The Perfect Murder by Kat Martin

SEVEN

Whatever Reese was about to say froze in the back of his throat. The blue beaded gown worked perfectly with Kenzie’s coloring, her mahogany hair, golden brown eyes, and fair complexion. It was modest for the most part, displaying her curves but only a hint of cleavage. The fabric rustled when she moved, an erotic sound that stirred the blood already pounding through his veins.

The dress was simple and in perfect taste. On Kenzie, it was the sexiest gown Reese had ever seen. He wanted to tell her how beautiful she looked, but it was exactly the wrong thing to do.

“So what do you think about the coaching job, Mr. Garrett?” Griff asked, giving Reese the moment he needed to compose himself. Griffin Haines was a handsome kid with his mother’s good looks and similar coloring, the golden brown eyes and thick, dark, reddish-brown hair.

He was smart, too, same as Kenzie. Fortunately, Lee Haines’s weak chin and pale eyes had been overpowered by Kenzie’s stronger genes.

Reese’s gaze went back to her and he restarted the conversation. “Griff mentioned he played Little League baseball and I told him I’d coached a team a couple of summers ago. Griff says his coach recently quit and asked if I’d be interested.” He looked back at Griff. “Tell you what, let me give it some thought.”

Kenzie just nodded, clearly not excited at the prospect. He wondered if she could be thinking along the same lines he was. The last thing they needed was more time together.

“If you don’t want to be late, we’d better get going,” she said with a glance at the door.

Gran walked them to the entry. “You both look gorgeous. You make a beautiful couple.”

Reese managed to smile. “Thank you, Mrs. Spencer.”

“It’s just Flo, like I said.”

He nodded. “We won’t be late, Flo.” He turned to Griff. “I’ll have your mom home as early as possible.”

“That’s okay, Mom doesn’t have a curfew like I do.”

Reese managed to hold back a smile and just nodded.

They left the town house, Kenzie walking beside him. She missed a step in her sky-high heels but quickly righted herself without his help. Reese felt a trickle of irritation at the forced propriety. It felt strange to be escorting a woman he wasn’t allowed to touch.

Kenzie flicked him a sideways glance. “Maybe we could set aside some of the politically correct protocol, just for tonight.”

Reese smiled broadly, relieved she felt the same. “That sounds great. Just remember it was your idea.”

Kenzie smiled back. He felt the kick but managed to ignore it. As he guided her down the slightly uneven path to the long white stretch limo, the warmth of her body beneath his hand, seeping through her gown, sent his mind once more where it didn’t belong.

He focused on the limo driver, who opened the rear passenger door. A big, beefy African American, Reggie Porter owned the limo company. He was former military, tough as nails, and a longtime, trusted friend of the Garrett family.

Reese helped Kenzie settle inside then slid onto the deep red leather seat beside her. He couldn’t help thinking how good she felt next to him, which made him wonder if setting aside the rules for the evening had been the best plan.

One thing he knew, dating his executive assistant was completely out of the question. If he wanted to see her, he’d either have to fire her or find her another, less desirable position in the company, which, for both their sakes and especially his, Reese refused to do.

With the investigation he was beginning, he needed Kenzie now more than ever.

The benefit for the Dallas Youth Homes charity was being held at The Adolphus, an elegant older hotel on Commerce Street in the financial district.

The hotel, built in 1912, had once played host to presidents and even the Queen of England. The ballroom, with its elegant molded ceilings and parquet floors, held a sea of linen-draped tables, each with a blue-and-silver floral arrangement.

Most of the guests were seated by the time Kenzie and Reese walked to their table near the stage at the front of the room where his brothers were waiting, along with a friend from Colorado and his date.

Her nerves were on edge. Being with Reese tonight felt different than previous business events. Part of her loved being with him this way. Another part worried it might intensify the forbidden feelings she carried for him.

To protect herself, Kenzie concentrated on the evening ahead. She knew from Reese’s schedule who would be sitting at the table. She had met Chase and Brandon during Reese’s hospital stay, but none of the others.

“Sorry I missed the cocktail hour,” Reese said. “My date had a family emergency. This is my assistant, Kenzie Haines. She was kind enough to fill in for her.”

He turned to Kenzie. “You’ve met my brother Chase.”

She nodded. “It’s nice to see you again.”

“You, too, Kenzie,” Chase said. “And under far more pleasant circumstances. I appreciate the way you helped us take care of my brother after the accident.”

She felt the heat creeping into her face. After the crash, she had gone to see Reese at the hospital every day, explaining her presence as necessary to keep the office running smoothly. Reese never knew how worried she had been and she wanted to keep it that way.

“Looking out for Reese is my job,” she said mildly.

Chase’s smile widened. “Yes, I suppose it is.” He was maybe an inch shorter than Reese, the edge of his jaw defined by a short-cropped dark blond beard.

“The lady next to him is his wife, Harper,” Reese continued.

