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“You’re serious this time, aren’t you?” She didn’t wait forhim to answer. “All right, Lou’s wannabe boyfriend. We’ll talk to her about it.I want to know where Tris is going and why his fathersaren’t losing their collective shit. Uncle Adam knows something. He has to orhe wouldn’t be so calm about this.”
TJ stood, feeling way more optimistic than before. This wasa plan. He had three months, and Lou would be with him almost 24/7. She wouldn’tbe able to hold out on him. And the whole dating thing was going to fizzle outwhen he got her on the dungeon floor. She wouldn’t be able to withhold herheart. “Excellent. Let’s talk over pancakes. I’m starving.”
“Uh, you are on your own for breakfast. I have to get intothe office and pretend to work on whatever my dad gives me. The case of themissing puppy or something.” She stood and looked down at her watch, grimacing.“He’s going to bark at me all day.”
“Then I’ll fill you in on what Lou and I talk about.” He waslooking forward to a leisurely breakfast since Lou’s hours were pretty muchwhatever she wanted them to be. She would go into her lab, and he would hangwith her, making sure no one tried to take her. His father was sticking close tohis mom, and his sister had a bodyguard, too. It was the way they would workuntil they were sure the danger was over.
Kala went still. “Uhm, Lou already left.”
He reached for his jeans. “Did anyone mention she has abodyguard? Zach put me on Lou duty.”
“None of us got that memo,” Kala admitted. “Though I haven’tread through his report. He sent it out this morning. That man is way toothorough.”
At least he knew where she was and that the building sheworked in had excellent security. Though now that he thought about it, so didthe McKay-Taggart building and his mom had still gotten jumped. He needed tohurry. He should have explained all of this to her the night before, but hehadn’t wanted a fight. “I’ll catch her at her office.”
Kala winced. “She’s not there. I’m afraid something cameup.”
“What came up?”
“My mom might have called and set up a breakfast date forher,” Kala admitted.
Oh, he needed to have a talk with his aunt. “What? She has adate this morning?”
Kala shrugged. “She’s got a lot of time to make up for. Youcan still catch her at her office. Probably. Unless the date goes well.”
“Kala, where did she go?” He was not playing games. “Lou isout there, and I know she’s capable, but she needs backup. We have no idea ifthis danger is over or if they’ll try again. They’ll know damn well I’ll trademyself for Lou.”
Kala frowned. “I’m only telling you this because you’reserious and you should understand that if she gets hurt, I’m taking your ballsand hanging them on our Christmas tree.”
Kala gave him an address, and TJ moved like his lifedepended on it.
Chapter Nine
Lou felt her cell buzz and glanced down. TJ was calling her.
She turned her ringer off. She would call him back when herdate was over. She’d set herself on a path, and she was going to follow it. Shewas absolutely sure TJ thought he could kiss her and she would fall right intohis lap. Then once he had her, he would go back to his old ways and hey, can’twe be friends, Lou?
“Anything important?” Her date was a truly stunning man withgolden hair that had the slightest hint of curl to it and piercing eyes. He hada jaw carved from granite and a smile that should have assured him a spot onthe big screen.
She had zero idea what Charlotte thought she was doing withthis Greek god of a man.
Except he was British. He had the sexiest English accent.She’d been surprised since he wasn’t what she’d expected at all.
“It’s just work, and I can handle it later.” She could stareat this hunk in a three-piece suit all day.
But that was all he was to her—a work of art. He wasn’t TJ.He wasn’t warm and comfortable and soul fulfilling. Still, how could she knowif she didn’t try?
She’d woken up warm and happy until the minute she realizednothing had changed. TJ was still reacting to something terrible that hadhappened to him. He was still the man who’d turned her down time and timeagain. She’d eased out of bed, a kernel of anger thrumming through her.
He was in her house, giving her puppy-dog eyes and expectingher to fall in line. Everyone thought she would, too. This morning when she’dgotten the text from Charlotte, she’d been ready to come up with an excuse, butKenzie had said something about TJ wouldn’t like it.
It didn’t matter what TJ liked. They had agreed. She wouldcontinue dating and they would play at the club. Only at the club. Outside ofthe club they would be friends.
This was what it felt like to be truly stubborn. She didn’tlike it. No wonder Kala was grumpy all the time.
So she’d told Charlotte to set it up and gotten dressed inher sluttiest dress—the one with the deep V-neck—and left as Aidan and Caryswere walking in.
“Tell me about your work. Mrs. Taggart said you were involvedin some kind of technical job.”
