Emma closed her eyes briefly. He was so angry. Had she deliberately set out to make him that way? She had a sinking feeling she might have.
Patterson cleared his throat. “Were you considering murder?” He tried to smile, make it a joke.
The golden eyes slashed at him. “Very seriously considering it.” There was nothing humorous in those glittering eyes.
“Jake.” Josiah Trent’s lawyer, Bernard, stood over them frowning at each one of them. “Is something wrong?”
“Nothing I can’t handle.” Jake barely glanced up.
“We haven’t got this thing settled,” Bernard objected.
“As far as I’m concerned we have,” Jake answered with deceptive laziness. His arm curled around Emma’s shoulders, his hand sliding down, his fingers absently playing with her hair. “I gave you an answer.”
“You didn’t listen to the proposal.”
“We’ll take it up again later.”
A swift look of annoyance crossed Bernard’s face. “This is so important?”
The golden eyes flickered over the lawyer. Jake brought Emma’s fingers to his mouth. “More important than anything else, Bernard. Now go away.” Deliberately, and quite rudely, he dismissed the lawyer.
Bernard Williams stalked angrily away.
Jake glanced at the gold watch on his wrist. “You finished with your coffee, baby? It’s getting late.” He stood up, one hand drawing her up with him, clamping her to his side, refusing to give her any other choice, the other hand extending to Greg. “It was a pleasure meeting you. I appreciate your taking Emma to the movies.” Carelessly he dropped several bills on the table, paying for the coffee and dessert they hadn’t touched. “We can’t be out late, Patterson. You never know when a little one is going to have nightmares. Right, honey?”
Emma didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Surely he could see the impression he was giving her date. Talking about the children, who was watching them, for heaven’s sake. Kissing her very publicly, practically shoving his tongue down her throat. No wonder people talked about them. Greg already looked as if he might faint. She barely had time to whisper a quick good night before Jake drew her across the room.
“Slow down. Jake, it’s a little undignified running after you in high heels. Your step makes three of mine.”
“You shouldn’t be wearing the damned things,” he snapped, but he did slow a fraction. He glanced down at the top of her silky head, his rough features etched in granite. “You can ride home with me. Joshua will drive the Jeep.”
“They probably left,” she pointed out logically.
“They damn well better not have.”
She put a small, placating hand on his arm. “Are you angry with me?”
“Angry? What the hell would I have to be angry about?” He nodded curtly to several of his business associates. Most of them stared at Emma in open curiosity.
She glanced back to see Greg Patterson standing by their table, looking as if he’d been run over by a truck.
Jake jerked her around when he caught her looking back. “Finding my woman out with another man, dressed the way you are? Why the hell would I be angry about that? I hope you weren’t expecting him to kiss you good night.” There was an audible snap of Jake’s white teeth.
“What is wrong with you?” Emma’s temper began to rise. Something alive ran under her skin, creating a wave of heat that itched as it spread through her body. “I’m not your woman.”
“Like hell, you’re not.” His fingers were an iron band around her arm as he dragged her out to the parking lot.
Jake spotted her two bodyguards immediately. They were lounging against their truck, waiting just as he knew they’d be. Jake held out his hand for the keys to the Jeep, and scowled at Emma when she hesitated.
“I’m perfectly capable of driving myself home,” she protested.
“Don’t,” he hissed. “Just give me the fucking keys.”
Emma dropped the keys into his hand. Jake tossed them to Joshua. “I heard you enjoyed the movie.”
“I don’t appreciate you two following me,” Emma felt compelled to point out.
“You’d better appreciate it,” Jake snarled. “They’re the only reason I haven’t strangled you.” His hands caught her shoulders in a firm grip, gave her a little shake. “You never, ever, leave the ranch without a bodyguard. Not ever. Do you have any idea the kind of danger you put yourself in?”