“We don’t need Wendy,” Slade insisted. “We need you.”
She shook that off with a wave of her hand. “Trust me, Wendy has ten years’ seniority on me. She’ll be great. And she loves to travel. I’ll give her a call. How long does she have before the plane leaves? She’ll want to pack a bag.”
“Hannah.” Gavin tried to hold his temper in check. “The plane leaves in less than an hour.
We’ve already placed your name on the passenger list with the FAA. And don’t worry about packing a bag. We’ve taken care of everything.”
Slade’s hand came out to cover hers. “It’s going to be fine. Your grandmother will understand. You can call her when we get there.”
Hannah pulled back. “I can’t just up and leave.”
Gavin forced a placid smile on his face. “It’s going to be all right. Let’s talk about your other responsibilities, and we’ll make sure they’re handled.”
The door to his office came open with a crash. Gavin looked up, ready to yell at the intruder.
“Dex?” Slade stood, staring with his mouth open. “Dude, what the hell happened to you?” Dex was carrying a battered pink suitcase, but that was the most normal thing about him. His dress shirt was shredded and his arms covered in scratches, as though he’d gotten into a fight with a chipper-shredder and taken the worst end of it.
Hannah stood, and her notepad fell to the floor. “Oh, my…Dex, you’re hurt! We need to clean you up. Do you need to go to a hospital?” She frowned. “Is that my suitcase?” Dex set the luggage down and turned to Hannah, his dark eyes laser-focused on his target.
“Maybe a mental hospital, darlin’. As for the damages, well, let’s say I got into a little tussle with your pussy. I discovered that it has claws, rather like her owner. But I won’t make the same mistake twice.”
“You found my cat?” Hannah’s voice was a hopeful whisper.
“Found, fought with, and saved,” Dex confirmed. “She’s at the vet being taken care of. Now it’s time for round two.”
Dex strode up to Hannah and didn’t hesitate. He bent and shoved his shoulder in her midsection, his bulky arm curling behind her knees. She was over his shoulder in an instant. Her blonde head came up, and she looked at Gavin.
“This isn’t company protocol, Mr. James.” She said it so primly. Gavin would have laughed if he wasn’t so perplexed by his youngest brother’s behavior.
Dex turned around so all Gavin could see were her perfectly shaped calves and a backside to die for. “If you two are done pussyfooting around, I believe we have a plane to catch.”
“Dexter Townsend, you need to put me down right this instant! I am not going to Alaska.” Dex’s free hand came out and slapped that perfect backside. The short smack resounded through the room right before Hannah’s outraged yelp drowned it out. “I don’t like to be called Dexter, darlin’. And you are definitely going to Alaska. Is the car here yet?” Gavin wasn’t sure if he should punch his youngest brother or congratulate him for doing what he and Slade had seemed incapable of. “Dex, you better set her down. You’re going to scare her.”
“Am I? Really? Why don’t you look at the folder in the side pocket of her suitcase and tell me if she seems afraid enough. We’ll be out in the car. And Hannah, if you give me any trouble, I swear, I will tie you up and leave you bound until we get to Alaska.” Gavin walked to the suitcase and pulled out the manila file folder. Hannah’s head came up, and she looked to Slade for help.
“You have to stop him. I can’t go, and Dex’s caveman ways aren’t going to change that. Now you tell your Neanderthal brother to let me down this instant or I am going to scream until the cops come.”
Slade merely looked to Dex. “We should gag her, too.”
“You jerks!” Hannah tried to kick, but Dex merely tightened his arm around her legs. “You let me down.”
She was still yelling as Dex walked out the door, Slade following behind. Gavin thought seriously about taking off after them and forcing Dex to let her go. They couldn’t just kidnap her.
She could call the police.
Then he opened the folder and realized that Hannah had already called the police. Several times. His hands tightened as he read the incident reports. Hannah had known about her problem for over a month. And she’d never said a word.
Gavin closed the folder. He picked up the phone and quickly advised his private investigators. They would get all the reports and follow up on their end. Gavin picked up Hannah’s sad little suitcase. His own luggage had already been delivered to the airport.