Part 8 (2/2)

”Heading out?” Jax asked as Lach walked by the opening of the cubicle he shared with Connor.

”Yes.” Lach didn't elaborate, not wanting to add more blood to the water. ”Need anything?”

”Emily just wants to make sure you'll be there on Sat.u.r.day.”

Lach had forgotten to RSVP with everything that had taken place, even with Jessie's reminder, but it wasn't like he would miss the little guy's birthday. It was not only a celebration of Derrick's birth, but also the survival of his mother. Emily's labor had almost taken her life, nearly leaving the world less one angel on earth.

”Can I bring someone?”

Jax flashed a huge smile and playfully threw his yellow ball into the air once more. d.a.m.n if Lach hadn't just bled into the waters. He shook his head at his own mistake and waited for the bite.

”I don't know. Can you?”

s.h.i.+t. Jax was going to let the crew do its own nibbling when Lach brought Phoebe to the party. It wasn't like he had never been in the middle of the ocean with these hammerheads before and he was sure it wouldn't be the last. It was a d.a.m.n good thing that Phoebe could handle her own. It did bring up the question if she would want to be thrown into the waters with him. There was only one way to find out.

Phoebe picked away at the protein bar, studying the spreadsheet in front of her. Paul had used money for the television advertis.e.m.e.nts, but it didn't seem to be as much as last month's fees. Were they missing one of the broadcasting outlets? The thought of the media brought her mind around to this morning, when she ate an omelet while watching the news and latest results on the polls. Per Lach's request, she'd eaten a healthy breakfast. She wasn't so sure about what that said about her.

”Another protein bar?”

Phoebe startled at the sound of Lach's voice, just for a moment thinking she'd materialized him with her thoughts. Sure enough, he stood in front of her desk big as life. She couldn't hold back a grin at the censors.h.i.+p in his voice. She'd had dreams of them being in a club and Lach doing wicked things to her, even those punishments she'd said she didn't want to be a part of. She couldn't resist goading him a little to see how far she could push him.

”You never said anything about lunch,” Phoebe said, still smiling. Her lips immediately formed an O when he turned and walked to her father's office. It was the first time her dad had been at campaign headquarters in weeks, besides yesterday's quick transfer of security. The Secret Service agent who was standing in front of the office door didn't move upon Lach's approach. Phoebe a.s.sumed it was because the agents had been in the meeting during the debriefing and they'd already met. Either way, she scrambled to her feet to find out what Lach was doing. ”Lach? What are you doing?”

”Sir? Do you have a moment?”

Lach closed the door before Phoebe could enter. It sparked her anger that he thought he could keep her from their conversation. She could have sworn that the agent stationed at her father's door smirked, but she gave him the glare she'd perfected into getting people to fear her before taking the handle in hand and barging in behind Lach.

”What are you doing?”

”I was going to have a private conversation with your father.”

”Why?” Phoebe looked up at him, hands on her hips. ”This doesn't concern him.”

”While all this is fascinating, may I ask what this is about?” Stan inquired, standing up and walking around his desk. He shook hands with Lach, who'd finally looked away from her, giving her time to breathe. The intensity in his face made her wary of what he was about to say and was grateful when her dad kept talking. ”By the way, I appreciate that CSA honored my request not to say anything at the meeting yesterday in regards to Kimmie.”

”That was a family matter as far as I was concerned.” Lach motioned to Phoebe and that's when she knew mortification was about to set in. ”I'd like permission to take your daughter out to lunch. I understand that the campaign is in full swing, but she's been working long hours and not taking care of herself properly. I'd like to change that.”

Phoebe bit the inside of her cheek to keep herself from saying something sarcastic. What century did Lach think they were living in? It was one thing to be a gentleman, but this was a little over the top. She was a grown woman who could make her own decisions. It didn't help her ire when her father's smile widened. She'd let this play out and then say her piece. Unlike Lach, she knew when to speak and when not to.

”I appreciate your honesty, Lach. It will save me the worry to know that someone like yourself is watching over my daughter.”

Phoebe had heard enough and walked out of the office. She proceeded to her desk and put her coat on, grabbing her gloves and purse. If Lach wanted to have lunch, then by G.o.d, they'd have lunch. It didn't take long for him to come out of her father's office, all eyes on his progress as he made his way toward her.

”If you frown any harder, everyone is going to think that you don't like me.”

”At the moment, I don't really care.” Phoebe turned to go, ignoring Paul who was hiding a grin behind his hand. She turned back around. ”As a matter of fact, I'm not sure I want to go to lunch.”

”Really?” Lach smiled as he pulled out his sungla.s.ses and slipped them on his face. She wanted to tell him they weren't needed since the sky was clouded, but at that moment a ray of suns.h.i.+ne broke through the front windowpane and brightened the inside area. This just wasn't her day. ”Then I guess what I had planned this evening will have to wait as well.”

