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“Do what?”
Isabel rolled her eyes. “Earlier, you shut Jacob up with just a look, and you did the same thing with Brooklyn. I’ve been doing this forfive yearsand I can’t command that kind of instant respect.”
A hint of a smile appeared, then disappeared. “I honestly don’t know what to tell you,” he said as she led him to her office. She locked the door and turned to face, arms folded over her chest. “It’s a toned-down version of myshut up, sit down or I’ll make youlook but I don’t think those kids honestly think I’m going to cuff them and work them over.”
She gaped at him, mouth parting on an inhalation of shock. “Have you ... no. Never mind. And we’ll pretend you didn’t say that.”
“You know I wouldn’t harm a hair on their heads,” Travis said gently.
“Of course, I know that.” She closed the distance between them, stroking the disheveled hair back from his eyes. “You’d no sooner hurt a child than me.”
A dark look came and went on his face.
“Stop it.” She cupped his cheeks in her hands, glaring at him now, the intensity making her voice flat. “We’re not going to keep rehashing old ground, Travis. That’s over and done. We’re rebuilding. The past is behind us.”
“Not yet, it’s not.” He gripped her wrists, turning his head so he could press a kiss into each palm before backing away.
Hefting a leather laptop bag onto her desk, he unzipped it and pulled a laptop out. “I’ve arranged to have somebody come inspect the security here, making sure it wasn’t compromised, but I don’t think that’s the case.”
“Arranged ... ?” Puzzled, she eyed him, then said, “Oh. You mean Miles. You’ve already talked to him?”
“No. I texted him and told him to make it happen.”
She eyed him, blinking slowly as she processed his words. “You justtoldhim.”
“Yes.” He pulled several gadgets from the bag and fiddled, but stopped the second his phone rang. He checked the screen, tapped something, then turned away with his back to her, speaking in a voice too low to hear.
“Is that Miles—”
He held up a hand, still speaking in that too-low voice.
Finally, in a normal tone, he said, “Confirmed.”
As he turned back, he glanced at her. “Sorry. This has to be handled ... a bit more officially now.”
She wasn’t sure what that meant, but she nodded.
“Sir, I’m going to let you talk to her now. Need to check her office before I put you speaker.”
She frowned at him. “Check my office for what?”
He shook his head and passed her the phone.
“Bella.”
She recognized the sound of Miles’ grizzled voice and said, “Hello.” As he replied, she watched Travis pull a long, slim wand-like device from his bag.
“If you’re wondering what’s going on, Travis is checking for bugs in your office.”
“Bugs ... ”
Travis shot her a look and lifted his finger to his lips.
Baffled, she passed a hand over her eyes. “Right. I’ve had a bigger problem with spiders than normal. That last one scared my kids half to death.”
“Understandable. I’m not a fan myself.” On the other end of the line, Miles chuckled. “Not a bad cover-up, but it is highly unlikely anything has been planted in your house. But we have to make sure. Travis is going over it now and the team I’m sending out will do a more thorough sweep.” He took a deep breath and blew it out. “I’ll figure out what the fuck is going on, Bella. I promise you. Do you understand?”
“Yes.” She glanced at Travis again, saw that he’d already covered more than half the room. “I know you will, Miles.”
