Page 40 of Courageous Yearnings

“I think it’s him. I think he’s got ‘little man syndrome,’ and it makes him feel big to buy her a car…”

“Uh, hey guys,” Blythe said pointedly, trying to interrupt the discussion that was soooo inappropriate for the office. “I’m heading out for the day. Here’s the last deal jacket.”

“So, what do you think, Blythe?” Jack began, grinning and treating her like one of the ‘boys.’ “You think she’s meek in the sack or…,” and he held up his pinky finger. “Teeny-weeny?”

“I think it’s impolite to be discussing this and…”

“Oh-hooo! I forgot that Killer has claws,” Jack interrupted, winking at her and pointing as he turned to the new car manager. “Now, this one probably wears the pants in the relationship. I don’t think there’s a quiet bone in her body…”

“Unless it’s his,” the new car manager guffawed lewdly – and the two men literally high-fived each other.

She was so shocked and taken aback that she simply laid down the deal jacket and left the room. Gathering her things, she was halfway out of the building when she heard Jack’s voice behind her only seconds before he grabbed her arm.

“C’mon, Blythe, we were just having a little fun! Don’t be mad. It was just a few of the guys cracking a joke.” … And heard a car door slam at the same time she heard Lance’s voice split the evening air.

“GET YOUR HANDS OFF MY WOMAN – NOW!”

“Whoa there, big fella… I was just checking on her,” Jack began, backing away and holding up his hands in silent acknowledgment that he wasn’t looking to start a fight – but Lance was. He stepped in front of her, leaning toward Jack almost aggressively.

“You don’t touch other people, mister.”

“Lance, that’s my boss,” she whispered nervously, watching the two of them. No, this was bad, and she needed her paycheck. This dealership wasn’t as terrible as some others she’d worked at in the past, which is why she’d transferred here.

“Even worse! Don’t you ever touch her again – you got me?”

“Jack, I’ll see you tomorrow,” Blythe interrupted, tugging on Lance’s arm. “Can we go home, please?”

“I want to hear him say it,” Lance snarled hotly. “Nobody lays a hand on you…”

“Lance, please?”

“See you tomorrow, Killer,” Jack grinned and pointed at her. “Her, not you. You touch me, and it’s assault.”

“Only if you can still dial a phone, jerk…”

“Oh my gosh,” Blythe hissed under her breath. “Jack – I’ll see you tomorrow. Lance, let’s go,” and her big hulking firefighter turned to look at her with such a tenderness in his gaze that she nearly collapsed right there in the parking lot under the fluorescent lights.

“Nobody touches you… but me,” he mumbled under his breath, opening the passenger side door of his truck a moment later. She touched his cheek, felt her heart hammering in her chest, and realized her hand was trembling. She had never seen him so protective.

“Only you,” she breathed, feeling something shift within her.

“Only me,” he repeated, turning his face slightly to kiss her palm before looking over his shoulder and glaring at the building. “That man touches you again, no matter how innocent, you tell me and…”

“Lance, I can handle myself,” she promised. “Can we go home? I’m starving.”

“You bet,” he acknowledged and shut the door, circling the truck and climbing into the driver’s seat. He started the vehicle, pulled out onto the main road, and drove silently. She kept her mouth closed, not commenting on what just happened as she mentally examined it.

He’d come charging toward them like some protective caveman claiming his woman, and she was here for it one thousand percent. Just when she couldn’t imagine him being any more attractive, he had to go and reveal that hidden little personality trait that made every feminine bone in her body turn to mush in a split second.

Pulling into the driveway of her house, she started a little surprised. She didn’t really have much at all in the way of furniture, and it dawned on her that maybe he wanted to show her something. Well, she wasn’t about to ruin his moment if he’d done something for her benefit.

Right now, Lance could do no wrong in her eyes; she thought as he opened the passenger side door for her once more and held out his hand. He was still frowning and looked a little miffed, but she was pretty sure that Jack would give her a wide bearing now.

If anything, Jack was a wimp and a coward when push came to shove and when it came to money, he would sell his own mother – which made Blythe perfectly safe. She made Jack and the dealership a lot of money.

“This is nice,” she whispered, walking up to the front door with Lance as his hand rested on her lower back.

“I hope you always think that.”

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