Defending Zara (Mountain Mercenaries #6)(58)

Meat nodded. “Your grandparents were right about me. I’ve got some money saved up, but I’ll never be a rich man, so I can’t completely relate. But if you let me help you now, I’ll do what I can to keep you away from the bullies and criminals here in the States as well.”

“Thanks.”

“Now, before we sit down with your email and you let me see each and every one that isn’t simply asking for an interview . . . do you want something to eat?”

“Yeah.”

Meat couldn’t have stopped himself from leaning close and kissing her gently on the lips if his life depended on it. “I’m proud of you, Zara,” he said when he pulled back. “I know some people probably expect you to be broken and damaged, but you aren’t. You’re strong, determined, and you have an innate sense of right and wrong. Your parents did an amazing job of raising you for ten years, and gave you the foundation you needed to become the pillar of strength you are today.”

“I think that’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me,” Zara replied.

“It’s true.” Meat kissed her one more time, this time unable to resist licking along her lower lip to get just a taste of her before he pulled back. Her eyes were wide, and if he wasn’t mistaken, he could see the pulse at the side of her neck beating faster than it had a second ago.

Meat wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her into his side. “How about I show you how to make waffles from scratch?”

“You did that a few days ago.”

Meat chuckled. “Then how about you show me how it’s done?”

“Deal.”

Meat was glad to see the smile on Zara’s face . . . but he couldn’t easily forget how horrible her grandparents had treated her. She’d seemed to blow them off, but he didn’t know if she’d always be able to deflect those who wanted to hold her down, those who would disparage her and what she’d been through, and those who wanted to befriend her only because of her money.

Straightening his shoulders, Meat decided he’d do what he could to make sure she wasn’t suckered in by any of them. He’d already been protective of her, but she really hadn’t noticed since she hadn’t left his house much. Eventually she’d figure out exactly how protective he could be. She might not like it, but tough. She hadn’t had a champion for fifteen years—she had one now.





Chapter Eighteen

Later that afternoon, after they’d eaten, Zara sat at the table with the laptop Meat had given her to use, with him by her side, and showed him the emails she’d received.

There were tons from news reporters around the country begging for the opportunity to interview her. She had no desire to sit with a stranger and tell them anything. They didn’t care about her; all they cared about were ratings. She wasn’t so naive not to know that, so she’d simply ignored those emails.

There were also emails from people who’d found her private email address and had written begging for help. Those were harder for her to ignore.

Meat read the email from Alan and frowned. Then he reached for his phone and called Ball.

“I think we might have a problem,” he said without greeting his friend after he answered.

“What’s that?” Ball asked. Zara was sitting close enough that she could hear Ball’s words even without the phone being on speaker.

“Zara’s uncle. He sent her an email that has definite undertones. She doesn’t have many good things to say about the man. If I had to guess, the uncle is pissed he’s not going to get his sister’s money, but he’s trying to play it like he’s magnanimously offering to ‘teach’ Zara everything she needs to know about the money left to her in the trust.”

“Let me guess,” Ball said. “He’ll probably lie his ass off and take as much money as he can get.”

“That’s my assumption,” Meat agreed. “I’m going to see what I can find on him as soon as Zara finishes showing me what other emails she’s received, but I thought you might be able to check with Everly. See if the CSPD can put him on their radar?”

“Does he live here?” Ball asked.

“I don’t know yet. I’m assuming probably Denver, though, especially since his parents are still there. They were just here, and they seemed to be on his side when it comes to the money.”

“Zara met with her grandparents?” Ball asked. “How’d that go?”

Meat glanced at Zara, and she wrinkled her nose at him.

“Let’s just say Christmas at the grandparents’ house isn’t exactly going to be a thing,” Meat told his friend. “I just wanted to give you a heads-up and maybe see if Everly can do some looking into him. I’ve got the security system here at the house, and I’ll know if someone comes down my driveway before they get here, but that doesn’t mean he won’t try to sneak in on foot or something.”

Ball chuckled. “He’d be an idiot if he did that. Sneaking up on a former Delta man isn’t exactly the best thing to do.”

“I have a feeling he’s not that smart,” Meat said. “Emailing his niece to imply he deserves her money isn’t exactly something a rocket scientist would do.”

“I’ll get ahold of the others as well,” Ball said. “You’ll let us know of anything else you find?”