Page 18 of Silk and Steel

“Clear.”

I don't like the idea of someone else protecting her.

Maybe I slam the door shut a little bit too hard when I get back behind the wheel. Emory glances over at me, her face studiously blank.

“Is anything wrong?” she asks.

“No. Nothing’s wrong at all.”

Emory snorts. “I know that you think I’m an idiot for wanting to go back to work. You don’t have to pretend.”

“I don’t think you’re an idiot.”

“Oh yeah? Then what do you think about me?”

Emory stares at me, bottom lip quivering, a look of challenge in her azure gaze. Her nostrils flare, and the fire in her eyes contrasts the ice in her tone.

What do I think of Emory? I think she’s fascinating. I think she’s brilliant. I think she’s beautiful.

And she’s already managed to get under my skin. But I’m smart enough not to say any of the bullshit going through my mind right now.

“I think you’re the client, and that makes you my boss. If you want to go to work, my job is to keep you safe while that happens. Simple as that.”

We stare at each other for a long moment, and then she chuckles and relaxes back into her seat.

“Your answer feels a little bit rehearsed, or like something you’ve heard someone else say. But I’ll take it.”

We spend much of the ride to her place in silence. I’m mulling over what Jax said, and there’s a tension in the air leftover from our heated exchange outside of the prison.

When we reach her upscale neighborhood, she sits up straighter. I can see her staring intently at every parked car, every pedestrian. It’s a good instinct to have, but I hate seeing her this way. I want to find the bastard Lovejoy and his cronies as quick as possible to spare Emory further pain.

“There,” she says as we come up on her house, a two-story clinging to the side of a steep hill. “That’s my place.”

“Uh huh.”

“Stop,” she says as we drive right past it. “Did you not hear me? That was my house.”

“I heard you.”

“But…you missed it.”

“No, I didn’t.”

She squirms in her seat. “But...”

“I didn’t miss anything. Missing implies that I made a mistake. I never intended to pull into your driveway.”

“Why not?”

“I want to scope the place out first. Do a little recon.”

She gasps. “Wait, you think Julian or those, those henchmen of his could be at my place? Right now?”

“I think it’s a possibility. I also think they could have spotters looking out for them. Or maybe they’re hiding at the entrance to this subdivision. It never hurts to be too cautious.”

I drive past her place three more times before I’m satisfied that no one is watching it from the outside, and there aren’t any sentries posted on the subdivision itself. I park the truck in her steep driveway, and then give her a stern look.

“Listen, Emory. It’s very important you stay right here, understand?”

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