would know exactly how to treat a woman. He exuded confidence, an arrogance she imagined most men of his stature exhibited, and she wondered what it would feel like to have that rapt attention focused on her.

The thought simultaneously thrilled and irked her, because a man like him would surely have a girlfriend who was just as beautiful. A twinge of jealousy curdled in her gut, and she clenched her teeth, pushing the useless emotion away and replacing it instead with cool aloofness.

As she approached the duo, the man flashed her a smile, his teeth perfectly straight and white against his deeply tanned cheeks. The action made her self-conscious of her own slightly crooked incisors, and she pressed her lips into a tight line.

Irritation flared again at the sight of the insolent grin twisting his lips. It was a smile designed to draw women in and make them lose all sense as they flung themselves at him. Oh, yes. This man was used to getting whatever—and whomever—he wanted.

Hannah gritted her teeth. She couldn’t believe she’d allowed him to get under her skin and undermine her confidence without so much as a word. He meant nothing; he was probably just being interviewed for the security position. Once he left, she’d tell Raúl that the man wouldn’t be a good fit. Then she wouldn’t have to worry about seeing him ever again.

Raúl spoke up as she came within a couple of feet of them. “Dr. Whitmore, this is Lucas Stone with Vantage Security Group.”

The man held out a hand. “Nice to meet you, ma’am. Call me Luke.”

Hannah bristled, narrowing her eyes at him as she offered a brief handshake. “Doctor Whitmore.”

After almost ten years in the South, she still wasn’t used to the precipitous use of the word ma’am. She knew it was supposed to be a sign of respect, but the man’s tone had an almost mocking quality to it. If the faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth was any indication, he clearly found her indignation humorous.

She didn’t normally think so highly of herself, but he had her on guard. Better to distance herself now and put him in his place. She steeled her spine and stared him down. His eyes twinkled with mirth, but his face remained impassive, stoking her ire. Good thing he wouldn’t be around long; otherwise, they were bound to butt heads.

Raúl interrupted her thoughts. “Mr. Stone will resume duties beginning Monday.”

Hannah startled, and her mouth dropped open a fraction. “I’m sorry?”

The building manager nodded. “I’ll get him a set of keys, so you can lock up like normal when you leave for the evening. We’ve been discussing the option of installing cameras at each entrance, as well as in the elevator and on each floor.”

Luke opened his mouth, but she cut in and spoke over him. “Clearly, Mr. Stone, you are aware of the sensitive nature of my work. It would be an infringement of my patient’s rights to track them all over the building.” Again, his mouth opened to speak, but she continued. “They need to feel comfortable here, not like prisoners.”

She turned to Raúl. “I will not consent to cameras. Besides, they seem to be a completely unnecessary expense if Mr. Stone here”—she gestured to the man to her right—“is truly as competent as he says he is.”

She felt more than saw his look of disdain, and she kept her gaze firmly on Raúl as Luke spoke up. “I assure you, ma’am, I am completely capable of securing a single building.”

There was no mistaking the derision in his voice this time, and she cut a glare at him as he continued. “However, in my experience, it’s better to have too many precautions in place rather than too few. I was led to believe that a call was made to you from a recent crime scene. Is that correct?”