Page 74 of Raging Fires

Jake let out a laugh. “Jealous?”

“No.”

Jake just chuckled again and took Kelli’s arm, steering her back to the other end of the bar. “Kelli, I want you to meet the world’s best agent, Emma Stanley. Emma, this is my wife, Kelli.”

“How do you do?” Emma said politely, her eyes examining Kelli in the same way she had taken stock of the barroom.

“Hi.” Kelli had the feeling the woman’s assessment of her matched her thoughts about the bar. Kelli tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. The neat French braid she’d made this morning was beginning to come loose. “It’s nice to meet you.”

Jake, oblivious to his agent’s reserve and Kelli’s uneasiness, took both of them by the arm and headed across the room to a table. “So you have another client here?”

“I’d like to. I was talking to Howard Perry.”

“Hope Princess didn’t attack you,” Jake joked.

“Who? Princess?”

“The dog,” Jake explained. “Clearly you didn’t meet Princess Fleek.”

A smile twitched at the corner of Emma’s firm mouth. “I take it that’s a good thing?”

“You got that. She’s a hellhound.”

“Jake, she’s about ten inches tall,” Kelli said. “And all soft fluffy fur. She can’t be a hellhound.”

“Ha! You can say that because she likes you.” Jake stopped at a table and pulled out two chairs for them. “Here. You two get acquainted. I’ll go get us something to drink.”

“Jake—” Kelli swiveled toward him in alarm, but he was already striding across the room. Kelli turned back to Emma Stanley and smiled awkwardly. “I’m really glad to meet you.” The woman’s gaze was a little unnerving. “You turned Jake’s life around.”

“Jake turned his life around,” Emma responded, her voice clipped and her posture stiff. “And it wasn’t easy.”

Okaaay… Clearly Emma was not on Team Kelli. Strangely, it made Kelli warm to her. She was glad Jake had had somebody who was entirely on his side. Though Jake had been wrong in saying his family had sided with Kelli, she had had them to support her. Jake had faced his unhappiness all on his own… well, with the help of a few gorgeous models.

“Jake’s a good guy,” Emma went on. “And this opportunity in Phoenix means a lot to him. It can restart his career, get his confidence back.” She leaned forward a little, looking at Kelli meaningfully. “I’d really hate for anyone to mess that up.”

Kelli straightened her shoulders. No way she was letting this lady intimidate her. “So would I. It’s clear you don’t like me, and I get it. I’m glad Jake’s got someone watching his back. But I am not some heart-breaking bitch who plans to toy with his emotions. I have no intention of hurting Jake. And I don’t control his life. He and I are stuck in this dumbass situation that neither of us asked for, and we are just trying to get through it the best we can. And I’ll tell you something else.” Kelli stood up, leaning over to plant her hands on the table. “Jake is perfectly capable of living his life without you or me running interference for him. He will do what he chooses to.”

Kelli turned around and strode off.

***

Jake was walking back to the table, carrying two glasses and a bottle of beer, when Kelli breezed by, taking the Sprite from his hand. “I’ll let the two of you talk business,” she told him and kept on going. Jake watched her until she was behind the bar. He looked back at Emma, whose face was carefully composed.

He continued to the table and put Emma’s vodka tonic down in front of her. Sitting down, he said, “So… am I going to have to referee here or what?”

“No, that won’t be necessary.” Emma smiled faintly and stirred the drink. “I think your wife and I understand each other.” She tapped the little stirrer against the rim of the glass and set it aside. “She’s a very pretty girl, Jake. And feisty. I can see why you like her.”

“You know me, Em, I like strong women. That’s why you and I get along so well.” Jake smiled at her. He’d thought once or twice about hooking up with Emma when she first offered to be his agent. But luckily, even back then he’d had enough sense to realize she was way too valuable as an agent to screw it up with sex. And anyway, Emma probably would have turned him down. She was all business all the time and had never shown any interest in him.

Over the past couple of years, they’d become friends. It was a little odd, but he thought it must be kind of like having a big sister. Jake was twice her size, but all it took was a look and he’d do whatever she told him to. And he had a feeling Emma would’ve punched out any kid that had tried to bully him.

Jake glanced over at the bar, where Kelli was studiously ignoring their table as she wiped down the bar and everything else in sight. He looked back at Emma. “So what are you steamrolling Howard about?”

“Jake, you wound me. I never steamroll anyone.”

Jake snorted. “Because they give up first?”

“Precisely.” She grinned, the smile giving life to her usually impassive face. “Isaiah Bankston retired, so the Pumas are badly in need of a tight end. And I represent Blake Jensen.”