Page 69 of Reckless Kiss
“We’re dating.”
Dixon nodded because he already knew this. “She is currently living with you, correct?”
“You know this. You sit outside our house like a stalker.”
Another one of those limp expressions crossed his face before he looked down at his notes. “Has she ever been allowed access to this office while you were gone?”
I admit his question threw me and I let that confusion show. “Not that I’m aware of.”
“You’ve never left her alone in here when she was visiting you for sex on your lunch break?”
I damn near lunged across my desk for that comment—but I didn’t because that was exactly what he wanted. Somehow I managed to encapsulate myself in stone instead. “Esme has never been alone in my office that I am aware of.”
“What about this floor? All of Bancroft Sports? Is she allowed to walk freely up here?” Capp asked.
I slowly turned my attention to him. “No. As I’m sure you’re aware we have a strict security protocol. All guests must be signed in. They’re accompanied by a security guard.”
“But after? She could have walked around?”
Could she have? Probably. Had she? No. She’d only visited my office a few times and on each occasion I never let her out of my sight, for obvious reasons. “Not that I’m aware of. She is always escorted to my office and then I escort her out.”
“What about at home?” Capp pushed. “You have a home office? Do you have files there? Does she have access to your laptop?”
What the actual fuck kind of questioning was this? My stomach twisted. “Yes I have a home office. No she doesn’t have access to my laptop.”
“You are aware that Dr. Brown is capable of cracking passwords, correct?” That was Capp again.
I set my jaw. “I am aware that Esme is brilliant and it does not surprise me in the least she would be able to hack my computer if she so desired. But to answer your next question, because I can already see it on the tip of your tongue, I know she hasn’t hacked my computer because we employ the best cyber security in the business. We have to in order to protect our clients. My laptop requires two passwords and a fingerprint to access. Also, our security team monitors every single piece of electronics from our cell phones to our desktops. She hasn’t accessed my data, but that isn’t how I really know for certain.”
Dixon’s head snapped up. I had both men’s full attention. “How do you know for certain?”
If I was reading their line of questioning correctly, they were under the impression Esme was using me to obtain sensitive information. My Esme. The anthropologist who loved her students and her lab. The delicate woman I’d been learning moan by moan. If she was using me I’d eat my own hand.
“Two reasons.” My mind was a wreck. It collected and discarded possibilities with each heartbeat. “One, I’m not an idiot. I have eyes and the ability to reason. I’ve never once seen her act in a manner that would cause me to question her behavior.”
She was protective of herself, closed off but not a liar. If anything, she’d givenmeinformation, not the other way around.
“And what’s the second reason? Mr. Hancock?”
I had to force myself to focus on Capp’s ugly face as he repeated the question.
“Because.” I ran my hand over my chin. I wondered what these two were going to think about my answer. I wondered howIwas going to feel about it later. “She simply could have asked me for it.”
Dixon blinked. “You would have given it to her? Are you admitting to this?”
I still didn’t know whatthiswas. “No. I’m simply stating a fact. She hasn’t asked for anything, but she knows she could.” She could ask me to jump off the Skyway to prove my love and I’d do it.
“So you’re admitting to what exactly?” Capp scratched his temple.
Jesus, these guys were dumber than rocks. “I’m telling you that whatever you’re thinking, it’s wrong.” It was as if they thought she was a spy or something.
Fuck, she wasn’t a spy, was she? No. Maybe a corporate spy? No, still no.
But then again, she did tell me she wasn’t a victim.She was exactly where she wanted to be...
“So if there are no more questions.” I needed these men to leave because something terrible and brilliant had just occurred to me and I needed to talk to Esmenow.
“We have literally dozens of questions,” Dixon frowned.
“Yes, well. I have a meeting. Why don’t you give me the address of where you’d like to interview me? I’ll meet you there at five.”
“Five?” Capp repeated.
“Yes. At the end of the workday. Are you aware you don’t need to haul people off? That you can make appointments?”
