Track: Secure My Heart, #1

By Tracey Pedersen

Lust at first sight isn't meant for workmates...

* Jennifer *
I know security. I live and breathe it, every single day. When you join my team, you better be the best of the best, or you won't survive your first month. I have big goals and I play dirty, pushing everyone, even the newbies, to their absolute limit.

Dane Crown was out of his depth the moment he stepped into my boardroom.

* Dane*
I'm the best at what I do, and I make sure everyone knows it. I can't be shamed into an apology, and I damn sure won't take failure lying down. If you set me up, you better know when to run for cover.

Jennifer Jones thinks she can intimidate me into quitting. She's about to meet her match, in and out of the bedroom.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tracey Pedersen
• Release date: Jul 31, 2019
• ISBN: 9780648584049

Tracey Pedersen

Tracey Pedersen is an Australian USA Today Bestselling author who has finally accepted that she is meant to write, write, write! In 2016 she released her first romance novel and hasn't looked back. Now writing full time, and fighting the urge to write every second of the day, she loves travel, crocheting, replying to reader emails and spending WAY too much time on Facebook!

Book preview

Chapter Two - Dane

Jesus! That woman will be the death of me. One month in, and she seems to be on my back every single day. I don’t think she ever takes a break. She’s here when I arrive in the morning and she’s hunched over her desk no matter what time I leave in the evening. A workaholic ballbreaker—that’s how I described her to my brother this morning.

I want to slump into my seat once she’s left the room, but Ralph is watching me, so I pull my chair close and sit, keeping my shoulders back and looking him straight in the eye. I might have gotten a tongue lashing just now, but my balls are a long way from broken. I didn’t take this job to receive praise; I took it because Stokes Security is the number one company in the event industry, and I want to work for the best in the business. Because, I too, am the best in the business. At least, I was, until…until I lost my temper.

I shake my head and remind myself I’m still the best. The sooner Ms. Jennifer Jones works that out, the better it will be for everyone.

Right. Ralph snaps my attention back to him. Let’s do a little digging. Start with everyone we had working on this job and then branch out.

You think it’s someone internal? I find that very hard to swallow.

Me too, and if I find it’s one of us, they’ll be out of here so fast, their head will spin. Jennifer will press charges, too. She doesn’t take these things lying down. He taps his fingers on a pile of folders in front of him. Keep it quiet—just between the two of us—for now.

Will do. What if it’s none of them? I wave my hand at the pile with a raised eyebrow.

It can’t fucking be one of them. He knows it as well as I do.

Then we examine our processes for the meeting. I’m fairly sure they won’t be found lacking, but I like to do my due diligence. I won’t have Jennifer stand up and tell them we’re clean if we’re not.

You have her back; that’s great. She’s more aggressive than I’m used to. I frown as I think back to those crystal-blue eyes piercing me almost to my soul. If I was a lesser man, I’d have withered in front of her—thrown myself to the ground by her stilettoed toes and begged for my job.

I’m not that man, though. I know how good I am at what I do, and no number of insults will change that—not even when they’re delivered by one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever been in a room with.

I groan, then cover it with a cough.

Thinking of Jennifer Jones as beautiful is the worst idea I’ve had in a very long time—in about eight months, I remind myself. Sally was beautiful, too. I’ve learned that beautiful and crazy have an uncanny knack of coming packaged together. More crazy in my life is the last thing I’m looking for. The complication of a woman is the next last thing I want…or need.

You mean she’s more aggressive than the women you’re used to? My boss is staring at me as my mind wanders, and I know I’ve put my foot in it. He really does have her back.

Uhh…I didn’t mean it like that. I meant more that she’s an aggressive employer. Whether she was a woman or a man delivering that speech doesn’t make a difference to me.

She has a certain style, I’ll admit. This company didn’t get where it is today with Jennifer taking a softly-softly approach. She’ll push you, but once you’ve earned her trust, you’ll have it forever.

I snort and pull the pile of folders toward me. I think I have a long way to go before she trusts me. Every time I speak to her, she’s almost daring me to quit.

She’s wants to make sure you’ll stick. We’re highly selective about who we employ.

Yes, the process was rigorous just to get to a first interview.

Right, and we do that for every person, from surveillance crews to technicians and even to sweet little Kylie on the front desk.

Kylie made it through the same process?

She did. She’s made of stern stuff, though you wouldn’t know it from talking to her on any normal day. You should have seen her when an ex-client tried to push their way into Jennifer’s office; she stopped them in their tracks and had security throw them out. She was magnificent. Ralph’s chest swells with a hint of pride, but it’s gone as quickly as I notice it.

I laugh, amazed at what he’s sharing. I would never have guessed that.

I’m only telling you so you calm down and concentrate on your job. Be the guy you know you are, keep doing what you’re trained to do, and you’ll soon be a trusted and valued employee. You have to earn that with Jennifer, though.

Was she serious when she asked if I was the weak link? I frown, the memory of her words restarting the sparks in my belly.

Why the fuck would she say that to me?

I doubt it. As I said, she likes to challenge all of us. Your reaction tells her everything she wants to know.

I pray my reaction didn’t tell her everything I was thinking in that moment.

