Chapter 5
CHAPTER FIVE
brEAK THE ICE
Lennon
When I saw the top of a dark head of wavy hair moving through the labyrinth, I’d know it anywhere. I’ve memorized the chestnut color and every dip and wave.
Not that I’ve seen it up close since the day he dragged himself out of bed to answer the door when I brought him food two months ago. I’ll never forget it. That day his hair was more luscious straight out of a deep sleep than it was when I found myself on top of him in the atrium of the manor.
That meeting was so uncomfortable, that once I realized I wasn’t getting fired for almost killing him, I never went back. When it came to Jett Cross, I became a lurker.
A shadow dweller.
Hell, I’ve become a pro at ducking and weaving when I see him around the manor.
Really, I’m just a woman too mortified to come face to face with him again.
But Felicity forced me to have lunch in the employee lounge. My panties and I have managed to not be the topic of conversation since the day I swore I was going to get canned for tackling a kidney transplant recipient.
I had a good run. Eight weeks to be exact. But it all ended today when Amelia informed me that Blake had a conversation with Mr. Cross about my almost killing him.
It’s time I come out of the shadows and stop being a sleuth. Apparently, I haven’t apologized enough.
“Mr. Cross! Wait!”
He stops and turns.
His expression isn’t unhappy, but it’s not happy either.
I need to win this man over, if for no other reason than my conscience can only take so much in life. My goals were simple when I moved to Winslet—work hard, make everyone like me, and escape the rest of the world.
I’m out of breath by the time I get to him. I tuck my hair behind my ear and cross my arms to warm myself from the chill of the crisp air. “There you are. I’ve been looking for you.”
His gaze drags up and down my body before connecting with mine.
“I haven’t seen you since I moved in. Thanks for the heads up that you were headed my way.
Just a warning, I’ve been working on my defensive moves, and I’m not fresh out of surgery any longer.
If you try to tackle me again, it won’t go well for you. ”
I cringe at the memory and thank my lucky stars I still have a job. I thought the crisis was averted, but Jett Cross clearly isn’t over it. “How are you feeling? You look better. I mean, good—better than good. Not that you didn’t look good before.”
He stuffs his hands in his jacket pockets and stares down at me with a smirk. “That’s fair since I was near death. I should look better.”
“No, not at all. You never looked like death. That’s...” I push that thought from my mind. “I haven’t seen you in a long time. I wanted to say hi, and make sure you don’t hate me.”
He rips off his aviators and hooks them into the collar of his shirt. My eyes shift from his jawline to his corded neck. He seems taller than he did before. I’m sure it’s that he’s standing up straight rather than hunched over after major surgery.
Yes, Jett Cross is looking good.
He studies me like he’s trying to get a better look at me in the bright afternoon sun. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”
“You don’t know me, Mr. Cross, but I don’t have the energy to be anything other than serious. Amelia told me she heard you talking to Blake about me. I just wanted to say again how sorry I am about almost killing you.”
He tips his head to the side and hesitates before his tone changes.
Until now, I’ve only seen him angry, in pain, or when I woke him from a deep sleep.
I’ve also spied on him from afar walking around the Manor.
Here, close up in the sun, I take in the golden specks in his dark eyes for the first time.
This man has so many dimensions, I don’t know what to focus on.
His tone changes. This time, it’s low, deep, and sincere.
There’s not a hint of sarcasm or pain in sight.
“Consider this me letting you off the hook. There’s no need to feel guilty.
I’m good. I was probably an ass when you brought me food.
If I remember right, I was in the gray area between pain and too soon for my pain killer.
I promise no one is going to fire you, and I don’t hate you for running me and my new kidney to the ground post-surgery, no matter how long ago it was. ”
I feel my face warm against the cool air. “So I was right, there’s a chance I was going to get fired.”
“Lennon, I assure you that the only reason I haven’t forgotten about the entire thing is because you brought it up. Relax. From what I know of Devon, he’s not the kind of asshole who will fire an employee over an accident.”
“Please, don’t tell me to relax, Mr. Cross. It’s not going to happen. I’m the least relaxed person you’ll ever meet.”
“Call me Jett. And life is too short to walk around wound up about shit like running into people. You really need to work on that.”
