The Perfect Murder by Kat Martin
SIX
Kenzie made the phone call, dreading the sound of the woman’s voice. Reese dated the most beautiful women in the world: movie stars, TV personalities, and fashion models, though he seemed to prefer women less interested in the spotlight. Businesswomen, a high school principal, and attorneys like Fiona Cantor had all spent time in his company.
And undoubtedly in his bed.
Though he never dated a woman very long, they usually remained friends and rarely refused to see him again. Perhaps he kept things superficial as a result of his divorce, a bitter, expensive dissolution from what Kenzie had read in the gossip columns. She figured Reese wasn’t ready to go down that particular road again—if ever.
In a way it made her sad. Reese was a great guy. She knew he had coached Little League baseball and was a Big Brother to kids from broken homes. He also donated heavily to underprivileged teen charities, including Dallas Youth Homes, the benefit he was attending tonight.
The woman answered and Kenzie took a deep breath. “Hello, Andrea, this is Reese Garrett’s personal assistant, McKenzie Haines. I’m calling to let you know the limo will be arriving at seven o’clock to pick you up for tonight’s event. Reese said to tell you he’s looking forward to seeing you again.”
“Oh, dear. I was just getting ready to call him. A family emergency came up and I have to cancel. My mom’s in the hospital. Shall I call Reese or can you give him the message?”
“I can let him know. Don’t worry, I’m sure Reese would want you to be with your mother.”
“Thank you.”
The call ended and Kenzie felt a shocking sense of relief. It was ridiculous. Reese would just call someone else to take Andrea’s place. She glanced at the clock. It was Friday night, the office closed. Except for the few people on the executive floor who were still working, everyone had gone home. Reese was going to be late if he didn’t leave soon, and he still needed to find a date.
She knocked lightly on his door and pulled it open. Reese stood in the middle of the room talking on the phone as he unfastened the row of buttons down the front of his white dress shirt.
She knew he kept several suits and miscellaneous extra garments in his office. There was a private bath with a shower so he could change if he was running late.
But tonight was a black-tie affair. He motioned toward the closet, shrugged out of the shirt and tossed it onto the sofa. She tried not to stare. She had imagined his lean, tanned, broad-shouldered torso more times than she cared to admit, but not the powerful chest with the crisp black hair arrowing down over six-pack abs, across a flat stomach, disappearing into the waistband of his slacks.
Her heart drummed. Her palms felt damp. Trying to block the image, she walked briskly to the closet to retrieve the tuxedo she found inside, but the sight of his naked torso was burned into her brain.
She took down a black designer tux and the pleated white shirt next to it. Still on the phone, Reese had turned and was looking out the window, giving her a view of his broad shoulders and muscular back.
She told herself to move, but her legs felt frozen and she couldn’t seem to take the first step. The tux and shirt hit the floor and her mouth dried up. Stretched across all that smooth, tanned skin was the most amazing tattoo she had ever seen.
The wings of a beautifully drawn bird, its head in profile, spread from one feathered tip to another across that broad back. Not an eagle, she realized. Something darker, more compelling, something she couldn’t have imagined in her most erotic dreams.
Reese turned away from the window and the beautiful bird disappeared. Face flushed with embarrassment, she reached down and picked up the hangers, carefully draped the tux over the arm of the sofa.
Reese ended the call and tossed his cell on the matching chair. “I’m running late,” he explained. “I had my housekeeper go by my apartment and pick up my tux. I figured I could save time if I dressed right here.”
She managed to nod. Clearly, she must not have looked as astonished as she felt.
Reese crossed to the sofa, took the dress shirt off the hanger, and slipped it on, covering those wide shoulders and most of his powerful chest.
“So I guess this is the first time you’ve seen my tattoo,” he said mildly. “I suppose I should have prepared you.”
But he had been clear from the beginning. If she wanted to be his personal assistant, it was her job to do whatever he needed done. Not including sexual favors, of course.
If she was offended by bringing him a cup of coffee or helping him arrange a date, he would hire a man for the position. Because of the social climate where male-female business relations had become so strained, he had preferred to do just that. Kenzie had convinced him she could handle the job.
“It’s not a problem,” she said. “It’s not like I’m in danger of being assaulted. You’re standing ten feet away.”
His mouth edged up in that sexy way of his.
“Your tattoo,” she couldn’t resist adding. “It’s incredible. What kind of bird is it?”
He buttoned the shirt, but made no move to take off any more of his clothes. Reese never pushed the boundaries between employer and employee. She didn’t believe he ever would.
“It’s a falcon,” he said. “I had it done when I was in high school. Kind of a fuck you to my family, I guess. I should probably have it removed, but I see it as a reminder of the rotten kid I was back then. In some odd way, it keeps me centered.”
