Don stood up. “Are you out of your mind? Four hundred thousand? No way. You two aren’t worth that much.”
“Each.”
“Each? You better find a better number, young lady. There is no way in hell.”
Jenna sat down with a sigh. “I’ll talk to my lawyer. You can also swing it as a fantastic bonus, you know. We won’t sue if it is amended into our contact.”
Don sat down, too, a gleam in his eyes. “That offer came straight from the company. They are trying to ignore me.”
“Why didn’t you say that, then?”
He leaned back. “I like playing hardball with you. You fight as dirty as I do.”
“Will you get a say in the final number?”
His eyes dulled. “I don’t know, kid. I’m trying to take care of you, but…I don’t know. The national media didn’t get a whiff of any of this. It really hurts your case.”
“So…lawyers, then.”
“Maybe, maybe not. We’ll see— What?”
Jenna wiggled in her chair, that damn itch erupting between her shoulders. She looked behind her at the closed door, then at Don again. He stared back with a perplexed expression.
“Do you…” She stood before glancing out the window, but unless Spider-Man was the gunman, she wasn’t in danger from that direction.
“Do I what? Don’t crack up on me, girl, I don’t have the time.”
“There is something…” It was from her right, she was sure of it.
She did a slow sweep in that direction, her gut telling her exactly what she’d find long before she saw the beautiful sunburst eyes wrapped in lush black lashes.
It took her a second to pick out his body between the bookcase and the plants. He just kind of…blended in. Like wallpaper. But it was him.
“Josh,” she said in an accusatory voice, her stomach erupting with butterflies so intense she had a moment of panic that she was going to throw up.
“Oh, you know him, do you?” Don asked as he leaned back in his chair with a smile.
“You could say that. Why is he here?”
“Meet your new bodyguard. Apparently he is a friend of Erika’s man. The sergeant.”
“I know who he is, Don, as do you. He was our woods guide. Can I talk to you a second. Alone?”
Josh stood gracefully and moved with that predatory walk he had. He glanced at Don, bowed his head, and closed the door behind him.
“He said you’d spot him,” Don said from his big chair, hands resting on his stomach like Santa. “I don’t know how. The guy is good. I had people come and go outta here and no one noticed him once. Not once. Some even glanced around and didn’t see him.”
“It’s danger. I sense the danger.”
“Hmmm. I can see that. He and his friend make me want to grab my twelve gauge.”
“What is he doing here?”
“Like I tried to tell you yesterday, he has one hell of a résumé. He is just a woods guide now, but he—”
“I don’t want him. Send him back.” Her words sounded flimsy, even to her.
Don stopped talking and stared Jenna down. “Listen here, girl. You are getting protection and I am not looking to the ends of the earth to find it for you. This guy is it. He has a good background and he checks out. You’re getting him, end of story.”
Jenna had to stop herself from whining. “Where did you find him?”
“Erika called and said she wouldn’t come back without a bodyguard. She’s been spending too much time with you, that one. But since it was a reasonable request, especially as Mike asked for one, too, I gave her the okay. She had someone in mind, he checked out, so fine. Next thing I knew, this guy was calling up. He said he was a buddy of Erika’s man. It didn’t really seem like he was asking me, more like telling me what was expected of me. But he wasn’t pushy about it, so I told him to send his references over. I figured that if he wanted the job, then he would be able to deal with you.
“Now, I know what you’re thinking, kid,” Don said, clearly having no idea what she was thinking, “but I checked him out thoroughly. I called his references myself. He had some Navy SEAL higher-up on there, two generals, one was his father—I mean, this guy is G.I. Joe in the flesh. He’s better than any bodyguard service is gonna send, and he is still reasonable—a damned steal for what he is, actually. So long story short, you’ve got him. You don’t have to like him, you don’t have to even talk to him, but you got him and you aren’t getting rid of him.”
“Don, you’re slipping into ghetto on me. I thought you were past that,” Jenna said as she got up gracefully. There was no pushing Don when he went ghetto. It was fact—she knew from experience.
