AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I don’t want you around Bryan if he’s got somebody threatening to kill him.”
She lifted her hands. “I don’t know what to do.”
“I’ll help you,” he assured her. He pulled out his wallet and left more than the bill would be in cash, then eased her into her coat and escorted her out of the restaurant. Iluminada had needed his help too, but she’d lied to him about it. He would’ve been a good husband to her and tried to help her with her dreams and with her green card. Ayla needed his help, and he felt she was being open about it. Except for wherever the mounds of debt had come from.
He helped her into the car and started it so she’d be warm. Then he looked at her. “Are you all right with me sharing what you’ve told me with my friend who married into the Delta family?”
“You trust him?”
“With my life.” It was a bit too passionate, but it was true. He’d trust any of the Deltas, but especially Klein, one of his closest friends.
“Okay. I don’t want to endanger you or your friends with Bryan’s mess.”
“It can’t hurt to ask. Are you okay with me sharing some of the details?”
“Yes.” She nodded. “Bryan’s the one who dragged me into this mess, it’s not like me keeping the details hidden is going to help either of us. Thank you.”
“Sure.” Jace thought she was trusting him, which was exactly what he wanted, but he didn’t want to endanger anyone with Bryan’s mess either. Especially Ayla. He stepped back outside and called Klein.
“Hey,” Klein greeted him.
“Hey, man. I’ve got the strangest question for you. Did the Deltas have some secret weapon they blew up and piles of gold in a cave?”
Instead of laughing like he thought he would, Klein said, “Where’d you hear that?”
Jace gave him a quick rundown. “Do you have any information that could help her? I don’t think this idiot is going to find anything, even if there is anything to find, but maybe if her boss can go see that for himself, he’ll give up and leave Ayla and the valley alone.”
“I’ll get back to you,” Klein said. “But, Jace… be careful. Her boss sounds like he’s in something deep. It could be dangerous for Ayla and for you.”
“I know.” He wasn’t afraid for himself, but for Ayla.
“If you need help, call anytime. Papa Delta trained all the Deltas to fight hand to hand and with weapons.”
Jace had seen that in his friends, and Papa Delta had invited him and Ammon to their shooting range often. They’d always gone crazy over all his guns. Their own dad had never been healthy enough to teach them and let them shoot, so it’d been a lot of fun to be included with the Deltas.
But as Klein said that, other pieces were clicking in his head. Maybe Ayla’s story wasn’t so far-fetched. That was crazy. He looked through the front window of his Escalade and right into her blue gaze. She looked uncertain, vulnerable, beautiful, and like the woman he’d been hoping to find. He would protect her and help her. If only he could also talk her into staying in the valley. If he offered to pay off her debt and pay for her grandmother’s care, would she let him?
If he asked her to fall for him like he was already doing for her, would she laugh or kiss him? He was afraid the answers to all those questions would be no. He didn’t know if he dared ask and ruin the fledgling trust she’d placed in him.
ChapterNine
Ayla nervously twisted her hands together as Jace got back into the car and put it into gear. He said nothing, and she was dying to know what he’d found out. She was glad she’d been honest with him, trusting him like she hadn’t trusted an unrelated man in a long time. She’d sharing everything with him. Well, everything except for Shayna’s death and Tim and the catastrophe that had defined her life since.
She’d had a natural opening there as he’d shared about his marriage. To none other than Iluminada. Sheesh. That made her feel even more uneasy. Iluminada was an unparalleled and exotic beauty with a voice like an angel, a body like a siren, and more money than dirty politicians. If he’d been married to her, Ayla would definitely pale in comparison. Was he being honest with himself that he hadn’t truly loved Iluminada, or was he still pining for the incredible singer? He’d chased after his wife, missing his chance at the Olympics. It was impressive, bespoke of deep love, made her heart ache for him, and made her wonder if he was lying about not loving Iluminada.
“My friend Klein is checking if he can help us,” Jace finally said.
“Thank you for asking. I’m sorry to involve you in something that might be dangerous and is most likely ridiculous. I have no idea how the idiot plans to dig up a cave covered in feet of snow and who knows what rubble. If the story is even true.”
“You think he’d be smart enough to realize that.”
“The only smart thing he’s done in his life is hire me.”
That made Jace smile. She loved making him smile. Loved his smile.
They were at her rental house far too quick. Could she invite him in, or was that pushing boundaries for both of them? He’d been manipulated and injured and so had she. Could they learn to trust together? Yet what if he still loved Iluminada? If the woman came back for him, what would Jace do?
Ayla pushed out a breath. She needed to stop being so dramatic and invested in him.
