Chapter Ten
Harry Simpson had to be more than The Silk Knuckles’ caretaker if Franny had kissed his forehead while he slept, then left his room with tears in her eyes.
Not that Edward was jealous. There were way too many women in the world to ever harbor that useless emotion.
Besides, he no longer felt infatuated with Frances Valentine.
The only emotion he harbored was protectiveness.
But that was mostly because her father requested he look out for her.
Furthermore, the lust making his cock twitch was entirely because they were alone in a carriage.
As important as the truth was to Edward, he forgave himself for telling Franny one harmless untruth—Miss Valentine, your father asked me to help you discover who is behind these violent acts.
Twisting the facts was in her best interest since she would never allow him to protect her.
The minor falsity had probably also saved his teeth and bollocks from her wrath.
In truth, it was a genius plan because now they could work together instead of butting heads like tetchy rams.
It would be difficult to protect her while doing his actual job. But where there’s a will, there’s a way, he assured himself. After some sleep and a cup of strong coffee, he’d solve his dilemma.
Edward forced himself to concentrate on something other than the woman beside him.
Calder Valentine was a safe subject. Imagine a father so devoted that he’d sacrifice his career to support his daughter’s dreams. Edward’s admiration for Coach grew every time he was around the man.
Since his innovative club supported women while attracting champions like The Trojan, an aristocratic journalist, a popular viscount, and a fashionable duke, it would undoubtedly thrive if it survived attacks from its enemies.
If? What was Edward thinking? Of course it would survive. He would make sure of it.
They pulled up to the gymnasium, exited the carriage, and thanked the driver. Edward’s senses were on high alert as he and Franny cautiously approached the building. Like a beacon of hope for all women, a beam of moonlight illuminated the Silk Knuckles sign.
Franny removed a key from her skirt pocket and opened the door. Although she faced him, she didn’t meet his gaze. “Thank you for seeing me here safely. Good night—”
“I am staying,” he declared. If she threw a fit and told him their partnership was over, he would have to toss her over his shoulder, carry her into the building, bind her hands and arms with the skipping ropes, and tie her to the boxing ring.
She’d probably scratch out his eyes but at least he’d keep his promise to her father.
Thunderation, the thought of Franny tied and helpless sent a jolt of lust to his pelvis.
God almighty, he needed sleep. Or a tup. But what he did not need was a sexual entanglement with the feral Frances Valentine.
She blinked, and if he was not mistaken, her cheeks turned the same color as her hair. “I forgot to ask the ladies who locked up to close the windows.”
Bloody hell, someone could be in the building at this very minute waiting for Josephine and Franny to return.
To his surprise, she stepped to the side and allowed him to enter. At least he wouldn’t have to carry her into her establishment like he was a prehistoric cave dweller and she his petulant woman. He’d have to satisfy that fantasy another time.
For fuck’s sake, he was never going to carry this aggravating woman anywhere. He needed to concentrate and check the building for intruders.
Since Edward didn’t know his way around in the dark, he stuck so close to Franny that he almost bumped into her every time she slowed down. Eventually she halted. There was the click of flint against steel, and then she blew until a flame sparked in the dark.
Once the lamp glowed, she faced him. “Do you have a pistol?” she whispered.
Edward shook his head. “No.” Since he’d taken to the streets tonight as a civilian, his weapons were locked in his desk.
“What good is a lawman without a pistol?” she asked.
Dare he remind her that he’d fought off her father’s attackers using his fists?
Lantern in tow, she marched past him. He followed her to the far corner. Leftover supplies from the repairs were neatly stacked. Franny placed the lantern on the floor and rummaged through the pile. The chit must be searching for weapons, and if so, he quite admired her ingenuity.
A piece of wood about the same length and width of his tip staff rolled from the stack to rest beside his foot. Edward scooped it up and tested its weight.
Perfect! Just let someone try to overtake them.
Franny huffed her disgust. “What are you going to do, give an invader a splinter?”
Since Franny was again rooting through the wood, she missed his eye roll.
“Ah, ha,” she exclaimed, hefting a beam as long and thick as his arm from the supplies.
Edward chuckled. If she could swing the heavy hunk fast enough, she would take off someone’s head. Hopefully, not his.
She picked up the lantern and held it close to his face. “What are you laughing at?”
He blinked a few times. “I’m not laughing.” At least he wasn’t now that she was trying to blind him.
“Let’s go,” she whispered, turning her back to him.
“Let me go first,” he said as he stepped around her.
