Page 124 of Lethal Danger

“I had no idea, Jazz. I’ll have my people investigate. And I’ll contact the security firm I’m using during my campaign to have them give you protection.”

The gesture warmed her from the inside out. So this was what it was like to have a real dad. Someone to protect her. To make her feel loved just by showing his concern. “Thanks, but I have good security already.”

“You do? All right.” He paused, like he was thinking. “I suppose you’re trained for this kind of situation. But I…I can’t lose you, too.”

Jazz’s throat tightened.

“Not after Joan. You remind me of her in some ways, you know.”

Jazz tried to swallow as tears pooled in her eyes. No one had ever compared her to a family member. Not at all. As if she’d never really been related to any of them.

“You’re strong and determined. And you love the fair so much.” He paused. Was that a sniff? Was he crying, too?

She didn’t try to stop the tears that fell down her cheeks.

“She would be as proud of you as I am.”

Jazz’s heart squeezed so hard she thought it might burst. He was proud of her? “Thank you.” She pushed the words past the thickness in her throat. “That means a lot.”

Uncle Pierce took in a breath that sounded a little shaky. “The reason I called was to ask you something. The girls are coming home tomorrow, and I wondered, would you sit with us at the funeral on Saturday?”

If Nev had been there, she would’ve said she needed to scrape Jazz’s jaw off the floor. Jazz had never been more shocked in her life. He wanted her to be publicly recognized as a member of his immediate family? Alongside his two perfect daughters?

“Um…” She cleared her throat. “Sure?” The answer ended more like a question. Mostly because she still couldn’t believe she’d heard him right.

“Wonderful. I’m so pleased.” And he sounded pleased. As if he wore a smile as he spoke. “But I don’t want to wait until Saturday to see you again. And I’m sure the girls will want to get reacquainted.”

That, Jazz seriously doubted. His daughters made Cinderella’s wicked stepdaughters look like sweethearts.

“Will you join us for brunch on Friday at the house?”

Jazz paused. Since Phoenix had her working late nights at the fair now, she should be able to make that. Maybe she could even bring Hawthorne along and introduce him to her family.

The idea sent a thrill through her that fueled her answer. “Yes, I’d love to.”

“Excellent. But please call me anytime you even think you’re in danger. I want to be there for you, Jazz. I mean that.”

His words were like something from the dream of her aching heart. If it was a dream, she hoped it would never end.

“Hey, Emerson.”

Hawthorne paused in his walk past the cattle barn and looked back.

Nevaeh Williams marched toward him with her K-9. The agent’s expression didn’t look friendly.

Hawthorne tried not to inhale too deeply as he waited the couple seconds it would take for her to reach him. The odor of manure and wood shavings wasn’t his favorite.

Nevaeh stopped a few feet away and leveled a challenging stare at him.

He tensed automatically, though he had no idea what he could’ve done to her without knowing.

Her dog looked up at him with a panting grin that suggested he thought Hawthorne was less of a problem than Nevaeh seemed to at the moment.

“I thought you said you weren’t ‘in the market’ for a relationship.” She thrust her fingers into the air more like knives she wanted to stab him with than air quotes.

Oh, man. Not another interrogation about Jazz. He hadn’t figured that one out to his own liking yet.

He swallowed, his throat suddenly dry. “I’m not.”

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