Surprise filtered through her. Though she’d read some of his background in the papers, she couldn’t imagine Reese Garrett ever really stepping out of line. “The tattoo is beautiful. It’s part of you now. I don’t think it’s something you should destroy.”
His features softened. She could feel his intense blue eyes on her. “Maybe not. I like it, if you want the truth.” He flicked a glance at the tux, Armani or something equally expensive. “You came in here for a reason. What is it?”
She felt like a fool. At the sight of his amazing body, she had completely forgotten the reason she was there. “Your date for the evening, Andrea Wellington? She had a family emergency and had to cancel.”
He frowned. “I can’t go to this thing alone.” He checked his gold Bulgari wristwatch, adjusted the black alligator band, and looked back at her. “I don’t have time to find someone else. How long would it take you to get ready?”
“What?”
“I need a dinner date. If you have something formal to wear, I’d appreciate it if you’d fill in.”
She had traveled with him. Joined him for business lunches and dinners with associates whenever he needed her. This was no different.
“I attended all sorts of formal functions when I was married to Lee. I have the right clothes. Once I get home, I can be ready in twenty minutes.”
He looked back down at his watch. “We’ll save time if I just go with you. Reggie has the limo waiting downstairs. As soon as I’m dressed, we can go.”
Kenzie rode in silence all the way to her town house. She was going to be Reese’s date for the evening. She’d had a dream like that one night, a dream that had ended with Reese kissing her, doing a lot more than that. She’d awakened with a start, her skin hot and her body damp. Fortunately, the erotic part of the dream had slipped away, for which she was especially grateful now.
She thought of the beautiful tattoo on his back, a falcon, wings spread the width of his shoulders. The sight had hit her with a shot of lust unlike anything she had ever felt before.
She and Lee had had an adequate sex life. At least in the beginning. Until he’d started cheating and she had found out. She had threatened to leave him. For Griffin’s sake had stayed, but her desire for him had faded along with her trust.
Their limo pulled up in front of the town house, a two-story redbrick building on Colby Street in Uptown.
“I can wait out here,” Reese offered.
Kenzie shook her head. “Absolutely not. Besides, it’s time you met my grandmother and my son, Griff.”
He nodded, a little surprised, she thought, and maybe pleased. “All right.” The front door wasn’t bolted. She opened it and both of them walked into the foyer. She noticed Reese frowning.
“Be smarter to keep your door locked. Criminals are always looking for an easy mark.”
He was right. She tried to keep the house secure but it was difficult with three people going in and out.
“I’ll try harder.”
Reese just nodded.
As they walked into the living room, Gran rose from the overstuffed chair next to the beige tweed sofa. Except for Griff’s skateboard propped against one wall and a stack of paperback romances on the end table next to a brass lamp, Gran always kept the place neat and clean.
“Gran, this is my boss, Reese Garrett. Reese, this is Florence Spencer, my grandmother.”
“Nice to meet you, Mrs. Spencer,” Reese said.
Gran smiled. “I’d rather you just call me Flo.” Her pale blue eyes ran over him boldly, from the top of his gleaming black hair, along the shiny lapels of his tuxedo, down his long legs, to the glossy black shoes on his feet. “Pleasure to meet you.” She turned to Kenzie. “Griff’s over at the neighbor’s. He should be home any minute.”
“Reese’s date canceled at the last minute. I’m filling in for her, so I need to get upstairs and change.” Kenzie turned back to Reese. “I won’t be long.”
He just nodded. She wondered what he thought of the town house. With its inexpensive, durable furniture, knickknacks on the shelves, and framed family photos on the walls, the place was at best comfortable and homey. She wasn’t much of a decorator. Or rather, she was too busy earning a living to worry much about it.
In time, she planned to make improvements, but for now it was enough.
She headed upstairs, quickly went to her closet, and started searching through the clothes left over from her former life. She’d been the wife of Lee Haines, a wealthy businessman, daughter-in-law of Arthur Haines, both members of the Dallas elite. The clothes weren’t new, but the designer labels were exclusive and the garments beautifully made in timeless styles that rarely changed.
Quickly sorting through her options, she chose a modest dark blue crepe gown with a beaded bodice and narrow spaghetti straps. It fit snugly at the waist and hips, then flared gently to the floor.
She tossed the dress on the bed and hurried into the bathroom to freshen her makeup, adding a little extra for the occasion. Brushing her heavy dark hair, she plaited it into a loose braid and pinned it in a knot at the nape of her neck, careful to leave a few loose strands beside each ear.
Satisfied with her appearance, she added a pair of rhinestone earrings and slipped into matching dark blue satin heels. Blue beaded clutch in hand, she headed out of the bedroom and started down the stairs, pausing halfway when she heard her son’s laughter mingled with Reese’s deep chuckle.
Her stomach fluttered and it wasn’t from nerves. Pressing her hand there, she took a deep breath and continued down to the living room.