Chapter Three - Jennifer

Liz from payroll walks toward me in the hallway, catching me leaning against the door with my eyes closed. I straighten at the sound of her approach and step toward her. Hey, Liz. How are things?

All good, Jennifer. Looks like a fun meeting. She’s a happy woman, and she smiles widely at me, reminding me how rarely I relax when I’m in the office.

I push away all thoughts of those dark eyes staring at me and give her a tight smile in return. You know, another day, another challenge. We’ll work it out.

That’s good, and I’m glad I caught you. The girls and I are organizing a lunch two weeks from Friday for Valentine’s Day. Can we count you in?

Ugh, Valentine’s Day. Why anyone tries to make that a celebration is beyond me—especially single women. Every year I watch them try to convince themselves they’re happy when it’s so obvious they just want a man.

A man is the last thing I want…or need.

Can you check my diary with Rebecca, please? If I’m not busy, I’d love to attend.

Can’t have the staff thinking I’m boring.

I might be a hard-ass at work, but I like to think I’m generally friendly, fair, and dependable, as well as approachable. Everyone who works here knows their job is secure because of the time and effort I put in to make it so.

Liz smiles and nods and continues down the hall. I watch her carefree gait for a second, then turn toward my office. I have a mountain of work to get through before I go home.

Stokes Security is the success it is because I give it my undivided attention. I don’t date and rarely socialize if it’s not as part of a work function. I have several men I can call on to accompany me for a night to keep up appearances; they come with a hefty price tag, but it’s money well spent when they take themselves home at the end of the night without a single moment of pressure on me.

One of those men, Zac, is booked to attend the Ronstein Charity Gala with me a month from now. He’s nearly thirty and intelligent enough to hold his own at the events I take him to. I like that he doesn’t need babysitting, so I can focus on mingling or networking. It doesn’t hurt that he’s nice to look at—handsome in a similar dark way to Dane, actually.

Stop that thought right there!

Dane is not handsome—he’s not anything, since he’s an employee, and one I’d quite like to keep, even if I let him think otherwise. Letting my mind wander to him and his heated stare is the road to ruin. I’ve never had a relationship with a member of my staff, and I don’t intend to start now, no matter how much my insides twitched when those eyes watched me sweep out of the conference room a few minutes ago.

No, definitely no relationships with staff. Not ever.

Chapter Four - Dane

Hours after the meeting in the conference room, I dump the staff folders on my desk and make a grab for the top two as they attempt to slither to the floor. I drop them next to the towering pile and sink into my chair. I’m pissed that I asked for the files to be left here but still had to go searching for them just now. It’s not my place to complain to Ralph, though, and since it seems he has a soft spot for sweet Kylie on reception, I’ll let it go this time.

A quick sniff of my underarm reminds me I need to get home. I’ve done a full day here, putting manpower in place for next week’s mining conference and VIP dinner. I can’t wait to get home and forget about work for a while.

My eyes close by themselves as I imagine the bliss of a scalding hot shower, a cold beer, and a pepperoni pizza, followed by twelve hours of unbroken sleep. I even let a wistful sigh escape before a voice from the doorway jolts my eyes open.

I’m pretty sure we’re not paying you to sleep, my nemesis says, her clear blue eyes trained on my face.

Jesus Christ! Doesn’t she ever go home?

That’s nowhere near the sleep I’m craving. I sigh. I was just running over the plan in my head to get through these checks as quickly as possible. You don’t need to worry about your precious bottom line.

I grind my teeth as she stares at me. We’ve been here twelve hours and she looks fresh, like she just arrived, or like she spends her day in the office sipping iced tea and enjoying the scent of the roses always displayed on the filing cabinet behind her desk. I compare this image to how I spend my day: checking and rechecking equipment, crawling through air ducts, interviewing hotel staff, and peeking around corners to make sure our venues are fully secure. On top of preparing for our event next week, I’ll now be using my free time to background check everyone who worked on our recent failure.

I stare back at her and wonder when she last had to chase down an actual lead or demand a hotel manager allow the installation of extra security cameras at short notice. From what I’ve seen, she spends all her time riding my ass.

I blink and push away the image those words want to cram into my brain. I have no intention of starting fantasies about this woman.

I worry about everything, Dane, every day. That’s why we’re so successful.

Really? You don’t think some of your success comes from the people you employ here—the ones who slog their guts out for that monthly pay packet? Are you truly convinced you’re the only reason your company is so well respected? I hold my breath as soon as the words have burst from my lips. Fuck, now I’ve done it. She already wants me gone. Why antagonise her? And why choose the moment when I’m rundown from a long week and she’s firing on all cylinders? Fuck!

To my surprise, she doesn’t tear into me; instead, she drops into my visitor’s chair. My eyes want to widen, but I sternly admonish them to keep staring at her amazing blue eyes.

Do not wander any lower than her nose. Don’t do it, Dane. Don’t look at her lips. Ignore the smirk on her mouth that’s trying to shoot blood to parts of your body it shouldn’t.

I clamp my teeth on the inside of my cheek and wince as I break the skin. Better that metallic taste in my mouth than a pumping rush of plasma somewhere else.

