Protecting You (The Boston irkpatricks #1) Read online

  “Great.”

  I follow him into the kitchen. He has a really great ass, the kitchen isn’t bad either. The table is covered with a nice spread. There are scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, which I can’t look at with a straight face now, pancakes and bagels. There are also plenty of spreads and condiments.

  Brendan pulls the chair out for me. I can’t tell if he is trying to be a gentleman or he really is one.

  “Help yourself to whatever you want. It’s all for you. I’m very thankful to you for accepting this assignment.”

  “Thanks. I’m just doing my job. I worked hard to get where I am and I never back down from a challenge.”

  “I know this is probably hard for you.”

  “Another word please,” I said, putting my hand up.

  He laughed out loud, “I know this is very difficult for you. I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable in any way. I’m referring to on stage.”

  “Brendan, I want to bust these guys, go back to my apartment and live my life. End of assignment.”

  “Are you afraid to stay here with me?”

  “No.”

  “I want to make sure. It’s for your protection. My assistant will be taking you to the salon downtown. She made an appointment for you at eleven o’clock. We have to get your hair dyed.”

  I know this guy didn’t just say I have to dye my hair. He’s crazy if he thinks I’m changing anything about me.

  “Um… Hell no.”

  “You have to.”

  “I don’t have to do anything you tell me to do.”

  “We can’t have people recognizing you onstage.”

  “Whatever happened to wigs?”

  “What if someone sees you changing? We can’t have people questioning anything.”

  “This is completely absurd.”

  This was turning out to be the day from hell. I get the greeting of a lifetime, I have to live with the perv for months, and then I’m told I have to dye my hair. I want to throw the sausages at him one by one.

  “Look, I think you’re beautiful the way you are, but I promised Jeremy I would take care of you. If you choose not to dye your hair, I’m putting you in jeopardy. Can you please cooperate?” he asked.

  “You think I’m beautiful?”

  “Yes.”

  “I must say, you’re a great manipulator.”

  Hmmm… add that to my list… Guy has great manipulative skills.

  “If you think your sexy ways are going to work on me, you’re nuts. I’ll dye my hair because it’s necessary, but you have to agree to keep that snake in its cage and stop sweet talking me. I’m here on business and that’s it.”

  “I understand.”

  I have to be tough on him because I don’t know what I’m walking into. I have to investigate all angles.

  “Well, moving on,” he continued. “Jocelyn, my assistant, will take you clothes shopping for some outfits to wear on stage. She will then take you to the pole dancing class that she registered you for.”

  When he said pole dancing, it hit me all at once. I was about to humiliate myself in front of everyone and they would see me naked… including Brendan.

  “Couldn’t I have washed dishes or something else? Why does it have to be so degrading?”

  Men are just sexist pigs. They couldn’t have come up with a better plan. Throw some women in there; it would get done right.

  “It’s better this way.”

  “Why? So you could get a cheap look at my goods.”

  My blood pressure is probably sky high right now. I walk up to him and point my finger at him.

  “If you think you’re going to get over on me, it’s not going to happen. If you’re up to something, I will know. If you think I’m here because you called crying for help, you’re not off the hook. I do my job thoroughly. I will stick your ass in jail so fast you won’t be able to get your zipper down. I’m going to my room to get ready to become hookerized.”

  I walked away confidently, holding my head high. If Mr. Nympho thinks he has the upper hand, he just got shot down. I could feel him staring at me from behind.

  “It’s the room on the left,” he screamed out.

  “Thanks.”

  I’m not going to lie. His house is amazing compared to my apartment. A girl could get use to this.

  I grabbed the few bags that I could along with my laptop case. I made my way up the steps. When I got to the top of the steps, I looked around. The hallway was huge. There were four rooms: two bedrooms and two bathrooms. Each bathroom connected to the bedroom. The bedrooms were directly across from each other.

  “Oh, fuck no,” I said out loud.

  “Fuck no? What?” Brendan asked startling me.

  “I’m not sleeping in a room directly across from you, so you can watch me sleep.”

  “What, do you snore?” he said laughing.

  “No,” I responded annoyed. “Is there a third floor bedroom?”

  “Yes, but you’re staying in this one. Just in case.”

  “You’re taking this whole watching over me bullshit to another level. Remember who the detective is here and who’s protecting who. That’s my job. Go put on a shirt. I’ve seen enough skin today.”

  I’m not a prude or anything, but I’m trying to be professional. For the record, his body is amazing.

  “Okay, okay, hold on a second,” he huffed.

  He ran in to his room and came back out with a green Boston Celtics t-shirt on and a green fitted hat on backwards. I don’t know what it is, but a guy with a fitted hat on backwards looks so hot.

  “Better?” he asked.

  I just cleared my throat and told him to put the bags on the floor in the bedroom.

  He asked me why I was so tense.

  “I’m fine,” I said, as I slammed my gun on the bureau.

  “Alright, look I just want to apologize for everything that happened until now.”

  “Say you’re sorry to me in three months when this is over. I’m sure there will be plenty more for you to apologize about.”

