“One of these days, you will need me. I promise.”
“That’ll be the day.”
“Anyway, we need to make sure we keep an eye on Jada. I really don’t think he will buy the building, but if he does, I’ll make sure she doesn’t work on the deal. I’ll cross that bridge when I get there. But I need your help in making sure she stays away from him on the private side.”
“And how do you expect me to do that?”
“You’re over there all the fucking time. Just make sure she doesn’t mention seeing him or him calling her. I don’t think that will happen, but assholes like him pick up on shit. And it wasn’t a surprise that I was pissed that he was there with her. So let’s just be safe.”
“Should we just tell her? Lay it all out there on the table?”
I blew out a breath. “No. I don’t think so. I think we’re probably overreacting, and I don’t want her to be constantly looking over her shoulder, you know? We can look over it for her.”
“Do you really think he would go that far?”
I exhaled. “There would be nothing I would put past that motherfucker, Max.”
ELEVEN
Jada
An acacia treewas beating against my bedroom window furiously, the monsoon in full force. The sky was a nasty shade of brown as wet, sandy rain dumped from the thick clouds above. I felt much like that inside—turbulent, frustrated, and a little heavy-hearted.
Cane was right. Something unnamed pulled us together. We definitely had chemistry, like he said, and it was a pity not to explore it. Because thingsweren’tgoing to go any further.
It was clear from the look on his face a few days before when I explained things to him that he understood my reasoning. And he agreed. Which was exactly what I wanted … so why wasn’t I more relieved?
My emotions were a battleground, and my heart was the target.
I remembered my mother saying that the best way to predict the future was to look at past behavior. I was adamant that my future be brighter than my past, so I had to change my habits. Unfortunately for me, the habit I had to break was the one that had taken over my subconscious with his bright-blue eyes.
I have the Landry family on my Kindle. I don’t need a real man.
Dejectedly, I swiped open the book when I heard a knock on my door.
“Come in.”
“Hey.” Max’s voice rumbled as the door swung open. “Kari picked me up after her shift at the hospital this morning for breakfast, and we ended up over here. She’s now passed out, and I don’t want to wake her.”
“I can take you home if that’s what you need. Or I’m sure you can take Kari’s car.”
“She has to be at work again tonight, so I don’t want to put her in a bind. And it’s a mess out there right now,” he said, looking out my bedroom window.
He shoved his hands in his pockets as he looked cautiously at me. “Look, Cane called me a few minutes ago, and he’s in the area. He said he could swing by and pick me up …” His voice trailed off as he watched my reaction. “Would it bother you if he came to get me?”
I swallowed. “Why would I mind?”
“I don’t know what’s going on with the two of you, so I thought I should ask.”
“Nothing is going on with us.” I blew out a breath in exasperation. “I promise you that.”
“I don’t care one way or the other. It’s none of my business.”
“It’s fine, Max.”
He held his hands out. “Just tryin’ to be respectful.”
“I know, and I appreciate that. But it really is fine. If you’re going to be hanging around my sister and plan on continuing to be Cane’s friend, I’m going to assume our paths will cross sometimes.” I shrugged with a fake nonchalance. “I’ll just stay up here and read, so it won’t matter anyway.”
