Redeeming Her SEAL (ASSIGNMENT Caribbean Nights #9) - Kat Cantrell Page 0,41
to do and needed information.
“There’s a thing,” she admitted but only because she had a feeling Rachel had already sniffed it out. “But not enough of a thing that I was aware you’d spoken to Jared. When?”
“About six weeks ago. Right after I filed the petition to have Ilhota Rosa declared a wildlife sanctuary.” Rachel sipped her tea casually, her sharp gaze on Audra. “He informed me that you were going to file a report that said dolphins are migratory and thus my petition would be useless. Would it be too forward of me to say that I’m sorry I wasn’t there when you told Señor Pompous Ass that your report didn’t say that?”
Audra had to laugh. “It was a little spectacular.”
“I’ll bet.”
Waggling her brows, Rachel dug into the chips and salsa the waiter brought as Audra eyed it looking for evidence of its heat level. Spicy didn’t agree with her, which made eating in the Caribbean and Miami too, for that matter, a challenge.
She took a chance. The salsa was pretty mild, so she munched on a chip thoughtfully. “You think Jared is pompous?”
Rachel shrugged. “You don’t? I guess I should have asked what’s going on between you before I insulted him.”
She waved that off because nothing Rachel could say would change the truth. “If you’d said dangerous, that I would agree to. But pompous is too tame a word for Jared. It implies he’s got an inflated opinion of himself, but there’s no room for subjectivity when it comes to what he’s capable of. He’s smart and has no integrity. Watch out.”
As warnings went, it was ambiguous, but she literally had no clue what he planned to do next. He’d never confided in her in the first place, and she had every suspicion that she’d landed on his bad side right next to Charlie.
Rachel’s gaze narrowed. “You filed that report to piss him off. Why?”
God, she liked this woman. There might be a serious girl crush happening.
“Because I’m the one thing he can’t manipulate.” She showed her teeth. “And he needed the reminder.”
Plus he’d only hired her because he’d needed an excuse to talk to her after she’d broken up with him. She didn’t owe him anything. But she did owe it to herself to assert her independence whenever possible. Fake it till you make it.
Rachel’s return smile spoke volumes. “I’m a fan of your tactics. I’m just sorry I didn’t hook up with you sooner. We could have avoided some missteps. Tell me. Why is he bent on ruining Aqueous Adventures?”
Wasn’t that the million dollar question? Guilt soured her throat because she was pretty sure she knew the answer and it was not something she planned to share with anyone, least of all a woman who might blab to God and everyone about it. Audra had already made her share of colossal blunders, and admitting that she’d told Jared that Charlie was the only person that she’d ever felt like she could fall in love with would not endear her to anyone.
The irony of that pinged around in her bruised heart.
Besides, she didn’t know for sure that was the reason Jared had it out for Charlie. The timing could have been totally coincidental. But probably not.
What kind of glutton for punishment was she anyway? When she’d proposed starting over with Charlie, all she’d wanted was a chance to find out what could happen between them when they let go of all the crap. Whether the fledging feelings she’d nurtured over their Skype conversations might blossom when allowed free rein. Whether they could trust each other enough to let down their guards.
Looked like the answer wasn’t just no, but hell no. He kept so many things close to the vest, refusing to share with her. She had her own stuff she’d take to her grave. Both of them had taken the first step but then faltered. Maybe because sex was all they’d ever had. That was painful indeed.
“I don’t know,” she hedged. “Does it seem like this is personal? I think Jared just wants Ilhota Rosa. It’s a beautiful spot. Have you been there?”
Rachel nodded. “Lovely. And you’re lying. You do know. But I respect a woman’s right to bear her own albatross. We’ve all got them. The only thing I care about is making sure that my boys have enough weapons at their disposal to win. If you’re willing to help me stockpile, welcome aboard.”
For God knew what reason, Rachel’s grace tripped something inside and pricked her