“But my weapon is bigger,” she hissed into his ear.
This woman would be the bloody death of him.
*
Seeing as how they were both so headstrong that they normally clashed, it was a miracle that they combed the building and latched the windows like they’d been working together forever.
Once they scoured every nook and cranny, Edward sighed in relief. “ ’Tis safe.”
Franny tilted her head and regarded him as if he were a fool. Disappointing indeed since they seemed to make one hell of a security team.
“I’m going to look around outside,” she said. “I need to ensure no one is hiding in the bushes intending to harm The Silk Knuckles.”
“Why don’t you stay inside and I will check the grounds?” Edward asked.
She huffed as she shot past him and out the front door, her hunk of wood poised to maim anyone who got in her way.
Grumbling under his breath, Edward grabbed the lantern and followed, locking the door behind them.
Franny moved quickly, exploring every inch of her property. “If anyone is out here, show yourself, you bloody cowards,” she shouted into the dark alley.
Edward clutched his makeshift staff, ready to defend Franny if the need arose.
With a bittersweet sigh, Franny halted and stared at the repairs. “I can’t believe we were able to fix everything so quickly.”
“I dare say, the three of you can accomplish anything you set your minds to,” Edward said as he came alongside her.
Her shoulders softened as the wind blew her long, unbound hair every which way. “We had assistance. We could not have done it this quickly, otherwise.”
“You have loyal friends,” he said.
Her lips curved upward, almost forming a smile. “I suppose we do.”
“When do you plan to reopen the gymnasium?” he asked.
“As soon as the odor is gone,” she said.
“It was difficult to have our meeting of the Ladies’ Autonomy League with the lingering scent.
It simply won’t do to have people exercising with smoke in their lungs.
But now that the windows are closed…” Franny sighed.
“How can we keep them open if we are constantly worried about an attack?”
Edward considered recommending they wait at least a week before opening, but what was the point? She was too stubborn to take his advice.
He tapped the dirt with his foot. “Yesterday, I found a button right here. ’Tis on my desk.”
She squatted and traced the trail his boot had drawn. “A clue?”
He shrugged. “Mayhap. Anyone could have lost it walking down the alley. Or perchance it was from one of your patrons.”
Franny stared up at him, her eyes sad and the wind wreaking havoc with her red locks. “Why does someone hate us so vehemently?”
Because they were powerful women in a man’s world but now was not the time to tell her this. He should say something to comfort her so she could sleep peacefully.
“We should go inside,” he said. “I think both you and the building are safe for the night.”
“I suppose ’tis not safe for us to open until we know who is targeting us,” she said.
Thank God, she’d figured it out on her own. “That would be wise,” he said.
She stood, then side by side they retraced their path. Once they were safely locked in the building, she entered her office, calling over her shoulder, “You can sleep in the ladies’-only parlor.”
“I will try not to get my maleness all over everything.” He chuckled.
She peered over her shoulder. “Please try not to smell up our lovely room.”
For a second he was taken aback. God Almighty, did he stink? But then her lips quirked upward. At least she was now taunting him instead of glaring at him as if he were the devil.
“Do you have an extra key?” he asked.
“I have another in my office.” Without looking at him, she plucked the key from her skirts and extended her palm.
He approached, and grasped the key, doing his best not to brush her skin. “Thank you,” he said, his damned voice coming out in a deep flirtatious rumble he had not intended.
Her back stiffened, and she closed her office door without another word.
Lamp in hand and the key in his pocket, he climbed the stairs and found his way to the parlor.
Unfortunately, the ladies had cleared away the food from earlier, so there would be no sating his growling stomach.
He tested out the dainty furniture, which was much too small for his large body.
He settled into the largest, but still lady-sized chair, and stretched his legs long.
Being uncomfortable was probably for the best since he didn’t want to sleep the entire night.
He set his mental alarm to wake him in one hour so he could patrol the grounds.
Resting his head on the back of the chair, Edward closed his eyes.
Since he was no longer attracted to Frances Valentine, he would not think about how her hair blew in the breeze as if she were a forest nymph.
Or how brave she was, hefting about her ridiculous hunk of wood.
No indeed. And he definitely would not dream about her naked and breathless in the center of the boxing ring because only an unholy ape with an incorrigible libido could conjure such a lascivious image.
Hell, who was he kidding? He could devote his life to protecting others, but deep down inside he was as randy as they came, and he fervently desired the one woman who wanted nothing to do with him.