Page 9 of Barely Breathing
Tyler looked at her for a long moment.“I won’t tell your dad if that’s what you’re afraid of.”
Honor smiled at him, and Griff felt a flash of jealousy when she cupped the other man’s face with her hands.“I can’t take the risk.”
“Damn it, Honor.”
“Please trust me.If not me, then Mr.Madigan.I’m sure he’ll inform my dad if he feels the need to.”
Tyler didn’t look happy, but when Jack nodded in agreement, there was little the other man could do.“I want your promise you’ll come to me if you need to.”
“I will,” she agreed and leaned up to kiss Tyler on the cheek.Was there something going on between the two of them?Were they involved?Griff sincerely hoped not.
“I’m staying at a local hotel.Stace hasn’t seen me yet.I’ll leave before she does.Let’s keep her out of this, too.”She glanced at Tyler.“She left for a reason.I should have remembered that.Enjoy your party, Mr.Madigan.I’ll come see you first thing in the morning.”
Something in the way she said that made Griff wonder if she’d show up in the morning or if she’d be halfway to somewhere else.
“Is that safe?”Jack asked her.
“I should have a head start.”
Tyler swore, but Jack spoke before the other man could say anything.
“How long?”Jack’s gaze moved between Honor and Tyler.
“Two days.Three tops,” she answered.
“No hotels.Too risky, too hard to guard.”Jack turned and speared Griff with his gaze.“Griff, stop hovering and get your ass over here.Honor, this is Griff Daniels.He works for me.”
“I know.”She glanced up at Griff.Standing this close to her, he easily visualized how well their bodies would align.
“Don’t remind me of your breach,” Jack warned, and she bite her lip.Griff was pretty sure it was to hide the nerves he saw in her gaze.
“Griff, follow Miss Davison back to her hotel and help her check out.Take her back to the apartment building.”Jack turned back to her.“It’s secure.No one gets in or out without one of us knowing it.Period.I own the building.Griff lives there as do several other of my employees.Including Stace.It’s the best I can do for now.”
Honor nodded.“Thank you.I know you don’t know me, Mr.Madigan.You have no reason to listen to me or help me in any way.I screwed up.I’m not proud of it, but it happened.”
“I’d expect Zach to help my daughter in my absence.I’m assuming there’s a good reason you want him left out of it.I’ll respect it, for now.”
“Thank you.”
“I see Stace and Shep heading this way.I don’t think she’s noticed you yet,” Jack said, leaving the choice in Honor’s hands as to if she’d let Stace see her here.
Griff met Honor’s eyes for the first time, and a jolt of pure lust rocked through him.It had been a long time since a woman affected him so quickly.Maybe never.
“I’m sorry for crashing the party.I should have waited.”Honor looked poised to run.Griff took her hand without thinking.He told himself it was to keep her from bolting without him.It had nothing to do with wanting to see if her skin was as soft as it looked.It was, and he had to hold in his moan.
“Griff will make sure you have my number,” Jack told her.“Call me if you need anything.I’ll see you first thing in the morning.”
“Jack,” Julia said as she walked up and snuggled against her husband.Griff watched as Jack hugged his wife close to his side.She was good for him and a force to be reckoned with.
“Julia Madigan.”She held her hand out to Honor, cutting off their timely exit.Luckily, Stace and Shep had stopped to talk and weren’t close yet.Griff adjusted his position hoping to block Honor from their view.
“Honor Davison.”
“Lovely to meet you, Honor.A friend of the prospective bride or groom?”
“Neither.”
“I see.”
