Page 92 of Harmless Scandals

She nodded. “I think it comes from his days as an addict. He would pass out and sleep wherever he landed. He’s learned to shut noises out.”

She turned back to the kitchen and he followed her. She’d taken off the killer heels, but still wore her short red skirt and blouse.

“So, you know him well?”

She nodded as she poured herself another cup of coffee. “Better than he knows himself. And I am going to get jitters from all this coffee, but I can’t resist Kona coffee.”

She doctored her coffee, then turned to face him, leaning back against the counter. The pose looked like she was relaxed, but he knew better. Both he and Adam were being assessed.

“Well, how do I hold up?” he asked.

Nicola smiled. “Quite well. She told me about your initial reaction to the rag story.” He opened his mouth to defend himself, but she held up her hand. “No. It was understandable, in a way. And Serenity is always going to respond by walking away. Or will sometimes. She hasn’t had a lot of people in her life do right by her, so it is her knee-jerk reaction.”

He nodded.

“Now, I understand you are a world class cook.”

“Is that what Serenity said?”

“Yes, but then she’s in love, so you have to prove yourself to me.”

Before he could respond, there was the sound of a car driving into the area. He looked out the kitchen window. A small rental parked in the street. A tall, slender man in his thirties crawled out. He reached back in to get a camera.

“Dammit,” he muttered.

“What?” Nicola asked as she stepped up beside him.

“I think our reporter just showed up.”

She didn’t say anything, so he glanced at her.

“I know this bastard. Jerry Dawson. And I have his number.”

She set the cup down and walked to the front door. He followed her and noticed that Jensen was sitting up and stretching.

“When’s breakfast?” he asked.

“When I get done with this reporter,” Nicola said as she slammed out the front door. Adam and Serenity were already hurrying from her house.

“Excuse me,” Nicola said. “You are on private property.”

The guy barely spared her a glance.

“Oh, this is going to be good,” Jensen said. He glanced at the man. “Nicola loves to tear bad people apart.”

The reporter tried to step around her, but she didn’t allow for it. By now, Adam and Serenity had joined him. Serenity wrapped her arms around Mick and squeezed.

“I don’t think you understood my comment,” she said.

“I don’t really give a damn. I’m here to talk to Kayleigh.”

“There is no Kayleigh here. And besides, Jerry, I would start paying attention to the person who knows your name.”

He stopped his forward progression.

“Listen, lady, I don’t know who you are.”

“Funny, but that makes me feel better. My name is Nicola McCann, and I’m the personal assistant for that man up there,” she said pointing to Jensen. “Recognize him? Yes, that’s Jensen Wulf.”

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