Jaxon pulled her hand from Barry’s and shifted away from Lucian, withdrawing into herself. “I think both of you should leave. This is too public a place. There’s a good chance he’s watching us right now.”
Lucian again cradled Jaxon’s small body, protectively sweeping her close beneath his shoulder as if he hadn’t noticed that she was trying to keep away from him. You worry altogether too much about Tyler Drake, honey. He is not invincible.
Neither are you. Her wide dark eyes moved over his face almost lovingly, although she didn’t know it. She decided she liked having someone to argue with. To worry about. To tease and laugh with.
I knew I would grow on you. There was his laughter again, velvet soft, seductive.
I’m just lonely. She tilted her chin at him defiantly. A troglodyte would have done just as well, so don’t start puffing up your chest. He had a darn nice chest, truth be told.
His laughter set her pulse rate soaring, and the warmth of his breath on the back of her neck sent shivers of longing throughout her body. She turned to her partner, determined to ignore Lucian and his effect on her. “When do you get out of here, Barry? They’re letting me out today.”
“You nearly died. What are they thinking?” The shock was clear on Barry’s face. “Are the doctors idiots?”
“I have connections,” Lucian intervened softly, smoothly, once again his voice and eyes holding Barry spellbound. “I’m taking her to my home. The security there is very tight. No one gets in without my knowing about it. And I’ll see to medical care for her. We won’t have to worry so much about her. Here, let me give you my private number and address. You can reach us anytime in the evenings. I work almost exclusively in the evening and night, as I deal with so many different countries and time zones. Just make certain you leave your name, and either Jaxon or I will get back to you as soon as possible. When are you to be released?”
“They said maybe three days. Then I’m off work, on disability, for another three months at least. Then a desk job for a while. What about you, partner? You coming back soon?”
Lucian’s fingers tangled in hers. Deliberately he brought her knuckles to the warmth of his lips. “I would rather she not answer that or even think about it at this time. You know how stubborn she is.”
“There’s no question that I’ll be going back to work. It’s what I do to make a living,” she said indignantly.
Barry threw back his head and began to laugh. “You happen to be engaged to one of the wealthiest men on the face of the earth. I don’t think making a living is going to be much of a problem for you.”
She glared at him. “For your information, Lucian isn’t nearly as rich as everyone keeps saying. And in any case, I like to work. We’re not married yet, and anything could go wrong. Maybe it will never even happen. Did you think about that? And what if we did get married and it didn’t work out? Do you have any idea how many marriages fail?”
“That is so like you, Jaxx. She already has her marriage failing,” Barry pointed out, “and hasn’t even tied the knot yet. Little Miss Pessimist.”
“I’m a realist, Barry,” she answered quietly.
Lucian’s arms tightened around her, almost as if he was protecting her from Barry’s teasing. He could feel the hurt in her mind. She was laughing, but her mind was filled with sorrow. Barry had no idea, though he was her partner and had been for some time. Lucian was certain none of those who thought they really knew her could read her at all. There had been no real laughter in her life; she tried to find moments to enjoy where she could, but always she was aware of the threat to those she became too friendly with. It never left her mind, that terrible burden. The idea of sharing her life with someone was nothing more than a beautiful fantasy to her. An impossible dream.