Jardin's Gamble (Haven, Texas 9)

Maddox stiffened. “Carrick?”

“Yes.” He braced himself for his cousin’s teasing. He flicked a glance over at Thea to find her standing still as a statue.

“Carrick? Your ex-best friend Carrick?”

“I don’t know any other Carricks.”

“So, you and he are talking again?” Maddox asked.

“Yep.”

“Was that where you were last night?” Maddox asked slyly.

“It was.”

“You old dog. Kept that quiet, didn’t you? You and Carrick planning on adding a third?”

“Not immediately, perhaps we could talk about this tonight?” Or not at all. He could see how uncomfortable Thea was growing.

Over the idea of him and Carrick being together? Because she liked them? He wished he knew.

“Thea, I’d like to see you in my office please,” Jardin demanded.

Walking into his office, he sat behind his desk. She walked in slowly, tablet in hand. She took a seat across from him. She looked paler than yesterday with dark circles under her eyes.

“How was the meeting?”

“Fine. Did you sleep at all last night?” he snapped out. Then he winced. That hadn’t been what he’d intended to ask her. But, fuck it, she looked like death warmed over.

“I’m fine.”

That wasn’t a yes.

“I know there’s something wrong, Thea.”

She straightened, her face shutting down. “I apologize if I let my personal life affect

my work yesterday, it won’t happen again.”

He tapped his fingers against his desk. To push her or not? He didn’t want her running from him, shutting him out completely like she had Carrick.

“Thea, you know you can come to me if something’s wrong.” He made his voice warmer, cajoling.

Shock filled her face. As though she’d never heard him speak that way. Fuck, she was never going to open up to him. She saw him as a cold, emotionless bastard. That wasn’t really him at all. It was just a façade to keep people at bay. To stop himself from getting hurt.

“Thank you. I really am fine.”

“If you’re more comfortable speaking to Carrick about it—”

“Nothing is wrong.”

He narrowed his gaze. She was still his employee; threatening her with a spanking was going to land him in the middle of a lawsuit. But Carrick certainly could.

“About what happened yesterday—”

“You don’t have to explain anything to me,” she told him. “I could tell you knew each other.”

“That’s twice you’ve interrupted me, Miss Garrison.”