Collared (Going to the Dogs) Read online

  “Oh, you know. You’re used to an upper-crust lifestyle, and you need a sophisticated man.”

  “Are you saying my money forces me towards a certain kind of man? You don’t think I could effectively sustain a relationship with a hard-working guy?”

  “Well, if there are men in your circle who are already looking at you with dollar signs in their eyes, what do you think will happen with a man who’s normal?”

  “I’m normal.”

  Poe shook her head. “No, Harper, you’re definitely not normal.”

  “I can be just as normal as anyone else.”

  All three of them had laughed, and that only set Harper’s teeth on edge. Well, she’d prove to them she could be just as normal as they were. Mark her words.

  Snapping back to the present, she paused just behind her seat, frowning at each of them in turn for good measure. “What?!?” she demanded, trying to sound innocent. Thinking about how her tête-à-tête with Nate couldn’t compare with her connection to Caleb Shaw. There simply was no contest.

  “Drew, could you get me another drink?” Brooke said, downing hers.

  Callie held out her glass to Owen.

  “They want to talk to Harper,” he observed with a chuckle.

  “Right,” Drew said. “Girl talk.”

  “We’re in the way, man.”

  “Looks that way.” Drew smiled and said to Brooke, “You signal us when we’re allowed back at the table.”

  Brooke waved him off with a smile.

  “So what happened?” Callie asked.

  “He turned me down.” That made her take a step back from herself. It was true that she went through most of her life with the expectation that she would get exactly what she wanted. When she wanted it. It was a given. Mostly because she had enough determination and moxie to get whatever she went after, but in this case Caleb Shaw was challenging her. And, dammit if she didn’t find that wholly sexy and a complete turn-on.

  There was something else going on here, too. She hadn’t liked learning that her friends thought of her as a calculating, cold woman. Is that what they really thought of her? Is that what she was? Cold inside?

  Was she that way because she didn’t want to get hurt? Look like a fool? Get taken advantage of? She had a lot to offer, but did her money obscure that? It drove her crazy to think that every man who had ever come on to her had been blinded by her reputation, her wealth, her societal connections. It was damned frustrating.

  “What? You? Miss ‘I can get any man with a crook of my finger?’”

  “You’re right. I’ve never had it happen to me before.”

  “What was his lame excuse?”

  “His job…and we’re not compatible because I’m so wealthy.”

  “Well, he kinda has a point there,” Callie said.

  “What are you saying?” She felt a bit stung. Did her friends think the same thing about her? “Do you guys think I’m cold?”

  “What? No! Not at all,” Brooke soothed.

  “Callie?”

  “I will admit that when I first met you and you had your barriers up, I thought you were cold. But, Harper, we know you. The real you. I’ve never seen you anything but confident. What is happening here?”

  “Oh, God. Really?”

  “But once I got to know you, and you let down your guard, I saw a very warm and caring person. I understand why you have to be guarded. There are a lot of shallow people out there. But sometimes you have to take a risk. Only you can decide if it’s worth the risk in this case.”

  “Both of you took risks.”

  “We did.” Callie looked at Brooke then their eyes traveled to the two men laughing and talking at the bar. Her eyes softened. “And for us, it paid off.”

  “I don’t know. I want something more, but I’m afraid.”

  “Caleb is just a conquest, right?”

  “I don’t know. He’s different. All he had to do was take me up on my offer. It was a sure thing.”

  “But he didn’t,” Brooke said.

  “Why do you think that is?” Callie asked.

  “I don’t know, but it intrigues the hell out of me.”

  “Maybe that’s his game?” Brooked said.

  “Maybe, but…I don’t think so. He confuses me.”

  “Is that a good thing?” Callie said.

  “Maybe. I usually don’t stumble around with men.”

  “What are you going to do?” Brooke asked.

  “I’m going to show him I can fit in anywhere.”

  “Gasp,” Callie said. “You’re going to try to be normal?”

  “Yes, whatever it takes for him to realize that I’m not some stereotypical rich bitch. I have facets.”

