“What the hell kinda movies you watching?” Jess smacks my shoulder and steps back with a laugh. “But also, yes. I know exactly what you’re saying, and I’m deeply apologetic for what we’ve done.”
I turn to Kane and pull him in, clapping his back and squeezing extra tight. “Congratulations, brother. I’m proud of you.”
“You okay?” Of course he’d ask. Of course he’d talk of something none of us have mentioned in so long. “Need a time out?”
“I’m better than okay. I’m excited for you. Can you name him Eric? Or Albert Limpick the fourth?”
“No!” He pushes me away with a laugh and pulls Jessie in. “I’m having a little girl, and I’m gonna call her Princess Perfect.”
“Oh, God.” Jess grabs her stomach. “I’m gonna barf if you say that shit again.”
“Hello? Are you guys open?”
I step back to make room for Spence, and since everyone else is busy not working, I follow the feminine voice back toward reception and stop on a professionally dressed woman in a skirt suit, fancy hair in a bun, and heels that maybe got mixed up between the date box and the work box.
She’s beautiful enough that I stop in my tracks, but not so much that while I stop, I don’t see Katrina in my mind and wonder what she’s up to right this minute.
“Hello.” Friendly smile, PR voice, greet the potential client. “Can I help you?”
The woman is short, even in her hooker heels. She looks up from light eyes and long lashes and flashes a beautiful smile that makes me smile in return. Stepping forward, she extends a hand and takes mine. “Hey, my name is Jo, and I’m looking for a little help with my security. Word on the streets is that Checkmate is where I’ve gotta be.”
“Okay.” I turn and indicate for her to follow, and as we move, I do my best to shield her from the idiots still partying in the main office. Of course she sees them, but I herd her toward the boardroom without stopping and close the door to block the noise out. Nodding toward the desk, I grab a fresh file on the way past a work station Laine set up to keep us organized. Instead of notes on scraps of paper flittering from office to office, we now have files set up, and an electronic database just waiting for input.
“Alright.” Selecting a pen, I drop the file on the table and sit down. “My name is Eric DeWhit, and I can help us get started. We have experts in every field, so why don’t you tell me a little about your situation, and then we can allocate someone to your case.”
Setting her leather purse on the floor, Jo sits back and plays with a stray pen. “Allocate? I didn’t realize there were a bunch of options.”
“The sky’s the limit. We have men who can provide personal body protection, depending on your budget. Home security. Cybersecurity. We could investigate someone if that’s what you’re looking for. Maybe you have an ex who wronged you or something.” I shrug. “Perhaps you’re looking to learn how to defend yourself.” I pause when her cheeks flush. “Lots of options. But there’s a lot to take in, so instead of overwhelming you with information, you can tell me what you need, then I’ll tell youwhoyou need.”
“Okay.” Sitting taller, she crosses her legs and clasps her hands on the table. “So mostly I was just looking to secure my home. I’m a single mom, and my son is growing up. I mean, he’s not moving out today, but that will be a reality in just a couple more years. Jake’s a worrier. I want to be ready for when he graduates and goes off to college, so that he won’t be tempted to pack me in his suitcase and steal me away.”
“Well, this is an easy one.” I make notes in Laine’s handy-dandy files, fill out the sections I know, and prepare to run Jo through a thousand more.