“You know what they say—”
Jenna was making her way to the door, not at all caring what “they” said, when he asked her to wait.
“Did all that really happen? Up close and personal?” Don sounded thoughtful.
Jenna sagged for a moment. “Yes, and I’m not lying when I say it screwed me up. I’ve had a lot of shit go down in my life, and last week didn’t take the cake or anything, but…”
“I know, kid. This last week saw me doing things I haven’t done since I was running around on the streets. I’m sorry for it. I’ll get you that bonus. We’ll get this building up and all get rich from it.”
Jenna didn’t respond. Despite her tirade earlier, at this point in life, with everything falling down around her, money seemed trivial.
She straightened her back and steeled herself for dealing with Josh. He had no right to sneak back in her life. She’d make sure he knew it.
She really hoped she didn’t throw up. That would be embarrassing.
Not to mention irritating when Josh started gloating over it.
Stifling a moan, Jenna walked out the door and ignored Josh completely. She headed straight to Jax.
Josh watched Jenna pass in a perfectly tailored, expensive suit. He remembered the air of power and importance she’d had when he first saw her in Colorado, but now, back in her element, it was like seeing her for the first time. She walked around like she owned the place, with a firm handle on everything and everyone that chatted around her. Everywhere she went, eyes followed. He couldn’t help staring himself. She was breathtaking.
She was also hurting. Bad. She was trying to push it away, but all this was taking its toll, and she had no one to lean on. No one to help her ease the burden.
If she would just drop her stubborn bullshit, he would wrap her in his arms right now.
He followed her quietly, appreciating the splendor around him. An office wasn’t a place he’d spent much time. He thought they were all cube farms and disgruntled employees. And while this place had its section for cubes with the occasional head poking up, it was mostly offices and large, expensive-looking desks. The decorations were fresh, and matched the new carpet and off-white walls.
Erika’s office lined the side wall with a window and a view. It was a testament to her position, and Jenna’s too, that they weren’t in the section of cubes in the middle of the floor. He knew from the movies that having a window looking out at the New York City skyline was good news.
“What the hell? When did you and Mike change those schematics? Now I have to start over,” Erika said in a snotty voice as Jenna walked in.
Jax looked up at Erika’s tirade and caught Jenna staring at him. He had a moment of confusion before he looked over Jenna’s shoulder and noticed Josh.
“What the hell, Jax?” Jenna demanded.
“What is going—” Erika stopped as she realized what was happening. A satisfied smirk lit up her face.
Jax looked back at his book. “You gave me some good advice about Erika. I thought it fit your situation as well.”
“It’s none of your business,” Jenna replied heatedly.
Jax just shrugged, nose in his book.
Jenna turned on Erika. “Did you know about this?”
“Not until last night.”
“Why didn’t you
call?”
“Oh shut up, will you? He’s here, you like him, get over it. Now, can you please go get something done? After I’ve redone all this work, I’ll need the next thing, and that comes from you.”
Jenna stared at her mutely, betrayal etching her face. Josh felt a momentary pang of guilt before he braced himself. It was for the best. If she thought she was getting out of his life so easily, she was sorely mistaken.
“Below the belt, Erika,” Jenna muttered before turning on her expensive heel and nearly running right into him. She stared up at him for one electric moment before she brushed by without a word.
Josh met Jax’s eyes and flashed a smile.
Jax chuckled. “I do not envy you right now, bro. She’s all riled up.”
Josh followed her out. Jenna was hot when she was riled up. But he’d gotten smart again today—loose pants over boxer briefs. He had plenty of room for the constant hard-on.
When he reached her office, which was slightly larger than Erika’s and elegantly decorated, he moved a seat toward the back by the window, able to see everything while being unobtrusive. He didn’t sit just yet. “I told you I wouldn’t let you go, Jenna. We have something. I know you see that. I know you feel it. I can wait you out.”
Jenna looked up at him with her ocean-oasis eyes. She looked lost, confused. His heart ached for her as she pulled it all inside and hardened her eyes. She was battling, but she would lose eventually. She was the only one that couldn’t see it. “Just stay out of my way, Josh.”