  “You do,” Brooke said, motioning the men back to the table.

  On the way home, Harper convinced herself that she saw his reluctance to get involved with her as a challenge. She didn’t want to examine her real motives too closely. It wasn’t that he rejected her. She could have handled it if he wasn’t interested. But that hadn’t been the case. He was definitely interested.

  It was because he’d judged her, pigeonholed her. That she didn’t like. Just because she was wealthy didn’t mean she was like every other rich person out there.

  She had been lucky, actually, in that her father had raised her to treat everyone with respect. Caleb didn’t really know her at all. So, it was up to her to help him get to know her. She’d start by showing up at McGinty’s tomorrow night, just as he’d suggested. She’d bring the list with her.

  When she got home, Blue greeted her and she folded down and wrapped her arms around the dog’s neck, thankful she was safe. With Blue trailing after her, she went down the hall and knocked on Jeffrey’s door, even though it was late and she hated to bother him. He looked startled when he opened the door a crack.

  “Is this a bad time?”

  “Never for you, Harper,” he said, his handsome features concerned.

  She insisted he address her by her given name when they were alone.

  “I really need to discuss something with you right now, Jeffrey,” she whispered, not sure why. Juliana was sleeping and there was no one else in the penthouse.

  He looked over his shoulder and then said, “I’ll be right out.”

  Five minutes later, he came out of his room in a T-shirt and jeans. It had been a long time since she’d seen him in anything but his uniform, and it brought back memories, very unpleasant ones. She led him into the living room and fixed them both a drink.

  “This can’t be good,” he said eyeing her.

  As she turned to him, the earlier feeling of uncertainty rose up in her, and she experienced an unaccustomed sense of insecurity. That in itself was unsettling. During the three years she’d had Jeffrey as her chauffeur, insecurity had been as foreign to her as fear, another emotion she wished she weren’t so familiar with. But with this theft her feeling of immunity had evaporated, and her apprehension bred an uncertainty that left her feeling strangely exposed and threatened.

  “It’s not.”

  He accepted the drink, frowning. “What’s going on?”

  “Detective Shaw tracked me down tonight and informed me that he thinks someone gave out my security code, and the thieves used it to waltz in here, drug my dog and crack the safe.” At the sound of Caleb’s name, Blue barked. “Shush, Blue,” Harper said, burying her fingers in the dog’s fur.

  “Fuck!” He set down the glass, his face set and angry. She was glad it wasn’t directed at her. She knew Jeffrey’s abilities. She’d seen them with her own eyes, and it had been chilling enough even they were used on her behalf. He was a former member of Delta Force and deadly dangerous.

  He glanced at her, his eyes shuttered. “I knew it.”

  “What happened?”

  His expression softened, and he slipped his arm around her shoulders. His voice was gruff as he said, “I should have told you, but I didn’t want you to freak out.”

  Sliding her arm around h
is waist, she rested her head against his shoulder, reluctant to revisit their shared past and what he’d had to do. Instead, she wanted to think about now. “Told me what? You’re worrying me.”

  He picked up his drink, took a long swallow, and let her go. Walking towards the balcony, he opened the sliding glass doors and stepped out. Harper followed him. “I ran into someone I know, and he recognized me. A buddy from the service.”

  The city had cooled off, the night inviting even with the August heat. The feeling of fall beckoned on the soft evening breeze. She didn’t know how it was possible, but there were actually crickets chirping up here. The view from the balcony was unobstructed, and a panorama of the twinkling lights of New York City stretched out to the horizon, the purple shadows and silhouettes dark patches on the cityscape.

  The water of the bay reflected the lights in its glassy surface, mirroring the midnight blue and grays of the dark sky.

  Sensing his pensiveness, Harper turned to him and put her hand on his arm. “What does this have to do with my breakin?”

  “Maybe nothing. But the guy was overly interested in you, and my gut told me it wasn’t a coincidence that we ran into each other. But he was a friend and a comrade, and I didn’t think…I should have been more careful.”

