Zenith's Legacy (Zenith Series #4) (The Zenith Series) Read online

  Naïve. Having been raised in a famous family, she should know better.

  “Mr. James, I realize you came here to do a job you were hired for, but could you please just go to lunch now and let me finish?” Her voice wavered and her chin dropped as her gaze avoided his again. Another tiny flash of attitude. Dropped head, slumped shoulders and low tone of voice.

  She was normally a quiet, sweet kind of woman, Eric secretly thought. The doormat type. Not really his dream girl. Which was excellent. That meant total professionalism between them. He was trying to hammer into her how important that was. It was rare for him to feel attraction towards anyone he worked for. A boundary he never crossed. Considering how he first saw her? Well… some boundaries were blurred and then erased… but all by accident. Still messy. And he definitely saw those glorious boobs. Even if he hated himself for it.

  But she seemed weak and he liked women who showed their fire. Enough to stand up to him. And deal with him. As big as he was, he didn’t like intimidating anyone.

  Then he frowned as he remembered her words. She wasn’t listening to him. Not at all. So maybe she wasn’t as docile as her tone of voice suggested.

  He didn’t know. He was too confused. Today was so strange. Beyond strange. He’d never been accused of being a Peeping Tom pervert before getting decked in the back of the head.

  Nodding, he took a step back and glanced behind as he did so. “Yes. Of course. If you could call headquarters when you leave, I’ll know when to come back and finish the job. Be aware, it’ll take me a few more hours, which could last into the evening… so…”

  Her lips puckered. “So… don’t get undressed in my apartment?”

  He nodded with a smile, relieved to see she had a tad bit of humor at least. “You can do that, but first, take a glance around. Or better yet, insist that your guard does. Make sure they clear the area before you settle in. No more surprises.”

  “I’ll let you know. Goodbye, Mr. James.”

  Summarily dismissed by her soft, cool voice, he gave her a small nod, deeming her kind of an aristocrat, but then again, she was one of them. She was the lady of this manor… or more accurately, the daughter of the manor. But this seemed more like a compound. So he supposed she deserved that right.

  He spun around and retreated through the front door, hurrying down the stairs to the concrete pad and pathway below. The path wound through fancy landscaping before it forked into two paths: one leading towards the house, and the other towards the outbuildings that lined one side of the property. There was an older shop, and past that, Zenith’s private recording studio and adjoining work spaces. The security was housed in that area.

  He intended to have words with whomever so ineffectively left Kathy Randall on her own.

  Allowing him to accidentally catch a peek of her boobs. Before he fell and hit his head.

  The picture slowly filled in, the one that he had of her. It was impossible for those glorious boobs to be anything less than the center of his mental picture, but above them was a smooth collarbone, slim shoulders, a sweet face and vividly blue eyes. He recalled her rosebud mouth against her shockingly white skin. There wasn’t an ounce of makeup on her face, and she wore small gold earrings in her earlobes. The complete antithesis of what he imagined the offspring of Rob Williams or anyone associated with his rock band, Zenith, might be. Eric was a long-time fan of the band. Nick Lassiter, the brother-in-law to Rob Williams, hired him and he knew instantly of the connection to Zenith. Eric had to admit being a bit wowed by the connection. The thrill of touching a star, even if he didn’t foresee actually ever doing so.

  But, oh, hell yeah. He got to meet Rob. He first met Rob Williams when the man strolled into the office of Nick Lassiter without a care in the world. He just smiled as he passed the staff and sauntered into Nick’s office. Eric was on duty outside it and his thoughts kept repeating be cool as he tried to maintain an impassive look on his face.

  This was Rob Williams. He’d recognize the man’s face anywhere. Dark hair, small stature although there was nothing small about him. Eric had more than half a foot on the man but Rob’s legacy and empire made Rob the giant in Eric’s eyes. It didn’t have anything to do with height or stature. But impact. Talent. Accomplishments. What one contributes to the world. That’s what made a person “big” in Eric’s eyes.

