Page 121 of Second Chance for Mr. Alden

She winced and tugged my hand close to her chest. “I was really upset with you when we broke up.”

“Uh, huh. And that has what to do with Alistair?”

“I might have stayed with him and Lynnie for a while when I got back.”

Fuck.

“He and Lynnie are like my adoptive grandparents. They’re protective of me. Especially, Alistair.” She winced. “I’m sure once he gets to know you, he’ll love you like I do, and it’s not like he’d fight you in public.”

I blinked. “Fight me?”

Jess gripped my hand harder. “He used to box.”

“Professionally?”

“He didn’t go pro, but he probably could have. Lynnie was afraid he’d get seriously hurt so he quit and ended up training other people to fight.”

“Got it.” I was a strong guy, but even if I could take Alistair, I’d let him pound me into the ground. I had it coming.

“I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

I squeezed her hand. “I want to make a good impression on them. I know they mean a lot to you.”

She nodded. “They do.”

I sighed as we pulled out into traffic and I geared myself up to meet Jess’ family.

***

WE WERE IN A SMALLwaiting area in the bank. Jess and Alistair were standing together chatting, but I couldn’t stay still.

“They won’t let us all in, James.” Jess tugged me back to her side as I moved past her.

The bank manager had just escorted Lynette to the back vault to get whatever was in the security box.

“I know. I don’t like the idea of you out in the open like this,” I grunted.

Jess looked around and chuckled. “In the middle of the bank? It’s not the wild west. I think we’ll be fine.”

My hands slipped around her waist, and I ran my nose up along the column of her neck. I loved the way her body melted into mine. “I don’t like the thought of your parents figuring out you were here.”

She shifted in my arms until her back rested comfortably against my chest. “Jareth confirmed they are still in the Caymans. No one will know.”

I briefly made eye contact with Alistair.

He was more concerned with his wife. Right now, me breaking Jess’s heart was secondary. Although, I had my doubts when he pulled up and got out of his car. He and I were fairly matched in height and build, and even though he was in his mid-seventies, he still had a decent amount of muscle.

Within fifteen minutes Lynette came walking calmly out of the back, chatting with the bank manager. She had brought a bag that now looked far fuller than it had before she’d entered the vault.

With a smile and a wave she made her way over to us.

“What did you find?” Jess asked in a hushed whisper. Her body tensed the moment Lynette made an appearance.

“Honey, I didn’t look at anything. I put it all in the bag figuring you could go through it later,” Lynette responded, her soft blue eyes turning down in concern.

Jess nodded. “That makes sense.”

We all quickly headed out of the bank, not wanting to be there any longer than we had to be. Lynette handed Jess the bag the moment we got to the Aston Martin and wrapped her arms around Jess for a hug.

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