And as he wrapped his arm around Charli and guided her to his truck, he realized that Charli had done the same thing. With her hard head and take-no-bullshit attitude, she’d hurdled right over his defenses. But unlike Jace and Andre, Charli hadn’t just worked her way into his circle of friends, but rather into every corner of his being. For the few minutes today that he’d thought he may never see her again, he’d felt the impact of just how deeply she’d burrowed into his psyche.
Once they got to his truck, he helped her into the passenger side, then grabbed the file box he’d set on his floorboard. He shut Charli’s door with his hip, then handed the box to Andre. “Take this directly to the station. From what I understand, there are audio recordings and files that will implicate a number of government officials and business owners in a cheating scandal with Dallas University. My source also told me there are recordings of conversations where break-ins and attempted murder are discussed.”
Andre gave him a you-gotta-be-shittin’-me look. “How the hell did you get this kind of information?”
“I have my methods. It’s probably better you not know.” He glanced over at Charli’s building, making sure no one was heading their way. “Just don’t turn it over to anyone you don’t trust. I don’t know how deep this goes within the city government.”
“No worries.” He nodded toward the truck. “You got everything covered with your girl?”
“Covered? Yes. Worked out? No.”
Andre’s expression was all too knowing. It wasn’t that long ago that he was torn up about his own woman. “She went with you willingly. That’s a start.”
Grant clapped Andre on the shoulder as he passed him. “That’s about all I’ve got right now. Thanks for your help, man.”
“Anytime, brother. Good luck.”
Grant headed to the driver’s side. Luck. He was going to need more than that. Because what he knew he needed to do was going to make his days of facing down terrorists look like a day at kindergarten.
Here goes nothing.
TWENTY-NINE
Charli sat curled on the couch in her cabin, huddled around a cup of hot tea. Her stomach had finally settled, and a long shower had helped slough off some of the ugliness of the day, but she still couldn’t settle her mind.
Grant had told her on the way what he’d done to Pete, what information he’d gotten out of him. Charli couldn’t help the satisfaction the news had brought her. She almost wished she could’ve been there to see Pete’s face when Grant, in all his six-foot-seven, pissed-off cowboy glory, had busted through his door. Grant hadn’t given her details about what threats he’d laid down, but she had a feeling Pete was probably still hiding in a closet in his house.
Served the bastard right.
But finding out in the same day that Trey, a guy she’d trusted wholeheartedly, had put her life on the line had her questioning her judgment? How could she have been so stupid? At one time, she’d truly cared about Trey. Even if their relationship had dissolved, she’d always considered him one of her closest friends. Were her instincts that off?
Of course they were. Hell, she’d actually thought she could help Grant get over his wife. Her instincts were about as accurate as her ability to guess lottery numbers.
Grant sank onto the armchair opposite her. “Andre called, said they’re putting together arrest warrants for at least seven people, including your boss and that Brinkley guy he was with last night at the fund-raiser. Apparently, Pete took ‘cover your ass’ to the nth degree. He secretly taped almost every conversation he had with anyone.”
She sipped her tea. “Told you, lawyer family.”
“Right.” He took a pull from the beer he was holding and looked at her like he had a thousand things to say but couldn’t put together one.
The short few feet between them seemed to grow wider as they sat there. Had it only been last night that they’d made love in the grass? “You don’t have to babysit me. I’m fine.”
“I don’t want you going back to your place until everyone’s been rounded up,” he said, setting his beer on the coffee table. “Someone could come after you when they realize you were the one to turn them in.”
“I know.” She pulled the blanket more tightly around her shoulders, her skin prickling at the thought of always looking over her shoulder. “I talked to my brother a few minutes ago. I’m going to stay with him for a little while until I figure out what I’m going to do. I’m sure my employment will be reinstated after everything comes out, but as of right now I’m not even sure I want to go back to TSN.”
Grant’s stoicism fell away, revealing a shade of hurt beneath it. “So you’re leaving?”
She looked down at the frayed ends of the blanket. “I can’t stay here, Grant.”
She knew if she hung around him long enough, she’d slip up. Her normal armor seemed to turn to gossamer anytime he was around. She’d fall into bed with him in a weak moment and end up digging herself into a deeper hole. She was done settling. She wasn’t going to play second best for anyone, and she wasn’t going to stay in a job that wasn’t challenging her anymore. Life was too short to give up and set up camp on the side of the mountain instead of reaching the summit.
Even if she was going to be sitting on that summit all by her damn self.
“When do you plan on leaving?” he asked quietly.
“Tomorrow.”
He leaned forward, lacing his fingers between his knees. “Let me drive you to Baton Rouge.”