“Easier said than done. I’ll work on that when I’m not afraid of losing my job. Positions like mine are few and far between. I can’t afford to drive across the country again for another one.”
He bows his head, which seems completely out of character for him, even though I don’t know him enough to make that judgment. Maybe he’s a rare breed and chivalrous by nature. “You will not lose your job because of me. I’m a man of my word. Can we move past that?”
I breathe a sigh of relief. “Thank you. It’s been a stressful few months.”
He hikes a brow. “Tell me about it.”
“Thank you for letting me get that off my chest. Can I get you anything? Lunch?”
He shakes his head. “I just had brunch in The Greenhouse. I decided to go for a walk. Plus, I needed to clear my head after the morning I had. I might venture into town later.”
“How do you like Winslet? It’s charming, but I’m sure it’s not a culture shock to you like it was to me. I’m still getting used to it. This is a different world compared to southern Florida.”
“You don’t like it?”
“Oh, no. I love it. And even though I work in hospitality, Winslet is predictable. I can come and go as I please and see the same people every day. I’ve never had that.”
He frowns. “You couldn’t come and go in southern Florida?”
Dang. Now I’m rambling and back pedal. “Of course I could come and go. This is America. Who can’t come and go? Winslet is different, but in the best way. I love it here.”
He’s about to keep talking when my cell vibrates with a call.
“Excuse me. It’s Felicity and she’s covering the front desk while I was looking for you. I need to get this.” I press go on the call. “Hey, sorry—” but I stop talking the moment I hear what’s going on in the background.
Alarms.
Blaring, piercing alarms.
Felicity is panicked. “Lennon, can you hear me? The security system is going off!”
I turn and look up the side of the mountain where the main estate sits in her grand glory. The grounds are usually bustling no matter what the weather is, but this is different.
I see everything I hear coming across the line.
Chaos.
“What the hell’s going on?” Jett demands.
“I’m on my way,” I say to Felicity. “Do you know what happened?”
“I have no idea,” she yells over the alarms as she tries to assure guests everything is fine. “Nothing to be worried about. Please stay calm while we figure out what’s going on.”
“Where is Mr. Donnelly?” I demand.
“I called him first. He’s on his way back. He and Ms. Madison went to her grandmother’s home for a meeting with the contractors. No one knows what’s going on. This didn’t even happen when we had a shooting.”
“I’m on my way. Keep everyone calm.”
I thought it was hard hiking down the hill in my heels. I stop to take them off and hurry barefoot on the cold path up the mountain when I realize Jett is right next to me.
I look up at him. “Really, go for your walk. I’m sure it’s the security system acting up. I’ll figure it out.”
But he doesn’t turn around. He keeps up with me, even though he’s barely at a brisk walk to my hurried run. “Are you kidding? This is the most excitement I’ve seen that has nothing to do with my newfound family or my failing kidneys. I want to see what’s going on.”
I glance back at him. “For your safety, you should really stay out here until we can get everything under control.”
Jett chuckles.
It’s not a straight-up laugh, but the deep tone of it pulls my attention away from the disorder going on at the back doors of the estate. “That’s cute. I’m not afraid of a security alarm, Lennon. This looks like fun.”
I slow to a walk when a pain courses through my side. I’m not a runner and never have been. The last time I ran, the stakes were too high to feel a stitch in my gut. I breathe hard and hold my side. “If you get run over by someone not paying attention to where they’re going, it’s not on me.”
“I’ll be on the lookout,” he assures me. “And I’m not fresh off the operating table. I’m at a good eighty percent.”
As we get to the doors, the alarms blare from within the manor.
Guests flood out as we push our way against the masses to make our way inside.
I slip my heels back on before hurrying to the atrium where Felicity stands in the middle of the space with a walkie talkie in one hand, her cell in the other, and doing everything she can to direct guests.
I go straight to her. “Does anyone know what tripped the system?”
She shakes her head quickly. “No. And Mr. Donnelly is in a fit over it. The security company doesn’t know what happened and can’t override the system to turn off the alarms. We’ve lost control.”
The crowd starts to dissipate.
“Are you okay here if I step outside to call my contact at the security company? I want to have an update by the time Mr. Donnelly gets back.”
Felicity nods. “I’ve got this.”