Page 32 of Bad Situation

She tips her head. “After doing my research, I know you won’t understand this, Mister I took down the mob single-handedly, most people don’t put themselves in a situation where they need self-defense skills. Those situations happen when you least expect it.”

My arms tense around her. “One of those situations happen to you?”

This time she pushes away and, given the subject, I’d be an ass if I didn’t let her go.

Instead of telling me what happened, she picks up her stuff and heads for the door. “What did you want to talk about?”

I follow and open the door before she gets there. “I thought things had cooled down enough for me to take you out, but now I’m thinking we should stay in. How does barbeque sound?”

She pushes the button for the elevator. “Wow. First Tex-Mex and now barbeque? How cliché of you. We do have other food here, too. Greek … Italian … good old Americana. And I can’t go out or stay in. I have plans.”

The elevator doors part and I follow her in, wondering if I missed something. At least I know she’s not going out with Jase the gym-rat. “What plans?”

“I’m going to my parents’ house. My brother, Cam, is getting married next weekend and my sister and I are making sure my mother doesn’t run roughshod all over our sister-in-law-to-be with last minute changes. Cam said he’s holding Ellie and me responsible if our mother pours a drop of melted Velveeta on anything and, when it comes to his fiancée, my brother means business.”

I lean a hand high on the wall where she’s standing and get in her space. “I’ll come with you. We’ll pick up some ribs on the way.”

Her eyes get big and she shakes her head. When the elevator dings, she dips under my arm, making a clean getaway. “No way. I am not bringing you to the ranch. Ever. My parents would eat you alive.”

“Almost got shot point blank last year by a mobster, Jen. I’m not worried about your parents.”

She gets to her door but doesn’t unlock it. Turning, she leans into it and looks up to me. “That’s sweet of you to think I’m worried about you—big, bad, government agent—but I’m not. I’m completely selfish and worried about me. You don’t know my parents. They have three grandkids and one on the way, but they want a brood. My mother talks about the huge family photos she doesn’t get to plan like she’s in mourning. If I bring a man home, I’d have to get a restraining order against her just to live in peace.”

I grin and box her in again. “You’re being rude. I’m new in town and you’re the only person I know outside of work. What happened to southern hospitality?”

“Southern hospitality can go fuck itself when it comes to Montgomery self-preservation. I’m always on the defense when it comes to my mother. And you seem to keep forgetting but I am your work. It’s not like we had some…” she waves her hand around, “…Hallmark-Christmas-made-for-TV sappy first meet. You were investigating me and apparently lost your mind, danced with me, then turned into an asshole before blindsiding me two days later with a search warrant. Now that I think about it, I should bring you to the ranch. My parents would probably hate you.”

Her parents probably would hate me, so I change the subject to why I really came to see her. “Tell me this, do you throw away work documents at home?”

She raises her brows and looks at me like I’m an idiot. “I don’t know how the government works but, in the private sector, we’ve moved to this thing called digital. You should try it and save a tree.”

“Fuck. I’m being serious here.”

“I am, too. That would be a big no. I barely print anything off and I’m certainly not stupid enough to throw anything away with my name on it, let alone work documents. Plus, I’m a freak about recycling.”

I sigh and look to the ceiling—pissed and relieved at the same time.

“What?”

When I look back down into her curious, brown eyes, I shake my head. “What is it about you that makes me do all the wrong things?”

She frowns.

I know I shouldn’t, but I don’t even hesitate. I go on. “Something was found in your trash today. I was surprised. Didn’t think you’d be stupid enough to throw shit away at home, or anywhere else for that matter. I know you have a hearing soon and your attorneys are requesting a dismissal, but this could throw a wrench in it.”

I swear, the color drains from her face and, for the second time in the last week, vulnerability bleeds through her like a cancer. “That’s impossible. It can’t be mine, Eli. It can’t.”

“I believe you.”

She brings her hands up to her face and slides them back into her messy hair. “I thought this was going to be over.”

“I’m looking into it.”

She shakes her head and drops her arms. “I don’t know what to do.”

“It’s up to you if you talk to your attorney. You might have to come clean about where you got this information. That’ll out me even though I’m not officially on your case anymore. I’m still telling you things I shouldn’t. I’m used to blurring the lines, but this is more than that.”

“Oh, I’m telling Patrick about this, but I don’t have to tell him where I got the information. He reports to me. I don’t have to tell him anything I don’t want to.”

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