  “You think this man was responsible for breaking in here.”

  He threw back the rest of the whiskey, straightening, then hesitating briefly before he answered. “It’s possible…but Harper, he knows who I really am and he could be banking on the fact that I’m using an alias for a reason.”

  Harper’s stomach lurched. “Does he know about what happened…”

  Inhaling wearily as he met her gaze, he said, “No, he doesn’t know anything about your kidnapping. At least, I don’t think so. No one but you and I and your immediate family knows.”

  Her throat knotted with dread. “This is a disaster.”

  He gazed down at her for a moment, his expression sober, before he turned and went back inside. He set the glass on the bar. “I’ll go see Detective Shaw in the morning,” he said.

  She shook her head, her emotions right at the surface as she gazed at him. “No. No, you won’t.”

  He set his hands on his hips ready to argue with her. “But, Harper, this is an important lead.”

  She crossed the room and got right in his face. “If you think that I would value jewelry and a silly, way-too-expensive dog collar more than you, Jeffrey, you’re mistaken. You won’t say anything about this. I won’t have you lose your freedom over a paltry theft.”

  He drew a deep breath, his eyes hard, but Jeffrey couldn’t intimidate her. He would never hurt her. “I don’t like it, Harper. What if this isn’t just a theft?”

  “There’s no evidence to suggest that it’s anything more than that. I’m not going to risk your freedom on some unsubstantiated ‘if.’ You answer his questions and give him no reason to suspect anything about you. He won’t have any cause to dig deeper.” She grabbed his arm when he looked away as if he was going to refuse. “Promise me you’ll do this for me. I couldn’t bear it if you…” Tears gathered in her eyes at the thought of the sacrifice he’d made for her. “Promise me.”

  “Don’t cry,” he said, pulling her against him. “You know that I would do anything for you, Harper. You are one of the most generous and fair women I have ever met. But, you say the word, and I’ll do whatever it takes to make you safe.”

  “I’m telling you what you’re going to do.”

  “And what if this cop is smarter than you’re giving him credit for?”

  “Don’t worry about Detective Shaw. I have plans to keep him busy.”

  He sighed. “That poor man.”

  She punched him in the shoulder. “Go get some sleep.”

  “I still don’t like it. I think we should trust the cop.”

  “No. We can’t do that. We don’t really know him. Leave it up to me.”

  He gave her an exasperated and skeptical look and left.

  Now she had a very good reason to stick to Caleb like glue. Not that she needed a reason. He, all by himself, was sufficient reason to want to plaster herself all over him. But she wasn’t going to ignore Jeffrey’s very astute observation. Harper also had an inkling that Caleb was very intelligent.

  She shivered at Jeffrey’s suggestion to trust Caleb. She had no doubt he was a competent detective, but the thought of giving him something as fragile and, in this case, crucial as her trust…it made everything inside her shout NO! and resist with all her might. She was the one who took care of everything. She didn’t lean.

  She and Blue trailed to her room and she got ready for bed. Blue grabbed her brush and bought it to her in their evening ritual. After giving it a good, thorough brushing, she found Blue’s doggie brush and gave her a quick grooming. The dog made a happy growling sound deep in her throat.

  As she slipped into bed with Blue settling next to her, she decided she was willing to forego the return of her jewelry. It was true those pieces meant a lot to her. The five necklaces and one pair of earrings were very valuable, and the gems in them would bring in a lot of money for the thief, as well as the gold. But that wasn’t what was important. They had been her mother’s favorites. Harper had kept them in the wall safe so she could wear them whenever the mood struck. They reminded her of her wonderful mother, and it hurt to think that they might be gone for good. But Jeffrey was too important to jeopardize.

  He had done something for her three years ago when she’d been kidnapped that trumped any desire she might have to use mementos to keep her memories alive.

  He’d saved her life at great personal risk.

  There was nothing more precious than that.

