Secure Desire Read online

  “Well, Luke, where have you been hiding this beauty?”

  At the compliment, Cassie smiled, but it did not reach her eyes. Her expression appeared well practiced.

  “Excuse me. Ian Chase, this is my niece, Cassie.”

  Ian grasped her extended hand and resisted the desire to lean down and kiss her cheek. Instead, he held her gaze.

  “Have we met before?” she asked.

  Ian nodded and smiled. “We have.” Doe eyes turned alarmed. He felt a sudden need to comfort her. Where did that idea come from? “Pleased to see you again, Dr. Ellis. We met at the National Gallery six years ago. You stole hearts and had the crowd eating out of your hands.”

  A haunted look clouded her gaze. “It’s Modine now, but thank you for the compliment. It was fun. I had the waiters put laxatives in the appetizers. It loosened the group up a bit.”

  Ian’s lips twitched at her sense of humor. “I’m glad I missed that.” A glance at her left hand kicked up his heartbeat — no wedding ring.

  “Mr. Chase, could I borrow my uncle for a moment?”

  Luke Paulsen’s facial expression shift was almost invisible, but Ian still managed to observe the slight change. His intrigue with Cassie was growing. Her body had changed since he first saw her at the museum. Her five-foot-one frame was tight, lean, and fit. Those striking eyes seemed less carefree and more guarded.

  In the hall, Cassie asked about the two sedans. Luke’s laugh was hearty. “Cassie, come back into the den. Ian, your team is losing their touch. She noted both sedans.”

  Ian’s brow arched with amusement. “I’m sorry to cause you alarm, Ms. Modine. They are part of my security team.”

  She let her guard down for a brief moment. “Hmm, they must love the Ducati.” Protecting a person on a high-performance bike was not easy. A man of his economic stature faced a multitude of threats.

  She scratched Knight’s ears to find something to do with her sweaty palms. Her heart still pounded with her earlier fear and something else. She remembered the feeling from once before in her life—the night she met a bearded stranger at the museum. It was the last moment before her life was torn apart a second time.

  “Cassie, Ian and Christian made it through BUD/S together.” BUD/S was basic underwater demolition and SEAL training, and Christian was the eldest Paulsen son. “Ian was also Caleb’s platoon leader for a short time.”

  Cassie shifted uneasily. He is the same man. A man who made her heart flutter.

  “Come sit. Ian and I just finished a bit of business. How’s work?”

  Cassie frowned. “I hate him. Wilds is a misogynistic ass.” The words fell out of her mouth, and Cassie didn’t need to see her uncle’s expression to realize he was expecting a less upfront conversation. “I’m sorry, Mr. Chase. I usually think before I speak.”

  “Please call me Ian. I’m assuming you’re talking about Supervisory Special Agent Greg Wilds and his ego.”

  Cassie shot a worried gaze at her uncle.

  Before Luke could speak, Ian said, “It’s okay. Don’t worry. Your secrets are safe with me.” He handed her the small credentials wallet holding her FBI identification, which Knight had also stolen.

  Cassie flushed. “Goodness. I’m sorry, Mr. Cha… Ian, if I offended you with my comment. Oh, God. I never thought you would know him. If he’s a friend, I do apologize.”

  “Don’t worry. Greg and I have known each other for a long time. Please don’t judge me.” It seemed like he could not take his eyes off her. “I’d better get going. I’ll leave you to your uncle.” He reached for her hand, his huge palm dwarfing her delicate fingers. “Good day, Cassie. I look forward to seeing you again.”

  The brief touch confirmed what Cassie’s body knew: Ian Chase was her bearded stranger. I wish things could be different. You won’t like me once you know what I am.

  Luke walked Ian to the front door. “Thank you. Chase Security came through again. It would be a Homeland nightmare if Dr. Breckenridge spent one more day in their custody. If it wasn’t for you and your team…” Luke’s lips pressed into a tight line.

  “I’ll tell them. Call us anytime. My best to Rachel and Team Paulsen.” That was his nickname for the five Paulsen sons. He glanced down the hall.

  “She’s lovely, isn’t she?” Luke asked.

