His Sheltering Arms

She stepped to the side of her desk and offered him her hand and a smile. “Mr. Miller, I’m Erin Brailey, executive director of Rainbow Center. Thanks for coming in.”

“I’m glad to meet you, Ms. Brailey.” His strong, callused hand gripped hers, complementing the rough timbre of his voice.

After he released her hand, Erin reclaimed her desk chair and motioned for him to take the seat across from her. Once he settled in, she flipped open a folder and scanned the information inside. “I guess you know we’ve accepted your bid.”

“Not until now.”

When she looked up, he was watching her, his bent elbow resting on the chair arm, finger and thumb forming an L-shaped support for his head from temple to jaw. His casual posture didn’t detract from his air of control.

Erin consulted the material again to avoid his steady scrutiny. She brushed her hair from her face and caught a whiff of his heady cologne lingering on her fingertips. “Since the center decided not to go public with sealed bids, I assumed we’d have to pay more for security.” After closing the file, she folded her hands in front of her and met his gaze.

He leaned forward, his espresso eyes boring into her. “If you’re worried about getting your money’s worth, I guarantee you’ll be completely satisfied.”

Although his expression didn’t change, Erin’s composure slipped a notch. If any other contractor had told her the same thing, she wouldn’t have given the words a second thought. But coming from this great-smelling man with the whisky voice and sinful eyes, she felt like the target of a drive-by, indecent proposal. One she might be tempted to accept.

Shaking the ridiculous thoughts from her brain, Erin loosened her joined hands from their death grip and fought the urge to turn the thermostat down to sixty. The center couldn’t afford the extra electricity. Neither could she.

“I’m not worried about the quality of your work,” she said. “You come highly recommended by Gil Parks, and I trust his judgment. I’m simply trying to understand your motivation for accepting a job that might show little profit for your company.”

Zach sat back and scrubbed at his jaw with one hand. “Are you expecting an ‘I’m serving my community’ speech?”

Erin tamped down the surge of anger. Long ago she had come to realize that not everyone was committed to the shelter and the issues it represented. “I’m expecting an honest answer.”

His lazy gaze took in the surroundings, the olive-green curtains, the marred oak desktop, the yellowed walls. He finally brought his eyes back to her. “I did my homework, Ms. Brailey. I know there’s a need for this new shelter. You can’t be too careful about the causes you support financially.”

She supposed she should be flattered he’d chosen to bestow his selective altruism on Rainbow Center, but her cautious nature jumped into autopilot. “Phase II has been chosen to assist some of the larger municipalities because of its rural location. It will provide a totally secure environment dependent on private protection. We will require the utmost discretion since it’s designed to provide refuge for women whose batterers are high-profile or work within service occupations in the surrounding communities.”

“You mean cops.”

“Yes, law enforcement does fall under that umbrella along with paramedics, firemen and anyone else who would know the whereabouts of the existing shelters in their area. The house isn’t registered under the center’s name. Neither are the utilities. So for all intents and purposes, it will appear to be an isolated farmhouse sitting in the middle of seventy-five acres. But we’ll still require private security since nothing is 100 percent foolproof.”

“That makes sense.”

Something about Zach Miller’s frown bothered Erin.

“So, have you always worked in security?”

He shifted in the chair and rubbed one large hand down his jeans-clad thigh. “No. I used to be a cop.”

Warning bells rang out in Erin’s brain. As the center’s staff accountant, Gil Parks was usually meticulous. Not this time. Before Gil invited Zach Miller’s bid and convinced the board of directors to accept it, he should have brought this significant detail to Erin’s attention immediately despite the fact Zach was a long-time acquaintance and trusted friend of Gil’s. She was governed by the board—respected community leaders—and she’d worked hard to build their trust. She wouldn’t allow an error in judgment to destroy their faith in her and compromise the project. She had to know more about Zach Miller.

“How long were you in law enforcement?” she asked, trying to keep the concern from her voice.

“Twelve years total. Seven with Dallas PD, five right here in Langdon. I’ve been in the security business for three.”

“Why did you leave the department?”

“Burnout.” Some unnamed emotion flared in his dark eyes, but it disappeared as quickly as it came.

Erin made a mental note to ask Gil for more details about Zach Miller’s departure from the force. “Do you still have contact with your former colleagues?”

“A few.”

Feeling a headache coming on, Erin pinched the bridge of her nose. “I hope this isn’t going to be a problem.”

“What do you mean?”

She squared her shoulders and looked at him straight on. “I know it’s rare, especially in a community the size of Langdon, but should the situation arise, are you going to be able to provide protection for beaten wives and girlfriends of law enforcement colleagues, then keep it a secret?”

He leaned forward, his dark eyes boring into her. “Are you asking can you trust me?”

“Yes. That’s exactly what I’m asking.”

He remained the portrait of restraint, but Erin noted a flash of anger pass over his face. “Ms. Brailey, I have no problem protecting any woman from a man who thinks using her as a punching bag is his God-given right. Cop or no cop. And I’ve kept my share of secrets over the years.”

She imagined he had. And probably still did.

He folded his arms across his broad chest and resumed a relaxed position. “You can trust me. So can your residents.”

He hadn’t raised his voice, but the conviction in his tone spoke volumes. And if her instincts were correct, Erin suspected he was much more than just a burned-out cop. She also wondered if he had more commitment to this project than he cared to admit. Only time would tell.

“I have to make sure we’re clear on this issue,” she said. “This is a pilot program. I have one more month to get it going. Our funding hinges on its success. If I can’t make it work, then it’s over before it gets a running start.” She drew in a breath. “This shelter is very important to many people.”

“And important to you?”

Her pride had given her away. “Yes. Me, too.”

His grin came out of hiding. “Nothing wrong with that.”

Erin smiled back and added perfect teeth to her covert list of his assets, then scolded herself for doing just that. Yet she couldn’t help but notice the sprinkling of crisp black hair peeking out from the opening in his shirt. She’d bet her meager salary he had a chest that wouldn’t quit.

Zach Miller appeared to be a tough-around-the-edges man. A man her father would never approve of. Which made him all the more appealing to Erin. Unfortunately, he would have to remain off-limits. She didn’t have time for men. Or maybe she just didn’t have the fortitude to explore the possibilities, considering past experience. Although at the moment the thought was tempting.

“Ms. Brailey?”

Her face flamed when she realized he’d been speaking. “I’m sorry. Just daydreaming.”

“Must’ve been one heck of a daydream.” His grin deepened, revealing a single dimple at the left corner of his mouth. A nice spot to kiss, Erin decided.

Bolting from her chair, Erin sent the papers on her desk into a frenzied dance. “That about does it. I guess we’re settled and ready for you to get started.”

His smile faded, but it didn’t detract from his brooding good looks. “Aren’t you coming with me?”

Her pulse did the cha-cha. “Where?”

“The new shelter. I worked the bid from a blueprint, so I haven’t actually seen it yet. If you have the time, I can show you some of what I have in mind.”

Thank heavens he didn’t know what she’d had in mind a minute ago. “You mean now?”