"Well, it should."
"Not the way I see it."
I made a sound of frustration. "But I reallydidwant to do my job."
"Tell me. You ever see a crowd get ugly?"
"Yeah," I scoffed, "a few hours ago."
"That was nothing."
"Well, if it was truly nothing," I said, "I don't see why you're all worked up."
"AndIdon't know why you're fighting me on this."
By now, I wanted to scream. "Because I love you, that's why."
"Yeah?" he shot back. "Well I love you, too."
He sounded so pissed off saying it, that I fought a sudden urge to laugh.
I glared at his profile for like thirty whole seconds before a snicker escaped my lips. And when it did, Jack's mouth twitched in a reluctant smile.
At the sight of it, something eased in my heart. "Don't you get it?" I said. "I want to look out foryou, too."
"Yeah? And you wanna know whatIwant?"
"What?"
"You." He paused. "But from now on,I'mhandling security. Got it?"
Chapter 62
Jack
I meant what I said. I wanted her in every possible way.
During the past few months, she'd claimed a piece of my heart that I hadn't realized was there.
Still, it was a problem.
Nearly every day, I considered sending her elsewhere until the book tour was over. And nearly every day, I rejected the idea as too sorry to consider.
She'd take it personally. And I'd never be able to explain. So we rocked along, going from city to city, with a few unspoken changes after that scene with Imogen.
It was a rainy night in Vermont, and I was sitting alone in the living area of our hotel suite when Becka wandered out of the bedroom looking sleepy and anxious. When she spotted me on the sofa, she smiled. "Oh, there you are."
She was bundled up in a fluffy white robe, the kind the hotel provided as a courtesy. She looked cute as hell, and I smiled back. "And thereyouare."
Her smile faded as she glanced around. "So, where were you?"
"When?"
"Maybe a half-hour ago," she said. "I woke up, and you were gone."
Shit.
With an easy shrug, I replied, "Well I'm here now."
