LEIF (Blake Security Book 3) by Celina McKane Read Free Book Online Page A

now?”
    “Yes. She’s an associate at a criminal law office downtown.”
    I felt proud of her—even though I had no right, and I was glad to hear she hadn’t gotten married and she wasn’t involved with…anyone. Wanting her to be alone sounded bad—even to me. However, it wasn’t so much I wanted her to be alone as it was I didn’t want her to be with the wrong guy. “I’m sorry if I screwed this up for the agency,” I told him.  Blake just rolled his eyes.
                  “I guess you had no idea that someday this woman’s stepdad would hire us. The real question at this point is, if we do this, can you remain detached and professional?”
    “Absolutely.”
    “Come on then, let’s get back in there and see what we can do.” I nodded. The real truth was that my stomach was in knots. Karli was even more beautiful than I remembered her—and just knowing she was in the next room was making it hard for me to breathe. I sucked it up and followed Blake back through the house and out into the garden. Hunter was chasing a cat through the roses. He was a good-looking kid—and I could see how proud Karli was of him, as she watched him play. That look changed quickly when she looked back at me.
    The judge spoke first, “Mr. Donovan you come highly recommended. I chose your agency over the rest in the city because of that sterling reputation, but…my stepdaughter obviously has issues with your associate, and I’m going to have to ask that he not be involved in this case.”
                  “I understand, sir,” Blake said. I was slightly taken aback at his tone. Either Blake was getting better at how he addressed people, or this judge wasn’t just an important guy, he was someone important to Blake. “My associate and I discussed it, and until one of my other men are available, I’d like to ask that Leif be in charge of your security while I provide for your wife and daughter and grandson myself.”
                  The judge looked at Karli. She gave me another mean look and said, “Does that mean I can go back to my own home?”
    Blake looked at her mother and then back to her. “If the judge leaves the house, and Leif goes with him, then no one would be here to watch over your mother.”
    She sighed and rolled her eyes. “Fine. I’ll stay here.”
    “I could stay with you and Hunter,” her mother said.
    “No, mom, it’s okay,” Karli’s tone softened. “We’re already here, and I don’t want you to be put out of your house. Mr. Donovan, if you don’t need me for anything else right now, I’ll be upstairs. I have some work to do.”
    “You’re on vacation,” her mother said.
    Karli gave me another look and said, “Just some motions I need to have a look at, Mom. Do you want me to take Hunter with me?”
    “No, honey, he’s playing. You go ahead.”
    “I’ll catch up with you later,” Blake told her. “I’ll just need to get your itinerary for the week.” Karli nodded, and without looking at me, she went into the house. I couldn’t help but watch her go.
    The judge cleared his throat, and I thought I saw the trace of a smile on his lips as he looked at Blake and said, “We’ll give it a try.”
                  “Thank you, sir.”
    ********
                  Since it was Sunday and the judge had no intention of leaving the house, Blake left for a few hours to wrap up some other business at the office. Karli hadn’t come back downstairs, and I promised Blake before he left that if she did, I’d leave her alone. I sat in a corner with a cup of coffee that the maid insisted I take and the Sunday paper. I tried to read it and keep my mind off of the fact that the star of every single one of my dreams was right upstairs. I couldn’t do it. I pictured her face that day I stood on her doorstep and she told me to go away and leave her alone and never come back. I’d gone back to the Middle East and stayed in Kabul instead