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Jessie’s gut clenched. He knew about Phoenix and the other brothers. This was going from bad to worse at one hundred miles an hour. “I don’t have time to consider small-town gossip, Mr. Winters.”
“True. I just wanted to make you aware of the perception of some of the citizens of Wilde. I wouldn’t want anything to reflect on you badly, especially at the agency.”
Jessie stood up. “Thank you. I need to get back to Wilde. I’ve got a big day tomorrow.”
“You didn’t finish your noodles.” He tilted his head to the side.
Asshole! “I’d like to get to the hotel before dark.”
“Of course. I understand. Well, be safe.”
She walked deliberately out the restaurant to her rental car. Was it too late to fix the mess she’d made of everything and save her job? She hoped so. But what she had to do to fix it she dreaded.
Chapter Eleven
Phoenix pounded his fists on the table at Norma’s Cafe, causing their breakfast plates to jump. “What the hell does that mean, Jessie?”
“Lower your voice, Mr. Wilde.” He watched her eyes scan the empty diner once again. She was as cagey as a cornered she-wolf.
“We’re the only ones here, damn it. Stop looking around and talk to me.”
“Fine. I can’t see you anymore.” Her voice shook, as did her hands. “I shouldn’t have let things go so far. It just doesn’t look good.”
“Fuck that. I don’t give a damn what people think, and neither should you.”
She shook her head. “You’re wrong. I must. I have a job to do, and us seeing each other outside of the mine isn’t good.”
“I think you’re right.”
Jessie frowned. “You do?”
“Yes. It isn’t good at all. It’s fucking great. I care about you, angel. I think you feel the same for me.” Admitting it aloud to her felt good. But this wasn’t how he wanted to profess his love for her. “Why would you throw all of that away when we’re just really getting to know each other? For a job? I’ll get you another job.”
“So you do want me to blow this investigation? Is that what this whole thing is about?”
“Of course not. Stop being foolish.”
“So now I’m foolish.” Jessie stood up, her face dark with anger. “Mr. Wilde, it has been eye-opening.”
Phoenix wrapped his hands around her wrists. He could feel her pulse under his fingertips. “Sit down. Please.”
“Fine.” She sat and folded her arms over her chest. “What else is there to say?”
“A lot. What’s got you twisted up so much? We were doing fine. No one knows we’re seeing each other.”
She tilted her head to the side slightly. “Not no one.”
“Who knows?”
“The bank president.”
“Buttoned-up Malley? How the hell would he know?”
“I have no idea, but Mr. Malcolm Winters does know quite a bit.”
“So what? We can worry about that some other time if we have to.” Phoenix silently vowed to make sure the next time he saw Malcolm the guy would get a piece of his mind and his fists.
“I have to worry about it now, Phoenix. My job is important to me. You’ve got to understand that. Please, don’t make this harder on me than it already is.”