She frowns before she speaks, as though she’s waiting to make sure she has my attention.

Oh, you have it, lady. You’ve had it since the day, six weeks ago, that I walked into the conference room for my job interview.

You surprise me, Dane. She’s watching me, her black fingernails tapping the armrest of the chair. Who the fuck has black fingernails? You just can’t seem to let anything go. I wonder if that’s an awkward personality trait to deal with.

I purse my lips and narrow my eyes. No more awkward than blaming one person for all your recent problems. Am I the new poster boy in your office? Do you have my photo on the back of your door and your darts sharpened and—

I’m so surprised when she laughs that I stop speaking and sit with my mouth hanging open. She seems to find that funny, too, and her second peal of laughter has me glancing at the door. What will the rest of the staff think of our ballbreaker boss laughing her ass off at something I’ve said?

Don’t think of her ass. Goddammit, don’t! Concentrate on what she’s saying, so you can get her out of here and go home.

She gets herself under control and rolls her eyes at me—actually rolls her eyes. You’re so dramatic, Mr. Crown. She grins, and I resist the urge to close my eyes for a moment and think about the way my name sounds on her perfect lips. What the fuck is wrong with me?

I’ve never been called dramatic. Not in my entire life.

Well, someone’s been blowing smoke up your ass then, because you are hilariously dramatic without even being aware. She pushes herself up from the chair, and once again I find myself looking up at her. I think she plans it this way to keep me on the back foot.

For a moment, I think about the towering stilettos she wears. Obviously, it’s for exactly this reason—there’s no way shoes like that are practical for work, even in an office. I lean back in my chair, hoping my thoughts don’t show plainly on my face about whether I like her towering over me, but her next words remind me of who she is and why she’s here.

Go home. Get some rest. Those files can wait—you look like you need at least a twelve-hour bout of unconsciousness.

For a split second, I consider forgoing my refreshing sleep, letting my dignity dissolve, and giving up on any idea of this job as a long-term gig. I almost invite her home with me—almost tell her to stop the crap, stop pretending she doesn’t feel what I do whenever we’re together. I can’t be the only one who feels it whenever we trade stares.

If I took her home with me, I’d give her a dozen reasons she should fire me and stay in my bed all at the same time. My lips would explore every inch of her skin, and the next time she said my name, there’d be a whole different tone to her voice. I want to pull gasps from her throat—want to hear her moan and watch her tongue skate over her lips and her back arch before I make her explode.

She smirks, and I give myself a mental slap and bite my cheek hard again. Reality intrudes into my daydream, thank God, and I remind myself I’m not getting anything like that today, or ever—not from this woman.

Despite the way I react to her, she’s as cool as a cucumber. Jennifer Jones has no interest in me, that’s clear as day.

I shift in my seat as she heads for the door without another word, closing my eyes tight to avoid looking at her ass. It’s the only way to make sure I don’t stare. When I open them, she’s turned in the doorway and is watching me with another smirk. I didn’t notice it at first, but she smirks at me a lot, as though she has a secret.

She raises an eyebrow and disappears toward her office with another laugh. It’s awkward this time—not the same laugh that says she’s totally in control. This laugh is almost…wobbly.

Damn. She knows.

Here I am, thinking she’s oblivious—that I’m the only one reacting to the other. Her gaze boring into me and the heave of her chest just now gave her away. Right before she escaped down the corridor, I saw it.

She feels it, just like I do.

Nothing can ever happen between us. No one can stop me from daydreaming about it, though. That scalding hot shower the minute I get home will be the perfect place to revisit the dirty thoughts I had as I watched her sweep out of the conference room earlier today, and they’ll be joined by all the things I just imagined doing with her.

I’m in a world of trouble now that I work for Jennifer Jones.

Chapter Five - Jennifer/Dane

Jennifer

Dane Crown is possibly the most attractive man I’ve ever met.

This thought repeats over and over as I escape in the elevator and rush to my car. The sound of my heels almost running across the carpark makes me chuckle; hopefully no one is around to see me rush headlong from my own building. I can just imagine what I look like, giggling and throwing myself into my car.

What the hell was that back there?

I nearly told him he was fired—almost let one of the best staff prospects we’ve had in years get away—and all because of some crazy, hot attraction that would no doubt fade the moment we consummated it.

Consummated. That word never tasted so good.

Stop it, Jennifer. Who are you this week?

I don’t even know anymore. All I know is that, five minutes ago, draped in a chair opposite him with my nails clicking on the metal armrests, I considered going against every work rule I’ve ever implemented. I was seconds away from opening myself up to all kinds of sexual harassment claims and, for a moment, I didn’t even care. The way he looked at me set the blood pumping through my veins. Those dark eyes seemed to see right into my soul, almost asking a question without doing anything but stare.

He didn’t tilt his head; he didn’t look anywhere but at my eyes. It wasn’t the usual attention I’m used to—men’s eyes raking over my breasts or my ass. We shared nothing but a work conversation and a laugh. Well, I laughed; he just looked stunned that he wasn’t getting a tongue lashing.

Oh god. Don’t think those words.

Tongue lashing