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broom. “If I had, you would’ve known it. I’ve been with you all afternoon and evening.”
“Fuck.” Some operative he’d been. He should’ve been on top of this right from the start.
As if she’d never seen a bare-chested man before, Jade blushed, kept her gaze on the floor, and swept up the glass. “Why?”
“The guy who attacked you—Martin Davis—he walked today. According to Kane, the charges were dropped.”
“I guess that’s how it goes,” she muttered. “When you deal with the mob, you quickly learn they can buy anyone, even those who are in Kane Cartwell’s pocket.”
Detecting the note of bitterness in her voice, he asked, “You don’t like the Cartwells?”
“Kane smothers Nory.”
“And what if he didn’t?” Kellan asked, taking the broom and trying not to pay attention to the fact that she seemed jittery around him.
“Don’t get me wrong. It’s probably justified. It’s just that she can’t go anywhere or do anything unless she’s guarded. Think about your teenage years. Would you want to live that way?”
“But she’s living,” Kellan pointed out. “And given the mob war going on around her, that’s something she should be thankful for and she is.”
“I don’t call that living and unless you’ve lived under strict guidance and direction, you probably wouldn’t understand.”
Kellan lifted his head. “Sounds like you know a little something about it.”
“Let me grab a dustpan,” Jade said, changing the subject. When she returned, she bent down to the floor and he nearly salivated at the sight of her cleavage. Cursing himself for thinking about all the ways they could pass the time and forget their troubles, he carefully swept the broken glass into the pan. The rest of the cleanup took about an hour and most of it was done in silence.
“Do you have any wood around here?”
“Actually, there’s some plywood around back. Some of the units have wood-burning stoves and use it in the wintertime. I’ll be right back.”
Kellan placed his hand on her wrist. “Let me. Go back to bed. I’ll board up the window and be upstairs shortly.”
“I’m not sleeping up there with only a board separating us from them.”
“They won’t be back tonight.” He couldn’t be sure but that wasn’t their MO. When Hank’s men went after women or more vulnerable prey, they typically taunted them, toying with them until they struck again.
“I’m sleeping down here.”
“Suit yourself.” Kellan glanced at the oversized couch. “Then I’ll take the floor.”
“Let’s not act like there isn’t enough room on the couch for both of us.”
“All right. I’ll grab those boards then.” He stalled, taking in one gorgeous sight of the buxom blonde with wide, curious eyes and cheeks cute enough to pinch.
She shot him a weak smile. “Thanks for staying, Kellan.”
“Don’t mention it.” The little lady would soon return the favor in spades, but he wasn’t about to pressure her for gratitude. A professional first, Kellan was in Fletcher to do a job and while Jade had forced him to consider the more illicit possibilities, he wasn’t a man who embraced those without a clear understanding between both parties.
While she might have been inquisitive enough to keep tantalizing treats in the freezer, she was also innocent. He could practically taste her inexperience and while he’d love to introduce all sorts of carnal pleasures, they weren’t destined to unfold on this particular night.
Chapter Five
Jade had been dealt a hand she didn’t know how to play. The week before, Nory had mentioned something Kellan had said. He was apparently interested in her. Unfortunately, little Miss Matchmaker had other ideas.
Nory wanted Jade and Reason together and she’d made no bones about it. Sure, Jade was interested in Reason but a woman would have to be out of her mind not to notice Kellan, too.
Both men were striking, handsome. They weren’t that much older than Jade, yet they gave the impression they were worldly and experienced, likely due to where they worked. What man worked at Clink without gaining knowledge?
Breathing out roughly, she tried to find a comfortable position Regardless of which way she turned, her hip, butt, or entire leg pressed against Kellan. After a few attempts to relax, Kellan threw his arm over his head and turned sideways.
