Page 5 of Teach Me
“Brit?” Was twice a problem? Did she really want this man to know how big a problem this was? “Oh, um, no. Not recently, no.” Her cheeks flashed hot. “No.”
Yeah, I think he’s got the “no” part.
He wasn’t looking at her like she’d sprouted wings, though, so hopefully she hadn’t made too much a fool of herself. “I should…probably go.” She gestured over her shoulder toward her car. “Don’t want to be late for work.”
She turned, but as she moved between her car and the next, that moment when Brit had spoken behind her flashed in her mind. Her steps faltered.
“You know…”
She turned back to Conlan.
He was digging in his back pocket. He pulled out a black leather wallet and flipped it open. From inside he retrieved a business card. He held it between his fingers, hesitating, then squared his shoulders. “Listen, I don’t know what your circumstances are, what’s going on, but I know when to listen to my instincts. Here.”
She took the card.JCL Security.The name and a local phone number were all that was listed. She glanced up at him.
“This company does private security here in Atlanta.”
So, not his phone number. “Oh, I don’t…”
He held up a hand. “Maybe you don’t. That’s okay. But I happen to know the owner, and they have some kick-ass self-defense instructors who are used to working with women in tough situations. If you need help, call them. Please.”
She frowned. “You sound like you’re pretty familiar with ‘tough situations.’”
“A few.” He stuffed his wallet back in his pocket, then offered her his hand. “And even if I’m wrong, it’s good knowledge for any woman to have. You should check them out.”
“Okay.” Stuffing her disappointment at his lack of personal interest down deep, she took his hand. “Thank you, Conlan.”
Their palms met, and a punch of heat shot up her arm, tightened her lower belly until she wanted to whimper. She’d harbored so many fantasies about this man. So many desires. And here he was, walking away. Longing tightened her throat, almost choking her as he released her hand.
“My pleasure, Jess.” Her name in that rough voice made her heart ache. He nodded toward the business card. “Think about it, okay? These guys are good at what they do.”
Unable to speak, she nodded. She didn’t want to see him walk away, so she turned first, moving toward her car without hesitation this time. She started the engine, glanced over her shoulder, and backed out. Somewhere to her right, the motorcycle she knew belonged to Conlan roared to life. She didn’t try for one last look; she kept her gaze on the road ahead, her mind on getting to work, and tried to forget the man with the power to make her want more.
Chapter Three
She was gathering her purse at the end of the day when Saul Parker appeared at the doorway to her office.
“Heading out?” he asked.
Jess followed her boss through the door and turned to lock it, a little bubble of triumph bursting in her belly. She threw a grin his way. “Yes, sir.”
Saul stuck his tongue out at her cockysir, a move that somehow didn’t come across as ridiculous despite his salt-and-pepper hair and the fine lines around his eyes. The courteous hand at her back guiding her down the hall? That fit him perfectly too.
“How was your first day back?”
Maternal tone alert.First Cris, now him. Jess hid her sigh by ducking to search for her keys in her purse. Saul was her godfather, of course, so at least he came by it honestly. Though he looked easily a decade younger than his late fifties, the vice president of Ex Libris Media had been her father’s best friend since she was a girl. He’d spent her childhood mother henning her, unlike her parents.
“Aside from my neurotic need to lock all the doors so I can concentrate enough to work? It went great.”
Saul’s mouth formed a stern line as they turned the corner near the central staircase. “Neurotic? I don’t think so. Besides, you’re avoiding the question.”
He knew her well—sometimes, unfortunately, too well. “Not really. Just clarifying.” And more delaying than avoiding. She didn’t want him to know about this morning; he’d only worry more. She’d caused the people she loved enough worry over the last few months. The truth was, if she could put aside the lingering nerves from her encounter with Brit… “It’s been…good.”
It had. Being busy, having her coworkers around and actually talking to someone, or something, besides the four walls of her apartment had felt like unwrapping a cocoon she hadn’t even realized she wore. It didn’t hurt that security was strict here, either. From the moment she’d entered the doors downstairs and gone through the checkpoint, she’d felt the tension inside her decrease to a low simmer. She worked for Saul in the marketing department, the “public face” of the company, but a secure facility was necessary for some of the more sensitive research Ex Libris took on, especially the government-related projects. Knowing not just anyone could walk in had helped her focus on something other than her personal life for the first time in a long time. She’d been able to sit at her desk, pen in hand, and actually write instead of staring at a blank page. She’d missed that, and the feeling that she was needed more than she needed others.
Saul moved her toward the handrail along the big, curving staircase leading to the first-floor lobby. The sweeping entry would’ve looked right at home in a Southern mansion if not for the fact that glass and steel had replaced the more traditional wood and marble. She gripped the rail carefully, feeling an ache in her rib cage as they descended. Too much sitting in a computer chair today. She still got stiff sometimes, though the doctor had assured her everything had healed fine—physically, at least.
Saul slowed his steps, allowing her to do the same or stop if she needed to. The consideration had her throat tightening.