  “Yes, sir. She is.”

  A sad look passed Luke’s eyes. “She’s dear to us.”

  Ian nodded and moved to the bike. Tapping his Bluetooth, he said, “I want a complete background check on FBI Special Agent Dr. Cassie Ellis Modine.”

  Chapter Two

  Robert Bynum Jr. sat alone in his black BMW, drumming nervous fingers on the steering wheel, waiting for the call to connect. “Guess who I saw today.”

  A stern male voice responded, “I don’t have time to play. I told you never to call me again. What do you want?”

  Robert inhaled his cigarette. “You better have time. I’m not that weak-willed son of yours. I just saw a cute familiar face in Pages. She is as yummy as ever. I think it’s time for seconds.” He watched out the driver’s side window.

  “What do you want? Did she see you?”

  Robert blew out a smoke ring. “I was thinking maybe twenty-five grand to start. The folks are tightening up my expense account. And what would it matter if she saw me? She knows me. Hell, we were together at the house for a holiday party or two. I can jog her memory, so she remembers you?”

  “Damn, that night was a disaster. If you think I’m going to let a drug addict blackmail me, you have another thought coming. Stay away from her.”

  “I’m feeling nostalgic. I need an incentive.”

  The next call went to his partner. “Hey, pal. Guess who I just saw?”

  Luke stared at the woman he loved like his child. “Forgive me, Pumpkin. What brings you here this early? Free time with Sophie is rare. What’s wrong?”

  Cassie twirled her fingers in her lap as a big sigh escaped her lips. “I never can get anything past you, can I?” She sank deeper into the couch. “I’m sure it’s nothing, but when I was in the bookstore, I had a panic attack. The last one was a long time ago.”

  Luke’s expression was paternal. “Do you know what triggered it, honey?”

  “A smell. Just a whiff, but I swear it was Clive Christian cologne and clove cigarettes. Uncle Luke, it’s been four years since an attack.”

  “Did you see anything odd or anyone familiar?”

  “No, it was just a whiff.”

  “Could it be the new assignment? It must be digging up a lot of memories. And I don’t need to remind you, the anniversary is Thursday. Maybe you should go to Wilds and beg off?”

  Her nose wrinkled. “Why would I do that? I’ve worked too hard for this. You know what would happen if I did; can you imagine? ‘Please take me off this case because I smelled my rapist’s cologne.’ My career would become a laughingstock. Besides, I refuse to give that man, whoever he is, that power.”

  “I’m sorry, Cassie. My priority always will be you.”

  “I’m sorry too. I know how much you care about me. I talked the assignment through with Stephanie last week, not the particulars, but enough to work through it, and I have my regular appointment with her on Monday. In the meantime, I will practice my grounding techniques. I promise.” She gave her uncle a reassuring look. “I’m sorry if I embarrassed you in front of Mr. Chase.”

  She thought about her first encounter with him. After a drunk patron grabbed her, she pulled Ian behind the scenes to see Venus With a Mirror.

  “His brushstrokes convey our sense of touch. What does she see in the mirror? What do we see? What do we feel?” Her voice was trembling. Realizing they were holding hands, she looked up at the handsome man and met his stare. “Beauty is alive and vibrant.”

  He released her, placing a wisp of escaped hair behind her ear. “Thank you, sweet Cassie.”

  “Don’t worry about embarrassing Ian. The paparazzi taught him some lessons. The latest news says he
has a woman living in every bedroom at his estate. He is building a polygamous colony so each woman can service a bizarre sexual need.” Luke shook his head. “He seemed to like you.”

  “Am I going to have to do what the boys do? Something about a week’s notice?” The five Paulsen sons warned that they would give their parents a short notice before their wedding and nothing else about their relationships. Cassie brushed her uncle off with her humor, her usual way to guard herself.

  Luke observed her with care. “Are you sleeping? You look exhausted. Does Greg have you working late hours?”

  She wasn’t going to shake Luke off the trail. “No. The team isn’t working late.” That wasn’t a lie. She couldn’t tell him she wasn’t sleeping well since Greg Wilds invited himself into her house for after-work activities.

