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"Pop? No way You draggedat a five-star restaurant; I' the quail" He chuckled, but it faded too fast forfor why I was here, "when a man invites me somewhere nice, it's because he wants to break up with me and doesn't want me to make a scene I know that's not the case here"
Silent, he tightened his jaw My pulse quickened The bartender came back withQuen just sat there "What does Trent wantto like?" I finally prompted, and he actually winced
"He doesn't know I'ht unease took on an entirely new
The last ti about itDude! "Holy crap, did you get Ceri pregnant again? Congratulations! You old dog! But what do you need s!" Unless you happen to be a demon, that is
He frowned, hunching over the bar to sip his drink and shooting nant, but the children do touch on what I wanted to talk to you about"
Suddenly concerned, I leaned closer "What is it?" I said, a flicker of anger passing throughhis race" quest to unfair extre you about sohter!" I said hotly "She and Lucy being raised together as sisters is a great idea, but if he thinks I' to sit here while he shoves you out of their life-"
"No, that's far from the truth of it" Quen set his drink aside to put his hand onsqueeze, and when I grimaced, he pulled away I could knock hi to do with the fancy restaurant and everything to do with respect Besides, if I knocked him down, he'd knock me down, and Quen had a spell lexicon that put mine to shame
"Ray and Lucy are being raised with two fathers and onebeautifully, but that's what I wanted to discuss," he said, confusing me even more
I drew htly huffy So I had ju Quen out of the picture to further the professional ie of a happy, traditional fa"
Avoidingwine swirl
"Yes" I drawled, cautiously "If you can call a drug lord and outlawed- man" Both were true, but I'd lost any fire behind the accusations a while ago I think it hen Trent slugged the radation
Quen's flash of irritation vanished when he realized I was joking-sort of "I have no issue in having a secondary public role in the girls' lives," he said defensively "Trent takes great pains to see that I have sufficient time with them"
Midnight rides on horseback and reading before bed, I ied not to say anything but a tart "He gives you time to be a dad Bully for Trent" I took a sip of bubbly wine, blinking the fizz away before it made me sneeze
"You are the devil to talk to, Rachel," he said curtly "Will you shut up and listen?"
The sharp rebuke broughtrude, but Trent irritated me "Sorry," I said as I focused on hi, and I wished they'd turn it down even more
Seeing my attention, he dropped his head "Trent is conscientiouslysure I have tily evident that it's caused an unwise reduction to his own personal safety"
Reduction to his own personal safety? I snorted and reached forhis fair share of daddy time?"
"No, he's scheduling things when I'o out alone It has to stop"
"Ohhhh!" I said in understanding Quen had been keeping Trent safe since his father had died, leaving hi the billionaire idiot savant out of his sight to chat with businessolf course probably didn't sit well Especially with Trent's new ic, too
Then I followed that thought as to why I ot even wider "Oh, hell no!" I said, grabbing et off the stool "I ah money in the world Not in torlds"
Well, maybe in torlds, but that wasn't the point
"Rachel, please," he pleaded, taking my shoulder before I could find the floor It wasn't the strength of his grip that stoppedyou to do my job"
"Good, because I won't!" I said, my voice hushed but intense "I will not work for Trent He's aa" I hesitated, finding allforce "He never listens to me," I said instead, and Quen's hand fell froets hiot him to the West Coast for you, and look what happened!"
Quen turned to the bar, his voice flat "His actions resulted in a bar burning down and the collapse of a US monument"
"It wasn't just a bar, it was Margaritaville, and I'ot bla toasted Oh! And how aboutfor h so that I could survive? You think I enjoyed that?"
Granted, the kiss to break the spell had been nice, but the last time I worked for Trent, the assassins had been aimed at me