He glanced around, noticed the disarray of her desk, and figured he’d stay mobile for a while longer. “I think I’ll start by getting some coffee. The place around the corner makes the best java. Want anything?”
She ignored him.
He sauntered back down the hall to Erika’s office, where she was bent over. He got nothing more than an irritated glance as he stopped in her doorway. “Erika, why so serious?”
“Back to the grindstone. That wench of a woman you, for some unexplainable reason, like, works like a hound and churns out work like a Tasmanian devil. Without Lewis to argue with her and slow her down, I can’t keep up.”
Josh caught Jax’s eyes. “Coffee?”
“Oh. My. God. Yes,” Erika shouted, raising her arms in the air. “Caramel macchiato with one percent. Big as they come. Oh, and a donut. Or croissant.” She watched Jax move through the office. “Did you get that, Jax? Will you remember? One percent. Not whole.”
Jax gave Josh a shake of his head and kept walking. Josh followed his buddy.
“Trouble in paradise?” Josh asked as they made their way downstairs.
“Nah. Best to ignore her during the day. She’s usually in overdrive. Jenna is a tough boss.”
“She’s not the boss. Don’s the boss.”
“Well, she’s tough to work with. She’s too smart for her own good. But then, so is Erika. Don, what’s your take on that dude?”
Josh thought back to his morning. “He’s not a man I would willingly show my back, I’ll say that. I would go so far as to say he is ruthless. Doesn’t seem like the polish and shine of a top exec. He doesn’t fit.”
“No. I don’t know much about office life or anything, but I agree. I get the feeling he’s sizing me up when he looks at me. But then, you sit down and talk to the guy, he’s as cool as they come. Wouldn’t trust him, though.”
“No. Wouldn’t trust him. But Jenna seems to. Implicitly.”
“Well, now, that’s why I was asking. I wouldn’t trust him, and I would advise against it with the girls. But he’s different with Erika. Treats her like glass. I see him with her, and I respect him. Then Jenna walks in, and it’s like the office is all sparks and fire. She gives him a load of shit, and he takes it with a grin, then gives it right back. If I step out of line, stop paying attention or something, I get those freaky eyes lookin’ at me, making me want to reach for my knife. Jenna or Erika, he’s like a big grandpappy or something. It’s weird.”
They placed their orders at the coffee shop. While they waited for the result, Jax asked, “So, how was your homecoming? She turn into hearts and flowers when you breached her office?”
“I’m being ignored. She told Don she wouldn’t accept me. He told her, in not so many words, to shut up.”
“You could learn something from that guy. When he puts his foot down, she listens.”
“I noticed.”
“You gonna try to room with her, or stay with us?”
“Don’t think she’ll be inviting me over for dinner, I’ll say that much. I’ll get a room at a hotel, give you and Erika some space.”
“Don’t want my missus keeping tabs on you to report back to Jenna, huh?” Jax said with a knowing grin.
“That, and I’ve seen enough of your hairy ass to last me a lifetime.”
They got their coffee and started back to the office.
“My ass isn’t hairy,” Jax muttered.
Chapter Four
Jenna spent the day working her butt off in a hostile, irritated, unfriendly way. Josh lounged around, often talking with Jax, and occasionally talking to office staff, who were mostly women that came sidling around, swinging their hips and trying for coy smiles. Whenever Jenna saw one of these women, she straightened up and gave a good ol’ stare-down. If there was one thing she was great at, it was communicating hostile intent with no more than a stare.
It didn’t take long for the lady callers to stop calling. At least to her desk. Jenna had every belief they lurked just out of sight. And why shouldn’t they? Those giant shoulders, his flashing eyes, his jet-black hair—the guy was hot. She knew that. This was not news. She just hated that someone else might get to experience it.
At lunchtime she got an email from Don saying they would be eating with some PR crowd, which meant that they needed to go shopping beforehand. It looked like her ceremonial position was about to begin.
