Page 30 of Challenging Jayce

Caden sighed and Kennedy could understand his frustration. Broody Jayce was back even though just an hour ago he had been happy while inside her.

"I'll let you know what Nash finds out about the Diego Cartel and the drugs they're smuggling. In the meantime, leave the federal agencies to me. You telling them how much they suck helps no one."

Jayce didn't look the least bit offended by his friend’s remark. She would be sure to ask him about that just as soon as he was off the phone.

Jayce promised not to call anyone and then hung up. He went straight back to eating his food but Kennedy was no longer hungry. Her curiosity got the better of her.

"Your friends seem to know a lot of people in federal agencies."

Jayce sucked up some of his lo mein and chewed before answering. "Luke is former FBI. Caden was CIA and Nash DEA. We all served in the Army together but went our separate ways when we got out. Ryker was NYPD. Austin went to the marshals and Dom actually stayed in the Army."

"And you?"

"I joined the Secret Service. I hated watching over politicians who thought they were better than me simply because they had a lot of money and power. When Luke approached me about starting Kringle Security, I was happy for the change."

"Wait, Kringle Security?"

Jayce huffed out a small laugh. "Let's just say it's not smart to pick a name while drinking but a promise is a promise and Kringle Security was born."

Interesting name, but from the little she had seen, Jayce's friends were an interesting bunch of guys.

"Got it. So you all worked for different agencies and now have contacts when you need information."

He shrugged. "I guess that's a good way of putting it. As you heard, I don't play well with others, so Luke usually prefers if I don't talk to the agents. My specialty is protection detail and I much prefer to do that."

"I think you underestimate yourself."

Jayce laughed. "And I think you give me more credit than I'm due. My mouth has no filter. I say exactly what's on my mind and most of the time it's not appropriate. The two times I was forced to speak to an agent, I called them a lazy bastard. Needless to say, Luke wasn't happy."

“Well, never mind. I take it back."

They both chuckled at the way she said those seven little words. Then they fell into another comfortable silence.

It was several minutes later before she asked, "Do you plan on living here while the work is being done?"

Jayce looked around the first floor. "I don't see why not. The bedrooms upstairs are mostly cosmetic work. They’re a decent size, and I've certainly lived in worse. I would think it would be easy enough to crash in one of the rooms. Why, what are your plans for the design?"

She bit her lip and wondered if she was about to say too much or overstep.

"The bedrooms are decent but the master bath needs major updating and a bigger closet. You could either keep the fourth bedroom, or convert it for the upgrades to the master."

"I have no arguments about redoing the master bath but the clothes I own wouldn't even fill up half of the current closet."

Kennedy didn't let him dissuade her. "You never know where the future might lead." She didn't say what she really wanted to; that one day, maybe she would be sharing that closet with him.

Jayce might not be ready to admit where things were going between them but she didn't have the same hangup. She was a romantic and a dreamer. It was a necessity for her career and right now she saw a future with him.

"You're right," he said, as her comment sunk in and realization appeared on his face. One side of his lips turned up in a half smile. She would take it. One slow step at a time.

CHAPTER18

Jayce's phoneringing pulled his attention away from the files he was looking over. Caden had given him the information the FBI and DEA had on the Diego Cartel and Jasmine.

"Hello?" It was Michael calling him and his son had never done that before even though they exchanged numbers.

"Uh . . . Dad?" Michael still struggled to call him that. "There's an FBI agent outside the house asking to talk to me and I'm home alone."

He tossed the files on the small table in the hotel room and snatched up his keys.

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