Fuck. What had he said? He glanced over at Travis, who stared at Jenna with interest and concern.
“Fuck off, Travis. I need to speak to Jenna alone.”
She swung back around and winced. “Damn it, Curt. Stop being such a jerk! What is wrong with you today? First, you punch Logan—”
“He deserved it,” Curt muttered.
“Then Duncan, who is a deputy sheriff for goodness sake!”
“That was an accident.”
“And then you were rude to Saxon.”
“I wasn’t rude to him.”
“You told him to go away! He was just trying to be helpful by offering us a ride home.”
“He was flirting with you. And he wasn’t offering all of us a ride, just you.”
“He was looking out for me; it’s what the men around here do.”
“Oh, that wasn’t him looking out for you. Do you know what sort of man he is?”
She gave him a tired look. “I don’t know, Curt. The sort of man who offers a tired, injured woman a lift home? Wow, what a bastard. We should have him arrested.”
Travis snorted.
Curt closed his eyes and prayed for patience. He was going about this all wrong. When he opened his eyes again he saw Jenna rapidly blink back tears.
God, she was right. He really was an asshole. She’d had a horrible day, and here he was, compounding it. And he hadn’t even gotten to the worst of it.
“Can whatever the two of you are doing here wait until the morning? I need to take a bath.” She rubbed at her forehead. “I’m really sore and I want to soak. I should also call the hospital and check on Mrs. Childs.”
Travis rose and placed his hand on the small of her back. Then he leaned down and kissed the top of her head. She kind of melted. Damn it, why can’t I get that reaction? All I seem to do is fire her up.
Curt gave him a look, but the other man just grinned.
“I think it’s best we tell you now, honey,” Travis told her gently. “Before someone calls you or you hear it on the news.”
“Hear what on the news?” She looked at Curt in alarm. “What is it? Is it my parents?”
“Let her sit down first,” Curt grumbled and took hold of her arm, leading her to the sofa, away from Travis.
The other man gave him a knowing look. That was the problem working with Doms, they didn’t miss much.
“Curt, what is it?” She gave him a frantic look, and he wished he could shield her from this, make it all okay. He knelt in front of her and reached out to clasp her hands in his. All their earlier arguments and irritations faded. She clung to him.
“Baby, it’s your dad.” His gut clenched, knowing the pain he was going to cause her.
“Something’s happened to him? Why didn’t you tell me right away?” She jumped to her feet, then groaned and swayed.
“Hey! Easy.” He stood and grasped her shoulders, holding her steady. “I knew you should’ve gone to the hospital. Travis, get the car started, we’re taking her in.”
“No. I’m fine. I just stood up too quickly. I need to know, Curt. Is my dad hurt?”
Curt shook his head and pressed her onto the sofa once more. “He’s not hurt. Jenna, he’s been arrested.”
Arrested? What?