I force my attention to her mother and offer her a smile as I hold my hand out. “Mrs. Meyers... I’m Kynan McGrath.”
She gives me a brief handshake and looks around. “Pleasure. This is my daughter, Joslyn.”
It seems every muscle in my body tightens as I turn her way, because on a physical level, I’ve never been this attracted to a woman before. Thankfully she’s looking at me now with a bland, reserved expression, although there’s still a tinge of pink on her cheeks.
I don’t offer my hand because I’m actually afraid to touch her for fear of some mystical electrical spark that would snap between us. She doesn’t offer her hand either but I give her a nod of acknowledgment.
Turning back to Mrs. Meyers, I suggest, “Let’s go into our conference room and we can discuss your concerns about Joslyn’s safety.”
“There are no concerns,” Joslyn murmurs but Mrs. Meyers gives me a tight smile as she ignores her daughter.
I lead them through the lobby, down a short hall, and to a small conference room that has a round table with four chairs. It’s a more intimate setting so they’ll both feel more comfortable.
As for me, I’m not sure there’s anything that could make me comfortable around Joslyn and for a moment, I hate myself for that weakness. In my twenty-six years of living, I’ve never let a woman affect anything other than my cock. In just the moments since I’ve met her, my entire body seems to vibrate in awareness of her.
I offer coffee, tea, water, or soda. I would like a few shots of bourbon myself, but that’s an impossibility. They both decline and once we’re settled at the table with Mrs. Meyers to my left and Joslyn taking the chair directly across from me, I ask a generalized question and wait to see who answers. That tells me who’s leading this march.
“Why do you think personal security is needed?”
Joslyn’s gaze turns to her mom, who regards me with an aloof sort of professionalism. I don’t think she’s in “mother” mode at all.
“As Joslyn’s act has become more popular here in Vegas, she’s started to accrue a fan following. There have been a few concerning incidents and I don’t want to take any of them lightly. What might seem like an innocent fascination might turn into a real security threat to my daughter.”
I give her an understanding nod. “I’d like more details on what’s happened so far to worry you. It will help me determine if we can be of help.”
Joslyn’s gaze drops down to her lap where her hands are tucked. Mrs. Meyers launches into a litany of events that have occurred from anonymous love letters and gifts to exuberant fans copping a feel when she signs autographs and takes photos after a show. “She keeps getting typed letters from one fan that are just plain creepy,” she continues on. “Talks about how he’s in love with her but he doesn’t have the guts to approach her for a picture or autograph because she’ll reject him.”
I note a reaction from Joslyn in the form of a heavy eye roll, so I question it. “You don’t agree that these are concerning?”
“He didn’t say he was afraid I’d reject him,” she clarifies to me and gives her mom a stern look for perhaps massaging the words. “He said he didn’t want to be a bother.”
“Same thing,” her mom says with a casual wave her hand. “The fact that he’s sent multiple letters all saying the same thing is a clue that he’s slightly obsessed with her.”
I’d have to agree with Mrs. Meyers on this and it’s not a good sign. So I turn back to Joslyn and push at her. “How come you’re not concerned with this?”
To my surprise, Joslyn sighs and gives her mom a quick but apologetic smile before turning my way. “It’s not that I don’t think that stuff’s weird, because I do, but it just seems... I don’t know... a little overboard to hire security.”
“A lot of high-profile people do it,” I point out to her.
“You see,” she drawls with a frustrated look on that incredibly gorgeous face, “I’m not high profile. I’m just a Vegas act. It seems... a little pretentious to me, is all.”
And my attraction to her increases exponentially with those words. She’s not a princess or a diva at all. In fact, she seems incredibly grounded for a nineteen-year-old and that shit is sexy to me.
Apparently.
It’s not ever happened before... me being attracted to something other than the physical assets.
I push that aside though and turn back to Mrs. Meyers. “Do you want full-time security or just when she’s out in public?”
“Full-time,” she replies.
“That’s going to be expensive,” I tell her, knowing that if anything kills this deal it will be the money.
Mrs. Meyers waves me off with a casual flick of her wrist. “I had it written into her contract that they would pay for full-time security upon our request if we wanted it. And I want it, and I want your firm. I realize you and Mr. Jameson are young and new to the game, but you come highly recommended and we want to hire you.”
That impresses me—that she’s had the foresight to require the casino provide security for her daughter—and I think Joslyn’s mom seems to have a really good head on her shoulders. Still, I need the actual client to be okay with it.
Turning my gaze to Joslyn, I tell her, “While we will be as unobtrusive as possible, you need to be the one to approve this. You’ll need to follow our instructions when you’re out in public and you may have to modify your routines a bit. But I think based on what your mom has told me, that it’s warranted.”
She regards me a moment, those light blue eyes churning with indecision. She glances at her mom, then back to me as she nibbles on her lip.
Christ... wish that wasn’t sexy too.
Finally, she gives me a slight nod. “We can try it out.”
And while I should want to steer clear of this woman who seems to affect me on so many levels it’s ridiculous, I can’t force away the feeling of relief that she’s going to hire us.
I am actually looking forward to watching over her.
Chapter 4
Joslyn
Two paces to the front door. I reach out to touch the knob, then jerk my hand back as I reconsider. Turning, I stride away three paces and stop as I tell myself, “Just go for it, Joslyn.”
I’ve been doing this for ten minutes now and I might be certifiably crazy. But I haven’t been able to concentrate since he arrived at the apartment I share with my mom. He performed what he called a “sweep” once he got here and assured my mom that everything looked secure. He checked out the alarm system that came with the place and pronounced it satisfactory, then immediately stationed himself outside our door in the hallway.
God, he looked amazing, too. Not all buttoned up like yesterday at his office with his tailored suit and short, military-style haircut. He was clean shaven and with that silky British accent that caught me totally off guard when he first spoke, I thought he was quite the dapper business man.
Today though...
Black military-style cargo pants tucked into combat boots that were new and shiny but looked like they could totally stomp some ass and a well-fit black T-shirt with the words Jameson Group in white over the left side of the chest. The T-shirt was short sleeved and molded around impressively huge biceps you couldn’t quite appreciate under the tailoring of his suit.