Brazen and Breathless (Untouchable #6) - Heather Long Page 0,38

my email, and yep, there it was. My internship assignment with the day and time of my on-site orientation. I clicked it open and skimmed all the information reminding me to dress professionally, show up on time, and be prepared to learn and have fun, but that the internships were about work so we needed to be prepared for that.

The actual name of the business and the location didn’t pop until the end, and I stared at it. Then I read it three times.

“Hey, I grabbed some snacks, too.” All the lazy smiles abandoned his voice though when he asked, “What’s wrong?”

I met his concerned stare. “I got my internship assignment.”

“And?” He frowned.

My heart thudded painfully against my ribs. “It’s at Standish Enterprises,” I told him, handing him my phone, “with Archie’s dad.”

“The fuck?”

Chapter Eight

Boys Wanna Fight

Archie

The guys at the security desk straightened up the moment my foot hit the tile of the lobby. I didn’t bother stopping or signing in. They damn well knew who I was, and while I didn’t make it a habit of showing up here, I had learned from an old pro that when you asked for permission, you gave them the chance to say no.

Standish Enterprises had my name on it, and I didn’t have to ask for shit when I was here.

Blood still boiling, I jabbed the button on the executive elevator then swiped the blank white security card. The only concession I’d made to this ambush was the suit jacket Jeremy insisted on. It looked fine over the Torched T-shirt and jeans.

Better than fine, if Frankie’s expression when I dropped her at school this morning had been any indication.

“Please don’t go pick a fight.”

“Babe, I didn’t pick this fight, but you’re damn right I’m going to wade right into it.” Hand on her nape, I’d locked eyes with her. The other guys were outside, leaning against Jake’s SUV and waiting for her. “I don’t fucking want him messing with you or anything you do. I don’t trust him, and I don’t know what he’s up to. This is a bad combo. So, yes, I’m dealing with it.”

“I don’t want him to hurt you. I’m sure this is one of those things where I’ll be interning at some grunt level, and his name is on it because he’s the head of the company or something.” It was weak and we both knew it was, but she wanted to protect me. Fuck, was it any wonder I was crazy about her? She wanted to protect me.

I was fucking fine. Archibald Edward Standish the Second had proven what an absolute fuckhole he was as a parent to me a long time ago. Not much left to disappoint to be honest. But Frankie was not an option for his goddamn games. “I’ll be fine, babe, pinky swear.”

The tease worked, and she hooked her pinky with mine. “Call me?”

“I promise. Have a good day.” I kissed her. “If I can make it back by lunch, I’ll be here, otherwise, I’ll see you after school.”

She wrinkled her nose, then leaned over and kissed me so soundly, I debated saying fuck it to heading to the office and just taking her back to the apartment. After she bit my lower lip, I chuckled and stroked my thumb along her nape. I got it. Frankie wanted to protect me. It was so damn adorable. “Take care of you,” she informed me. “I mean it. I’ll kick that man in the balls if he hurts you.”

I’d pay money to see that. “I know you would. I love you.”

As much as I hated leaving, I trusted the guys would look after her. There was a perk to sharing her I hadn’t really considered before. One that had proven beyond soothing after Homecoming. We never had to leave her alone.

Of course, our stubborn girl had begun pushing back, and I was—strangely maybe—okay with that. I liked it when she reminded us she could stand on her own two feet. That she wanted to protect us, and that maybe, just maybe, she wanted time to herself. Or Rachel time to do girl stuff.

But after the bomb of her internship dropped? Yeah, I wanted one of us with her in case her cunt of a mother pulled something. She had been quiet for weeks.

Maybe too quiet.

As the elevator sped its way to the executive floors, I checked my phone. I’d put a call into Wittaker, but he hadn’t gotten back to me yet. Jeremy would