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27. Jackson

Ifelt bad leaving Mandy in the dark on this. I really did. But this was my problem, my issue to fix. I couldn't handle a threat against her and I wouldn't stop until no stone had been unturned, until I knew exactly who was behind it and made sure they were behind bars, unable to touch her.

I'd worked through the night with security trying to track the IP address the email had come from. Angela had sent Mandy what was originally meant to be a hotel reservation for the two of us, and although I hadn't had time to call her back, I got the vague idea from Angela that Mandy wasn't happy that the situation had become a reservation for one . But I'd rather she be alone in New York and booked under a fake name than alone in Boulder.

Landing in New York went smoothly. I'd gotten approximately two minutes of sleep in thirty-six hours, and even though I was desperate to fall asleep and try to forget about the threat, I was desperate to see Mandy more.

The event was already in full swing as I made my way through the crowd. I'd called ahead to ensure Mandy was able to get in on her own even though the tickets were bought in my name, and although it caused a bit of confusion when I arrived separately, it was worth it to see her in her element.

Short skirt, high heels, hair down. I could pick her out in a crowd from her hair alone, but the trio made me confident it was her.

I took my time approaching as she spoke to three different people at once, one woman, two men. She laughed, talked shop, handed out her business cards. She commanded the space so easily, dropping names of people I'd never heard of and picking up on tidbits of their work. She was thriving.

"Hello, princess," I said softly into her ear as I leaned over her from behind. "Sorry I'm late."

She turned her head, locking eyes with me for a moment and giving me a small smile. "It's fine." She pursed her lips together as she handed out another business card.

"How's it been going?" I asked, coming around to her side. "Have you seen anything that would add any nice final touches to the campus?"

She nodded, her gaze absent as she looked up at me. "Yeah. It's been good."

I knew she wasn't happy that I was late. I knew a part of her was irritated and guarded. It wasn't unreasonable, but damn, it still stung like a bitch. Like we'd gone forward ten steps and jumped back one hundred.

I took her hand in mine and gave her a soft peck on the cheek.

"Show me what you've seen and loved," I said, giving her the most apologetic grin I could muster.

She nodded as she led me through the maze of people toward the back of the room. I could feel the ring on her finger—as good a sign as I was going to get from her. It made my chest swell, even if she only wore it because this was a public event. "Where were you?" She asked, not a hint of enthusiasm in her voice.

I didn't want to tell her, not until I'd figured out who the email came from and if she was truly in danger. No use in scaring her if it was harmless, but I knew in my gut it might not be. "I was busy with PR," I lied, squeezing her hand.

"And that took all night?"

"Unfortunately."

She gave me a knowing glance, that one look that sent shivers going up my spine. I was never good at lying to her.

"If it makes you feel better, I would have much rather spent the night with you in the hotel instead of back in Boulder. I didn't sleep," I added.

"That does make me feel better."

"That I'd have rather been with you?"

"That you didn't sleep."

————

The rest of the networking event went by in a daze, half because I was so exhausted and half because I spent the majority of it staring at Mandy instead of the things she wanted me to look at. It was hard when all I wanted was her, not interior design and architecture.

A couple of guys she'd said she'd spoken to earlier approached her as we made our way to the door. I did my best to try to concentrate on her and the way she conducted herself, but with the way that the man on the left kept staring at her and the ring on her finger, I found it difficult to wrap my head around a single word coming out of her mouth.

He mumbled something about losing her business card, and the giggle that seeped from her rubbed me the wrong way.

I placed my hand on her lower back, drawing her an inch closer to me. I wasn't sure if it was the exhaustion or the threat that made jealousy boil in my blood, I'd never been an overly jealous person, at least not with others that I'd dated. But then again, everything was different with her. Everything.

"We should get going, princess," I said, making sure he heard me and took note of my proximity to her. He locked eyes with me, his brows furrowing.

"Got plans or something?" He asked.

"We've got to catch our flight home."

"And where is home, then?" He grinned, taking a look at the business card she'd handed him. "Boulder?"

Mandy nodded. "Yes. Have you been?"

"I go out to Colorado every year for skiing." I hated the smirk he gave her, hated that he even thought he might have a chance. Hated that she was giving him the time of day. Why? "I don't normally go to Boulder but… maybe I'll stop by in January."

"That would be amazing!" Mandy exclaimed, her grin too wide, her excitement too palpable. "I can show you around the office, and Jack's campus should be open by then too so I can show you firsthand the work my company's done on that."

I couldn't help but dig my fingers into her back just a little bit. It felt like she was doing this to prove some kind of point because I was late. I knew I was spiraling. I was exhausted, stressed, and I just wanted to bury myself in her and fall asleep, never leave her side again. I needed to calm down. I blanked out the rest of their conversation, unable to listen to a second more of it without getting angry, and I didn't wantto be angry with her. I just wanted peace, and I wanted to go back to how things had been last week, back to how we were ten years ago before any of this was a problem.

"Mands," I said softly. I pushed the hair from the side of her face behind her ear as I leaned closer. "Let's go for a late lunch, yeah? Just us. I know a spot."

She glanced up at me, her expression tight, reserved. "Alright."

Our hands were locked as we made our way to the exit. I knew exactly where I wanted to take her, the flight could wait.

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