Tessa stood and joined Zane as they headed down the hall.
“So to be clear, you’re a firm no on love potions?”
“That is correct.” She nudged his arm with hers and leaned close. “Besides, who needs a love potion when you have doughnuts?”
He had no time to respond. Not that he was currently in a position to say anything. Because the look in her eyes told him she’d seen right through him. Clearly, he wasn’t being as subtle and sneaky as he thought he was. Being with her was breaking down the walls he’d erected to protect himself and making him forget all the reasons he’d put those walls up in the first place. Did she have any idea how desperately he missed her? Or how much he wished he hadn’t friend-zoned her at the beginning of their relationship? Or how even though she had a past that terrified him, he believed her future was bright and would give anything to share it with her?
Whether she did or didn’t, now wasn’t the time for any declarations. They joined the group standing near Leslie’s desk, and he forced himself to pay attention to Jacob and not the woman standing an inch from his left shoulder.
“I believe I made my point to Mr. Littlefield.” Jacob rubbed a hand over his head. “It’s hard for me to believe anyone that imbecilic ever made it on the air, but if he’s faking it, he deserves a Tony, an Emmy,andan Oscar.”
“Come on, Jacob.” Gil patted him on the back. “Tell us how you really feel.”
“I feel like filling his rear with buckshot if he shows up on the property again. But I won’t.” There was no mistaking the regretin Jacob’s tone. “However, if he gets anywhere near Tessa, I won’t quibble if he finds himself on the wrong end of a few well-placed kicks.” Jacob stage-whispered to Tessa. “If you take outhisknees, he won’t be able to follow you around.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Good. But since he doesn’t have the good sense the Lord surely tried to give him, I made a phone call to the station and spoke to the general manager. He assured me he would rein Littlefield in.”
“Do you believe him?” Tessa asked.
“Not even a little. Which is why I also alerted the FBI and the Raleigh PD. Littlefield isn’t welcome anywhere. He’ll have to get his information from other sources, but they won’t be official ones. Not that it’s likely to stop him, but it should slow him down. A little.”
“Unless he’s working for whoever is behind the attacks on Tessa.” Zane didn’t know how he could be, but they couldn’t rule it out.
“If he is, he’ll out himself soon enough. The man is persona non grata in this building or anywhere near Tessa. Greg knows, and he’ll pass it along to the rest of the security team.” Jacob turned to Tessa. “I’d like a word with you in my office.”
Tessa didn’t flinch. “Yes, sir.”
TESSA FOLLOWEDJacob into his office.
“Have a seat, Tessa.”
“Yes, sir.”
“It’s just us. You can drop the ‘sir’ stuff.” He sat, not behind his desk but in the chair beside her.
“Habit, sir. I mean... just habit.” She was taught early and often to use her manners.
“I know.” Jacob shook his head, his smile warm and indulgent. “But please relax. You aren’t in trouble. You aren’t about to lose your role. You aren’t even going to be asked stupid questions about how you’re holding up, because I know you’re frustrated, but you’re holding up fine. And I trust you to come to me or your fellow agents if that isn’t the case.”
Tessa did relax at Jacob’s no-nonsense summation of the situation. “So...”
“I need a favor.”
He’d said that to her before. Tessa rubbed her hands together and made no effort to hide her glee. “What’s my budget?”
“How do you know I want you to spend my money?” Jacob frowned, but there was no real frustration in it.
“Because that’s how you asked me to help you find the diamond earrings your wife wanted. And the best deal on flights to Mexico. And that furniture for your parents, and—”
“Okay. Fine. Point made. It’s your own fault. It’s like you walk into stores and the best deals magically appear before you. You get online and, presto, the same thing I was going to buy for a thousand dollars is now in the cart for five hundred. Now I can’t make any large purchases without thinking,Could Tessa find this for less?”
Tessa laughed at Jacob’s obvious ploy to butter her up. “My mother is the master. I learned everything I know from her. Her motto was that if my father was going to make a bunch of money, she was going to make the effort to spend as little of it as possible. She’s always wheeling and dealing, bartering, trading, and finding the best deals. She would skin me alive if I paid full price for anything.”
“The next time I see your mother, I’m going to tell her that not only are you one of the finest agents I’ve ever had the privilege towork with, but you’ve also single-handedly saved me thousands of dollars and made me look like a hero to my wife and family. I might have to give her a kiss on the cheek.”
“She would be delighted.”
