Page 22 of Ferocity

“Huh?” She lifted her chin so she could look at him. Worry filled his eyes. “Oh, no. Not at all. I think you'll like him. He's...” What? What did she call him? Nice seemed a little too lacking of a term. “Exactly who we need to do the job.”

Kenny grinned and her belly felt as though a million butterflies beat against the inside of it. “Excellent. I am sure Dave will happy to hear it.”

“How's it going out there?” She hooked her thumb toward the enclosures.

Kenny blew out a breath. The switch in his emotions set her on edge. “Not good, Scar. Two more female lions are pregnant. At this rate, they'll be born during the coldest months. I fear for their safety and their mother's safety.”

Scarlett grit her teeth. “Guess Maisie knew her auction would be a success ahead of time.” She wanted to lay into her sister and knock some sense into her, for all the good it would do.

“We'll figure it out. We always do.” He walked with her as she entered the breakroom. “Speaking of which, did you receive the receipts from last night?”

Come to think of it, when she sat down at her desk, they weren't there. Usually, after the charity events, Maisie’s assistant brought her all of the paperwork along with the deposits, today, not so much. “Maybe she got caught up fucking her new husband.”

Kenny choked on his coffee. “Damn, Scarlett, remind me not to take a sip of anything before you say shit like that.”

She shrugged. “Well, it's true.”

“It bugs you.” He joined her at the creamer and sugar station. “Knowing she got married, didn't tell you, and hasn't introduced you to him yet.”

She shook her head. “No, what bugs me is she got Samantha to cover her tracks. My niece deserves better.”

“Do you think Samantha even knows?”

Scarlett scrunched up her face. “What do you mean? How could she not? They all live under the same roof.”

Kenny held up his hands. “Or, she spends more time here than with her mother.”

Scarlett rubbed her forehead. “I can't think about that right now. I have to find where the money is going.”

Kenny wrapped his arm around her. “You do, and you can do both. Remember, she's your blood. Don't allow her mother to turn her against you.”

No, she wouldn't. “You always know the things to say to calm me down.”

“It's a gift. Ed calls it being a Scarlett whisperer.” He grinned.

She rolled her eyes. “He's so weird.”

Kenny barked out a laugh. “Yes, he is.” He leaned in then and kissed her. The simple touch of their lips released the anxious knot in the pit of her stomach. “You better get back to Timothy. We don't need him wandering around while Maisie is on the loose.”

No, they didn't. “Thanks for this.”

“It's what I'm here for.” He kissed her again before disappearing down the hall in the opposite direction from where he'd run into her.

Scarlett hurried back to her office and found Timothy already setup and working. He had the red notebook open while he made notes on a tablet beside him. She placed the coffee down on the table away from the electronics and went to her desk. Not having the deposits for the auction bothered her.

“I couldn't help but notice you don't have any of the paperwork from last night.” Timothy grabbed the travel cup and removed the lid before taking a sip. “Is that normal?”

“No. I should have had everything when I started work today.”

“When Dave explained the loan, I had an idea.” Timothy joined her at her desk once again, sitting in the seat opposite of her. “Maybe you've had the same.”

“Hit me,” she said before taking a drink from her cup.

“What if she doesn't plan on giving you the receipts. What if, she's planning to pay off the loan that you're not supposed to know about?”

She narrowed her eyes. “Do you have ESP or something?”

He chuckled. “Not in the slightest. Your mind is yours to have filthy daydreams about me without me interfering.”

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