Fox stepped forward, puttinghimself between me and Uncle Vincent, hand extended. “Rupert Faulks.”
For about a second and ahalf, I resisted the urge to hide behind him. Then I shuffled sideways a fewinches, so I was out of Uncle Vincent’s line of sight.
Fox turned and winked at me,which was enough to set off a swarm of butterflies in my stomach despite thefact I’djust learned his real name wasRupert.
I understood now why he’d introducedhimself to me as Fox.
Faulks. Fox. I could seewhere the nickname had come from.
“And you are?” my uncleasked, his voice rising at the end as Fox squeezed his hand. He loomed a fewinches over Fox. My uncle was barrel-chested and loud-voiced, the kind of manpeople shrunk away from.
Not Fox, though. Fox lookedhim in the eye even though he had to tilt his head to do it.
“Personal security, fromGuardian Angels Security,” Fox said. “So I’m afraid, charming as it is to meetyou, that I’ll have to ask you to leave.”
A wave of relief washed overme.
Fox had ridden in here likea knight in shining armor, and I was going to let this play out in his capablehands.
“What?”
“You’re making the younggentleman uncomfortable,” Fox said, calm and measured. “And in his own home,and all. So. Off you go.”
My uncle stared at him withwide eyes, taking in the scar Fox had running through his lip.
Despite being smaller thanmy uncle, he didn’t look like the kind of man it was wise to get on the wrongside of. I was glad he was onmyside.
“That’s my nephew!” UncleVincent said. “And I’m his manager.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’trealize you were important,” Fox said, and underneath his oddly-comforting liltthere was a sharp edge dripping with sarcasm. “In that case, you’ll have toleavenow, before I’m forced toremove you.”
“How dare-”
“Final warning,” Fox said,folding his arms over his chest and drawing himself up to his full height. “Go.”
My stomach clenched, worryover how this was going to play out making me nervous. Would Fox really throw myuncle out on his ass? Should I have been thinking aboutstoppinghim, nomatter how much I wanted all this to be over?
Something I’d never expectedto see in my entire life happened before I reached a decision.
My uncle backed off.
His shoulders slumped, andafter a moment’shesitation, he skulked toward the door, sidling past Fox as though he was afraidof brushing against him.
“Close the front door onyour way out, thanks love,” Fox called after him.
A handful of seconds later,the front door slammed shut. I winced at the sound, but the relief of knowinghe wasgonesoothed the shock.
Fox turned to the window,peering out as I heard the sound of my uncle’s Cadillac starting up andwatching until the sound of the engine faded.
“Right,” he said, turningback to me. “You look like you could use a cuppa. Kitchen?”
“Uh.” I blinked at Fox.
He really just… took charge.
I didn’t hate that atall.
“It’s, umm. Through there.”I waved in the general direction of the kitchen, still too stunned for wholesentences and intelligent conversation.
