They talked on the phone but had no idea of the latest incident.
“Are you sure we couldn't have just done this by phone?” she asked, thinking of the clients she’d had to move around.
“No, what I want to talk to your dad about needs to be done in person.”
A slight snort erupted. “I'm not sure that's going to make him feel any better when he hears about my tires being slashed.”
He reached over and took her hand in his, linking their fingers. “It’s not just about the case, Josie. I want to let him know about us.”
“Us?” she squeaked. “Wait a minute! Let me get this straight. We’re going to visit my dad so that you can tell him about us? Don't you think that's something we should have discussed first?”
He glanced to the side, and she was grateful the traffic was light. But then with his super skills, he could probably drive with his eyes closed. “Why? Are you saying there's not an us?” he asked.
“Of course, I'm not saying that, Jorge. I'm just saying that this is my dad. This should have been a decision we talked about, not just something that you decided we're going to do.”
They had entered the city limits of Albuquerque, and he flipped on the blinker, steering the SUV off the highway and turning into the closest parking lot he came to. Once parked, he shifted around to face her more fully. “You're right. I should have said something. When I came up with the idea to come today, it was initially just to talk to your father to bring him up to speed on the case. But the more I thought about it, I couldn't look your father in the eye with him just thinking that I'm your protection detail and investigator. That feels disingenuous.”
She opened her mouth to refute his reasons, but the full force of Jorge's honor slammed into her. She sucked in her lips and nodded slowly.
“I truly am sorry that I didn't bring this up earlier. While the relationship that you and I have is between us, it doesn't feel right to not let your father know.”
“How do you know how he's going to react? What if he decides to fire LSI? Or contact your boss and tell him that he wants you taken off the case?”
“He won't.”
Her chin jerked back slightly in surprise. “What makes you say that?”
“Because if there's one thing I know about your father, he loves you.”
Her lips curved slightly as his words moved through her. He was right, her parents loved her dearly, and she couldn't see them being upset about a relationship that brought her happiness. “You're right about my parents loving me, but it still seems risky.”
“Not to me, Josie. There's nothing about being with you that seems risky at all.” He gave a little tug on her hand, and she leaned forward, responding to his silent plea as their lips met in the middle. The kiss was soft but heartfelt. She drew from his strength, and as she leaned back, she nodded.
Just when she thought he was going to start the engine, he gave her hand another squeeze and added, “I guess what I said wasn't right. There is a risk. A risk of me losing my heart.”
With that, her smile broke free, and she settled back in her seat as he started the engine and pulled back onto the street.
Soon, they came to her father's office. As many times as she had been to her father's office over the years, Josie couldn't believe how nerves were hitting as she walked in with Jorge's hand resting lightly on the small of her back. Her stomach was doing flip-flops, and she could only imagine what it would have been like if he'd reached down to take her hand. As much as she liked that link with him, she was glad for the moment that he was not overtly claiming her for all to see.
“Josephine! We knew to expect Mr. Cobb but had no idea you'd be coming too. It's lovely to see you again, my dear.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Murphy. It's lovely to see you, as well.” She smiled at her father's longtime secretary. Turning to the other woman sitting nearby who was openly drooling over Jorge, she greeted with much less enthusiasm, “Carla. Nice to see you again, too.”
Mrs. Murphy had risen from her desk and walked around, inserting herself between Carla and Jorge, her lips pinched tightly. It was all