She still looked suspicious. “I would think she would say something if she was moving her boyfriend in.”
“I’ve known her since we were young.” He was riffing now, but it felt oddly personal. It felt like he was talking about the woman he’d always wanted. That best friend he’d searched for, the one who’d stood beside him so he’d known he wasn’t alone. “My brother and I moved to the town her dad lived in. She was in New Orleans with her mom, but we lived close to her dad and spent a couple of summers together before she ended up moving in with her dad.”
He’d learned a lot about her in a short amount of time.
“You’re from Papillon?” Cara asked, her eyes narrow on him.
He gave her his most charming smile. “I was her high school boyfriend. She kind of left me behind because she’s the smartest thing in the world. She went to UT and I had to go to community college before I made it to a four-year school.”
“You did a great job, brother.” Kyle stepped up beside him. “We always knew you two would find your way back to each other.”
Cara stared for a moment. “I didn’t know she had a boyfriend at home.”
He shrugged. “We haven’t been close in a couple of years, but she came home before she took this job and we’ve been talking ever since. She came home this week and sparks flew again. I’ve got a job interview up here. Noelle and I are going to try to make a go of it.”
Cara’s head shook. “She’s never mentioned you.”
He held a hand out. “I’m Hutch. This is my brother, Kyle, and his girlfriend, Mae.”
“I’m going to find a job here, too,” Kyle explained. “We recently had our third hurricane of the season, and I’m freaking tired of cleaning up downed trees. It takes a lot out of a man, you know.”
Kyle was good at playing the brainless hottie.
MaeBe sidled up to Kyle. “I bet you look good cleaning things up. Do you take your shirt off?” She turned to Cara. “We met on the Internet. He’s got great abs.”
She ran her hand from Kyle’s shoulder to right above his waist.
“Ms. LaVigne emailed earlier and put these people on her list,” Chris explained. “I was about to show them up.”
“Well, it’s an interesting turn of events. I wouldn’t have thought Noelle was capable of keeping a secret like that.” Cara’s hand tightened around the bags she was carrying. “It was nice to meet you. I guess I’ll see you around.”
She walked off, her free hand reaching for her cell phone.
He would really like to know who she’d called. He would get MaeBe on her as soon as possible because something about the way she’d reacted had him thinking.
Chris had his hands in the pockets of his jacket. “Ms. Dover is usually more friendly than that. I think you’ll find the whole building is pretty nice. And despite the one problem we’ve had, it’s extremely safe.” Chris strode to the elevator. “I’ll take you up to her place and make sure you get in all right. You’ll need your own keycard to move through the building. We have several shared spaces.”
Chris started talking about the gym and swimming pool as they all entered the elevator. The doors closed, and Hutch was forced to contemplate the fact someone who worked for the police, someone who knew a lot about security, was working in the building where Noelle lived.
If someone planted DPD here, Noelle LaVigne could be in big trouble, and this op had just turned more dangerous.
Chapter Four
Noelle tried to focus on the screen in front of her but the events of the day weighed heavily.
She usually worked late because all that was waiting for her was a frozen dinner and the next episode of whatever show she was streaming.
Except tonight there would be two guys waiting for her. Did she have three frozen dinners? She hadn’t bought groceries lately. She had some protein shakes. That might work for Kyle, but she got the feeling Hutch wasn’t a protein shake guy.
He’d kissed her. God, he’d kissed her and she’d melted. It wasn’t like she’d never had sex. She’d had a couple of college boyfriends. But she’d never melted for a guy.
For a guy who was also a Dom.
She wanted to call her Aunt Lisa and ask if this whole body going gooey thing had happened to her. Maybe it was just that he’d been so commanding. Except he hadn’t. Not in the beginning. He’d even asked for her permission to kiss her.
She should tell him it was okay and he had blanket permission. For the cover, of course. The man shouldn’t have to ask every time he thought they should be affectionate to keep their cover up.