Page 7 of The Billionaire's Knight

“Delusions,” Julia repeated as she met Gwen’s glance.

“Don’t,” Gwen ordered softly, placing her hand on his arm and leaning close to whisper in his ear. “We both know who I was with last night.”

He took advantage of her closeness, nuzzling her neck and nipping her ear. “The same man you’ll be with tonight.”

“Our salads are here. Gwen, I hope you don’t mind. We normally have the same lunch every week, so we don’t bother ordering. If it’s all right, I can have them bring you the same as Julia and I.”

“She’ll have what I’m having,” Jase stated. The possessive look in his eyes should have made her argue. Instead, she found herself nodding in agreement. She didn’t even counter that she’d just eat what Noah normally did. She didn’t feel like calling out Jase on the lie. Especially when his mother had backed him up on it.

She sat and listened, letting the conversation flow over her, joining in only when prompted. She stayed attuned to their surroundings. Habit and her job. She felt a prick of envy at the easy teasing and affection Jase had with his mom and sister. It brought back memories of exactly how dysfunctional her family had been. She pushed away those thoughts. She’d moved past them a long time ago.

“Is that true, Gwen?” Jase’s mom asked.

“Yes,” she said automatically then tried to recant when Julia giggled. “I mean, what?”

“Oh, that’s wonderful!” Julia gushed. “We’ll look forward to seeing you. I think Dad will be back from Italy by then. He’ll love meeting you.”

They all stood from the table, Jase easing back her chair as she rose. She’d missed something important, prompting her to think she should have been paying as much attention to the conversation as she had been to the surroundings.

Her phone rang as they entered the lobby. Jase and his mother chatted while Julia waved and headed toward the door.

“Gwen,” she answered, putting the phone to her ear.

“Case solved.” Levi’s voice filled her ear.

“Took you long enough.”

“Ha-ha. I found the I.D. of the person who tried to access the offices within the first half hour. They didn’t make it in because the passcode was changed recently. I’m trying to lock onto what they were looking for. Find the what, and it’ll lead me to the who and why.”

“Find any of the three?” she asked, glance flicking to Jase and his mother, who were still chatting.

“Not yet. Still having lunch with the mom and sister?” Levi asked.

“Just finished.” Levi had piqued her attention. She knew he wasn’t asking that question lightly. “Tell me it wasn’t Julia’s.”

“No can do,” Levi replied. “I’ll tell you what she says once she’s back here.”

He was tracking Julia’s cell phone. “She on her way back?”

“Yes. I’m waiting in her office.”

She nodded though he couldn’t see her. “Where’s the rest of the group?”

“Jamison headed back to the office. Bare and Jagger are doing the upgrades to the security system now.” He paused and cleared his throat. “I hear Mr. Hayes requested you personally to tour his home and put together suggested upgrades.”

“Of course, he did.”

Jase paused his conversation with his mom then glanced Gwen’s way as he pressed his phone to his ear. He said something, and the reply must have been what he’d expected to hear. Smug satisfaction filled his expression, and she narrowed her gaze. He simply lifted a brow as he ended the call, bent to kiss his mom on the cheek then headed toward Gwen.

“Ready.”

The man had a way of telling rather than asking.

“Of course, I’d hate to hold up your schedule, Mr. Hayes.” She held Jase’s gaze while she ended her conversation with Levi.

“Change in plans,” Jase barked as soon as she’d hung up. He palmed her lower back, fingertips grazing the top curve of her ass, as he propelled her toward the waiting limo.

She held her tongue until they’d both slid into the vehicle. She made a point of sitting across from him. It didn’t matter. He caught her off guard when he tumbled her to her back on the leather seat. He took her mouth while she was still processing. By the time she was able to focus and force herself to push him away, he was sprawled between her thighs, erection pressed firmly against her sex.

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