Page 21 of Intrigued
“If you’re referring to the book, you can’t stop this train, Ace. It’s a go.” She set her jaw defiantly.
Jasper hoisted his body toward her. “Don’t fucking test me, Bryn. You might not like the results.”
She leaned away from him. “Are you threatening me?”
After a moment, he sighed forcefully. She of all people knew he didn’t make threats. “No.”
“Good. Because legally, you can’t stop this book. Try to stop me, and I will…”
They all waited for her to finish her statement, but instead, she shook her head like a petulant five-year-old.
“You’ll what?” Spencer asked.
She massaged her temples. “I don’t know. Just… I don’t know.”
Everyone fell silent.
Jasper studied Bryn. He had to become an expert at reading what in the hell was going on behind her eyes. She was the one person who could bring the Christmases to their knees and make it harder to pay a debt for which none of them knew why it was owed.
“I want to see her notes,” Jasper said. “I want to know who she’s going to talk to, when she’s going to talk to them, what questions she’s going to ask, and how she’s going to ask them.” He failed to mention that he could ask Holly Henderson all of that himself, but he didn’t want any of them to know he was fucking her beautiful brains right out of her head. They couldn’t know.
Bryn crossed her arms defiantly. “You’ll see her notes, but that’s it.” Finally, she set her hands on the table. “You’re going to have to trust me on this, Jasper. This is my project, my contribution to the family.”
Uh-oh. What the hell does she mean by that?
“Good morning.” The voice instantly made Jasper’s dick start to grow.
Bryn’s face lit up with intrigue and mischief. “I invited Holls to join us for breakfast,” she announced.
Jasper was lost for words. First and foremost, Holly Henderson’s skin glowed, which was a sign that he had fucked her good. Her dark hair was bouncy. He could smell her sweet shampoo and that other scent, that fucking other scent she wore. What was it? His gaze veered down to her long legs clad in that black pantsuit that fit her sexy body like a glove. Damn, would he have fun peeling her out of all that material. How dare she stroll into breakfast against his orders, looking that way? Then she sat next to Bryn. Her skin burned red as she finally and shyly glanced at him.
Holly took a breath. “Um, so…” I was happy she was getting the message my glower was conveying. “This morning, Bryn and I discussed my approach for interviewing you all. She, however, did provide stipulations regarding what areas of the Christmases I could broach and which I could not.”
“And which areas are those?” Jasper asked.
“Any questions regarding your political aspirations, business practices or legal actions against any of you, past or present. I would have to gain clearance from—”
“Me,” Jasper interrupted.
“Me,” Bryn quickly said.
He had to take a beat as he glared at her. “Do you think I can’t nip your little project in the fucking bud with only one fucking phone call?” His skin was hot, and at the moment, he was ready to destroy his little sister if need be.
She must’ve seen it in his eyes, because she cleared her throat and said, “Okay. She’ll report to the both of us.”
Jasper released the breath he was holding. When he glanced at Holly Henderson, she was studying me in a way that indicated she saw the real him, the part of him that Randolph Christmas had made, and it scared the hell out of her.
Chapter Nine
What sort of craziness had Bryn put me in the middle of? Jasper looked at his little sister as if he wanted to rip her head off. And sure enough, Bryn received the memo. My heart was beating out of my chest. I should’ve been scared as hell of him, but I wasn’t. Whatever monster looked out of his eyes was the thing that had fucked me as if my pussy were feed for him.
“I don’t mind reporting to all of you, actually,” I said, hoping to take the sting out of the air. “I’m not one of those backhanded journalists. I’ll tell you when we’re on the record, and by the way, we’re on the record.” I smiled.
“I want to go first,” Spencer said.
I had been keeping my eyes on the one who needed to be convinced the most, but when I turned to Spencer, just the look in his eyes alone made me feel as if he were fucking me against my will.
“Spencer, back off,” Jasper barked.
