Graham smiled at her. “Figured you could use something to eat after your meeting. Must have been a gut-punch to see the jerk again. Don’t suppose you got a chance to kick his ass?”
Tansy smiled back. “There’s always next time.”
Sam yanked her into a one-armed hug. “No way that jerk is getting close to you again.”
Graham laughed. “Eat before you get even growlier and she has to kick your ass instead.”
The comment made them all smile as they sat. Graham had made up sandwiches and had heated up some of her minestrone soup.
Before she could protest that she wasn’t hungry, Sam handed her a bowl of the soup and a spoon.
Graham broke the tension again. “Joe wouldn’t share details with me, so give me the highlights.”
Sam growled. “Stephens is a dumbass who isn’t as smart as he thinks he is. He appears to believe his own bullshit and thought he had an actual chance of getting Tansy to agree.”
All completely accurate. Embarrassment at being duped filled her again, and she stirred her soup but didn’t eat.
Joe chipped in. “Stephens said that Howard wants to bid on the tech.”
Sam grinned. “Tech he kept calling camouflage when that’s not what it is. Pissed off Tansy without even trying.”
In so many ways, but she was just as pissed at herself for being the fool for so long.
Graham held up a hand. “Howard? As in Bernard Howard? Jackass of all trades?”
That almost made Tansy smile.
Sam and Joe nodded, and soon Tansy knew more about the illegal arms trade than she’d ever wanted to know. It made her feel ill even as it strengthened her determination to ensure this creep never got his hands on her ideas.
Graham looked at her then Joe. “I’m guessing both of your names are on the property records for this place?”
The question brought her attention back to the topic. And she realized the implication. “Yes. If Stephens has told this Howard my name, he can find us.”
Sam immediately reached to take her hand and squeeze it. “He’s not going to get to you.”
Which wasn’t the same as finding her.
At first, Tansy had thought Sam’s worry about the plane was an over-the-top reaction. Now, she had to agree that it was entirely possible this man, or one like him, was scouting her place.
“I need to get this experiment finished and out of my hands. I want it gone.” She stood and headed for the stairs. “I’m going to grab my things and head to the cabin. I need to run a new trial with the data tweaks I’ve made.”
Once it was done, she could forget all about it and all about James Stephens as well.
Sam blew out a breath as he watched Tansy jog up the stairs.
She was vibrating and hadn’t eaten even a bite of soup. He wanted to scoop her into his lap and hold her. Forever.
He was a goner for her, but it wasn’t the time to tell her. Hell, she was pissed at him for bringing in Joe without telling her. But he’d do it again.
He’d do anything to keep her safe.
Joe thumped down his bowl. “I’ve never seen her this upset. She’s really pissed.”
Sam nodded, but Graham let out a sigh. “Seriously, you think she’s only pissed? She’s a whole lot more than that.”
“What the hell does that mean?” And why did Graham suddenly think he was an expert on someone he’d only met the night before?
That kind of comment might have come from Nico. He was the hot-shot FBI profiler. Graham preferred engines and electricity to people.