Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91622 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91622 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
“Umm—”
Cole had had enough. He rose and stood in the doorway, glaring at the other man. “Just how did you factor her bodyguard in to this occasion?”
Evan turned to face Cole. “Frankly, I didn’t. She’ll be perfectly safe with me for the evening.”
Cole raised an eyebrow. “Because you’re trained to protect her?” He folded his arms across his chest.
“Cut it out,” Erin muttered.
“Well?” Cole pushed, determined to verbally shove the other man out the door. “If someone shoots again, are you willing to throw yourself in front of a bullet to protect her?”
Evan paled.
“Because I can assure you, I am. Trained, capable, and willing.”
Evan assessed Cole with a different look on his face now. “I still think you belong at this event, Erin. But maybe your . . . bodyguard is right. You need protection I can’t provide.”
And Cole could see what it cost him to admit it. For the first time, he dredged up a modicum of respect for the man.
“Your safety is of paramount importance, but so is your career. Having nothing to do with me, you need to be there this weekend.”
Erin rose to her feet. “I don’t even know if I want your job.”
“Doesn’t matter.” Evan stepped to the desk, ignoring Cole and meeting her gaze. “I don’t know what’s going on between you two, but remember something for me?”
She glanced up at him, her hazel eyes soft as if she sensed he had something important to say. Vulnerable, Erin was even more beautiful.
“What is it?” she asked.
“I don’t know what kind of game he’s playing, but trust me, he’s playing one. He’s been gone from here for how many years? And now he’s back, acting possessive and staking a claim, but he’ll be gone again soon. Everyone knows it, including your brothers.”
Erin straightened her shoulders. “Evan, you’re overstepping—”
“Maybe, but I’m not finished. He will leave, or at the very least, leave you.”
Cole had enough. “Do not presume to speak for me,” he said, holding on to his anger for Erin’s sake. If it were up to him he’d take the arrogant SOB down a peg, but she didn’t need added stress.
Evan didn’t react to Cole. “Mark my words, when he’s gone, you’re going to want your career to fall back on. Not to mention your friends, and no matter how I come off, I am that.”
Erin’s eyes glistened and Cole realized the bastard had hit a nerve.
“You’re finished, Carmichael.” Cole started for the man but Evan held up his hands.
“Take it easy. I’m going. And if you really cared about what was best for Erin? You’d do the same thing.” Carmichael stormed out of the room, his shoulder deliberately bumping Cole’s on the way out.
* * *
By the time lunch hour rolled around, Erin still hadn’t processed the scene in her office, and wasn’t sure she wanted to. Both men infuriated her. Good thing she already had lunch plans with Macy, the one person she could really talk to. And since she’d already given Cole her schedule when she came in this morning, there was no reason to speak to him now.
She strode out of her office. “I’m going to lunch,” she told him, and kept on walking.
He rose to his feet and kept pace with her as she made her way to the parking lot. The one good thing about her fit of pique was that she didn’t stop to worry about being scared, just pushed the thought out of her head and headed for the car.
“Are we going to talk?” he asked her.
“I have nothing to say.” She still couldn’t believe he’d gotten in the middle of a work discussion with her boss, any more than she could believe the personal comments Evan had thrown at her about Cole.
Knowing it was an exercise in futility, Erin had long since stopped arguing with Cole over letting her drive.
He settled in the driver’s seat of her Jeep. But instead of starting up the engine, he turned to face her. “You’re mad.”
“You think?” she asked, voice rising. “Where did you get off answering Evan for me? We were discussing plans we’d made, plans that had nothing to do with you.”
She stared at her clenched hands, willing herself not to get into anything personal with him. He merely needed to respect her boundaries, and he’d crossed over them today.
“What did I tell you when I moved in with you?” He didn’t wait for her reply. “Where you go, I go. I was just making that clear to Mr. I Want to Be One Half of a Power Couple in This Town.”
She swung around to face him, all her earlier resolve to remain calm flying south in the face of his words. “Careful, Cole. You almost sound jealous, and we both know that’s not the kind of relationship you want, because you can’t promise me any kind of happily ever after. No commitment.”