Page 21 of Fate's Unseen Shadow

“I’m thirty-one. I understand the risks,” Ella shot back.

“I don’t think you do.”

“I worked in the business world, Damon. I didn’t live in a cave.”

He snorted. “And that difference between your reality and mine is the same as between a penthouse condo and a cave.”

“And it feels like I’ve lived in both of those in the last month,” she snapped, her cheeks flushing with anger. “Stop doubting my intelligence”—she huffed and added—“please.”

Lacy stepped between them and held her hands up to both to stop. “Whoa! I don’t need World War Three to start. She’ll bejust fine, boss. I’ll keep her safe, although I don’t think she’ll let anyone mess with her for long if she’s already telling you to back off.”

“Then, I suppose I’m overreacting. But regardless, I’m staying all night.” He pushed off the bar.

“Great. Chris will enjoy the backup,” Lacy called as Damon started to inch toward the door, needing space to move. His bouncer, Chris, wouldn’t need backup. The man was massive and could pitch an average guy halfway across the parking lot if necessary. And he had.

As Damon stepped off the porch, Xavier pulled into Cager’s parking lot and drove to the side of the building, so he headed that direction.

“I thought about driving her car,” Xavier announced as he climbed out of his truck. “I wanted to. Maybe swap the plates. But I thought I’d double-check with her first.”

“That would be polite before helping yourself to a $150,000 car.” He crossed his arms and looked toward the highway in front of Cager. “Will everyone be here tonight? We need to start working on her case.”

“They should be here in a moment. How’s our girl settling in?” Xavier asked. “Think she’ll make it? I bet Lacy will turn her from a boardroom baddie to a kickass bartender.”

“I was told to get lost, that she’ll be safe.” He exhaled with a short laugh. “She was afraid for her life yesterday and now is telling me she doesn’t need my protection.”

Xavier shrugged. “I don’t understand women, so I have zero advice to give. But knowing you, her opinion won’t sway your decision to watch over her.”

“Nope.” Trying to clear his head, he switched topics. “We need to talk about work.” He pulled out his phone. “Did you see the email I sent?”

“You want to do real work?” Xavier shook his head. “Fine. I guess we have a little bit before the crowd picks up.”

Yes, they did. And maybe Damon would get his shit together before he had to watch Ella work all night, pretending she didn’t affect him. Because that attitude, telling him to back the hell off, was hot.

Xavier pulled out his phone. “A new tenant signed for that shop near the market? Do you want me to handle it?”

“Yes. I’m fully booked with the renovation near the battery and trying to keep up with Taylor and Taylor. We’re so back and forth at this point. I don’t know if they’re following our every move or if we’re somehow copying them. But it’s damn annoying.”

“I don’t mind taking that on. I’ll call the owner and set up a walk-through to see if any of the renovations they need to be done to the space fall on us. I hope it’s a good tenant. We can’t seem to keep someone in there.”

“It’s a bakery.” Damon shrugged. “She’s young without credit, but her father cosigned. And I already have a meeting set up for Saturday morning. You’ll hand over the keys and take over as her point of contact. Name is Holly Bennington.”

Xavier looked up from his phone. He turned the phone around. The email Damon’d sent with her application had been pulled up on the screen. “That’s her?”

The smiling woman on the phone screen might be the happiest person Damon had ever met. “Yup. That’s her. Super bubbly, to warn you.”

“Warn me?” He grinned. “I like bubbly.”

“It’s business, Xavier.”

“I’ve never tried to mix business and dating, and I won’t start now. But that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate that she’s a good-looking woman.” He cleared his throat. “Sort of like you acknowledging that Ella is beautiful.”

“I never did that.”

With a snort, Xavier pocketed his phone and headed toward the bar. “Didn’t have to. I saw it yesterday when you looked at her. You remember how long I’ve known you, right?”

Yeah, he remembered. And he’d do better to hide his reaction because Xavier was right. But that didn’t mean he’d make a move. Damon was there to help, not date the victim.

“Looks to be going well.”Slater held up his empty glass to Lacy. “Anyone else want another round? She told me to let her know when we were ready, that she’d try to stay behind the bar with Ella most of the night instead of making the rounds.”

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