Page 206

could have the freedom she needed to do that job. She no

longer had to tail Claire like a shadow. Jenny was far more her

best friend and it was her pleasure and honor that she wanted

to still be in her employ as her head of security. And with

children to watch over, Jenny’s own included, it only made

sense to have good security, and Jenny was the best.

“Hurry!” Jean called from beside the car. “You know their

diapers will probably only survive an hour, and that’s how

long it takes to get to the city, then you’re going to hit hellish

traffic and have to pull over somewhere. I have my fingers

crossed for a miracle, but that pulling over is going to be at

some gas station on the side of the highway if you don’t get

your booties in the car and get on your way.”

Claire grinned when she saw how flustered J

ean was, but he

was puffed up and sparkling with pride as well. “You’re going

to be there?” she’d asked him a hundred times, but the

question was automatic.

His eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled back. “I

wouldn’t miss it for anything. I haven’t bailed on you yet. I’m

not going to start now, even if Emily did bite me.”

“She did what?” Haley raced forward and examined Jean’s

hand.

“No worries.” He held it up for inspection. “It didn’t break

the skin. What can I say? I guess I’m a rather tasty morsel.”

“I’ll have a talk with her.” They all laughed at that. Emily, at

two, was a bit of a princess and a tiny terror all rolled into one.

She was gorgeous, with dark hair and the hugest dark eyes, but

ever since she was a newborn baby, she’d been grouchy more

often than she smiled. She was the exact opposite of her sister,