Lach brushed past her, heading for the exit as if he didn't have a care in the world. Phoebe stood there debating on what she should do, but curiosity overrode her frustration and she sauntered away from her desk with her head held high. When Lach opened the door for her and he took a step back for her to pa.s.s, she realized that he knew she would follow all along.

”We still have things to discuss, Mr. McKinnon.” Phoebe wouldn't admit it, but she'd have loved to have her sungla.s.ses on as well. The sunlight was glaring off of the snow and the wet roads. She wasn't sure what she was trying to prove by not putting them on, but she'd go with her instinct. ”Shall we head back to my apartment for some privacy?”

Chapter Seventeen.

Lach could appreciate the way the Secret Service agent scoured the area and gauged for any threats. He was thorough and kept in communication with the other members of his team. Her primary, Steve Johanson, kept his distance but Lach had no doubt that he was performing his duties. That wasn't to say he would ever go to the lengths to protect Phoebe as Lach would, but there was consolation this man had been trained properly. They entered the apartment building, Lach taking lead while the agent was no more than two steps behind Phoebe.

”I can't believe that you would have the audacity to go to my father,” Phoebe muttered as they all stood in front of the elevator doors. ”He's too busy to worry about when I take a lunch break. And don't get me started on the fact that it was an innuendo for more.”

He didn't reply, knowing it would not do either one of them any good at the moment and not willing to discuss their private lives in front a stranger, regardless of why he was there. Lach waited patiently for the elevator doors to slide open, ignoring the glare that Phoebe was giving him.

Taking his cue, for which Lach was grateful, Phoebe didn't say another word until the agent had thoroughly checked her apartment and they were safely inside. He calmly shrugged out of his jacket and hung it on her coat rack. Leaving her standing there staring at him and waiting for him to say something in his defense, he went into the kitchen and started to pull out makings for a ham sandwich. At least she was smart enough to keep lunchmeat on hand.

”Lach, it was downright embarra.s.sing.” Phoebe had gone around the wall and she was now standing in front of the island, her gloved hands resting on the back of the stool. ”I'm over thirty years old and I don't need my father's permission to see someone.”

”It's common courtesy where I come from.” Lach didn't stop his ministrations and also went about pulling down the two plates they'd need. He located the bread and untwisted the tie. ”I won't have your father finding out that we're sleeping together through his morning security debrief.”

”I would have told him,” Phoebe declared, finally taking her gloves off and laying them on the counter. She also shed her long dress coat, hanging it over the back of one of the stools. ”It just felt...wrong.”

”You baited me.” Lach let those words sink in, not looking up from his task of making their lunch.

”I was kidding around.” Phoebe pulled a stool out and took a seat, setting her hands on the granite. Lach finished making her sandwich and slid the plate over to her. The silence lengthened until she finally broke. ”Fine. I goaded you to see how far you could be pushed. Are you happy now?”

Lach went about putting everything away in its proper place before he took up his position on the opposite side of her, finally looking at her. It was apparent that she was apprehensive regarding the relations.h.i.+p they were about to embark on so he used this downtime to ease her worries. What he had planned for after lunch would hopefully alleviate her physical ones as well.

”Honesty will always please me.” Lach made sure he had her attention. ”What we do in the bedroom stays in the bedroom. I won't mislead you and say that my need for control sometimes carries over outside of said activities, but I respect your independence. It makes you who you are. The carnal undertakings that we will be involved in mandates that you be at your physical peak. I'll show you why after we eat.”

Phoebe lifted one side of her pink lips as if she were mulling over what he said. She picked up her sandwich and took a bite, never once looking away from him. Looking back over their time together, Lach was grateful that he'd been given the chance to observe her in her everyday environment. She had tells that would enable him to make sure she received the utmost pleasure during the creatively detailed scenes that he'd crafted in his mind.

The remainder of their lunch was eaten in silence, although Lach caught sight of the darkening in Phoebe's blue eyes. They both felt the intense chemistry between them and he took pleasure in the fact that it would only grow over time. He took her plate and set it with his in the sink before was.h.i.+ng his hands. Taking the towel and drying the water from his fingers, he looked over at her and waited until he had her full attention.

”Are you ready to head back to campaign headquarters?” Lach placed the dishtowel alongside the sink, waiting to see how she'd react to his question. ”I'm sure with your father traveling again this afternoon, you'll be needed. I overheard Paul saying he and a few other of the paid employees were on the move as well.”

”I was rather hoping that we could take an extra hour,” Phoebe said, her independent nature s.h.i.+ning through as she maneuvered herself off of the stool and came around the island. He wouldn't change a thing about her but he would certainly use her eagerness to his benefit. ”Do you have to be at the office any time soon?”

”An hour wouldn't give us enough time.” Lach studied Phoebe as her smile started to fade and he knew he'd carry out his original plan. It would be her first introduction to his predilection. ”Are you wearing panties?”

”What?” Phoebe's question was asked on her quick inhalation, but his inquiry certainly got her attention. ”Of course I am.”

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