Page 73 of The Beat Match

“They’re unpredictable and good at covering their tracks.”

“Okay, but…what can they do? Put a hit on me to get to you? This is pharmaceuticals, not a mob takeover.”

Wes moved her hips back slightly, distancing her on his lap. “A woman died because of them. I don’t think that was their end goal, and it was a while back, but their carelessness led to a car accident that took a person’s life. I didn’t want to put you at risk. It’s also why I delayed taking you out. But I’m done letting them infect our lives.”

“I haven’t seen anything odd. No one’s been following me. Unless there’s something else you’re hiding.”

“There haven’t been other signs, as far as I know. I think they’re focusing on the business, not personal shots. Another researcher gave notice. Duncan’s looking into the possibility of a mole in the office.”

She was glad he was sharing this burden with Duncan, but it also pissed her off. “I get your concern, but I don’t get why you didn’t tell me.”

“You were dealing with my lies about Leo.” His attention drifted away, somewhere over her shoulder. “I’d never seen you that upset and didn’t want to add to your stress. My job is to keep you happy.”

“Your job is to lean on me so I can help you. We lean on each other. We’re a team.”

He searched her face. “Is that what we are?”

Why did he sound so unsure? “Yes, unless we’re playing Scrabble, then we’re enemies. Same goes for chess. But right now, I’m the Batwoman to your Batman. So you need to tell me everything else these DLP clowns have done.”

“Nothing.”

“Nothing? Did you have anything DJ related on your phone? Calls to clubs?”

“I use a different phone for that. We’re keeping tabs on them best we can, but so far all’s quiet. They might have backed off when Rosanna and I split, figured their competition had fallen. But, please, don’t worry. It’s me they want to sabotage.”

Was he serious? “If they mess with you, they mess with me.”

“Drop it, Annie.”

“Why won’t you let me help? I can talk to Vivian’s girlfriend. She’s a private—”

“No.” His cheeks turned his famous shade of furious.

She wanted to wring his neck. “You’re impossible.”

“This is business, and it’ll be dealt with by me through work. Now let’s get back to this bickering with benefits.” He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against him. His heart was beating too fast. “You smell like honey and sage.”

She tried to relax, kissed his chest, right over his racing heart. “You smell like diamond shavings and gold dust. Always expensive. Except when you’re Falcon. Then you smell like a secret spy.”

He didn’t laugh. His hands moved, coasting over her back, gliding up into her hair as he rolled his hips. She lit up in seconds as they kissed and kissed and kissed, barely coming up for air. They shed their clothes, sliding against each other, trying to get closer. His movements were strong and rough, more demanding than usual. And the look in his eyes? She’d never seen him this intense, desperate almost as he surged into her over and over, faster, deeper. She’d never climaxed so hard.

They stayed locked together on the couch afterward, sweaty, panting, their hearts racing. He held her agonizingly close, like she’d vanish if he loosened his hold. She couldn’t speak through the painful pressure behind her ribs.

Something bigger was growing between them, almost unbearably strong. She suddenly understood his recent vigilance, because she felt the same. Terrified this was too good to last. Scared DLP would hurt Wes somehow. His body shuddered slightly, and he pressed his lips to the top of her head. He whispered something, quiet words she couldn’t hear, then he carried her into his room.

She woke later, groggy, alone. Wes’s side of the bed was cold, and unease wiped the sleep from her eyes. She padded into the living room, only to find Wes by the windows, staring into the dark, forlorn. Sad. So unlike the Weston Aldrich she knew.

Her unease worsened.

His father’s nastiness must have affected him more than he let on, or Victor’s open dislike of Annie could have Wes second-guessing their relationship. A possibility that had her clutching her chest. But the way he’d made love to her didn’t support that theory, and they’d become so close since they’d admitted their feelings. He’d been extra domineering lately out of fear, his controlling nature plugged into an amplifier. Because he was crazy about her. Just like she was crazy about him. Wholly, deeply in love with him. He’d be even more stressed now, worried about the merger, possibly losing his job. Add in DLP, who could be doing God knew what to sabotage him, and no wonder he was having trouble sleeping.

A surge of protectiveness flared behind her ribs. Wes’s phone records had been accessed. People who did that wouldn’t hesitate to do worse. At the very least, they could learn about his DJing, and he could not, for any reason, get fired. He may have scolded her for trying to help, but she wouldn’t sit idly by and do nothing. Sarah was a private investigator. Duncan had intel on the details. The trick would be helping Wes without him knowing.

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Weston’s eyes darted from his Rolex to Duncan, their lunch dragging longer than intended. He had to run the numbers on their latest Alzheimer’s studies and prepare projections, then arrange a final meeting with Karim’s Biotrell team for next week. The last merger details would be negotiated at that meeting, the papers finally signed. With DLP upping the stakes, he needed this deal done.