Oh wow.
Did Fox just say all that?Right to a guy’sface?
John opened his mouth, butFox took another step toward him and he closed it with a click.
“I’m not done,” Foxcontinued. “And I amnotfond of bullies, and I’m getting alittle sick of how full of them this industry seems to be. It ismyjob to make surenothing else leaks, and while you’re more than welcome to talk tomelike I’ve donesomething wrong, you will leave Quinn out of it.”
John swallowed.
Blood pounded in my ears,the rush of adrenaline I always felt when I got into an argument coursingthrough me, even though Fox had removed me from it. If I’d had to do thismyself, I never would have argued. I couldn’thandlearguing. Thatsame rush of adrenaline always left me feeling like I was about to throw upafter.
But Fox could, and he wasdoing it for me. Literally putting himself between me and the threat.
He must have been a goodbodyguard.
“Now,” Fox straightened up,backing up a half-pace. Not backingoff, but removinghimself from John’s personal space. Notthreateninghim.
Asserting himself.
Holy shit that was hot.Everything about him right now, from the way he was holding himself to the crispedge on every syllable. The fact that he was standing up for me. The way hecould craft an insult out of thin air.
Despite the fact that mystomach was still knotted up at the thought of losing my contract, the faintestpang of lust hit me below the belt.
“Did you want to speak to melike that? Or have you thought better of it?” Fox asked.
The look on John-from-legal’s face almostmade me laugh. I got the feeling he deserved this, considering the way Dwaynewas biting his lip to stop his obvious smile from showing.
“Just…” John glanced at me,and Fox moved to block his line of sight so subtly it was almost as if he hadn’tmoved at all.
“Uh, just… find out who didthis,” he said. “Do your job.”
“I can assure you that theinvestigation is already well underway,” Fox said. “I’m happy to stay and chat,it’s only your company’s dollar you’re wasting by keeping me from gettingthings done.”
John huffed, glancing at thedoor. Looking for an escape route.
Good.
I was stressed enoughwithout having to deal with this.
“No? Excellent. Good day,Mr. Collins,” Fox said, swooping over to me, putting a hand on my back, andturning me toward the elevator. Still protecting me.
Because he’s a professional, I told myself.
But I hadn’t hired him as abodyguard. I hadn’t hired him at all.
His loyalty should have beento Harmony Records, but he’d just put hisownjob—andreputation—on the line.
To save me having to fightfor mine.
I could trust him. Any doubtI might have had about that was gone now.
“What a charming littleprick,” Fox said as soon as we were inside the elevator, mashing the button forthe third floor.
“I can’t believe you didthat.”
I wasn’t sure if I wasgoing to start laughing or crying. The terror of losing my contract was stillhanging over me, but the way Fox had rushed to defend me—and the fact that hewas so indignant about it—made me want to burst into laughter.
“Too much?” he asked, voicea little softer.
