“I’m pretty sure you just insulted me,” she said dryly.
“All I meant was that you shouldn’t feel like I got you this job. There aren’t many people with your skill set who would be willing to work for Black-Gray.”
Why not?
“Why? What’s this Hunter Black like?”
“He’s an asshole, loud, obnoxious, and rude.”
Perhaps she should have led with that question. “Well, he sounds fun to work for.”
“Oh, I think you can hold your own.”
She looked him over. “Yes, I’ve certainly had a lot of practice dealing with arrogant males.”
He just grinned. “Hunter’s good at his job, and he looks after his own. I wouldn’t send you to him if I didn’t think you’d be taken care of.”
She put her hands on her hips. “Travis. I’m not a child who needs looking after.”
He grinned and stepped closer, squeezing her nose the way he’d always done when she was a kid. “I’ve changed your diaper; you’ll always be my baby cousin. That means I get to protect you no matter how old you are.”
“You never once changed my diaper, idiot.” She punched him lightly on the arm. “And I don’t need taking care of.”
He gave her nose another tap, then stepped back. “You can sneak off now.”
“I wasn’t sneaking off,” she gave a half-hearted protest. But she inched her way closer to the driver’s door.
“Lacey.” She paused with the door open. “If you ever need to talk about it, I’m here.”
“I’m fine.”
He just stared at her.
“All right, fine. If Mr. Black is as difficult as you say he is th
en I’ll call you for help.”
He grimaced. “Hell, no. I don’t want to deal with that cantankerous bastard. You need any help with him, then talk to Gray Mathers. He’s the only man I know with enough patience to deal with that asshole.”
She looked up at the house once more, knowing she probably wouldn’t come back. Coming here just made her angry and sad.
“Funny, isn’t it? I’ve tried all my life to be noticed, to be acknowledged. And now, I’d give anything just to blend into the background. To never be noticed again.”
Chapter Two
Gray was going to kill the bastard.
He rested his head against the back of his chair and stared up at the ceiling, while Hunter paced back and forth across his office.
“I can’t believe you hired someone without consulting me.”
Gray winced, the headache pounding at his temples wasn’t helping his patience. Normally, he’d be able to see the amusing side of one of Hunter’s tirades, let him vent until he wound down enough to be reasonable.
Well, sort of.
Then Gray would counter with all the reasons why hiring Lacey Andrews was a sound decision. Hunter would sulk for a while, probably threaten to kick his ass, then he’d give in. Not very graciously.
But today, Gray was short on patience and reason.