  Chapter Four

  At ten a.m. Jeffrey dropped Harper off at her brother’s loft and waited outside while she talked to Aiden.

  Her brother was there, which, as far as Harper was concerned, was at least something.

  When she entered, sliding the big metal door open and closed behind her, he was sitting at a long table, dressed in a white tank top and a pair of old, beat-up jeans.

  He looked up and smiled. He was unshaven, but the blonde stubble only really showed when it caught the sun and all the highlights of red and gold flashed. And his hair was getting so long he wore it in a short ponytail at the back of his neck.

  She was well aware how handsome he was. But to her he was simply her baby brother.

  Cleatis, Aiden’s Doberman jumped up from the floor and trotted over to her. He’d deliberately picked the dog out to offset her prissy poodle. Blue might be prissy, but she had class.

  “Hi there, pretty boy. Aren’t you handsome today?” She petted the Doberman’s sleek head and he pushed his nose into her hand and licked her.

  “Don’t encourage him. Faith spoils him rotten.”

  Faith was Aiden’s manager. Personal manager, dog walker, all around girl Friday. “Where is your trusty sidekick?”

  “She’s out getting coffee, so I’m glad you’re here. You can hold this while I finish up.”

  “You don’t pay that girl enough.”

  He snorted. “I pay her plenty and she’s happy.”

  “You know she takes care of her Nana, right?”

  “Nana?” he said with a clueless look on his face. His lips thinned and he looked down at the bundle of cloth on the table. “No, I didn’t know that.”

  She gave him an incredulous look. “You exasperate me. How long has she worked for you?”

  “A long time.”

  “Do you even know her favorite color or flower?”

  “She’s my employee, Harper. I try to keep that separate,” he growled, and she decided not to piss him off before she broached the subject that was going to set him off anyway.

  “Here.” He set a ring in her hand and she clasped it. “You can sit down there.” He pulled it taut. “Okay, pull against my pressure until I tell you to stop.”

  He started knotting a huge piece of silk that was
saturated with a glowing mix of myriad blues.

  “This is beautiful.” Aiden had taken up fiber art, and some of his pieces had sold for quite a huge sum. His opening had been in July, around the time that Poe and Jared met while Poe was having trouble with those threatening letters. The piece Aiden was producing today looked like it was going to be a tall as she was. He had copper pipes and other metals to the side of the table which she guessed he was going to incorporate into the piece.

  “Faith painted it.”

  Harper just shook her head. Didn’t her brother appreciate anything?

  “You didn’t come here to talk about my beautiful silks, Harper.”

  “You don’t have to be so surly, Aiden.”

  “I don’t like to be pushed,” he growled, giving her a knowing look. Well, no one ever accused Aiden of being completely oblivious.

  “I know, but Dad is worried and upset. How can you keep avoiding him?”

  His expression went mutinous and guilty at the same time. “I know what he wants. I don’t think I can give it to him.”

  “Then tell him, Aiden. Put it to rest. Dad would never force you.”

  He stopped knotting the silk and clenched his fists. “Don’t you think I know that?”

  There was an unnatural tension in every line of his body. When he looked up at her, his eyes were so tormented that she knew, with a startling clarity, that he was struggling with something that went down to his soul, and was eating him alive.

  “It doesn’t make it any easier. I need…I need to think about things, but everything gets jumbled up inside me. I feel lost and crazy most of time. I just can’t face any type of decision right now.”

  A sound drew his attention, and he turned to see Faith standing at the side door, her hands holding a drink carrier with three coffees in it.

  For a moment they stared at each other, and Harper saw the sympathy on Faith’s face…and something else that Aiden had obviously never noticed. The woman was head over heels in love with him, and he was too traumatized to see it.

  Even though she was a meddler, she knew Aiden wasn’t in any condition to handle emotional stress at this point, no matter what kind.

  “Fuck!” he said and strode towards Harper. Brushing past her, he slipped out the side door and slammed it behind him. She’d reached for him, but he had either not noticed or hadn’t bothered to acknowledge it.