“That so? Must have got turned around in this big ol’ building,” he drawled, laying it on thick. “Hard for someone from the country to get his bearings without no hills.”
She choked on a laugh.
Jenny sniffed, obviously not understanding he was joking. She looked him up and down. “Are you sure you got the right firm? Jin, Stein, and Malone is a very exclusive law firm.”
“Exclusive huh? Well, la-de-da. It’s okay, I been counting up my pennies. Brought a whole jar of ’em with me.”
She couldn’t hold back her giggles any longer. The cowboy glanced over at her and winked.
“Stop laughing, you stupid cunt!” Jenny screeched.
“Whoa.” The cowboy rubbed at his ear. “Got some good lungs on you.”
“Fuck you!” Jenny screamed at him.
“Now, you see, I’m usually down for a good fuck, but I’m busy right now. Got to go talk to my cousin about a little job. And well, to be honest, you’re not really my type. Bit too bony. And screechy. Now you, on the other hand,” he looked Thea up and down with hunger in his gaze, “you most definitely are my type.”
She could feel herself blushing bright red even though she didn’t believe him. There was no way she was his type. She was pretty certain she wasn’t anyone’s type. But the conversation was definitely pissing Jenny off.
And that was pure gold.
The cowboy smiled at her. “Maybe after I’ve met with my cousin, I could take you out for an early lunch, darlin’? Got to be something decent to eat around here.”
“What? Has everyone lost their fucking minds? How can you prefer a fat, ugly bitch like her!”
The smile fell off the cowboy’s face. “I think it’s time you left.” He straightened and glared down at Jenny, who didn’t have the sense to see that behind this one’s smile lurked darkness. “You’re starting to piss me off and you don’t want to do that.”
“What’s going on in here?” a familiar voice demanded.
She winced as Jardin stepped up behind the cowboy. They were about the same height. The cowboy was maybe a bit wider in the shoulders. Both dark-haired and handsome. Even though they were dressed differently, there was something similar about them. And she wasn’t talking about their looks.
It was like they’d both known pain. Darkness.
“Well, hello there, cousin,” the cowboy said with a wide grin. His eyes danced with amusement. “I’ve come for a visit.”
* * *
Could his day get any worse?
Really? He’d woken up thinking it was going to be like every other day. Work. Work. Sleep. More work. Instead, it seemed like the universe had decided that today it was going to throw a whole bunch of obstacles in his path to strain his patience.
“Wait,” Jenny said. “You’re his cousin? You can’t possibly be a Malone! You . . . you’re not refined or rich.” She ran her gaze dismissively over Maddox’s clothes.
Oh, she was so mistaken.
“I’m not?” Maddox replied. “Huh, that’s weird cause that’s what it says on my passport.”
Thea started giggling, and it was the sweetest noise Jardin had heard in a long time. His cock grew hard and he had to take a few deep breaths to calm himself.
“Shut up, you stupid bitch!” Jenny screeched.
Oh, hell no. He was not putting up with that. He stepped forward, around Maddox, who’d stiffened, right as Jenny reached out and shoved Thea. Thea flew back on those ridiculous heels of hers, toppling over onto her ass, the cup of coffee smashing to the floor.
A cry flew from her lips.
“Thea! Are you all right?” he asked pushing past Jenny and crouching down by Thea, who was sitting there, looking shocked.
“I . . . I think so.”
“Don’t worry, I’m sure your slut will be fine to service you tonight.”
He stood, staring down at Jenny. She flinched, fear entering her gaze. Good, she should fear him. “I was willing to let you leave and that be the end of it. But you’ve pissed me off now. Don’t expect to get a job in this town, hell, the whole state. I’ll have you blackballed, and you’ll find my reach is far and wide. If I were you, I’d go home now, pack up your pathetic excuse for a life and find some Podunk town in the middle of nowhere where you might be able to pick up some waitressing work because your life here is over.”
“You sure told her, cousin. Couldn’t have happened to a nicer bitch,” Maddox said in a friendly voice, but his eyes were cold as he looked Jenny up and down.
She brushed past them all with a fake cry.
Jardin turned as Thea attempted to push herself up. She winced and he frowned.
“What’s wrong? Did she hurt you? I’ll fucking kill her.”
He was all too aware of his cousin watching in interest, but he didn’t care.
“Oh, no, it’s not from her. It’s just my hand.”
“What’s wrong with your hand?” he snapped.
“Uh, cuz, not that I want to tell you how to handle your personal or private affairs—”
Yeah, right. When didn’t one of his nosy cousins like to butt into his business?
“But maybe you’d want to help her up before you start interrogating her?”
Damn it, he had a point.
Jardin held out his hands for her to take. Thea gave him a surprised look and only reached up with her left hand. He guessed she’d hurt her right hand. He helped her up, moving his hands to her waist to hold her steady.
“This is becoming a habit, huh?” she tried to joke.
He scowled down at her.
“What? You often get trapped by crazy psycho bitches then get rescued by a hot cowboy and his uptight cousin?” Maddox joked.
Jardin turned to scowl at him. “Watch your language.”
Maddox held up his hands. “Just saying.”
“You two really are cousins?” she asked, looking at them.
“Unfortunately,” he growled. “What’s wrong with your hand?”
Jardin laid out his hand, expecting her to immediately put hers in his. What he was not expecting was blatant disobedience. She put her hands behind her back and shook her head.
Maddox whistled. “Not something you experience every day, cuz. Good on you, darlin’. Make sure he doesn’t wear his hand out too much on your ass later.”
He whirled to his cousin, who had moved to the small kitchen and was looking through the cupboards for who knew what. With his cousins, you could never be certain of what the hell they were up to.
“Maddox!”
“Yeah?”
“She’s my secretary, not my sub.”
Maddox turned to give him a curious look. “Huh. Really?”
You cannot kill him. You cannot kill him.
“I’m not his secretary,” Thea said.
“See, she thinks she’s your sub too.”
“I didn’t say that!” Thea’s eyes were wide, shocked. Did she even know what Maddox was talking about? “I’m his personal assistant.”
Jardin didn’t understand why that distinction was important. But he just sighed and gestured to the small table. “Sit. Show me your injury.”