  “Dinner’s at six. We can go over everything then. I’ll be in my office, if you have any questions. Jocelyn will be here at ten o’clock to pick you up. Be nice to her. She doesn’t know anything. I made her basically think you’re homeless and on the run.”

  “Great. See you at six,” I said, slamming the door in his face.

  I’m not normally this rude, but my patience is really being tested today. Can tomorrow really be any better? I doubt it. I’ll be swinging on a pole… naked.

  Chapter Four

  Brendan

  Did this chick just slam the door in my face? I know this is a figment of my imagination. I have never been treated like this in my life. It actually turns me on. I’m use to women throwing themselves at me. If this was some other skanky hoe at my door, she would have got down on her knees and went to town. Most women only want my money.

  I tried to apologize and kiss her ass, but she doesn’t want any parts of it, so I will treat her as a business partner. The only problem is that I can’t get her eyes off of my mind among other things, but I won’t go there just yet. It’s only nine thirty in the morning and there has already been so much drama.

  I have never really taken a day off before to sit at home, so I don’t know what to do with myself. I have managers and such that run all of my businesses. Normally, on any given day, I hop from business to business. I own the nightclub, two restaurants, a spa, and many different franchises. I also have numerous properties that I purchase and rehabilitate to sell for profit. I started out small. I bought a property when I twenty-one with money that I saved from waiting tables while I was in college obtaining my degree in Business Management. I have worked really hard to make the kind of money I have, which is why it pisses me off that it has to be jeopardized because of low-life drug dealers. If Billy was hard up for money, he could have asked me. I would have gave it to him. He didn’t have to resort to drug dealing. He could have probably been doing thi
s for a long time for all I know. He was always getting into trouble when we were younger. I thought maybe he would have grown out of that shit by now.

  I think I’m going to relax today and play some video games. I have a PlayStation 4 sitting on my entertainment center and I barely play it. I choose MLB 2014 and put the disk in the console. I’m a huge sports fan, of course. Boston all the way.

  As I sit back on the sofa to play my game, I hear Joella coming down the steps. My feet are up on the table and I’m feeling nice and comfy. I hit the pause button on the game. She stands in the doorway with her back to me. I know she is super pissed off, so I tread lightly.

  “You can come and sit on the sofa and wait for Jocelyn. She won’t be here for another fifteen minutes.”

  I get no response. So, she wants to play the silent treatment. I’ll make her talk.

  “Suit yourself if you want to be a bitch.”

  She turned around and glared at me, which I knew she would. What woman wouldn’t?

  “Excuse me. Did you just call me a bitch?” she snapped.

  “No, I said if you want to be a bitch.”

  “Whatever.”

  “I apologized to you. I don’t know what more I can do.”

  “Well, I don’t appreciate you telling people I’m a homeless hooker.”

  “Those words never came out of my mouth.”

  I can’t help but smirk because basically that’s what I portrayed her as.

  “I’m glad you think this is funny.”

  She is mad, very mad, but she looks so sexy standing there dressed casually in tight jeans and a fitted black t-shirt. I can see the outline of her boobs through her shirt. I want to throw her against the wall, take her nipples in my mouth and suck the living daylights out of them. Maybe that will put a smile on her face. I doubt it. She would probably arrest me.

  On a whim, I decide to get up off the couch, walk up behind her, and whisper in her ear.

  “I don’t bite.”

  She could feel my breath on her face. I could feel her shifting uncomfortably next to me. She was definitely turned on. I walk away… toward the kitchen.

  “You can sit down,” I yelled back. I heard her whisper asshole under her breath as she sat on the edge of the sofa.

  I went back to my position on the sofa with another cup of coffee and a danish. I winked at her and she rolled her eyes at me.

  “Do you just play video games all day and eat?” she asked.

  “This is my first day off in like six months. I’m relaxing. You should try it. You’re too uptight. I guess that’s the cop in you.”

  “Are you the one who will be taking your clothes off tomorrow?”

  “Hmm... Do you want me too?”

  “Really?!!!”

  “I’m messing with you. You asked me.”

  Okay, I have to remember to be professional with her.

  “We have a dinner meeting tonight in the dining room. We will be having chicken. Hope you have a lovely day with Jocelyn.”

  I unpaused my game and started playing again. I ignored her. Two can play her game.

  A few minutes later, Jocelyn came in. I introduced them. I‘m very professional with Jocelyn, so Joella is able to see the business side of me. The un-fun side as I call it. I have to be that way so that I can set an example for all my employees. I’m actually really a cool guy.

  Jocelyn gave us a rundown of the schedule and Joella looked like she wanted to punch someone. I kind of felt bad for her.

  I walked them to the door. As they made their way to the car, I couldn’t help but stare at her ass. She has me feeling like a teenager at thirty-six years old. I need another shower to finish what I started earlier, this time with a clearer vision in my mind.

  Chapter Five

  Joella

  The audacity of this guy. I don’t know who he thinks he is. This poor old woman has to deal with him every day. I feel so bad for her. He thinks he’s getting to me. I have news for him, he’s completely wrong.

  We’re in the car driving downtown to the hair salon. The distance is very short, but we are leaving earlier since I have no clue what I want to have done.

  “Brendan tells me you’re hiding out,” she says trying to make conversation.

