Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 67711 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 339(@200wpm)___ 271(@250wpm)___ 226(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67711 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 339(@200wpm)___ 271(@250wpm)___ 226(@300wpm)
I blew out a long breath. I was so fucked.
It seemed like ages before Carter called back. “What did you learn?”
“Plenty. I’ve got names and locations.”
“I want in on this.”
“That’s not a good idea. You don’t have the right training.”
“They went after—” I stopped. Jay was in the kitchen doorway, watching me. His hair was wet from the shower, and he was wearing only a pair of sleep pants.
“You’ve fallen for him, haven’t you?” Carter asked.
My heart pounded so hard I thought I might pass out. “I don’t know.”
“You better figure it out, because if you want a relationship with him, you’re going to have to fight for it.”
Was I? The way Jay was looking at me, I could almost convince myself he was as obsessed as I was.
“I want to know what you’re planning. I deserve that.”
“I get that, especially since it affects you, and you’ll be a target if anything goes wrong.”
“Nothing’s going to go wrong.” It couldn’t.
“Something always goes wrong; that’s why we have contingency plans.”
I did not want Carter acting all practical now. “I want to get this right the first time.”
“Jesus, you sound like Miles.”
I felt a little bit like Miles right then, the arrogance, the need to possess. Was this how out of control he felt with Ben? No wonder he’d acted so fucking erratic.
“Since Jay and I can’t leave, why don’t you come over to discuss strategy.”
“All right, give me about an hour.”
Jay was scowling at me when I ended the call. “You’re not going after these people yourself,” he said.
“You don’t get to make that decision.”
The intensity in his eyes as he held my gaze made me shiver. “I will tie you up and keep you here. You’re not going to risk yourself again, not for me, not for Miles, not for the ownership of a warehouse.”
My breath caught. I was angry, but also turned on as hell. “I’m the one who’s protecting you.”
“Somebody has to protect you from being foolish. When you ran out of the care center today….”
“I knew what I was doing.”
“They could have shot you.”
“I calculated the risks.”
He held my gaze “Did you?”
“Yes.” I hadn’t. I just knew I needed to stop those men. I wasn’t going to let them hurt Jay or his Gran.
I turned back to the stove and dropped the pasta in the now furiously boiling water. “Carter is coming over to talk strategy soon. We should eat once this is done.”
Jay moved so close I swore I could feel the heat of him. “Or—”
“No. You’re not distracting me from cooking again.”
“Could I help then?” I looked over my shoulder. Jay was grinning. He loved that he’d surprised me. “I can cook pasta.”
I nodded. “Thanks.”
He used my pasta scoop to stir the noodles and keep them from sticking while I tasted the sauce once more and decided it was done. I let Jay watch over the pasta while I got plates and a bottle of wine.
“I would think you were trying to seduce me with all this, but we both know how unnecessary that is, especially after your performance today.”
“What performance?”
“Don’t pretend you don’t know how hot you looked racing out to do battle and bringing that man down like he wasn’t way bigger than you.”
Heat rushed to my face. “I told you I knew how to defend myself.”
“You didn’t warn me how horny it would make me.”
Had he really been turned on by that?
“You’re like a walking example of competence porn.”
“What about you? Undefeated at tennis, the youngest candidate for partner in your firm’s history, literally a self-made man.”
Jay rolled his eyes. “It’s hard fucking work.”
“And you think I don’t know how to work hard?”
“No, not exactly, but you do things so effortlessly. You make it all look so damn easy, all while living like this,” he gestured around the house. “And you’re actually reading the books on the shelf and listening to the records and cooking in your high-end kitchen.”
“And you like that?” I asked. “It’s hot?” If he knew I spent most nights sitting in my antique chairs reading books he’d find pretentious, would he think that was sexy?
Jay’s cheeks turned a delightful shade of pink. “Yeah.”
I smiled as I nudged him out of the way and plated the pasta. “Good to know.”
Jay shook his head. “This is all so ridiculous.”
“Your life being in danger or you drooling over a man?” I asked as I put our plates on the table and motioned for Jay to join me there.
“All of it. And then Gran…I…I don’t want to lose her.”
I sat down next to him and placed a hand over his. “I’m really sorry she’s so sick. I wish there was something I could do.”
He smiled. “You really do mean that.”
“Yes.”
“Most people…most people just say that, but—”
“I don’t offer things if I’m not sincere about it, and that includes my ass.”