I didn’t think that was a good idea. I should let his hand go, but I couldn’t. I stared into clear blue eyes.
“I hate showing any weakness,” I whispered.
“I know the feeling.”
I had to look away. I glanced to the side and saw the city far, far below.
Nausea hit me. “Oh, God.”
“Penn, look at me.”
I turned back to him. “We’re really high up.”
“We’re high up at the office.”
“With perfectly safe panes of glass between us and the killer drop.”
His fingers squeezed mine. “I’ve got you.”
My stomach flip-flopped. For a second, I wondered what it would feel like if Liam Kensington really had me.
Oh, no. I cleared my throat. I had to get this under control. I’d learned long ago to be self-sufficient. My father’s betrayal and mom’s breakdown meant I’d had to step up. I’d had to help my mom and sisters. I’d learned to rely on no one but myself.
Everyone else invariably let you down.
The cage jerked to a halt and I gasped.
“Here we are.” Brock opened the door.
Liam gave my fingers another squeeze and then let go.
“Thanks.” I whispered.
“My pleasure.”
The low, sexy drawl made my brain descend into the gutter. My brain wanted to roll around in all the ways Liam Kensington could murmur “my pleasure” to me, preferably while naked, with his hands on other parts of my body.
Jeez. I strode off the lift.
A stiff breeze whipped through the half-built level.
On one side were just concrete support pillars, and the open edge was very visible.
I stifled a whimper. That part was cordoned off by a metal barrier. Perfectly safe.
“Liam, here’s the wiring I mentioned to you.” Brock led Liam to the more constructed part of the level. Manny started snapping pictures.
“Okay.” Lisa turned, hands on her hips. “Look at these views.”
I’d had enough views for today. I pulled out my tablet. As Lisa called out ideas for the marketing plans and details she wanted to highlight, I wrote them all down.
My mind wandered. Doyle and Nexus were ready to strike. I’d left that damn note for Liam. I could feel the threat growing like a thundercloud. I wanted this done so I could get Jake home to Erica.
I glanced at Liam and my belly did a slow turn. His suit accented his lean, fit body and I blew out a breath. I liked him. I’d expected an arrogant asshole, and while I didn’t doubt he could be arrogant, he seemed genuine.
What did Nexus have on him?
Manny’s camera clicked. “What’s this large glass area?”
I glanced down and saw the sloped glass that speared off from this level to the one down below.
Brock turned. “That’s the vaulted roof of the club level below.”
I studied the sharply sloped glass and shuddered.
Manny leaned out against the metal railing, snapping more pictures.
Suddenly, there was a screech of metal.
“Fuck!” Manny cried.
The railing gave way.
Manny fell, his camera hitting his chest, then he slapped down on his belly against the sloped glass.
Oh, shit.
Lisa screamed.
Manny started sliding and I realized he’d slide all the way to the edge and off the side of the building.
I didn’t think, I acted.
I leaped after the young man, trying to grab him.
Blackmail
Liam
Fucking hell.
Liam watched Penn dive toward the flailing Manny.
She hit the concrete, then slid onto the glass. She managed to snap one hand around Manny’s wrist. Her other arm flew out and she grabbed a bar of the metal railing.
Fuck. Liam lunged toward them with Brock beside him. The construction manager was cursing steadily.
Liam saw a pale-faced Lisa out of the corner his eye. “Stay back,” he barked.
He dropped to his knees beside Penn and grabbed her arm.
“Don’t move.” Hell. One wrong move and Manny would pull her over.
“Not…planning to,” she said through gritted teeth. The strain was clear on her face.
“Brock!” Liam yelled.
“On it.” The big man went flat on his front and reached down, trying to grab Manny.
The young photographer flailed. “Please. Please don’t let go!”
“I won’t,” Penn said. “Quit moving.”
“Manny, hold still,” Liam growled.
He tightened his grip on Penn. Damn, the panicked idiot was going to pull her over.
“Got him.” Brock twisted a hand in the back of Manny’s shirt and started pulling him up.
As Manny scrambled over the edge, Penn slid backward.
She was still holding Manny.
“You can let go now,” Liam said.
She blew out a breath, then released the young man. Then she glanced over the edge, and all the color drained from her face.
“Here.” Liam wrapped an arm around her.
She burrowed into him, clinging tight. “God.”
“You’re afraid of heights, but you dove after Manny like a superhero.”
“I couldn’t let him fall. I just reacted.”
Yes, but she’d done the opposite of what he suspected most people would do.
She’d risked her own life.
Liam’s pulse was still pounding crazily. He pulled her closer, practically into his lap. He leaned back against the concrete support pole.
His suit was covered in dust, and her hair had fallen loose and was spilling around her shoulders. He stroked a hand over it. Shit.
Her hands twisted in his shirt. She pulled in a shaky breath.
“Sorry,” she muttered.
“Don’t be.”
“I’ll get a grip on it soon.” She dragged in a shuddering breath. He saw that she was calming herself. Most people would be a panicked mess.
Nearby, Manny was hyperventilating. Brock shoved the man’s head between his legs while Lisa patted his back.
“I want off this building,” Manny said. “I want my feet on the ground.”
“Okay, just breathe,” Brock said.
Liam turned his attention back to Penn when he noticed a smear of red on the concrete beside him.
He frowned. Manny appeared fine. Then he looked down and saw Penn looking at him.
“It’s okay,” she said, “I just scraped my hands.”
He grabbed her palms. She’d scraped them badly when she leaped after Manny. There were bits of grit embedded in her skin.
“These need to be cleaned. Now.”
“It’s fine, I’ll—”
“No. Brock, you have a first aid kit?”
“In the lift.”
“I’ll get it.” Liam shifted, and felt her hands tighten on him. Then he watched her steel herself and let him go.
Damn, there was a deep core of strength in this woman.
He found the red plastic box emblazoned with a white cross on it in the lift. As he was heading back, Brock and Lisa were standing on either side of a still-shaking Manny.
“We’ll get him down,” Brock said.
Liam nodded. “I’ll clean Penn’s hands, then we’ll get the lift once it comes back.”