Page 55 of Wicked and Ruthless

“You know better than that, baby.” That was as much as he dared to say now.

Haisley sent him a snappy little stare but said nothing.

Finally, they reached the mall and pulled into the parking lot. “When we get inside, I’ll introduce you to Abby, the girl who works at the pastry shop, then let you take the lead?—”

“No offense, but you asked me to talk to her because I’m less intimidating. You breathing down her neck isn’t going to accomplish that.”

As she hopped out of his truck, he followed suit, locking it with the fob and barreling after her in the chilly twilight as she headed for the entrance. “I’m not leaving you alone, not in this mall.”

Haisley rolled her eyes, but it was halfhearted. She knew he was right; she just hated to admit it. The woman had pride in spades.

As they walked toward the entrance, shoulders brushing with nearly every step, Nash made a silent vow. He would find a way to make Haisley feel special and show her that what they had was worth fighting for. Even if it meant taking things slow, building that trust brick by painstaking brick.

She was more than worth the effort.

“Fine. But you need to stay back enough to let her breathe. And no glowering.”

“I don’t glower,” he insisted, pulling the door open for Haisley.

“Oh, please. You think people just get out of your way because you’re tall and they’re afraid you’re going to step on them? Really? It’s your don’t-mess-with-me glare. Shelve that. She’s a girl. I’ll show you how this interview should be done.”

CHAPTER TWELVE

The mall was quiet for a Wednesday night. The unseasonable cold meant the place was even less crowded than usual. Abby stood alone behind the counter at the pastry shop, looking both bored and nervous.

“Stay behind me.” Haisley raised a hand so he’d back off. “I got this.”

He grabbed her by the wrist. “Wait.”

“What?”

God, he was such a sucker for this woman. Even her impatience was adorable. “I know you’ve got this. I just wanted to say I’m glad you’re here. We make a good team. Always have.”

Something raw and vulnerable flickered in her eyes before she blinked it away. “Maybe. Now let’s get the job done.”

Haisley hadn’t given him much…but she’d exposed a little crack in her seemingly impenetrable armor. It was a start.

As she faced the teenager, she pasted on a soft smile and approached. “Abby?”

“Um…yeah.” The teenager cut a skittish stare over Haisley’s shoulder at him.

Since Nash couldn’t make himself smaller, he stepped back, parking himself at the nearby bistro table to give Abby plenty of space for comfort and Haisley room to work.

“Hi. I’m Haisley Rowe. I work with the man who interviewed you last night, Mr. Scott. Do you have a minute to talk with me?”

Abby sent a questioning gaze to her manager, who lurked a few feet behind. Then the girl flashed another cautious stare Nash’s way.

“It’s up to you,” her manager said, but the woman’s tone encouraged her to say yes.

“Absolutely,” Haisley seconded. “I know you’re scared, and we’re only here to help. If you’re worried about backlash?—”

“A little.” Abby fidgeted. “But terrible things are happening to girls my age. I talked to my mom, and I-I really thought about it. I can’t sit back and let it happen just because I want to protect myself.” The girl took off her hat and apron and shelved them under the counter, then turned back to her manager. “I won’t be long.”

“Take your time. This is important. It’s a slow evening anyway.”

Abby nodded, then raised the counter between her and the rest of the food court and emerged before following Haisley to the table beside his. Bless her for understanding that he needed to hear whatever Abby said rather than getting the information secondhand. And she was also smart enough to put Abby as far from him as possible to set the girl at ease.

Nash sent Abby the kindest smile he knew how. “Hi, Abby.”

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