Page 72 of Impulse

He took the seat across from her, and they dug in.They didn’t speak until half the turkey and shrimp salad croissant sandwiches were gone.Lex paused just before he took his next bite, remembering her earlier reaction to the phone call to his cousin.

“How come you have no problem telling me what you think about Leeds bikes but you didn’t want to talk to Eddie?”

“I know you.”She leaned back against her chair and gave him a look that sent heat straight to his groin.“You can take whatever I dish out and still beg for more.”

Lex choked on his drink.She grinned, then angled her head as though listening to something.Her eyes went to the partially opened door.“That’s my phone.Excuse me.”

She disappeared inside.The next second he heard her yell, “No!Why?”

Lex shot to his feet at the anger in her voice and entered the house.

“He can’t do that,” she added.“We’ll see about that.I’m coming.Yes, Ricky.Right now.I don’t care what Cian thinks.”

Annoyance flashed through Lex.He’d cleared his calendar to spend the afternoon with her and she was leaving?And who the hell were Ricky and Cian?

He opened his mouth to ask her what was going on, but the words died on his lips when she turned off the phone, covered her face, and whispered, “This is all my fault.I should have taken care of those bastards.”

The anguish in her voice hit Lex hard.His annoyance disappeared as his need to protect took over.He cleared his throat, and she whipped around.The pain in her eyes cut him deeply.It took all his willpower to stay where he was and speak in a neutral voice.

“Is everything okay?”

CHAPTER 13

Jillian wasn’t sure how much of her one-sided conversation Lex had heard.She picked up her jacket and shrugged it on.

“A bunch of local thugs broke into my father’s house.He’s recovering from a heart attack and now…” Her voice broke.She wished she could tell him everything.“I have to go.”

“Talk to me, Jillian,” he said.

“There’s nothing to talk about.”She sucked at lying and couldn’t meet his eyes.She stared at his throat instead.“Can I, uh, borrow the Low Rider?”

He shook his head, and her eyes flew to his.Anger brewed in the depths of his gray eyes, and she flinched.Was he angry with her?She wouldn’t blame him.He was paying her to be his girlfriend and make their relationship look real, and here she was leaving.

“Look, I know you have a right to be angry because I’m supposed to spend today with you, but I didn’t plan this.I’ll call my brother—”

“You don’t need to do that.And no, Jillian.I’m not angry because you have to go.I wish you’d trust me.That’s all.I’m not letting you ride because you’re in no state to do so.I’m taking you.”

“Oh.Okay.Thanks.”She reached for her bag, aware that he was still watching her.She glanced up, and their eyes met.“Uh, could I also take the money with me?”

“Sure.”He turned and brought his phone to his ear.“I need Mathews on the helipad.Not now, Paula.Thank you.”

Jillian watched him like a hawk, waiting for him to leave.She didn’t know the layout of his penthouse, just the kitchen, living room, and how to get in and out of Douglas’ place.But since he occupied the entire floor and the rooms were humongous, she hoped he’d be gone long enough for her to make a call.

As soon as he disappeared around the corner, she called Chris.

“Dad is selling everything to pay off those thugs and disbanding the troupe,” she said, moving toward the deck.

“What?When?”

“Ricky just called me.The Armenians went to the house again and vandalized it.Sophia was at home, Chris.Can you imagine how scared she was?I want to hurt those bastards.”

“Don’t do anything stupid, Jillian.”

“Dad didn’t deserve this, Chris.Yes, he made a bad decision.And yes, he should give back the money he owes plus interest, but these ass-hats victimize people.Sophia will probably need therapy to deal with this.Ricky is so pissed.Cian didn’t want me called in, but I’m going anyway and taking the money to them.”

“No, Jillian.Talk to Fitzgerald.”

“This is not his problem.He doesn’t interact with thugs, Chris.”She didn’t want him to look at her like she was trash.Then something else occurred to her and her heart dropped.“Worse, if they know of our connections, they could easily go after him.I couldn’t live with myself if they did that.”