Book 9 Deleted scene #03
1
“I assume you know now that I’m not threat to them?”
Jennifer was surprised to realize William was speaking to her. “I’m sorry?”
William leaned closer. “To your boss’s relationship. I’m not a threat to them.”
Jennifer stared at him, finally catching the condescending vibe. Her eyes narrowed as she studied him. “You think I’m too young… Too new… Too soft…”
William frowned. Not because he didn’t want Safe Haven to be offended, but because he couldn’t close his mental barrier.
Jennifer snickered. “I’m just getting started here, big man. You might want to try harder.”
Safe Haven descendants in the room looked over.
Angela shifted in her chair to watch William’s face.
“Wow.” William strained, fighting to bring down his mental shield over a door that no longer hurt him as badly. He didn’t care if she saw what was in there. He wanted to know if he could keep her out. He hadn’t braced for her attack, hadn’t considered her a threat.
“And that’s where you made your mistake,” Jennifer informed him coldly, all pretense gone. Because Angela admired William, Jennifer’s feelings had been stung.
William grunted, unable to speak and fight her at the same time now. She’d increased the strength and his shield was a fruit rollup in the sun.
“I’m sorry for your loss.”
William slumped back in the chair as Jennifer roamed his mind unchecked. She flew through his doors and crypts so fast that he couldn’t keep up with all the memory flashes.
Jennifer withdrew, satisfied she’d made her point, but still offended.
“You’re very talented.”
Jennifer frowned. She could still hear that tone. It said strong gifts didn’t mean anything without the brains to use them. She turned to face him directly. “Listen, you may have fooled the boss with your fake doors, but I know what’s in your heart and I didn’t need a gift for that. If she wasn’t already under a charm, you might have tried it.”
“You don’t know that.”
Jennifer grinned in triumph. “Neither do you.”
“No, but you couldn’t have…” William stopped, caught.
Jennifer smirked. Let’s hear that tone now, big man.
William couldn’t stop the chuckle. “Maybe I should have scanned you for charms.”
Jennifer snickered, gaze going to the frowning Special Forces man in the doorway of the banquet hall. “From the frying pan with Marc and into the fire with Kyle. It’s a good thing you aren’t going with Safe Haven.”
“Actually…” William let it hang, teasing.
“No.” Jennifer glowered at Angela. “Tell me you didn’t do that.”
Angela had been keeping track of the pair. She shrugged. “He offered and I accepted.”
Jennifer saw the joke and let out a relieved, annoyed grunt. “You could have told me it was just an escort.”
“You could have asked.”
“I assume you know now that I’m not threat to them?”
Jennifer was surprised to realize William was speaking to her. “I’m sorry?”
William leaned closer. “To your boss’s relationship. I’m not a threat to them.”
Jennifer stared at him, finally catching the condescending vibe. Her eyes narrowed as she studied him. “You think I’m too young… Too new… Too soft…”
William frowned. Not because he didn’t want Safe Haven to be offended, but because he couldn’t close his mental barrier.
Jennifer snickered. “I’m just getting started here, big man. You might want to try harder.”
Safe Haven descendants in the room looked over.
Angela shifted in her chair to watch William’s face.
“Wow.” William strained, fighting to bring down his mental shield over a door that no longer hurt him as badly. He didn’t care if she saw what was in there. He wanted to know if he could keep her out. He hadn’t braced for her attack, hadn’t considered her a threat.
“And that’s where you made your mistake,” Jennifer informed him coldly, all pretense gone. Because Angela admired William, Jennifer’s feelings had been stung.
William grunted, unable to speak and fight her at the same time now. She’d increased the strength and his shield was a fruit rollup in the sun.
“I’m sorry for your loss.”
William slumped back in the chair as Jennifer roamed his mind unchecked. She flew through his doors and crypts so fast that he couldn’t keep up with all the memory flashes.
Jennifer withdrew, satisfied she’d made her point, but still offended.
“You’re very talented.”
Jennifer frowned. She could still hear that tone. It said strong gifts didn’t mean anything without the brains to use them. She turned to face him directly. “Listen, you may have fooled the boss with your fake doors, but I know what’s in your heart and I didn’t need a gift for that. If she wasn’t already under a charm, you might have tried it.”
“You don’t know that.”
Jennifer grinned in triumph. “Neither do you.”
“No, but you couldn’t have…” William stopped, caught.
Jennifer smirked. Let’s hear that tone now, big man.
William couldn’t stop the chuckle. “Maybe I should have scanned you for charms.”
Jennifer snickered, gaze going to the frowning Special Forces man in the doorway of the banquet hall. “From the frying pan with Marc and into the fire with Kyle. It’s a good thing you aren’t going with Safe Haven.”
“Actually…” William let it hang, teasing.
“No.” Jennifer glowered at Angela. “Tell me you didn’t do that.”
Angela had been keeping track of the pair. She shrugged. “He offered and I accepted.”
Jennifer saw the joke and let out a relieved, annoyed grunt. “You could have told me it was just an escort.”
“You could have asked.”
