“I wouldn’t worry about that right now. He’s probably got a lot he’s dealing with, and there won’t be much you can do to help. In fact, I suggest you distance yourself from your dad’s company as much as you can.”
“But all those poor people whose jobs could be in jeopardy. Share’s will plummet when this gets out. People are going to lose a lot of money.”
“And they’ll be angry and desperate. That means they might do things they wouldn’t normally do. Like attack someone who’s innocent in all of this.”
She sat back and looked up at him. “You really think I need protection?”
“Yes.”
She rubbed her hand over her face and then she had to laugh. “Just as I’m getting my life sorted out, this happens. Why is it every time I think I have everything worked out something goes disastrously wrong? I don’t think I can deal with this again, with looking over my shoulder all the time, waiting for someone to strike.”
“Look at me, Jenna.” He crouched before her and lifted her chin. She stared into his rich, hazel-colored eyes. A woman could get lost in those eyes. When he stared at her, she felt so important, so special, like she was his sole focus. It was no wonder Amelia had snapped him up when they were so young. She couldn’t even imagine how it would feel to have him love her. Intense, all-consuming and no doubt satisfying as hell.
“I’m not going to let anyone hurt you, understand? Just do what I say, and we’ll get through this.”
She snorted. “You know I don’t do well at following orders.”
He smiled. “I know. You were always trouble.”
“My middle name,” she said lightly. “This feels like a dream. Well, a nightmare really.”
“I know. But we’ll get through it. Together.”
“I have some money my grandmother left me,” she told him. “I can pay you.”
He gave her a look so cold she bit her lip in worry.
“You’re not paying me.”
“But what about Black-Gray? I know you said we’re family, but if a paying client comes along they’ll need to put them first. What if I hire them to look into all of this?”
“They already are.”
“They are?”
“They know how important you are to me. I don’t care about many people, Jenna. My team. And you. That’s it. And you can believe me when I say I’m going to make damn sure nothing happens to you.”
She stared at him, those gorgeous eyes, his chiseled cheeks, his full lips. He leaned forward, almost as though he were going to kiss her. Her breath caught in her throat. This was it, what she’d been waiting for, for so long.
The door suddenly opened, and Curt pulled back, almost falling on his ass in his haste to get away from her. Seeing him so uncharacteristically clumsy might have been funny under different circumstances, but the speed with which he put distance between them was more than a little insulting.
“Hey.” Travis walked in holding a white bag in each hand, the scent of the food wafted in around him, making her stomach turn over sickeningly.
“Roast beef was the special at the diner,” Travis said, putting the bags down on her coffee table. “I’ll get us some cutlery and plates, if that’s okay?”
“Oh, sure,” she said, still feeling a little stunned and hurt.
As he walked away, she looked up at Curt, but he kept his gaze on the food, unable, or unwilling, to meet her gaze.
“Curt, I—”
“Do you want to eat here or at the table?” Travis asked, walking in. He came to a stop. “Everything okay?”
“Fine,” Curt said. “I’ve just got a couple of phone calls to make. You guys start without me.”
She watched him walk out. He didn’t once turn to look at her.
“Sorry, did I interrupt something?”