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Jake could feel the father and son watching him with deep concern. He rubbed the back of his neck where it hurt from being pinned to the wall and shook his head. "Nothing I can't handle."
"It didn't look like nothing," Lance commented. He ran his fingers through his salt and pepper hair. "Maybe we ought to tell Dash about this?"
Though Lance was over twice Jake's age, the werewolf had been in his employ for years. At a look from him, the older wolf fell silent.
"I will not go to my cousin," Jake announced, his pride hurt more than anything.
"But he's threatened you," Lewis protested. "We should go after him, at least."
"I said no!" Jake snarled, his claws itching to elongate again. "I said it's nothing I can't handle."
Though Lance and Lewis didn't look entirely convinced, neither of them made any further protests.
Unable to bear the way they continued to look at him, Jake rumbled low in his throat. It was all they needed to back away. At least in his own security firm, he had some power, but when it came to everything going on at home, he felt completely hopeless.
Even when it came to Melody, he felt weak and out of control, utterly unsure what to do. When he got home, he wouldn't have the excuse of rushing out to work in order to stop from talking to her. Just thinking about it made him feel stupid.
He only hoped that Sally hadn't noticed.
Kai's threat left him unable to stop thinking of them both, and as Lance left the room, he stopped Lewis with a gesture of his hand.
"What is it?" Lewis asked, standing in the doorway. Jake was relieved that not only was the man his employee, but he was also his best friend. He had no need to apologize for his shortness or his growling at either him or his father. They both knew the deal.
And still, he said, "I'm sorry, man. I've been under a lot of stress lately."
Lewis shrugged and shook his golden head. "Anyone would be embarrassed after having their ass handed to them by a warlock."
Jake snarled for a second before seeing the humor in his friend's eyes. Then he smiled a little.
"Can you take over here?" he asked. "I need to head home and check on things."
The understanding in Lewis's eyes was all he needed to know the answer.
"Sure thing, boss," Lewis smirked, offering him a salute. "Say hey to that hot new nanny of yours for me."
His friend's wink was enough to make Jake wish he hadn't mentioned her that morning when he asked who was looking after his little wolf.
He bared his teeth and pointed out, "She's off limits."
At that, Lewis looked surprised. He sucked in a breath and laid his hand on his chest. "Scout's honor, I would never."
But they both knew that he would, at least had it not been for Jake's feelings. There was just one problem. How was he to know what they were when Jake couldn't even admit them to himself?
The protective possessiveness he had felt when Kai threatened her was almost as powerful as it had been at the warlock's mention of Sally.
And the desire to rush home and see that they were both safe was only staunched by the fact he was half-naked after his shift. Though they lived in a locked community where werewolves were welcomed with open arms, he wasn't convinced that word of a half-naked man walking down main street wouldn't get back to his cousin. And right now, dealing with Dash Silverdale was the last thing he wanted.
Just when he thought Lewis would leave him to change into the spare suit he always kept in his cupboard, his friend paused to say, "I am sure they are both fine."
It was only when he heard the understanding tone of his friend's voice that he realized how much he had allowed his feelings to show on his face. More than that, he sensed his friend could see all.
And that scared him more than ever. If he couldn't hide it from Lewis, how was he supposed to continue to hide it from himself?
Let's just pretend nothing ever happened,Jake thought, his gut churning.Yeah, right.
What had happened today had shown him just how much of a fool he had been to believe he could hire Melody as his nanny and think it would go no further.
The biggest question was,what the hell am I supposed to do now?
