Page 14 of Jobe

She did not even need to lift her eyes to see who it was. She was staring directly at his chest and knew instinctively that it was Jobe.Fuck my life, she thought.

Plastering a smile on her face as his hands came down to grab her shoulders to steady her, she tried to ignore the spark she felt. “I’m leaving now, so you’ll have to pester Rose if you need anything.”

“Pester? Is that what you think I’ve been doing?” his warm voice slid over her.

“No, I’m sure you give all your clients this much attention,” she answered sarcastically and then immediately wondered if he did.

“I’ve got to confess that I’ve never given this much attention to any other job,” he said, his eyes twinkling.

She found herself wanting to slap the smile off of his face, but could not think of a retort worthy of the situation so she turned and started down the steps.

“Where do you have to run off to?” he called out after her.

She turned slowly and stared at him coldly. A long minute passed before she spoke, “I have responsibilities besides just this center. Things that have to be taken care of.”

He sauntered down the steps to where she was standing. She wanted to move, but her legs were rooted to the sidewalk. Just the look of him still made her heart beat erratically.

“Are you sure you can’t stay for a while?” he asked softly.

“No,” she replied sharply. “I have to get my mom to a doctor’s appointment.”

“Your dad can’t take her?” he asked.

Jerking out of her Jobe-induced trance, she reared back as though she had been slapped. “No, Jobe, he can’t. He’s dead.” Turning she stalked toward her car, leaving him standing where she left him.

* * *

Later that afternoon, Jobe walked through Alvarez Security toward BJ’s workstation. “BJ? Got some digging I’d like you to do.”

“Sure man, what’s up?”

“I know when Gabe was trying to get some info on Jennifer, Lily wouldn’t do it saying that a woman wouldn’t like someone finding out stuff without talking to them first. But I’m desperate.”

BJ chuckled. “Yeah, I heard you all are working with a woman you’d once been engaged to.” He looked at Jobe for a second, seeing pain flash through his eyes. In a softer voice, he asked, “What do you need? I’ve got no problem giving you whatever you think’ll help.”

“Grateful, man,” he replied. “I got along real well with her parents although I only met them a few times. They lived a couple of counties over in Charlestown and she was super close to them. I wrote to her when I got my shit together, but she was graduated from college and none of my letters to her former address ever got delivered. I’d even tried her parents’ address, but they were returned.” He looked at BJ ruefully, saying, “Of course her parents probably hated my guts, so they might not have even given the letters to her. She told me yesterday that her dad was dead and I want to know what else I missed before I step into another hornet’s nest.”

Gabe and Vinny walked in about the time that BJ typed in the names. Within a few seconds, an obituary popped up. “Man, I’m sorry, but her dad died about four years ago.”

“Does it say how?”

“Says after a year-long battle with cancer.”

“Ah, fuck. That means he was probably diagnosed right about the time that I broke up with her. Goddamnit!” he cursed.

Tony walked in just at that moment, taking the scene in. “What’s going on?”

Jobe turned, rage on his face and bit out, “Her dad was diagnosed with cancer about the time I broke up with her and then died a year later. I had no fucking idea because I was so fucked up with my ideals of honor and duty!”

Looking at the men standing around BJ’s computer, Tony then focused on Jobe. “My office. Now.”

Used to following commands, Jobe walked behind Tony into his office taking the chair indicated. Gabe and Vinny entered as well. Tony eyed them as he walked behind his desk. Looking over at Jobe, he lifted his eyebrow in silent questioning.

Jobe nodded his acquiescence. “We’re all brothers, Captain. It’s fine if they stay.”

Tony motioned for the twins to come in and they quickly took seats. Looking at Jobe, he said, “Talk to us.”

Jobe ran his hand over his face. “Guys, we just talked about this last night. I know what I’ve got to do, but finding out about her dad just ripped me.”

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