She glanced up to say something to Josh before getting a jolt when she saw his chair was empty. She hadn’t heard him leave.
Figuring that he’d probably gone for coffee, she dropped off her latest plans to Erika, who had ink on her face, and her hair was all mussed. Erika glared at her.
“Uh…you all right?” Jenna asked, inching away.
“Stop working so fast. I can’t keep up. Seriously, Jenna, I’m not kidding. With the groundbreaking, I am way behind. I wasn’t working over the last week like you were.”
“We have time,” Jenna said calmly. “There is no need to kill yourself.”
“I know. I know we do. I just…” Erika glanced at Jax, saw he wasn’t paying attention, and then said quietly, “I just worry, you know? I still have nightmares. I hear things. I wake up in the middle of the night thinking someone is breaking in when it is just someone walking to the apartment next door—I’m a mess. I can’t handle it anymore. I need to get out of here.”
Jenna nodded. She could see the toll all this was taking on Erika. Mike, too. She wondered if she looked the same way. “Well, we are moving fast. We’ll get it done. Hey, I was wondering if I could borrow Jax?”
“Why?”
“I have to go shopping. I was thinking I could—”
“Yes,” Erika cut in. “He’s got nothing. Look at him. It’s ridiculous. Get him something for every occasion.”
“I am going high end, though.”
“Good.” Erika glanced at Jax, who was now looking worriedly between the two women. “Spend whatever. I’ll do a more thorough shop later, but all he’s got now is junk. I look like I am going around with a hobo on my arm.”
“You didn’t care last week,” Jax said in as close to a whine as Jenna had ever heard from him. She barely kept from laughing.
Without looking up again, Erika said, “I wasn’t really concerned what a bunch of rednecks thought. We are in New York now.”
Jax’s mouth dropped open. Clearly he was speechless.
Stifling a grin—Jenna did not plan to get involved in mud slinging—she
motioned Jax her way. “Let’s go.”
Jax didn’t move. “Are you going to buy Josh clothes?”
“Absolutely. He’s not much better than you, and I can’t have a raggedy reject following me around. I have an image to protect.”
Jax let out a body-hunching sigh, loud enough to make someone passing by look in.
“Oh Jesus. Go!” Erika glared at him, her fingers like claws on her mouse. “I can’t concentrate with you bellyaching.”
“This is all your fault,” Jax said to Jenna as he grumpily rose from his chair.
“Shopping in particular, or Erika’s mood in general?”
“Both.”
Jenna led the way to the break room. She would’ve liked to just leave without him, but she knew he’d tear the city apart looking for her, and bitch her out when he found her. All that would just waste time. Plus, she wasn’t lying. The guy needed some new clothes. This wasn’t the woods. Threadbare jeans were hot, but not businesslike.
Josh was standing next to a cute, bubbly brunette, who was chatting animatedly and bouncing. His eyes, though bored, kept glancing down, probably catching the peep show.
Anger simmered up out of nowhere, making Jenna grit her teeth. Before she could open her mouth and say something completely unprofessional, he glanced up and saw her.
“Excuse me,” he said to the bubbly butt-head in his deep voice.
“Get anywhere?” Jenna asked testily, reaching for maturity and missing. She about-faced and headed away, Josh and Jax in tow.
“Why? Wish me well in my adventures?” Josh asked with a smile in his voice.
“We’ll see if we can’t wipe that smile off your face, Mr. Williams. Yours, too, sergeant.”
“She’s going to try and dress us up,” Jax muttered.
They walked down the busy sidewalk, both Jax and Josh with eyes constantly roving. This wasn’t the woods, though. There was always a lot going on and it would be impossible to see everything. Even if they did, it would be harder still to ingest it and make any sort of sense out of it.
Still, they were trying.
Jenna walked into the store of choice and felt the cool air greet her in welcome. It was quiet, it was well lit, it was serene, and immediately a saleswoman came up with a smile. Home.
Unexpected Guardian (Skyline Trilogy Book 3) Page 3
