Some of the tightness in her chest eased with Jude’s show of protection.Of course, he probably wouldn’t see it that way.He spent so much time protecting others he seemed unaware of his actions, like the way he searched the area around them as they walked in from the garage or pushed her behind him when the rumble of ATVs had filled the wilderness.
Agent Levine nodded his agreement, not appearing fazed by Jude’s rough tone, and flipped the top sheet of paper on his notepad.“We understand your job led you to the estate.Can you describe how you came to be hired as an inspector for this particular home?”
Ivy licked her dry lips.“I was contacted by a Realtor on my website.It’s not uncommon for that to happen, but I haven’t worked with this particular Realtor before.In our correspondence, she told me that the new homeowners were looking to move on the property as quickly as possible, but she was adamant they have the estate inspected due to the length of time it had been vacant.”She continued to describe the inspection and the disrepair of the huge home.Maintaining her composure had been easy until she began to speak about hearing the back door open, the men’s voices, and what they intended to do with the property.
A warm weight landed on her knee, and she glanced up to find Jude staring at her.Maybe it was wishful thinking, but she thought she saw approval in his eyes.She took a long breath, lungs expanding to their fullest, before continuing.An hour later, after explaining everything that had happened several times, she could sense Jude getting restless beside her.He seemed to project his displeasure acutely without saying or doing anything at all.
Agent Levine must have sensed the change in the air as well, because he abruptly set his pen aside.“Miss Nelson, I think we’ve taken up enough of your time for this evening.Would you be willing to speak with us again if any additional questions arise?”
“Of course.”She stood and offered her hand to Agent Levine across the table.“I’m happy to do anything I can to help.”
“Do you have somewhere to stay tonight?”Jon asked, standing as well.Ross leaned in, looking a little too eager for her answer.
“She’s got it covered,” Jude snapped at the other men, then stood, taking her hand.
She smiled at the group, hoping to soothe the bite of Jude’s dismissal.“I appreciate your help today.I hope you’re able to find the men in the recording.”
The sensation of Jude clutching her hand in reassurance made her heart squeeze.The combination of irritability and tenderness was endearing.Maybe she was strange for thinking that, but she didn’t care.She felt as though she understood him, despite their very different life experiences and the fact that they’d just met.When they were back in the truck, Jude quickly reversed out of the parking space.Their drive was silent for several minutes before he cleared his throat.“You did well.”
“I was serious about being willing to answer more questions,” she said glancing over at him.
“I’ll let you know.In the meantime, it would be best to lay low.I don’t like how close Jess’s condo is to your apartment.”He’d been continuously looking in the rearview mirror.Did he think someone was following them?“If someone is keeping eyes on this area, they could spot you walking down the street and you could lead them back to the condo.”
“Oh God.I didn’t think of that.”She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth.“Am I putting Jess in danger by being at her place?”
He glanced over at her, then looked back at the road.“Not if you don’t take unnecessary risks.”
“What about my scheduled home inspections?”She tried to pull up an image in her head of her weekly planner but came up empty.All she knew was that it was going to be a busy week.
His frown deepened.“Can you postpone them?”
“I’d hate to do that.”
“I’m sure it’s hard when it’s your business’s reputation on the line.”He slowed the vehicle at a red light and eyed her across the cab, indecision warring in his gaze.
“What is it?”she asked.
“When we stop, I’m going to give you my cell phone number.I want you to text me your schedule and we’ll plan from there.”His tone was all business, but she wasn’t exactly sure what he was saying.
“Plan what?”She stared at him across the cab of the truck.
“When I’m going to pick you up for the home inspections.”
“That’s nice of you but—”
“I’m not doing this to be nice.You don’t seem to understand what you’ve stumbled into.Despite the condition the estate was in, those men, or someone they work for, had the funds to buy a two-million-dollar home.That speaks to money.Possibly the kind of wealth built from a criminal organization.As we speak, my team is digging into any money that’s changed hands.Figuring out who purchased the property.If something happens to you, I don’t have a witness to identify the men.”
Ouch.Jude didn’t sugarcoat words, that was for sure.His words stung deep even with the knowledge that he’d admitted to feeling something for her.The rejection brought her back to her childhood.Until she’d entered the local vocational high school and met others with similar interests, she’d never quite fit in.Sixth grade had been particularly difficult.She’d always been hyperaware of the way people treated Ash, and for the most part, kids were generally okay.She was leaving the cafeteria after lunch one afternoon, being propelled along by the shoulder-to-shoulder traffic in the hallway.The beep and crackle from several walkie-talkies had instantly made the square slice of baked pizza with its plasticky cheese topping gurgle around in her gut.The only teachers who used walkie-talkies were the ones from Ash’s special education classroom.As the smallest girl in her class, the only things she could see were the backpacks looming directly in front of her nose.
When she heard Ash’s screams, she pushed through the crowd to where he’d flopped down by the water fountain and was kicking and writhing on the floor.There was this nasty girl, Wendy, who giggled and whispered to her friends.Heat had rushed from her neck to her scalp in a cap of pins and needles.Then the girl started to mimic Ash’s movements, and everything around her went silent except for the roar in her ears.She’d snapped.One moment she was gritting her teeth in anger and the next she was charging at Wendy, knocking her over like a bowling pin.The outburst made her somewhat of a social pariah due to Wendy’s popularity, but neither the girl nor her friends ever looked in Ash’s direction again.She blew out a slow breath, letting go of the memory that only served to cause her pain.
Given Jude’s history, she had no doubt that his biting words were designed to push her away.A form of self-preservation to keep anyone from getting close.How many people had taken his curt words at face value without exploring the root cause of them?She’d never met anyone quite like Jude, and she felt drawn to him in a way that she couldn’t explain.Ivy had had relationships in the past, but most were fleeting.Her first love had been a boy in the welding program at the tech school.He’d been sweet and she’d found it incredibly endearing when he made her random things out of metal.
She could still recall the sharp wound of her first and only broken heart when his attention had been caught by a pretty redhead in the cosmetology program.For a while, she’d floundered with her identity, wondering if she’d ever find someone who was okay with a girl who hated the way makeup felt on her skin.Who preferred jeans and baggy T-shirts to flirty dresses and skirts.Someone who lived in Converse sneakers and liked classic rock instead of the popular stuff on the top hits.
In the end, being comfortable in her own skin had been more important than attracting boys who were drawn to the stereotype of femininity.Ash had taught her that.She’d used her earnings from raking leaves around the neighborhood on a pair of sky-high strappy wedge sandals all the other girls seemed to be wearing.She’d taken about five steps before twisting her ankle.Ash had come running at the crash of her falling and carried her into the kitchen.He’d looked at the shoes, then at her, brows scrunched together.“These aren’t your shoes, buddy,” Ash had said.He simply took them off her feet, dropped them in the trash by the sink, and came back with a pair of socks and her worn sneakers.He’d placed them on the floor beside her, patted the top of her head, and went back to what he’d been doing.His simple acceptance of who she was made it easier to be herself.She’d been so lost in thought, she hadn’t realized how close they’d gotten to their destination.
Once she was more focused on the here and now, she wished she’d stayed stuck in her head.Ignoring the silence that had expanded in the cab of the truck was impossible.When they reached Jess’s condo building, Jude parked the truck and once again rounded the vehicle.He offered her his hand as she slid down to the sidewalk and shielded her with his large frame as they walked into the lobby.The security guard recognized her and smiled, although the woman’s gaze did linger on her haphazard appearance before trailing over Jude’s form.She couldn’t fault the other woman.Jude was striking.Still, she had the urge to roll her eyes.
