His Strict Requirement: Billionaire Secrets - Book Five Read Free Page B

situation.
    Lindsay took Nena's hand and walked over to the group, she shook her long dark hair and approached the man who had taken their side. He would be her ally on this story, whether he knew it or not.
    And what an ally.
    He was dressed casually but even to the untrained eye this was a man of wealth, presence and power.
    And God was he something else again when you got up close to him.
    Lindsay's eyes climbed higher, taking in his broad chest, his powerful shoulders, a neck that she wanted to sink her teeth into and then those eyes. My God those eyes. Ruben Mayweather was obviously an intimidating individual and seemingly the boss of everyone here, but this man alone clearly had no fear of him.
    He hunkered down slowly in front of her and the act took her by surprise. She looked down at the seductively tousled mane of hair in front of her lower abdomen and a crazy fantasy flickered before her eyes. It involved him being on his knees in front of her, just with less clothes on. It was so visceral and unexpected that she almost gasped.
    "Don’t worry kiddo," The man said to Nena. "I'll give you and your mommy a ride out of here."
    Mommy?
    She looked down saw that this bear of a man had effortlessly transformed the anger and tension that had been on his face into the most lovable big-brother, playmate smile for the little girl.
    "She's not my mommy." Nena said.
    Dale looked up at Lindsay and it was as though she felt the full force of his undivided attention for the first time. The craziness of the last hours seemed to disappear as he rose up slowly in front of her and extended his hand.
    Holy fuck. He is totally, totally….
    "Dale Hargrave." He said and relaxed into what could only be described as a wouldn't-it-be-so-easy-for-us-to-just-fall-into-bed-together smile.
    Stay focused Lindsay, stay focused. Report the story, don’t be the story.
    She extended her hand without a trace of a smile on her full, beautiful lips.
    "Lindsay Day." She said very simply and felt the strength of his hand close around hers. His grip was powerful but indescribably gentle at the same time.
    Her heart began to race, her tongue began to tie itself up.
    She hadn't felt like this in forever, maybe not ever.
    Not that she was short of boyfriends and interested guys, but with her kind of work relationships had to take a back seat. In fact usually they ended up further than the back seat, stuffed in the trunk or left behind her on the freeway mangled up like road-kill.
    This is work Lindsay, this is still just work. She glanced around to break the spell they seemed to have fallen under and saw that everyone else had already drifted away leaving them alone together.
    "They seem to have forgotten about us." She said.
    "Huh?" Dale Hargrave looked around. True enough - Ruben continued on organizing the mission without them. "Whatever." He said without hesitation. "Ms. Day, you’re flying with me. You too little princess." He winked down at Nena who smiled shyly and disappeared behind Lindsay's leg again.
    "Are you sure you sure the boss will let us tag along?" She nodded in Ruben's direction.
    "Leave it to me. Ruben's not the boss, he's just the asshole and very old friend who handles our security. If I say you're coming, you're coming. Don't worry about that."
    Lindsay smiled. Somehow she had found her way to the key person in this whole mess, the alpha male among alpha males. It looked like things were going to pan out for her and Nena after all.
    She looked down at the little girl who smiled back up at her and silently mouthed the words 'your boyfriend'.  Lindsay shook her head rapidly and scowled at her niece who just widened her grin even more.
     
    ********************
     
    Dale sat down opposite to Lindsay and looked at the little girl next to her, staring out the window with the hugest, widest eyes. Despite his lifelong disinterest in children, he was almost warming to Nena. Although kids tended to love him with his big bear personality, he