Cole's Mistake (Haven, Texas 8)

“You don’t owe Joel anything,” Cole told them both. And if his brother thought that, then he would settle the debt. Although they didn’t need to know that. “And neither of you needs a job, I’m rich.”

“We don’t need your money.” Keira frowned up at him and tried to pull out of his hold.

He wouldn’t let her move. He needed her close. He stared down at her. “I know in the past I’ve used my money to get my own way. As a weapon. That’s not what I’m trying to do here. I know you don’t care about my money. I’m not trying to use it as a way to buy your affection. At least I don’t think I—”

Keira glared at him. “Of course not! I don’t care if you’re rich or poor. I just want you. I love you! I’ve loved you for years. Things haven’t been right without you in our lives.”

Cole looked up at Julian.

“What she said.” Julian’s lips twitched as though he wanted to smile.

“So, you don’t need to spend your money supporting us or paying for bodyguards to protect us.”

“Then what’s the point of having it?” This time he drew back, crossing his arms over his chest. “After all these years I’ve spent working my ass off and all I’ve sacrificed, and the two people I love most don’t even want anything to do with it? I might as well give it all away if you’re not going to let me spend any of it on the two of you.”

“Good. Fine.” She gave him an equally stubborn look.

Little brat. Her ass had to still be tender from the spanking Julian had gave her earlier, but seemed she was after another one.

“No.” They both turned to look at Julian.

“Julian—” Cole started to say, exasperated.

Julian shook his head, then turned to Keira. “Cole is right.”

Keira’s mouth dropped open. Even Cole looked at him in shock. Out of the two of them, he’d expected Julian to put up the most protest.

“Keira, if it was the other way around, and we had money, and Cole was in danger, wouldn’t you do whatever you had to in order to protect him?”

“Yes, of course.” Keira looked slightly ill as she hugged herself. “You really think he’s coming for us still?”

“If he comes, we will protect you,” Cole told her, pulling her tightly against him. “Nothing will harm either of you again.”

Julian fitted himself around her back.

“Okay . . . I’ll go with whatever the two of you think best. I just don’t want some stranger following me around.”

“How about this? I’ll talk to Travis, have his people search for Vincento first. If there’s any hint he’s in the US, you’ll get discreet guards. All right?”

“All right,” she agreed.

He looked to Julian, who nodded. He needed to talk to Joel. He wouldn’t be surprised if he already had measures in place to protect them.

“Neither of you go anywhere alone, at any time.”

“That’s already covered,” Julian said.

“What about medical care?” Cole asked. “That would leave a paper trail.”

“Doc did it all under false names,” Keira told him.

“They take care of their own here in Haven,” Julian added.

He breathed a little easier at that. “All right. I’ll talk to Joel about everything else.”

“I don’t want to give up my job.” Keira bit her lip. “I know it’s not much but if I don’t have that, I’m scared I’ll hole up in here and never leave.”

“You don’t have to give up your job,” he reassured her. “A few hours are fine, baby, if it’s helping. However, I don’t want either of you doing anything that might be detrimental to your health and recovery when there’s no need for it. We need to concentrate on helping you both heal.”