“Nice to meet you, Kenzie.” Harper Garrett was a tall, willowy young woman with gorgeous silver-blond hair.

“You, too.”

“You know my younger brother, Brandon.”

Brandon touched his forehead in a faint salute. “Nice seeing you.” He grinned. “Anyone who can put up with my prickly brother all day is okay by me.” He had dark brown hair and the lean, hard-muscled build that ran in the Garrett family.

He was also gorgeous, with a movie-star face and beautiful blue eyes a less intense shade than Reese’s. She couldn’t help noticing the affection in Brandon’s eyes whenever he looked at his wife.

Jessie Garrett smiled and greeted Kenzie warmly, and Reese moved on to Kade Logan, a rancher from Colorado, a handsome, well-built man with dark hair and golden brown eyes. His companion, talk-show personality Marla Steiner, was a date Chase had arranged for his friend.

Once Kenzie and Reese were seated, there was a brief welcome from the president of the charity, then the dinner service began—chicken swimming in lemon cream sauce and green beans with slivered almonds. She’d eaten similar meals with Lee on dozens of different occasions.

Kenzie shifted in her chair. With eight people at the round linen-covered table, she was sitting close enough to Reese to feel the occasional brush of his thigh against hers. She remembered his magnificent tattooed back, and her body flushed with heat. It was frightening. She couldn’t wait for the evening to end.

It seemed hours before it was over. At one point, Reese got up and gave a brief address, followed by several others describing the work done by the charity, thanking people for coming, and imploring them to be generous.

She made a trip to the ladies’ room with Harper and Jessie, found both of them easy to talk to and totally accepting of her as nothing more than Reese’s substitute date. She’d been worried something in her expression would give away her attraction.

All evening, Kenzie worked to keep up a businesslike facade, which Reese seemed to do without the slightest effort. A thought that was oddly depressing.

Deep down, she couldn’t help wishing she were there with him for real, something she had never remotely considered. It wasn’t going to happen, could not possibly happen, not when her job meant so much to her and she needed the income so badly. More so if Lee actually filled a custody suit for Griff.

The hours slipped past. Finally, the benefit was over and they were back in the limo. The vehicle was driving toward her town house when Reese mentioned the investigation he was pursuing.

“I’m flying into Houston,” he said. “Driving on to Galveston. I’ll be asking questions, tracking people down, digging up basic information.”

“I’ve scheduled your trip to the platform,” Kenzie said, “but I really think, under the circumstances, you should postpone it.”

Surprisingly, Reese agreed. “Until we know what’s going on, that’s probably a good idea.”

“I’ll take care of it.”

“I could really use your help while I’m down there,” he said. “If leaving town for a couple of days isn’t too inconvenient.”

“Gran’s there to take care of Griff and they’re both used to me working long hours. A few days away won’t be a problem.”

Not a problem for Gran or Griff. But for her, spending time with Reese was growing more and more difficult.

“Set it up,” he said. “We’ll fly down next week. I’ve got a staff meeting on Tuesday. We’ll leave Wednesday morning, come back Friday night at the latest. You’ll be home in time to spend the weekend with your son.”

Reese and his wife had never had children. She knew he liked kids. Kenzie thought he would have made a good dad.

The limo turned a corner and continued down the street. She usually booked Reese an SUV, but for black-tie occasions, he preferred a stretch. She couldn’t help wondering if Andrea would have enjoyed it.

Reggie pulled up in front of her town house, got out to open the rear passenger door. Reese slid out of the car and came around to help Kenzie alight.

“You don’t need to walk me to the door,” she said. “I can find my own way.”

“Tonight you’re my date. That doesn’t end until you’re safely inside your home.” His hand rode at her waist as he walked her up the concrete path to the front porch. She couldn’t suppress the flutter in her stomach. When Kenzie turned to look at him, his eyes, a fierce cobalt blue, held a trace of something she had never seen before. Heat, she realized, the unmistakable glitter of desire.

He blinked and it was gone.

Or maybe she had only imagined it.

“I know attending a benefit with your assistant wasn’t your favorite thing to do,” she said. “But it was still a very nice evening.”

He took a step back, his face in shadow. In her dream, he had leaned down and kissed her.

“I’m glad you enjoyed it.” He moved even farther away. “Good night, Kenzie.”

“Good night, Reese.”

She watched him walk away, shoulders wide, long strides eating up the ground beneath his black patent shoes. An unexpected yearning moved through her.

Get a grip, Kenzie. You’re just an employee.And even if tonight had been a real date, even if she had broken all the rules and kissed him, even seduced him, she would just be another of his women. Reese was never interested in more than a brief affair.

She sighed as she climbed the stairs to her empty bedroom. Tomorrow was another day. Everything would be back to normal.

But as she lay in bed, she thought of Reese and the hot look in his eyes and couldn’t fall asleep.