  “C’mon, let’s get dinner started.”

  Cassie grabbed the bottle of wine. The black file was on the table. “I guess I shouldn’t ask what Ian Chase was doing here.”

  “Go on ahead, Pumpkin.” Luke picked up the folder and deposited it in his locked desk drawer.

  The following morning at FBI headquarters, Supervisory Special Agent Greg Wilds sat at the head of a conference table with his team of six agents, pounding the threats made against Senator Robert Bynum into their heads. “The senior senator from Virginia has received multiple threats from the fringe of a left-leaning feminist group about his stance on women.” Wilds scowled at Cassie. “Is protecting this man going to be an issue for you, Modine?”

  “No, sir. I don’t have to like the man to protect him.” Cassie ground her pen into her notes.

  Special Agent Preston Galloway asked, “Are there any photographs of the hierarchy of the group? Anything to give us an inkling of what they’re planning?”

  In the middle of his detailed response, a Blondie song yelled, “Call me. Call me any, anytime.” Cassie silenced the phone.

  “Are we disturbing your social schedule, Agent Modine?” Wilds asked.

  She shoved the phone deep into her pocket, angry at herself for forgetting to silence it before the meeting. “I apologize, I thought I turned it off. You have my absolute attention.”

  Greg Wilds, six-foot-two with cinnamon red hair, eyes the color of coal, and linebacker-broad shoulders, strode around the room, placing two meaty hands on his temporary assignee’s shoulders. “I better have your attention. It might be the difference between you continuing working in this agency or collecting unemployment.” His mouth just inches from her face, his tongue darted like a toad’s against her ear.

  Her gut clenched. He forced his probing fingers into her pocket, dipping them forward toward her crotch. Pulling out the phone, he answered the call.

  “Cassie?”

  At the sound of the recognizable voice of a man he hated, Wilds frowned. “I’m sorry, Ms. Modine is unable to take calls right now because, unlike you, she works for a living.” He turned off the phone and returned it to Cassie. “Your boyfriend will have to wait!”

  Her teammates appeared sympathetic but said nothing. Okay, Cass. No help is coming. It’s up to you. Exhausted from days of interrupted sleep, she didn’t think through all the consequences to her next actions.

  After a deep breath, she said, “Mr. Wilds, do not touch me again, or I will not hesitate to file a sexual harassment report with HR. Am I making myself clear?” Cassie was pleased with how strong her voice sounded.

  The harassment began the minute she walked into Greg’s office to introduce herself. At first, it was just annoying verbal jousting. Monday, he pushed his way past her front door. His actions took her by surprise. It wasn’t until he tore her blouse and stopped to stare at the white scars on her chest that she was able to respond by reaching for her weapon, kicking him, and breaking free.

  “You just made the biggest mistake of your career,” Wilds had said, fleeing her house in anger.

  His snarling voice brought her back to the present. “What, Princess?”

  Agent Vincent Cruz cringed.

  “My name is Cassie, Cassie Modine, Miss Modine, or Agent Modine. Not Princess. I will remind you that as a special agent with the Art and Cultural Property Crime Division, I am trained the same as every other agent here. I understand there is a learning curve when you are new to a team. I can only assure you: I am quite competent. I’ll chalk it up to you not knowing me, Mr. Wilds, but I want to be clear here in front of five witnesses. I will not now—nor will I ever—tolerate you calling me Princess or tolerate you placing your hands on me again.” She chose not to mention it wasn’t the first time he’d touched her.

  Wilds reached under her arms and lifted her out of her seat. “Did I hurt the Princess’s feelings?”

  Cassie kept her promise. Surprise and small stature were on her side. She rolled to her left, breaking free from his grasp. With lightning speed, she dragged one of his arms behind him. A swift kick to the back of his knee followed, compelling his body forward against the table with an audible thud. She lifted her knee, placing it perilously close to his male anatomy.

  “I hope this quashes anyone’s doubts. I just wanted to make sure my teammates feel secure with me watching their backs.” Cassie scanned their faces. “Thank you, Mr. Wilds, for generously participating in this exercise.”

