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)
“Thank you for your assistance.”
The man nodded. I hoped he was being well compensated for his actions.
“Let’s go.” Ford laid a hand between my shoulder blades. The unexpected contact made me jump. No matter that it was through two layers of clothing, his touch was warm and potent.
“Wait,” I said. “I need to tell Gran goodbye.”
“Okay. I’ll reset the alarm on the back door while you talk to her.”
We slipped back in the way we had come out. When I entered Gran’s room, she seemed less deeply asleep than before. The sound of sirens must have roused her a little. “Gran?”
She smiled but didn’t open her eyes. I squeezed her hand and felt the tiniest squeeze back.
“I love you. I’ll be back to see you soon.”
When I left the room, Ford was waiting for me in the hall. We walked out the front door, waving to the nurses at the front desk like nothing odd had occurred. Once we were seated in Ford’s car, I said, “Are we just going to act like none of that happened?”
“Yes.”
“And you’re not going to explain anything?”
“Surely you can see it’s better if I don’t.”
“I can’t believe you had the nerve to act like I was outrageous when I proposed a solution that was a little like bribery.”
Ford laughed. “A little? That was when we were following the letter of the law. As soon as you were threatened, that went out the window.”
From the way he looked at me when he said that I could almost believe he cared about something more than his own convenience and making sure this ended up the way Montgomery wanted it to. “Are we still going to lunch?”
Ford shook his head. “We’re going back to my house. I’m going to finish the sauce I was making last night. You’re going to work from there for the rest of the day. You may be working from there until this is settled.”
“And what the hell am I going to tell the senior partners about that?”
“Whatever it takes.”
I sighed.
“It’s obvious something went wrong today. I know you’ll need to visit your grandmother again, but we need to minimize your movements.”
“Ford, I need to know more about what’s going on. My client keeps calling, and I’m just having to say bullshit to her.”
“Isn’t that what you usually do with most of them?”
I started to deny it, but then I shrugged. “When it’s necessary.”
“It’s necessary now.”
I didn’t say anything else, but I watched him as he drove. I thought about how effortlessly he’d nearly choked the life out of that man. I thought about how calm he’d been as he did it. I’d known there was more to him than the prickly, arrogant asshole he presented himself as at the club. I’d guessed at how wild he’d be in bed, but I’d never guessed any of this.
I also hadn’t known how fucking hot it would be to see him in action. I’d never wanted to be the one rescued. I always wanted to be the one in charge, the one who took care of everyone, but watching the way Ford had raced to my defense, the way he’d dispatched that man as if it was nothing…I had to admit it was fucking amazing.
20
FORD
Jay and I were silent for most of the drive home. I could feel the tension in the air, sexual and otherwise. After knowing how close he’d come to potential harm and the adrenaline rush of making sure he stayed safe, I knew one spark was all it would take to have me jerking the car to the side of the road and fucking him right there. I needed to get home, I needed to call Carter. My mind was buzzing. We needed to end this now.
I allowed myself a quick glance in Jay’s direction. His head was laid back on the seat, his eyes closed, but he wasn’t relaxed. I could see the tension in his jaw and shoulders.
I wanted to reach out and touch him to reassure him, but I didn’t dare lest I start a full-on wildfire. How have I gone from hating this man to being willing to do anything to keep him safe? What the fuck was I gonna do when he walked away?
As soon as we got to my house, I sent Jay into my office to work, and I went to the kitchen. For a few moments, I focused on cooking, letting it calm me—or pretending it did anyway. The stress from today was way more than any simple task like cooking or knitting could get rid of.
When I thought I had a chance of talking to Carter without yelling, I called him. When he didn’t answer I called right back.
“I’m busy with the guy you’ve sent in. I’ll call you back,” he said, then hung up. I paced the kitchen while the sauce simmered and I heated the water for pasta. Would Carter get anything useful out of that fucker? I hoped so. I couldn’t stand the thought of Jay in danger or of anyone but me putting their hands on him.