Page 43 of Rush of Jealousy

“That felt good,” I admit, watching her pull out of the parking spot.

In my rearview mirror, I see Parker’s black car, most likely loaded with every safety feature on the market. For a few-mile trip, who needs an entourage? Apparently Graham thinks I’m incapable of handling myself. I swallow hard at this realization. Is it going to get better as we progress with this non-relationship?

I hear the buzzing of my phone, and I dig it out of my bag. I look at the caller ID, not recognizing the number. I slide the bar to accept the call, and the disapproving sigh alerts me to who is on the other end.

“I hope that you realize that you are getting me out of a very important meeting right now. Midflight, mind you.”

“I—”

“No, do not interrupt me.” My shoulders slouch. He is pissed. Well, I am too. “When my security guy is in charge of your well-being, I do not take that lightly. Why do you have to defy me?”

Oh, come on. My anger boils as I try to keep my temper in check. I feel like hanging up on him, but I know that will just lead him to more panicked thoughts about my welfare.

“Parker is tailing us. I told you at your place I don’t want a bodyguard when you tried to stick Trevor on me. I hardly think that anything bad can happen to me when I’m with Claire.”

“Your car is decrepit,” he states matter-of-factly. “And she drives hers like she has a death wish.”

“Your security guy scared the shit out of me by lurking outside my door this morning. You’re making it easy for me to want to run away.”

“Pull over the damn car, Angie, and ride with Parker. Claire’s driving isn’t safe.”

A growl releases low in Claire’s throat. “I heard that, Teddy Graham!”

He does have a point. I can’t tell if her speed is to try to throw Parker off, or if this is just her normal amount of recklessness. It is usually the parked cars I worry about; now it’s the moving ones as well. “We’re fine.”

“I’m so tempted to turn this plane around right now and fly back to the states just to lock you away in my tower.”

“Graham…”

“I protect what is mine,” he snarls.

Oh the nerve of him. We are doing this dance again? Same story, different day. “Get over it.” I push back. “I don’t plan on having you dictate my life. You already single-handedly laid me off work. You are by far the worst boss I have ever had,” I yell into the speaker in true dramatic teenage fashion.

I can hear him laughing at me on the other end. How we can be in a serious argument and him end up laughing about it is so mind-boggling to me.

“Just stay out of trouble so I don’t have to fly home early, please.”

“When are you set to come back?”

He lets out a breath. “Saturday or Sunday. It all depends on how the negotiations go.”

Wow, basically the entire week. I can tell from his apprehensive tone that he doesn’t want to be gone.

“I’m not yours to worry about, Graham.”

“You became mine the moment we met. You have a propensity for getting yourself involved in bad situations. And as soon as you accepted the position at Entice, you became more than just a personal responsibility, you became a moral one.”

I try my best not to let his words affect me. But they do. I have never had someone care so much about me outside of my immediate family. I mean, Claire and Zander care. But this is next level. “I’m going to go now, Graham. Enjoy your trip. I will try not to get murdered.”

He growls. “Stay safe.”

I giggle. “Just going to day drink with my bestie at a shady bar. What could go wrong?”

“You drive me mad, woman.”

“I know.”

“Be good,” he urges.

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