  “I guess you can say that,” I say, laughing, as I think of the homeless hooker comment. I have to think of something quick.

  “I’m running from an abusive relationship and I need to start over. I asked Brendan if I could work for him and he agreed to help me.”

  “Why didn’t he give you a job at the restaurant?”

  “He said I would make quick money at the club.”

  “Will you be okay doing that type of work?”

  “It will be temporary. When I make enough money, I will move on and find something else.”

  “At least you have a plan.”

  Oh yeah, nice plan. Lady, you have no idea.

  Hmm...Maybe I can get some information from Jocelyn on Brendan. She’s his assistant. You can’t get any closer than that.

  “How long have you worked for Brendan?” I asked.

  “It’s been ten years now.”

  “Wow, that’s long. It seems like he respects you.”

  She seems to be about the only person.

  “Oh, very much so. He’s a great employer. He treats me very well. He’s a very nice man. His ex-wife tried to destroy him, but he got through it.”

  I’m mentally making notes in my head. So, there’s an ex-wife… always trouble where they’re concerned.

  “Wow, that’s a shame.”

  “They divorced six years ago. She was his high school sweetheart,” she explained.

  For some reason I just got this strange feeling in my stomach, like that comment bothered me.

  “That’s gotta be tough.”

  “From what I hear, she was a pig and cheated on him all the time. She also tried to spend all of his money. When she saw him making a lot of money, she decided she wanted to marry him. He didn’t think anything of it and married her. He started noticing a lot of money missing and people started telling him stories about her. He decided to divorce her before it was too late.

  “She sounds like a winner.”

  “Yep and she’s a major bitch, too. She has since remarried a doctor and is living the high life. She comes around sometimes.”

  Oh, the ex-wife is getting added to my suspect list just as well. I need to investigate her too. I also need to keep Jocelyn close by, she knows a lot.

  “It’s nice that you stuck by him,” I say smiling at her.

  “He went through a rough period, but he has a lot of family and friends that support him.”

  “You’re a special lady, Jocelyn. I see why he likes you so much.”

  “Thanks. We’re here. Have you decided what you want done yet? The only way to not recognize you, would be for you to dye your hair black.”

  Oh dear God, that is so drastic. Can I still back out or am I in for the long haul. Can I get fired if I back out? I need to go read my handbook. Ok, I need to just calm down. It has to be done. I need to just keep telling myself that. Maybe if I click my heels together three times, I’ll end up back in my apartment.

  Jocelyn opened the door to the salon and held it open for me. I feel bad because she is treating me like I’m a helpless battered woman that she feels bad for. Damn Brendan.

  She walks up to the reception area.

  “Hi Maggie, we have an eleven with Franco, but we’re early. This is … Kate Carter and she’ll be getting the works,” she says winking at me. “Put everything on Mr. Kirkpatrick’s Amex black card.”

  “Thanks, Jocelyn,” Maggie said.

  We sat down in the waiting area looking through hair books. I looked around and the place was magnificent. It was so modernized. There were so many amenities. It had a hair salon, makeup salon, tanning salon, massage parlor, waxing, a gym, swimming pool, jacuzzis, and a refreshment area. I could live here.

  “Jocelyn,
this place is amazing.”

  “You can use whatever services you like. It’s on Mr. Kirkpatrick.”

  “I would never take advantage of him like that. I just need to get my hair dyed.”

  “Joella, he owns this place. He told me to make sure you get the most out of your visit.”

  “That was very nice of him. I’ll have to thank him later.”

  “You do that,” she said smiling.

  If I didn’t know better, I would think that Jocelyn was trying to play matchmaker. Little does she know, I don’t mix business with pleasure.

  After a few minutes, a guy with slicked back black hair came out to greet us.

  “Miss Carter, I’m Franco. It is a pleasure to meet you. Come to my chair.”

  I literally just made the sign of the cross. Jocelyn patted my arm and mouthed to me that it would be okay.

  “What can Mr. Franco do for you today, pretty lady?”

  “I need to dye my hair black. I need a change.”

  He looked at me with concern. “Are you sure? That’s a very big difference.”

  “Yes. Just do it before I change my mind.”

  “You have such long beautiful blonde hair.”

  “Franco, please don’t make me feel guilty. Just do it.”

  “Sure, sure. No problem.”

  I was snapping on poor little Franco. I just needed for this day to go very quickly. So many thoughts were going through my mind as they worked on my hair.

  The first thought was how much I missed my family. We didn’t always see eye to eye, but we were very close. I probably will not see them for the next couple months because of this case. They would just ask too many questions. I’m hoping to solve it sooner rather than later.

  Then my thoughts went to Brendan. I know he’s a nice guy. I don’t really know him, but Jocelyn seems to think so. I doubt she would lie. She doesn’t look like she has a mean bone in her body. For some reason, I feel an attraction to him. I don’t know what it is. I need to fight it until I close this case and leave. Even if I did give in to an attraction to anyone, it is too soon. I’m not ready. My heart and mind can’t forget what happened. The pain goes away, but the memory lasts forever. It’s okay to flirt with someone, but I can’t get attached.