Yet he could feel her turmoil and sadness roll under his skin. “Talk to me.”
“Enough talking.” She pulled him down, her mouth seeking his. Her lips molded to his, and his body leaped to life.
A knock echoed on the door. Damn it. “What?” he asked, partially turning.
“It’s Theo. I have something on Saul Libscombe.”
Jared growled. His brother had always had such great timing. He pressed a kiss to Veronica’s nose. “Get some sleep. I’ll be back.” Grousing, he shoved from the bed and yanked his jeans on, stomping barefoot into the hallway.
Theo snorted, his grin full of smart-ass as he handed over a stack of papers. “A couple of things. I hacked into Saul’s finances, and there are some interesting withdrawals and moves against Uncle Benny. In addition, we’ve been hacked as well.”
Jared’s chin lowered. “We’ve been hacked?”
“The family holdings have been. Chalton is trying to backtrack to see who’s been investigating us.” Theo glanced toward the nearest window, where dawn was finally creeping over the hill. “I haven’t slept.” Turning on a combat boot, he strode down the hallway and pushed open a bedroom door.
Jared watched him go. What the hell? He sighed. Might as well go through the documents now, considering it was almost morning time anyway. Veronica needed sleep, and if he returned to the bedroom, that wasn’t going to happen.
He read through the documents as he walked down the stairs and into the living room. A computer was already booted up, so he jumped on and started tracing through his family financials.
Hours later, a sound by the door caught his attention.
“Jared.” Ginny looked up from her phone as she swept into the room. She wore a long blue skirt, frilly white shirt, and a ribbon in her full hair.
He paused, taken back to a time centuries ago. “You’re up early.”
She shrugged a small shoulder. “I’m unable to sleep and thought I’d read a book on this phone. How clever is it that we can read on phones? Speak on phones that are portable?” Her gaze caught on his bare chest.
Sometimes he forgot how things were before modern conveniences. “True.” He should’ve put a shirt on. “I, ah—”
She smiled, showing her beauty, and moved inside to sit on the settee. “We’ve been avoiding a chat.”
He winced and stood from the computer chair to stretch his aching neck. “I don’t want to hurt you, Ginny. I really don’t.” Taking a seat next to her, he tried to think of a nice way to put his thoughts into words. “You meant the world to me so long ago.” Yet had she? Had he built her up over the years just to keep himself unattached?
She laughed, the sound high and tinkly, like bells. “That was past tense, my friend.” Looking his way, amusement filled her eyes. “I liked you, too.”
He returned her smile. “I’m sorry you lost your mate.”
“Me, too.” She sobered. “I’m glad you’ve found yours. You have, right?”
He rubbed his chest. “Yes. I’ve found mine.” So quickly, he found himself planning a life with Veronica. “She’s everything I never knew I wanted. Needed.” He’d spend eternity making her happy, and they had that now. He could court her like she deserved.
Ginny sighed and laid her head on his shoulder. “I’m so glad.” Her voice was soft and a little wistful.
He patted her arm. “You’ll find somebody to love, Ginny. I promise.”
“Forget love. I just want freedom,” she murmured with a deep sigh.
He frowned. “What do you mean?”
She turned then, her head still on his arm. “Modern life away from family and duty, of course.”
Yeah. Of course.
Chapter 10
Ronni stopped short at seeing Ginny with her head on Jared’s shoulder. A blade sliced through her chest, and she took a moment to roll her eyes at herself. Yeah, she’d fallen for the badass vampire, and who wouldn’t? But he didn’t owe her diddly squat.
She had to admit, with his size and Ginny’s petite stature, they looked good. Dickheads.