  Eric wasn’t big that way and he knew it. In that sense, he’d never be big. He was just… bulky. Strong. But not particularly important. Not a person who could inspire multiple generations.

  He had to keep cool, calm and totally neutral. He stood outside Mr. Lassiter’s office, his arms folded over his chest, not because he liked to stand like that for hours a day, no, but because in that moment of being so close to Rob, he hoped to remain professional. He feared he might turn to him, blubbering before asking for an autograph, a handshake, a friendly hello… anything to create a personal connection. Rob was his hero, after all. But that wasn’t Rob’s fault, or Nick’s. Eric kept reminding himself he was a grown-assed man on duty and he could not turn into an insipid idiot.

  He was consciously fisting his hands to avoid overreacting, and responded with no more than a nod. A nod. But still he cherished the knowledge that he’d exchanged… no, he shared a nod with Rob Williams.

  Part of Zenith’s mystique came from the main band members, Rob Williams and Spencer Mattox; both were extremely reclusive. Rob lived openly in this small town with his wife and her three daughters. Eric heard lots of stories about how much Rob enjoyed participating in their upbringing. The girls and his wife were why they lived far out in the country. It was the same house his wife and daughters were living in when Rob met them. Rob simply moved in.

  Rob asked Nick for referrals when his head of security, Marv, left unexpectedly. Rob wanted to check his systems and possibly upgrade them. Nick approached Eric with a proposal. “Rob and Rebecca receive more threats than I do. I think you should take over the security at their house. That is, if you’re interested… you’re the best and brightest at this job and what you do for me can be replicated by others. As to what Rob and Rebecca need from us, I think you’d be the most effective one on the team for them.”

  Eric blinked in shock. When Nick summoned him to his gigantic office, Eric assumed they would be making the upcoming travel arrangements for Nick. He had no clue he was about to be offered a dream job for a dream client. Although he expected to miss Nick… it was Rob fucking Williams. It was Zenith. They were more than famous. Of course, he would move out to the middle of nowhere and run a country compound… for a legend.

  He left that day for Rob’s compound. Except… it wasn’t a compound. Not like most people would think of to protect a rich, famous rock star. Nope. It was a simple country house in nowhere cool for a vacation or retreat from the “scene.” For God’s sake. It was off a random exit in Seattle, Washington. Yeah. Nowhere Eric ever pictured himself living. But here he was. It didn’t take long before he was recognized by the permanent security staff that worked the grounds and gate.

  Entering the security headquarters, everyone understood why he was there. To evaluate them. He had authority over them all now, and who wanted that? He understood how they felt. Bringing in a new leader from the outside was never popular. He was the outsider. Too bad. Thankfully, his feelings never hindered him from saying what needed to be said or doing what needed to be done.

  That was exactly why Nick recommended him and Rob hired him.

  Then he met with Rob to start his new job.

  “Eric James?” Rob smiled as he held his hand out to Eric.

  “Yes, sir.” He took Rob’s hand and shook it but didn’t smile back. Rob wasn’t uncomfortable with Eric’s stern, vacuous greeting. He simply nodded and glanced around.

  “So… this system was put in about five years ago. I think with all the technical improvements since then, we need to really look at it closely and fully overhaul it.”

  “Smart,” Eric grunted, still too overwhelmed to voice articulate thoughts.

  “My people will work with you. And no decisions will be made without my prior approval. So… it’s not on you either way. If that makes sense.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “And I don’t want any ass-kissing. Just an honest evaluation of our security system in all its facets, from the perimeter fencing and cameras, to the gate and all the outbuildings. My wife and daughters… well, I won’t say you have an unlimited budget…” His mouth quirked upwards. “But a pretty hefty one if need be.”

  They started walking outside and headed towards the gate. Alone, where Rob’s current security and bodyguard employees couldn’t hear them, he added. “I trust all the work that was done inside these gates. So if you tell me differently, I’ll listen, but I’ll be surprised. No one is more important to me than my family so I’d like a neutral assessment. I won’t blame you for whatever you find. Nick says you are the best and the most neutral. So, I’m giving you free rein to evaluate the whole premises.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Rob. I’m not really a ‘sir’ kind of guy. Sounds weird to me. Remember, I’ve seen people fight over a Kleenex tissue after I use it… so I’m not really a ‘Mr.’ either. Just call me Rob.”

