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“Nope.”
“After we get you a jacket, then we can go to your bank. Hopefully, somebody high enough will understand your circumstances. After all, you’ve made national news.”
“Yay me, something positive about having so many reporters crawling up my butt. As for the jacket, we need to do that after I get my money.”
“Just let me spot you some upfront.”
“Uh-uh. What happens if we can’t untangle it today? I don’t want to owe you.” Her mutinous expression reminded him of a cute four-year-old girl who didn’t want to eat her Brussels sprouts. She was adorable. But he knew he would be handed his ass if he told her that. He tried for humor. “Jenny, you already owe me for keeping you alive, what’s the problem with owing me money for a week or two?”
Her lips twitched. “Yeah, I really do. I tell you what, the next time you get kidnapped I’ll insist on coming along with your team and help rescue you, how about that?”
Brax gave a mock shudder. “How about you promise not to go along? That would be a real favor. I would like to live.”
“Picky little princess, aren’t you?”
Her smile brought sunshine into the beige room and Brax couldn’t help but laugh. “Now you know my baby sister’s nickname for me, PLP.”
“Baby sister? What’s her name? What’s she like?”
“Let’s get out of here and get on the road, and I’ll tell you about CiCi. You two would really get along.”
“Do you think so?”
Brax caught a bit of longing in her voice. It was funny that she’d never mentioned any visitors since staying at the hotel. He knew she was steering clear of NECT employees, but where were her other friends? He knew her parents were dead, and she’d been an only child, but still, didn’t she have friends? He’d have to dig a little.
“I know you and CiCi would hit it off. I’d bring her along to shop, but with her along, we’d never make it to the bank before it closes.”
“She’s a shopper?”
“If she could make a career out of it, she would.” He hit the button for the elevator, and soon they were on the way to his truck. When he got the passenger door open, she stared up at the seat. She was a tiny little thing. “Do you need help getting in?”
“If you could explain how I’m supposed to get in without a step ladder, I’d sure appreciate it.”
“Step up on the running board, then grab this handle up here, and then you can step into the wheel well and swing onto the seat.”
He watched with appreciation as she gracefully entered his truck, then looked down at him. “Was it really necessary to buy such a large truck?”
“Absolutely. The bigger, the better.” He closed her door, then ran around to get into the driver’s side and start his baby up. He looked over at her, he could see that she was favoring her ribs a little. No matter how graceful she wanted to be, he’d help her up next time.
“At least you haven’t got those enormous tires and that huge rack of lights on the top. If you did, I might have had to cancel the shopping trip.”
“Just the shopping trip?”
She gave him a quick sideways glance. “I’d suck it up for the bank trip.”
Brax laughed at her put-upon voice.
“What’s your bank? We can do that on the way to the mall.”
She told him the national bank, and where the branch was.
“Great. Then we’re a go.”
12
After talking to the branch manager for a half hour, Jenny was ready to tear her hair out. She looked over her shoulder to where Brax was sitting. She needed to see a friendly face for a moment. Someone who would provide encouragement that she could and would get this mess sorted out.
She turned back to the banker.
