“Absolutely. We’ve been discussing how the money will one-hundred percent be used for the patients, minus my fee, of course.”
“Okay, good. Not like that last offer you told me about.”
“Nope, that was a bad one. I feel good about this one. About Don.” She looked up and gave him a playful wink.
“Okay then. Set it up and tell me when and where to sign.”
“Perfect. Love you, sweetie.”
“Love you more! Gotta go. Mwah!” Barbie disconnected.
Wren’s smile turned smug as she quietly placed the phone back in the Birkin. “There, see?”
“And you say you aren’t a madame.”
“I’m not. Barbie’s a big girl and she’s coming off a nasty break-up. She just said she likes a man who can cook.”
“Did I look all right?” He frowned. “I wish you’d given me a warning.”
“You look very distinguished. She likes that in a man, too.”
She also likes men who aren’t narcissistic monsters, so good luck with that, chump.
Wren folded her hands on Weisser’s desk as if it were hers now. “Let’s talk about my one percent. I also want assurance that the loans will go up over time.”
Weisser was still high from talking to Barbie, judging by the color in his cheeks. “Between you and me, those loans are about to skyrocket.”
“With the new hospital wing?”
He looked at her like she was a naïve child. By now, she felt blanketed by his constant condensation. “Oh no, Brooke. Like you, I have my own well-placed friend. And he’s working on doing me a favor that will benefit us.”
NINETEEN
“And that’s when he filled me in on his good buddy, Senator Lorne Robbins,” Wren said.
Elias sat on her right hand side at a table in Watchdog’s main conference room as she recounted her meeting with Weisser earlier that day. Kyle sat to her left, at the head of the table. Across from her sat Lachlan next to Gabe, who looked like he was reading Wren’s lips as she spoke. Gabe had offered his chair to Gina before the meeting started, but she shook her head and leaned against the wall instead.
“Old habits die hard,” she’d told him with a grin.
“Her knees don’t bend during meetings unless she’s pacing,” Lachlan clarified. “Isn’t that right, Sunshine?” He winked at Gina, who rolled her golden eyes with a laugh.
Waylon sat by Gabe, then Ben next to Waylon. Bear sat at the other end of the table, taking up all of it. Shane sat on Elias’ right side with another Watchdog bodyguard who Kyle introduced to Wren as Charlene King, better known as Charlie. Elias had met her before—she had served with their friend Badger as a SWCC in the Navy. Charlie was a stunning woman, tall and all lean muscle. Elias caught Ben eyeing her more than once.
Elias squeezed Wren’s hand under the table. He was so damn proud of his woman because holy shit was Wren smart and brave. She handled that son of a bitch Weisser like a pro, got him slobbering all over himself to spill everything, and all because he wanted to get his dick wet with a celebrity—which of course would never happen. Wren told them Barbie had laughed about the phone call when Wren called her from a rental car on the way to Denver International Airport, where Gina somehow sneaked her back out after Wren had gone through security.
Bet the only thing that man can cook is booksBarbie had told Wren.
But along with Elias’ pride in her came alarm. “Are you sure your disguise worked, babe?”
She touched the black-haired wig still on her head. “Did you or did you not walk right past me at Riversong yesterday?”
Elias jerked back. “Wait. You were at Riversong?”
“I rest my case.” She gave him a smug grin. “Gina taught me well.”
“Like I told you, you’re a natural, Wren,” Gina said.
“In addition to the disguise,” Kyle said, “You’ll both be guests of Watchdog’s finest safehouse until this blows over.”
