long day.” She knew it was a lame excuse, but she wasn’t sure why she’d instigated the conversation. “I’ve been doing my best to rearrange the agenda so all the important events are completed by sundown.”
“A wise precaution. When is the benefit scheduled to start?”
“It opens with a champagne brunch at eleven thirty. The silent auction will accept bids until two. Only the big-ticket items will be included in the live auction.”
“And how many items is that?”
“Nine, so it shouldn’t take too long. The actual program starts at three. I’d planned to announce the winners of each item in the silent auction, but the names could be posted instead of announced. That would shave at least an hour off the program length.” She sighed, mentally balancing her safety with the integrity of the event. “I’ve scheduled a live band, but I could claim to have a migraine or something. As long as the structured program is finished, I can conceivably delegate the rest.”
“Max has already assigned two additional teams to the party.”
“Teams? I wondered about that. Why don’t you have a partner? Military types seldom work alone.”
“I don’t play well with others.” He tried to soften the growl in his tone with a quick smile, but she didn’t buy the explanation.
“Have you always worked alone?”
“Is the gala at a hotel or some sort of event center?” His cold expression warned her away from the previous subject.
“Hotel.” She reluctantly let it go. His past wasn’t any more her concern than her social life was his. Regardless of the attraction sizzling between them, she was his responsibility, nothing more. “I’ve worked with this hotel before. Their in-house security isn’t bad, but I always augment it with my own people.”
“And we’ll back up your people.” He set aside his empty wineglass and pushed to his feet. “I’d still rather you stay home, but we’re getting closer to an acceptable level of control.”
“Control is important to you, isn’t it?” She hadn’t meant the question to sound quite so flirtatious, but her raging libido was making it hard to think about anything other than touching him and being touched by him.
He grabbed the edge of the table and leaned in close. “Let’s get through this gala without incident and I’ll demonstrate the answer to that question in intimate detail.”
“It’s a date,” she whispered.
His gaze focused on her mouth and her lips tingled as if he’d brushed her with his fingertips. Was it her imagination or had he created the sensation? She thought he’d say more. Instead, he shook his head with a distant smile and walked back into the house.
It’s a date ? Had she lost her mind?
Feeling like an absolute fool, Mara hurried down the veranda and knocked on the French doors leading into her father’s office. He glanced up from his videoconference and motioned her inside. She loitered near the doorway until he ended the call, then took her usual place in front of his desk.
“Tell me everything you know about Steffen Ziegler.”
His lips parted in a rare smile. “Has he pissed you off or turned you on?”
“Father!”
He folded his hands behind his head and stretched his back before he answered. “Mr. Ziegler comes to us highly recommended by the Preternatural Sentinel Network. Their standards are far more stringent than any set by human or Dichotomy. Most races we know wouldn’t survive their basic training. I’ve never worked with them before, but other members of the council have to more than satisfactory resolutions.”
“If he didn’t have an exemplary reputation, he wouldn’t be here. Now tell me what your personal investigators found out. You wouldn’t allow anyone to stay in this house without checking them out yourself.”
“You know me too well.” He relaxed in his chair, a smile lingering at the corners of his mouth. “Our guest has one brother, also a Sentinel. Steffen isn’t, nor has
“A wise precaution. When is the benefit scheduled to start?”
“It opens with a champagne brunch at eleven thirty. The silent auction will accept bids until two. Only the big-ticket items will be included in the live auction.”
“And how many items is that?”
“Nine, so it shouldn’t take too long. The actual program starts at three. I’d planned to announce the winners of each item in the silent auction, but the names could be posted instead of announced. That would shave at least an hour off the program length.” She sighed, mentally balancing her safety with the integrity of the event. “I’ve scheduled a live band, but I could claim to have a migraine or something. As long as the structured program is finished, I can conceivably delegate the rest.”
“Max has already assigned two additional teams to the party.”
“Teams? I wondered about that. Why don’t you have a partner? Military types seldom work alone.”
“I don’t play well with others.” He tried to soften the growl in his tone with a quick smile, but she didn’t buy the explanation.
“Have you always worked alone?”
“Is the gala at a hotel or some sort of event center?” His cold expression warned her away from the previous subject.
“Hotel.” She reluctantly let it go. His past wasn’t any more her concern than her social life was his. Regardless of the attraction sizzling between them, she was his responsibility, nothing more. “I’ve worked with this hotel before. Their in-house security isn’t bad, but I always augment it with my own people.”
“And we’ll back up your people.” He set aside his empty wineglass and pushed to his feet. “I’d still rather you stay home, but we’re getting closer to an acceptable level of control.”
“Control is important to you, isn’t it?” She hadn’t meant the question to sound quite so flirtatious, but her raging libido was making it hard to think about anything other than touching him and being touched by him.
He grabbed the edge of the table and leaned in close. “Let’s get through this gala without incident and I’ll demonstrate the answer to that question in intimate detail.”
“It’s a date,” she whispered.
His gaze focused on her mouth and her lips tingled as if he’d brushed her with his fingertips. Was it her imagination or had he created the sensation? She thought he’d say more. Instead, he shook his head with a distant smile and walked back into the house.
It’s a date ? Had she lost her mind?
Feeling like an absolute fool, Mara hurried down the veranda and knocked on the French doors leading into her father’s office. He glanced up from his videoconference and motioned her inside. She loitered near the doorway until he ended the call, then took her usual place in front of his desk.
“Tell me everything you know about Steffen Ziegler.”
His lips parted in a rare smile. “Has he pissed you off or turned you on?”
“Father!”
He folded his hands behind his head and stretched his back before he answered. “Mr. Ziegler comes to us highly recommended by the Preternatural Sentinel Network. Their standards are far more stringent than any set by human or Dichotomy. Most races we know wouldn’t survive their basic training. I’ve never worked with them before, but other members of the council have to more than satisfactory resolutions.”
“If he didn’t have an exemplary reputation, he wouldn’t be here. Now tell me what your personal investigators found out. You wouldn’t allow anyone to stay in this house without checking them out yourself.”
“You know me too well.” He relaxed in his chair, a smile lingering at the corners of his mouth. “Our guest has one brother, also a Sentinel. Steffen isn’t, nor has
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