Jared (The Protectors #2)(10)
Glancing up the steps he frowned. He didn’t hear anything, not even a heartbeat. “Son of a bitch!” She bested them again.
“I got the front.” Damon took off.
Jared ran out the back and stopped dead in his tracks. “What in the hell are you doing?”
Oh, this was so not happening. Readjusting her grip Tessa squeezed her eyes shut. “I’m weeding the garden.” She huffed, annoyed at being caught in such an embarrassing position. “What in the hell does it look like I’m doing?”
“Let go.” He stomped up to her.
“Are you kidding me?” Tessa’s arms were killing her. She started swinging hoping to swing her leg up to hook on the branch. Yeah, that was working out really well. It only loosened her grip more.
“Just drop.” Jared demanded. “I’ll catch you.”
Couldn’t he just go away until she got out of the damn tree? “You can’t catch me. If you haven’t noticed I’m not a petite woman.” Tessa grunted again trying to walk her hands one at a time down the branch to reach the tree trunk. “Don’t worry, I got this. I use to do it all the time.”
Oh he noticed alright. He couldn’t stop noticing. She was drop dead gorgeous with a body from the past and curves that had no stopping point, not the skin and bones human men usually went for now. Jared was directly underneath her.
Hearing her whimper in pain sent his protective instinct in gear. “Drop before you hurt yourself.”
“No.” She knew she was being silly, but she was a tad self-conscious about her weight and didn’t want this handsome man who didn’t have an ounce of fat on him to feel her bulges even though he could see it. Yeah, a woman’s thought process while hanging in a tree.
“I can see up your shirt.” Jared grinned as he prepared himself to catch her.
With a shocked yelp, Tessa let go to push her shirt against her body. Before she had a chance to scream, she was caught and held tight against his broad chest. Heated embarrassment flushed up her neck to her face. Jared chuckled, shaking his head.
Struggling in his arms her breasts rubbed intimately against his chest. “It’s not funny dammit.” She groaned, wanting to put as much distance between herself and this man as possible. She didn’t like the feelings he was causing by just holding her. She could feel the shear strength radiating from him and good Lord, he smelled so good.
He set her down, but kept her close. “You’re not going to win, Red.” Jared flicked a strand of her hair. “But I like your fight. It’s very…..entertaining.”
“Yeah.” Tessa pushed away from him turning to walk back into the house. “Well you ain’t seen nothing yet.”
Jared tilted his head slightly watching the angry sway of her hips. “Looking forward to it.” Sounded like that was a challenge and a challenge just might be what he needed. His crooked grin grew to a huge smile as he followed her back into the house.
Tessa sat in the kitchen glancing at the clock, her fingers tapping an annoying rhythm on the table. She knew it was irritating the long haired warrior Damon. With evil glee she continued tapping, even picking up the tempo. The other two ignored it, but Damon kept glaring at her. Her phone buzzed indicating a text. Before she could hit the read button Jared grabbed it from her hand. “Hey!”
“Who’s Bobby?” His eyes left the phone to glare at her.
Frowning she intended to give him a stare down, but his intense gaze had her beat. With a sigh she rolled her eyes. “My boss.” She glanced up at the clock. “I’m late for my shift and he’s worried. I’m never late.”
“Call in.” He handed her the phone back.
“And tell him what?” Tessa grabbed the phone to read the text. “I have three pain in the ass vampire warriors standing in my kitchen keeping me hostage.”
“Make something up.” Sid, the blonde warrior, who had an uncanny resemblance to Brad Pitt, replied checking his phone.
“Hell, I could actually tell him the truth and he wouldn’t believe me.” Tessa snorted, but by the looks on their faces they didn’t find it funny.
“Call.” Damon, the mean one growled.
“You know what…” Tessa stood and grabbed her bag off the counter. “No, I’m not calling in. I have bills to pay. You have no right to keep me here. I…..”
“We have every right.” Jared stepped in front of her. “You broke into our compound taking our prisoner.”
Tessa shrugged, wondering if he left out the part of her chaining him up on purpose. Bet he got some crap for that one from his buddies. “If you want to open up your wallets and pay me what I’ll miss out on tonight at work, then by all means, I will sit here and drum my fingers on the table.” Tessa smirked at Damon. “Which, by the way, drives big guy there crazy. I don’t know where my brother is and I can guarantee ya he will not walk through that door while you’re here.”
They all three stared at her with different emotions, one angry, one slightly shocked and the other with a crooked grin.
“Well, I don’t see any money hitting the table so I’m out. Lock up if you leave, I’d appreciate it.” Tessa took a step around Jared waiting to see if they would stop her.
“What time do you get off?” Jared actually stepped aside.