Now it was Taylor’s turn to snort. “None of your concern. Thank you for taking care of everything, but let me know what I can do. I want to help.”
He swiveled in the seat to look at both of them. “You can take some time off. Two weeks at least.”
Roman liked that assessment. Taylor had been through a lot and whether she realized it or not, seeing that kind of violence up close and personal would have an effect on her. Maybe not right away but it would eventually.
“I’m not—”
“You are, and I’m not asking. According to the by-laws I’m the interim CEO with Neal and Hugh gone. At least until they can restructure. Now come on, let’s get your stuff and get you out of here.” He was out of the vehicle and had shut the driver’s door before Taylor could respond with more than a sputter of indignation.
“Can you believe that?” she snapped, more to herself than Roman, he was sure.
Even though Roman agreed with Escobar, he kept his mouth shut. “Let’s get your stuff then get out of here. I want to see you naked again.”
She sucked in a sharp breath and looked at him, full-on, not the half-glances she’d been giving him since they’d gotten off the plane and had been dealing with the police all day. “What?”
“I want to bury my face between your legs and eat you out until you pass out from sheer exhaustion.” The words were blunt and he got the exact response he’d been hoping for.
Her cheeks flamed crimson and she stared at him wide-eyed, all traces of her annoyance at Escobar and the situation gone. Her breathing had kicked up a notch and her pupils were dilated as she watched him. Oh yeah, she liked that idea a lot.
Which was good because he’d been thinking about it all damn day. Actually he’d been thinking about it since pretty much the moment she’d tried to knock him in the head with that vodka bottle.
“I know what you’re doing,” she finally murmured. “Trying to distract me.”
He lifted one shoulder. “Distract you with the truth.”
She blinked, sucking in another deep breath. Then she leaned in, almost as if she couldn’t help herself, before stopping and pulling back. “Let’s get this over with then you better make good on that promise.”
Heat surged through him at her response, but he didn’t answer. It was taking all his control to keep a tight lid on his lust for her. He opened his door and got out first, surveying the company’s security group. According to Escobar they all had military experience and had been with the company for at least three years. Escobar trusted them but that didn’t mean Roman had to.
“Your car hasn’t been touched,” Escobar said, nodding at the two-door car a few spots down.
“Really?” The surprise in Taylor’s voice mirrored Roman’s thoughts.
The man shrugged. “It wasn’t part of the crime scene and personally,” he looked over their shoulder to where the other men stood before lowering his voice a fraction, “I think the cops here did a shitty job until Detective Durnin took over. They did comb over your office though, but didn’t take anything.”
Her mouth pulled into a thin line as she shook her head. “Because there’s nothing to take,” she muttered as she headed to her car and opened the driver’s side door.
“She needs extra security for tonight—at least,” Roman said quietly to the other man. They were heading back to her place after this stop so she could pack up her clothes and whatever else she needed. Escobar had already arranged for her to stay at one of the company’s executive condos—under a false name.
Tomorrow Roman planned to find somewhere else for Taylor to stay other than the condo, but for a few hours tonight it would do. With Neal gone and the man who’d shot at him still unknown, he wanted her somewhere completely unrelated to Powers Group.
Escobar nodded. “I know. The building itself is secure but I’ll send you all the schematics. And I’ve got a four-man team I trust who will be standing guard directly outside the condo and in the lobby. None of them have ever worked directly with Lynch,” he added, as Roman was about to ask for their resumes. “This is a big company, but these are my most trusted guys. They’re all pissed about Hugh. And, as a precaution, none of them have the access code to get into the condo either. You’ll be able to change it once you’re both inside so that not even I know it. If someone breaches it, the police will be contacted immediately.”
Escobar had already told him that Lynch actually knew about the condo, but it was secure—all of the company owned condos had been built with security in mind—and as long as he didn’t have the access code, it was safer than a hotel or Taylor’s place. Plus Lynch would have no reason to suspect she’d be staying there.