Jack shook his head, crossing his booted foot casually over his knee. He made the leather chair he sat on seem like a throne. “Here? Not a chance. And it’s worse than you think. If she really ran out on her wedding, those old biddies in town will make life hell on her. They can’t take her job, but they can isolate her. Do you know what that will do to her?”
“If this is what being a part of the community has done for her, then perhaps she should try isolation,” Julian murmured. “Any chance you need a fourth?”
Emerald green eyes rolled. “Yeah, I’ll get right on that. Let’s just say I would like to keep all of my man parts in their current position. If you don’t want her, call Leo. Hell, look at her. Just walk her into The Club, and you’ll have to beat the Doms off her.”
Dani had no idea what they were talking about. She didn’t know a Leo or a man named Dom. Anger started to build in her gut. She was used to people talking about her behind her back, but at least they didn’t do it while she was sitting right in front of them. There was such a thing as common courtesy.
A slow smile spread across Jack Barnes’s face. “You don’t like that idea, do you, Julian?”
“I didn’t say that.” He sounded like he was gritting his teeth.
“You didn’t have to. Fine. I’ll call Leo myself. He’s been looking for a permanent sub for awhile now. It will be my pleasure to get him down here. Maybe once he takes a look at her, he can forget about Abby. I swear I’m going to kick his ass one of these days.”
“Don’t you call him, Jackson. She’s my problem, and I’ll take care of her.”
The words hit her like an out-of-control train, slamming into her, making her sick with shame. Problem? She was starting to process his words, though they didn’t all make sense. Julian Lodge thought she was a burden and was trying to foist her off on someone else. She wasn’t a burden. She never had been. She’d always been the one to take the load off someone else. She was the one who never complained and never argued. Until she’d run out of that church, she’d never caused a single scandal, with the exception of being friends with Finn. Dani had given up her whole future to take care of a sick mother and put her little sister through school. She did not deserve their scorn. She stood, sick to death of people who didn’t value her.
“Don’t talk about me like I’m not here. If you won’t let me use your phone, then I’ll just walk, but I won’t stand here while you two jerks make fun of me. I don’t know about this guy.” She gestured to Julian, whose face had gone stony cold. “But I thought better of you, Mr. Barnes. I didn’t think you were the type to kick a person when she was down. I guess I was wrong. Please tell Abby that I won’t be in to the clinic anymore. I’ll find something else.”
God, she’d just quit her job. She loved her job. It was the one bright spot in her dreary life. Why had she done that? But there was no backing down now. She turned to leave. She would mail Abby her clothes later. Right now, it was a long walk back to town.
“Danielle!”
Julian’s sharp bark caused her to stop in her tracks. She turned almost unwillingly.
He hadn’t moved from the couch, but she felt the will pouring off his body. “You will come back in this room, and you will stop behaving like a brat.”
She felt her eyes widen. No one had ever called her that. “Brat? You’re the one acting like a bully, Sir. I mean Mr. Lodge.” She had to stop calling him that.
He moved gracefully off the couch, stalking to her. He towered over her, six foot four inches of pure intimidation. He invaded her space, and her heart started to thud in an unfamiliar rhythm. “You were right the first time, Danielle. You will apologize to Jackson, and then we’re going to have a private talk.”
The front door opened suddenly.
“Damn, Jack, you missed a hell of a show. Dani finally got a lick of sense and motored herself right out of that church. It was the best show this town has seen in a long time.” Sam Fleetwood strode into the living room with a broad smile on his handsome face.
The wife he shared with Jack followed behind, though she was frowning. “We need to find her, Jack. She’s in trouble.”
Jack simply pointed.
Abby sighed. “Thank God. You scared us, Dani. Not that I don’t absolutely support your decision to not marry that man, but you shouldn’t have run away. You got into some stranger’s car. Anything could have happened to you.”
Abby’s eyes moved between Dani and Julian, who, despite the addition of two new audience members, hadn’t once moved those cold eyes off her. Dani wanted to run, but she’d done enough of that for one day.
“Jack, what’s going on?” Abby put a hand on Jack’s arm, concern plain on her face. She started to walk toward Dani, but Jack held her back.
Sam threw his head back and laughed. “Can’t you tell, baby? Damn, Dani, of all the cars in the world you could have hopped into, you got into Julian Lodge’s. That man is a sub magnet. I’ve always said it.”
Julian growled just a little. “Your sarcasm is duly noted, Samuel. Now, may I have a moment alone with Danielle?”
“Are you sure about this?” Jack was holding Abby’s hand. He sent Sam a look that had the blond man getting very serious all of a sudden. “If you aren’t, then I’ll take care of her. I can get her a job in another town and see that she’s all right.”
“Why does she need a new job?” Abby asked, her voice rising.
That scenario didn’t seem to satisfy Julian. “She doesn’t need a new job. She needs a new life. If you simply move her somewhere new, she’ll get in trouble again because she is untrained.”
“I’m not a dog, you jerk!” Her fists were clenched at her sides. Humiliation washed through her.
He turned quickly. “I didn’t say you were, Danielle. And, as I have been nothing but polite with you, I expect a modicum of courtesy. I understand that you have been through a lot today. I understand that you require some tenderness. None of that gives you the right to belittle me and our hosts.”
Tears were threatening again. She hated him a little in that moment. He made her feel like a child. “Then I wouldn’t want to force you to be around a brat. Like I said, I’ll just get out of your hair.”
He ignored her. “I’ll deal with her, Jackson, and if you question my rights again, we shall have trouble.”
Jack’s mouth thinned, but he nodded.
“Jack, what’s going on?” Abby asked. She attempted to pull away.
“No. This is between Julian and Dani. Abigail, go to our bedroom now.”
“But, Jack.”
Jack Barnes stared down at his wife, his face colder than Dani could ever remember it being. “I said now, Abigail. Do you want to test me?”
“No, she doesn’t.” Sam slipped his hand into Abby’s. “Come on, baby. Let’s go check on the kids. Julian isn’t going to hurt your friend, and you know it. You also know exactly what she is and what she needs. We’ve talked about it before. It’s why you practically cheered when she ran away. Now she might figure a few things out. Don’t take that from her.”
Abby nodded, and with one last look Dani’s way, she walked out with Sam, leaving Dani alone with Jack and Julian.
Dani shuffled nervously, wondering exactly what Sam had meant and what she was supposed to figure out. Julian’s eyes were still on her.
“Do you have something to say, Danielle?”
“I want to leave. I want to go home.” She wanted to get away from him. The very fact that she felt a desperate need to apologize and do anything it took to get his approval made her want to flee in terror.
His jaw tightened, but then he took a step back. The iron will on his face turned to a mask of smooth indifference. “Of course. Do you have someone to call, or would you like me to drive you? If you feel uncomfortable with me, I am sure I can find someone else to take you wherever you would like to go.”