  “That must be… so strange. Fighting over a used tissue, I mean.”

  He replied with an amused glance, “Yeah. Yes. It is. It’s pretty gross. Glad you don’t think it’s something I should encourage my fans to do.”

  “No, si—Rob.”

  “You a fan?”

  Eric wasn’t expecting the flippant, three-word sentence. Or to be so blatantly asked it. Emphatically, yes. He was definitely a fan. He would love to get an autograph and meet Spencer and shake Rob’s hand… but no. None of that. He answered simply, his fac
e still impassive. “Yes.”

  Rob stared at Eric before letting out a short snort. “Nick said you were completely impossible to read and unflappable. He nailed you, that’s for sure, Mr. James.”

  Eric’s head jerked down in a half nod. “Yes. And Eric is fine.” He didn’t miss the huge power imbalance between him and Rob. Rob was now his boss, someone with fame, power and fortune, and yet he still addressed Eric so formally. He was obviously waiting until told differently. In that short meeting, Rob earned Eric’s undying loyalty. It was already there, but now it was reaffirmed. Eric heard Rob was charming, but who believes all the gossip in the tabloids and media? Maybe it was just a public relations spin. Eric believed Rob was genuine. His guts said so and there was nothing Eric trusted more readily than his own instincts.

  So Eric made his evaluation. He wrote his report and priced it out with the best contractors and suppliers for all the necessary upgrades with the best deals. He didn’t choose the most expensive, nor the cheapest; he sought only the best. Rob approved every line item.

  Eric also met Rob’s wife, Rebecca.

  She was a surprise. Middle-aged with red hair and an average figure. Dressed as… well… like any mother in her forties might be. Not overly sensual or stylish. She was cute, sweet, and she had a great smile. Most outstanding to Eric was how exclusively she had Rob’s eyes on her. When she spoke, he smiled as he listened to her and kissed her cheek before they left the house.

  Rob told Eric that his middle daughter, Kathy, lived on the premises, along with his youngest, Karlee. Eric already met the feisty, unflappable Karlee. She was a funny teenager. She gave him a once-over before saying without a smile or a smirk, “You’re huge. I can see why you do this for a living. Nice to meet you, Mr. James.”

  He liked the tough-acting, cute, little girl. She seemed harmless as a fly, but her coolness wasn’t any act and she was pretty hard to ruffle. Not shy, but not talkative either.

  “Kathy doesn’t appreciate the security, bodyguards and lifestyle that Zenith has forced upon her. She’s the one whom I want most protected from all the crazies and stalkers, of course, but to ensure her own privacy as well. She’s the most timid and quiet of my daughters and she doesn’t want any of Zenith’s fame directed at or affecting her. Not at all. It makes her incredibly uncomfortable. I try to surround her with a firewall of silence from it. You, Mr. James, are going to be that firewall. It’s part of what first intrigued me about you.”

  “I thought Nick recommended me.”

  Rob gave a little shrug. “I asked about you. And Nick had plenty of positives to say, but he also made me beg for you. I think you’re perfectly qualified to keep my Kathy’s privacy intact. She’s very sensitive. Sweet. And she doesn’t deserve the shit that comes with fame to taint or hurt or ruin any part of her life.”

  Eric was told all of that yesterday about Kathy. Now, however, he understood what it meant. After seeing the sensitive, sweet, private and quiet Kathy’s spectacular breasts, the one daughter he was asked to be the firewall around, and to keep the rest of the world away from, was her. Inadvertently, he managed to breach his own wall. He was supposed to protect her privacy and instead, he plundered it recklessly. Groaning internally, he prepared to let the full impact of what happened fall on his broad shoulders.

  He noticed Rob never called the three girls his stepdaughters. Just his daughters. His girls. He clearly adored them. Kayla was graduating with a Master’s degree soon and was usually away at college. She had her own security team there. Eric thought Rob said she was currently home for mid-winter break.