  Snickers of laughter broke out.

  “I think this is a good time for a fifteen-minute break,” Agent Quinn Marcus announced.

  Steam billowed from Wilds’ head. With a curt smile, Cassie released the man. Grabbing her file, she left the room.

  The glass and bronze ten-story building’s sky-lit penthouse stood over the heart of the District of Columbia. Eagle’s Talon’s leaders sat together, poring over a new covert government contract. The Eagle’s Talon was a clandestine sub-division of Chase Security.

  Ian pulled on his chin. “Have our technical analysis people dig a little deeper. The information we have is wrapped with a bow—too perfect. I smell a brewing ambush. We cannot put any of our people at increased risk; I don’t care what Uncle Sam is paying us.”

  Kieran Chase circled the item in question in red. “I agree. I will contact Mike and let him know about the delay. They can all enjoy another day in the Keys before heading south.”

  “I’m sure another day of fun will just break their hearts.”

  Kieran glanced at his watch. “I am wheels up in two for NOLA.”

  Esther buzzed. “Mr. Milton to see you, sirs.”

  Ian pressed the door release. Tiki Milton, a tall, ebony-skinned, model-handsome man, and one of Chase Security’s talented technical analysts walked in.

  “Ian, here’s the info you requested on Cassie Modine. It’s bare bones. Her life is encrypted. You told me she’s FBI, but her earlier info should be available. Everything from grad school forward is blacked out. How deep do you want us to go?”

  Kieran raised an eyebrow at his big brother. Looking deeper might cross some legal lines. “Anyone I should know about?”

  Tiki stood expressionless, waiting for the answer on the background check.

  “Take it to the next level.”

  “Yes, sir.” Tiki disappeared from the room.

  “New contract, bro?” Kieran dug again as he grabbed his go-bag.

  “Someone interesting. You have everything you should need on the Bombardier. Watch your six. Bring Susie home to her mom and dad.”

  The brothers slapped each other across their backs.

  “You got it.” Kieran headed out to the airport. “Hey, take care of my girl.”

  “Always.” Ian planned to talk to his brother upon his return. Kieran didn’t need to get his hands dirty anymore. Now that he was married; leading a team into harm’s way wasn’t worth the risk.

  The sun warmed Cassie’s face while she sat on a bench in front of FBI headquarters. “I hate Greg Wilds!” she mumbled under her breath. Clenching and unclenching her fists, she rolled her shoulders. It felt good, but decking her supervisor was not her smartest choice. A quick press o
f a button and her phone recalled the unrecognized number that interrupted her morning briefing.

  “Ian Chase.”

  Cassie gasped at the smooth, baritone voice at the end of the phone call. Oh gosh, Wilds thinks he’s my boyfriend. “Mr. Chase, this is Cassie Modine. I think I am returning your call, although I am not sure how you got this number.”

  “Call me, Ian, please. I hope I didn’t cause you any trouble when I called this morning. Greg sounded a bit perturbed, for lack of a better word. I want to take you to dinner tonight.”

  Cassie hesitated. “Umm.”

  “Just dinner, Cassie. According to your uncle, you need to eat. I need to eat. It’s just a meal between two hungry people. We can talk about the new exhibit coming to the Hirschhorn Museum. Please, I need to make it up to you after my misdirected phone call. And perhaps you can save me?”

  “Save you?”

  “Yes. My sister-in-law is doing a Life and Style photoshoot for the fall issue. The estate looks like Casper threw up. My brother is leaving town, which makes me a candidate for the background. Please, pity me?” Ian asked in a boyish tone.

  She giggled. “Okay, I will save you from Casper. Just dinner, Ian.”

  “Good. I will pick you up at home at seven.” Ian returned to his business tone.

  “I’ll see you later.” Cassie hung up before realizing she hadn’t given him her address, then she warded off a bubble of anxiety by cataloging everything in her line of sight.

  Ian swiveled back to read her file. He tried to dismiss his invasion of Cassie’s privacy, reminding himself his legal team would insist on a background check if he developed feelings for her. That rule was unbreakable. Cassie awakened something he hadn’t felt in a while—interest.