Page 27 of Recovering Ivy

“He’s firing her so I can have a job. He’s being pig-headed and bossy about me quitting Techwatch.”

A huge smile graced Jaxon’s face. What in the hell was wrong with all these people? They smile at the craziest shit. You’d think I told them they’d won the lottery the way they all lit up about Zane’s conniption fit about Forester and me quitting.

“Sit down a minute.” Jaxon pulled out a chair before he went to the fridge and pulled out two bottles of water. He set them on the table and sat next to me. “He’s not trying to be difficult. He’s the first to tell you he’s a dick and has no heart. But he’s full of shit. He has the biggest heart of anyone I know, and he feels the deepest. He’s protective for a reason and he’s bossy for a reason. He’s the way he is because he has to be. All of this,” Jaxon motioned around the room, “is his responsibility. All of us out in the field are his responsibility. And before that, when he was in the Navy, the men under him were his, too. He shoulders more than most, he feels it more than most, and when he loses a man, he takes that on and when he does he never lets it go. So, yes, he is protective. More so since we lost Eric.”

I thought about what Jaxon had told me and felt kind of bitchy for making assumptions about Zane. Now I had some insight as to why he was behaving like a lunatic, but it still didn’t explain why he felt responsible for me.

I left the comment alone about losing Eric. I didn’t want to pry and ask who that was and even if he ended up telling me, I still wouldn’t have known what to say. I never did. I always wound up saying something lame like I’m sorry. As if those words could somehow soothe the pain of losing a loved one.

“I can’t imagine the stress he’s under, but it still doesn’t explain why he’s acting the way he is toward me. I’m a no one.” The door to the break room creaked and Jaxon’s eyes went over my head. I continued to speak though I wish I wouldn’t have. “He shouldn’t be wasting his time on me.”

“What does that mean? Wasting his time?” Jaxon asked.

“Don’t listen to her. Her way of thinking is jacked. Complete bullshit.” I heard Zane’s voice behind me. “Donna’s fired. You can start immediately.”

“God, you’re an ass,” I muttered under my breath. Jaxon heard me and chuckled. Then I stood and faced Zane. “You shouldn’t have done that. I don’t want the job. I have a job.”

“Why are you so goddamn stubborn? I’m offering you a job and I’ll double your pay. You said yourself you need the money.”

Why was I being so stubborn?

“Because it feels a lot like a handout,” I told him.

“You need to get over yourself. I get people have fucked you over. I also understand the woman who donated her eggs to make you has seriously fucked with your head. But not everyone is out to get you.”

“You can’t begin to imagine. How could you? Look around, Zane, this is all yours. I bet you grew up in a nice big house, in a nice neighborhood with the perfect mom and dad. You don’t know jack shit what it means to be me. So please don’t pretend to understand. I might not have much in this life, but I have my pride, and I work for what I get. I don’t take shit that’s not mine or not earned. And what’s to say when this weird fascination with keeping me safe ends? You’ll fire my ass just like you did Donna.”

Wrong thing to say. How did I know? Zane’s entire being went to stone and the fire-breathing dragon I’d seen earlier was back with a vengeance.

“See, jacked! First, this isn’t some weird fascination. Second, Donna was a horrible employee. I’ve explained this to you. She should’ve been fired a long time ago, but we’ve had mission after mission and I’ve been too wrapped up to find a replacement. I have one, you, so I canned her ass. If it will make you feel better, I’ll show you her last three evaluations and the long list of complaints that my men have made. You should not feel sorry for that woman. She’s certifiably crazy. And I’m not offering you money. You’ll earn your paycheck, just like everyone else I employ. Unless you’re my brother. He gossips more than he works. He should pay me.”

“Whatever,” I mumbled because I had nothing better to say. Maybe this Donna woman was really as bad as everyone said. I still didn’t want the job.

“Come with me,” Zane demanded, and when I didn’t move he came to me, grabbed my hand, and pulled me behind him.

“Stop doing that.”

“Then follow me when I ask you to.”

“You don’t ask. You command, like I’m a dog. Come. That’s all you say.”

He stopped at the bottom of a staircase and turned to face me fully, invading my space. “You didn’t seem to mind me demanding you come the other night, babe. As a matter of fact, you caught fire and burned so fucking hot I could barely contain it.”

“You’re an ass.” My cheeks heated at his reminder. He was right. I’d never been more turned on in my life. His demands and control while we were in bed had flipped something deep inside of me. Something I’m embarrassed to admit I liked.

“Maybe. But I’m a truthful one.”

He started up the stairs. He pulled, and I followed.

Zane stopped in front of a door and punched in a code before he pushed the door open and pulled me inside.

His office.

It was just as nice as the downstairs, if not nicer. A big desk dominated the room. It fit him to a T. Strong and sturdy. There was a built-in bookcase behind the desk, a couch and a coffee table, and finally I noted a credenza that matched his desk with cut crystal decanters on top, amber liquid filling the beautiful pieces.

Way out of my league.

“I grew up in West Virginia,” he started.