Except for that moment at the back of Worth’s showroom. Alone with him, she’d realized the danger and had bristled because of it. He’d literally felt her agitation. Oddly enough, it not only made him want her more, it made him want to protect her, too.
Whatever experiences had carved Jodi Bentley into the dangerous personality she was now, they had to have been unpleasant.
“So what the fuck use are you?”
Remmy paid no attention to King’s growl. He’d learned to read the man and knew when he was spouting off for show, and when he was actually pissed. Besides, if it came down to it, he would demolish King without breaking a sweat. The biggest advantage the man had over most was his standing of power. Since Remmy didn’t give a shit about that, King could kiss his ass.
“For one thing,” he said, “she’s not quite as antagonistic with me as she is with Danny. She doesn’t trust me, pretty sure she doesn’t trust anyone, but at least she’ll speak to me. When she looks at Danny, it’s like she’d rather gut him than acknowledge him.”
King smiled. “Yeah, Danny has that effect on a lot of people. Usually it’s to my advantage, but apparently not with this pain-in-the-ass girl.” He swirled his drink. “Wonder what her holdup is?”
“She’s smart.” That was the biggest holdup...and the fact that Remmy had already warned her, if his warning had even been necessary. He had a feeling not much got by Jodi. “There’s another issue.”
Sighing, King propped a hip against a table and downed the rest of his drink. “Let’s hear it.”
“The big guy—her neighbor—claims he’s working for her now. If she does take the job, she’ll have him with her.” She won’t be one small woman alone. That part relieved Remmy. “He drove her when she came by earlier to check out your grounds.”
King snorted. “The stupid girl stayed on the road. She couldn’t even see the scope of the job. Did you tell her what I’d pay her?”
“She didn’t really give me a chance, but I’d already explained that you’d be generous.”
“Find her,” King said. “Go to her fucking shack if you have to. Give her an astronomical sum that she can’t turn down.”
“And the big guy?” Remmy asked.
“Let me worry about him.”
Not what Remmy wanted to hear. He had a feeling Jodi would go ballistic if anything happened to the guy. It was almost humorous seeing the two of them acting all protective of each other. Humorous—and annoying. Remmy wanted a little time with Jodi himself, and that couldn’t happen with both Danny and the hulking neighbor hanging around.
He was a good judge of people. Danny he could handle. The neighbor? That one carried himself like he’d take on an army and enjoy it. He had ability, he sure as hell had strength, and the look in his eyes... Yeah, given a preference, Remmy would rather not tangle with him.
Getting back on track, he asked with mild interest, “Plan to have him killed?”
Bragging, because there were few things King enjoyed more, other than money and brutality, he said, “If it was necessary, of course I would.” He smirked at Remmy. “You wouldn’t balk at that, would you?”
Feigning nonchalance, Remmy lifted a shoulder. “I do what I’m paid to do,” he lied, because yeah, he’d have a big fucking problem with it.
“Good. Not necessary, though. I have another idea.” Holding out his hands as if he had the answer to world hunger, he said, “Worth can order more work on his fucking baby.”
“Worth has a baby?” Everything inside Remmy clenched.
Finding his reaction hilarious, King guffawed. When he finished laughing, he explained, “His stupid ’73 Corvette. He treats that car better than he does any person alive. Hunter Osborn, the neighbor and current asshole in my way, works on vintage cars.”
“What if Worth doesn’t want anything else done to the ’vette?” Remmy tried to think fast. “I know you have a stranglehold on him—” and more power to him with that “—but if his car is that important to him, Worth might resist that idea.”
“Good point.” King gave a small smile. “I knew there was at least one reason I kept you around.”
Ignoring the gibe, Remmy said, “I have a suggestion. Buy an old car that needs a lot of work and keep Hunter so busy, he won’t have time to get in your way.” Or my way.
Looking struck by the thought, King nodded. “I like it. I’ll talk to Worth and see if he has a contact. Maybe I’ll even create an offer for the car that Worth can’t resist, just to keep me in the clear. In the meantime, visit the girl, pressure her in whatever way you see fit but get her to accept the job.”
“I can do that more easily without Danny around.” He didn’t particularly want Danny’s death on his conscience, and telling the boss what a fuckup Danny was could have that exact result, but either way, Remmy didn’t want him around Jodi.
As if reading his thoughts, King smiled again. “For now, he sticks with you. Except for tomorrow.” Straightening from the table, King poured another drink. “Tomorrow, you will visit her at home, and if the opportunity arrives to fuck her, take it.”
Hoping he meant that literally and not figuratively, Remmy said, “Not a problem.”
“Once that’s done, convince her to take the job. After she’s here, I’ll handle the rest.”
Remmy wouldn’t mind getting Jodi into bed—but he had serious doubts that it would happen anytime soon. As to King handling anything... No. He couldn’t let that happen.
For now, he wanted out of King’s house, off his grounds and as far from the prick as he could possibly get.
* * *
“YOU’RE NOT SLEEPING,” Hunter said without opening his eyes.
“Yeah, well, neither are you.” For her part, Jodi didn’t want to miss a thing. This had been the most wonderful, awesome day of her entire life. Not the most impactful—no, that had been the day she’d escaped. But for fun? For heart-thumping excitement? Couldn’t beat making out with Hunter Osborn, and then curling up against his big, hot body on the couch while watching one movie after another. She didn’t want any of it to end.
She rested against Hunter’s left side, his arm around her, her cheek on his chest, her legs stretched out on the couch. Turbo had curled up close behind her, with his head practically lodged against her butt. Hunter, the only one upright, had his legs out on the coffee table, his head slumped into the corner of the couch. He’d put a light quilt over her, but all that covered him was a soft cotton T-shirt and even softer flannel pants. Who knew a man’s body felt so good through cotton? She wouldn’t mind feeling him without it in the way, but that’d probably lead to more than she could handle—at least for now.