Page 43 of When He Defends
Nathaniel smoothed back his hair. His fingers trembled a bit as he glanced toward Gray.
“Agent Stone and I are not f-fucking,” Emerson began.
Oh, fine, so she was going to give the guy the truth, was she?
“Yet,” Emerson added. Then she nodded.
Gray blinked.
“But if we do, that’s none of your concern. And if we fuck, it has nothing to do with me advancing up any ladder.”
“Yeah,” Gray agreed. He cut a disgusted glance at Nathaniel. “It just has to do with us wanting to rip each other’s clothes off in a haze of passion. That happens to some people.” He had to force his jaw to unclench. “Insult her again, and I can guarantee, it will be the worst mistake you ever make.” He’d given the guy fair warning. What happened next would be on Nathaniel. Gray’s gaze slid back to Emerson.
Her arms crossed over her chest. “What is the big life-or-death issue? Why are you here?”
Nathaniel’s stare shot around her condo. Then his eyes darted to Gray. “I need to speak with Emerson alone.”
Was the guy serious?
Precious seconds ticked past as Nathaniel just looked at Gray.
Finally, Gray laughed again. He couldn’t help it. Nathaniel was being a bit unintentionally hilarious to him. “Dude, your two minutes are ticking past.” He stepped forward.
Nathaniel backed up.
“You don’t get to insult Emerson one moment and then ask to talk to her alone in the next instant. No way I’m leaving you on your own with her. Not happening.”And if you insult her again, my fist is flying. I did warn you.
“She started it,” Nathaniel was quick to point out as he sounded like an absolute two-year-old instead of a licensed psychiatrist.
“Nathaniel.” Brisk. Emerson did not move from her spot. “If you have something important to say, do it.”
“Fine.” He whirled toward her. Advanced fast in her direction.
Gray tensed.
“You need me,” Nathaniel passionately told Emerson.
Uh, the hell she did.
“Bring me on as an associate in your field work exercise at the FBI,” Nathaniel urged her. “You know that I understand criminals better than you do.I’veworked in numerous prisons, I’ve interviewed serial killers, I’ve publishedtwobooks on their psychopathy, and I have the option to write a third on the process of actually tracking down an active killer.”
Oh. Gray got it. He nodded. “You have a book deal on the table. Only you need a plot for said book. That’s why you were at my door earlier, trying to get me to ditch Emerson and replace her with you. That effort didn’t work out like you’d hoped, so you came here to beg and get her to bring you onto the team.”
Nathaniel’s spine stiffened. “I do not beg.”
“Whatever. It’s not working. Emerson doesn’t have the authority to bring you on. Only I do. So fuck off. It’s not happening. Pretty sure I told you that earlier.” He looked at his watch. “Longest two minutes of my life,” he muttered. “Even longer than the time when a serial killer jabbed an ice pick into my arm and started twisting it.”
Emerson gasped.
Nathaniel actually took a quick, almost eager step toward him. “That happened?” Interest lit his pale green gaze. The color of his eyes almost matched the sickly color of his shirt. “Can you tell me about it? How did it feel? What were your thoughts when the ice pick first went into your arm?”
Was the creep serious? It sure looked like he was. “Can I tell you about it? Just did. How did it feel? Like an ice pick was being shoved in my arm. What were my thoughts?” Gray tilted his head to the side. “That the killer would have to work one hell of a lot harder because I was not easy prey, and the second I was free, he would be a dead man. And I would be sure to make his deathhurt.”
Silence.
Nathaniel swallowed. “Fascinating.” But he looked a little squeamish. One hand fanned toward his face.
Gray rolled his eyes. “Not really fascinating. Just facts. But story time is over. The door is waiting. Next time, don’t lie to get your way back in Emerson’s life.”You actually won’t be getting back in her life at all.He advanced and clamped a hand around Nathaniel’s shoulder. “Do I need to walk you the seven steps back to the door?”
