Leopard 03 - Burning Wild

can watch the two of them in the house.” He slipped his radio back on his belt loop and resolutely knocked on Susan’s door.
    He’d promised Emma. He smirked to himself. He’d promised her retaliation as well for the two hard kicks she’d given him—and he always kept his promises. There was silence, nose blowing, and then Susan timidly opened the door.
    Jake smiled at her. “Come on out of there and talk to me for a minute, Susan.” He held out his hand, his voice gentle but commanding. Susan hesitated, but she put her hand in his and followed him over to the long, wide stairway. He sank down and patted the step beside him, waiting until she sat. “I was careless this morning when I spoke to you. I spend so much time rushing through my work, I sometimes forget how to talk to people. I’m grateful that you’re here to help Emma. She says you’re great with our children and I really appreciate that.”
    Susan sniffed again but smiled shyly. “They’re so sweet. And Emma’s been so good to me. She talks to me . . .” She trailed off.
    He nodded, pretending not to notice the tears welling up again. “She’s like that. Did she show you the ring?”
    Susan’s eyes lit up. “I saw the ring on her finger but I was afraid to ask. You’re getting married?”
    “We have two children. I’d say it’s about time. I want more, so we’d better make certain we’re married before I get her pregnant again, don’t you think?” At her nod, he stood up. “You’ll have to come to the wedding.” Jake held out his hand to her. When she put her hand in his, he drew her up. “I’m glad Emma has such a good friend in you, Susan. You’re welcome here anytime and you can stay as long as you like. Hopefully, over time, you’ll get used to how abrupt I can be.”
    “Thank you, Mr. Bannoconni.”
    “Jake,” he corrected, keeping his voice gentle. He walked away from her but turned back at the door. “I really appreciate you speaking other languages to the children. We’re trying to give them as much exposure as possible. You’re very fluent.”
    She beamed, raised her hand until he was out of sight and ran back into the kitchen to find Emma.
    “Emma! Let me see the ring! Jake said—” She skidded to halt when she saw the company waiting for her, the joy fading from her face.
    “Is that appropriate behavior for a young lady?” Dana, her governess, demanded with a little sniff.
    “You address the hired help with far more decorum, Susan, and less enthusiasm. And it’s Mr.
    Bannaconni to you, miss.”
    Susan turned bright red, her gaze flicking to Joshua and Drake, who lounged idly against the sink.
    Andraya had her arms wound around Joshua’s leg and Kyle stood slightly behind him, nearly hidden from their visitors. She almost didn’t see the third man standing with his back to the door. He was so still he made her heart tremble.
    Joshua snorted and winked at Susan. “That would be me, Susan, the hired help.”
    Emma’s expression didn’t change. “Your governess has come to check on you, Susan, along with your tutor.” She glanced at Drake, uncertain how to handle their visitors and the clear attack on Susan. They made her uneasy and Susan looked close to tears. It was no wonder the senator had told her he was worried about his daughter.
    She heard the soft click of the radio and a brief crackle as Drake or Joshua opened the line to Jake.
    “You should have warned us ahead of time that you were accompanying Mr. Givens, Ms. Anderson,”
    Drake said, his voice one of absolute authority. “Mr. Bannaconni doesn’t like surprises, and he said to inform you that if you showed up again without an invitation or the courtesy of a call ahead of time, you would be refused entrance.” He deliberately addressed Susan’s governess, reprimanding her publicly as she had her charge.
    Color whipped into the woman’s cheekbones and her mouth tightened ominously. She looked down her nose at Drake, taking in his faded jeans, the T-shirt stretched across wide shoulders and thickly muscled chest, and with a little sniff of disdain, dismissed him as inconsequential.
    “Please lead us to a room suitable to carry out Susan’s studies,” Dana snapped to Emma. “We don’t wish to be kept waiting. Jim—Senator Hindman—requires promptness and expects his orders to be carried out. We can’t have Susan falling behind again. ” Her coyness implied intimacy with the senator as she delivered her second strike at