  Shit. The first day and his first mission had both gone so wrong. Catastrophically wrong. He had to tell Rob what happened. There was no hiding it. That would be unprofessional. As uncomfortable as it was for him to admit, he had to. He would, no doubt, be canned for the indiscretion. How could he admit that he saw Rob’s sweet, private daughter’s breasts? His stomach roiled at the prospect. On another plane, he thought Kathy’s favorite bodyguard should be fired. And that was the nicest thing she should have done to her. Being so lousy at her job precluded her from seeking any position as a bodyguard, in his opinion. But that wasn’t his call.

  Still. He couldn’t eat his lunch. There was no fixing this. He had to get it over with. He had to find Rob sooner than later and tell him what happened.

  Chapter 2

  HE SAW HER BREASTS.

  That thought kept flashing in her brain and every time it happened, a fresh round of radiant heat filled her entire body. It was so embarrassing. Shameful. Even her fiancé hadn’t seen them yet. But a strange man had. A huge, scary, muscle-bound stranger. It was so far beyond the pale, she wanted to bury her head in the dirt and never lift it up again. It was that catastrophic to her. She could never tell Jim. Oh, no. Never. Not Pastor Jim Zavarian, her fiancé.

  When she was eighteen, she’d decided to go to church. Attending church was something her family rarely did. One time was all it took. As she sat down, she’d suddenly felt like she finally belonged somewhere and had found her true place. She’d felt authentic. It was… home. Where she was always supposed to be. She’d found something she was looking for since she was a kid: peace. Contentment. She’d let herself go to fill that space. That moment. And the belief, right then, that she was okay. They were okay. Only there, in the safe confines of the church, with God, did she feel like everything would be okay.

  Was it hope? Maybe. She’d finally found something to believe in that she could truly give herself over to and trust. God!

  She’d almost banged her head against the window when it had dawned on her the answer was always right there. But she’d never reached out for it. She hadn’t expected the sensation she’d felt the first time she’d heard the words from the kind pastor. He’d led the small community church that she’d entered that day and his words changed her life.

  She eventually left the small church she discovered and found a larger one down in Everett where she worked as the music director. She felt so lucky and privileged to have that position in the congregation she now enjoyed. She met Jim Zavarian while she was there. He was the pastor of the church. Jim was tall and carried himself with a grace that was both inspiring and handsome. His wide shoulders and chest contrasted with his slim waist but he was well-proportioned. He had dish-water blonde hair that he kept styled neatly. Dark-rimmed glasses imbued him with an aura of both maturity and wisdom. He had a square face and chin, although he wasn’t traditionally handsome. Rather, his look was arresting. Interesting. Unique.

  She often imagined what a dream it was to be him. To have the ability to inspire and help others feel the abundant love and safety she found in her faith. She considered it truly the greatest job, and no other calling in the world could match it.

  A job she could never do.

  Contrary to her outward appearance, which was quiet, bookish, resolute, hard-working and industrious, aside from music, Kathy was a lousy student. Not from lack of trying. Goodness, she tried very hard. She could not take the college courses required to be a pastor. But Jim had and oh! Did she love to hear about it. Like a sponge absorbing water, she listened intently to everything Jim studied and learned.

  Theology was something she could never pursue. But she loved someone who did pursue it, so she felt that her entire life was what led her here. To this. To finding her faith and this church and Jim. Even her singing fit in. The choir was kind of a mess and drastically in need of direction and there she was. She already had the voice to lead, but her inability to sing alone in front of other people, (another source of her anxiety issues), always ended in complete stage fright. She could carry a note and her musical experience with one of the most famous song writing duos, Rob Williams and Spencer Mattox, creating songs right there at her home, gave her a definite edge.

  Jim proposed to Kathy only three months ago. They kissed to celebrate it. They often kissed, hugged and held hands but both staunchly agreed that nothing more would occur between them until their wedding night. And now? Now, this man, this stranger had been staring right at her naked breasts.