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Surprisingly, Mr. Rhodes angled his head and frowned. “This is my son’s business. Are you saying something a Rhodes is part of encouraged an attack on your son? My other son is a solider and Evan’s friend.”
That answered her question of whether they’d arrived together. They hadn’t, just coincidentally at the same time.
The reporters gathered around, and they all looked between the suits for a response. Hell, she was interested in knowing how that was going to get an answer but she didn’t want to have any part of this dog and pony show.
As they went back and forth she inched backward. Unfortunately, both noticed and locked onto her. Which then brought the reporters’ attention back on her.
“Have somewhere to be?” Mr. Rhodes asked.
“In fact I do. I don’t have time to stand here when I have applications to go through, rooms to check that they are ready for their new occupants and a business to run.”
She gave them both a smile and began to turn. Her insides chilled to ice as a hand clamped around her forearm.
“Take your hand off her.”
While she recognized the voice, she wasn’t sure she believed who her brain told her the voice belonged to. Mr. Levenston didn’t tend to put himself in the public eye. It was a shock to hear him behind her. More than that, the man was a grump. But he had made her lunch the other day…
Turning to peer over her shoulder, she watched the veteran move up to her side even as she pivoted back and used two fingers to pluck at the suit coat of the man touching her. Mr. Rhodes.
His face, momentarily though it did, showed his surprise. Then it was wiped away and she saw the cold, ruthless man she’d heard Daisy talk about. The one whom none of the sons liked.
She wasn’t sure why he was here and she wasn’t buying his sticking up for his son bit. But it was interesting to see not only Levenston but some of the other veterans striding up. Their faces were set in determined lines that, had she not known them, she would have been worried. She, and everyone else, were seeing the warriors these veterans had been.
Warmth spread through her chest, and she didn’t even think about stopping her full-fledged smile. They surrounded her and moved her away from the cameras and questions that followed them to the door.
“More actions like this, Mr. Levenston, and I may begin to think you like me. Just a tiny bit.”
The man grunted. “Hastings told us to make sure you were safe if he wasn’t around. I know today he’s with Evan. They’re supposed to bring him out of the coma.”
Yeah, she knew that. While she’d longed to be there for him, this was Welcome Home’s grand opening and she couldn’t be in two places at once. That being the case, she had encouraged him to be there for his friend.
It warmed her heart to know he’d been thinking about her, even with all the other crap he had going on.
“Thank you, anyway. Even if you were just doing it out of loyalty to Mr. Rhodes, I appreciate it. I appreciate all of you.”
She gazed over the yard and looked once more at the two powerful men gathered there. Both here for their own agendas—and neither one she wished to speak with.
Her phone vibrated and she took a deep breath as she withdrew it to glance at the screen.
An address popped up and she frowned as she read it. Not a place I know.
The location had been sent by Hastings, and she went to touch it, to see where it would take her, but another text came in and she waited.
8pm
Waiting for something else, she growled in frustration when there were no follow up notifications. Dismissing the men wearing the expensive suits, she entered Welcome Home and headed for the office, even as she pushed on the address.
Paul waited for her in there, and she pulled up short, giving him an absent smile as her gaze locked back on her screen.
“What the fuck is Devil’s Bite?”
He waggled his eyebrows while he thrust lean, leather-clad hips forward in a blatant fucking motion. “A bar and dance club.”
Holding up her hand, she turned from him. “Don’t do that again, please. As in ever.”
He crowded her and looked over her shoulder. “Who scored you an invite?”
“Mr. Rhodes.”
“Ohh, that man wants that cootchie.”
Over the weeks, she and Paul’s relationship had deviated from boss and employee to friends. She didn’t want it any other way. She’d been the bridge and she’d repeatedly informed Bradford that Paul was the man to take over when she was done. Coincidentally, that was tonight.
“He’s not getting it.”
“You know, you’ve said those words ever since you got here. Why are you torturing yourself and him? The heat between you two is enough to power this city for a fucking year.” He smirked. “At the very least.”
