Tango In The Night by Kc Kendricks

Author:Kc Kendricks [Kendricks, Kc]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Amber Quill Press, LLC
Published: 2012-09-08T04:29:44+00:00

Chapter 10

* * *

Ellis stormed up the stairs with me hot on his heels. I understood he was unsettled and angry, not only with me, but at things he couldn't control. I'd handled things badly, not that there was a good way to tell him what I'd told him. When he lifted his foot to step out of his lounging pants, I knew it was the best chance I'd get. I shoved him backward onto the bed and leaned over him, my palms in the middle of his broad chest.

"Now you cool your jets and listen to me, Ellis."

He snarled up at me as he swatted at my arms. "Get off me!"

"No." I grabbed his wrists, which clearly didn't improve his temper. It was time to play dirty. "Be still because if you knock me down, my leg could fracture again."

The ploy worked--he stopped trying to pull away--but his anger kicked up a notch. He knew I'd deliberately trumped him.

"Don't make me hurt you, Jubal, and I will if you don't let go of me."

I shook my head and let my face show how sorry as I with our quarrel. "I don't want you go, Ellis. I'm not using you--I didn't use you. I swear." I eased my grip and softened my voice. "I swear it."

He glared at me for the space of three heartbeats, then I saw the indecision flicker in the depths of his eyes. Some of the tension flowed out of him, but I didn't release him. Instead, I pulled him up to sit on the edge of the bed and went to one knee in front of him.

"We have to figure this out, Ellis. If either of us makes a misstep, it could be bad for a lot of people, not just us."

Ellis looked over my head, at the dark windows, or maybe beyond to something I couldn't see. His deep voice held no emotion. "You should've held me off the whole sixty-one days. Things would've been easier."

I spread my hands on his strong thighs. "I couldn't. Not after this morning, and not when you're in more danger not knowing. I'm asking you to trust me."

"Only if I'm in on it, Jubal. I can help with this." Ellis gripped my shoulders. "Trust is two-way, man. Now I'm asking you to trust me."

I imagined Warren howling when I told him. Hell, I deserved to have my eardrums split and my conscience blistered. How stupid could one man be?

"Okay, Ellis, but you've got to listen to me and do what I tell you to do. We both can't lead on this, and if I give you an order, I need to know you'll carry it out."

Goosebumps rose on his chest. The open, wounded look on his face tore at my heart. He looked young and surprisingly vulnerable.

"Where's this leave us, Jubal?"

Knees stiff, I eased up on the bed beside him and held my hand out to him. Ellis took it, our fingers laced together.

His question had myriad answers. On the job, it left us walking a tightrope and one wrong move brought us both down.

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