to Cara. When he sat down, Cara smiled and asked, “What was that about? Are you hitting on my best friend?”
“Are you kidding? She’s cute, but she’s got nothing on you. No one can compare.”
Cara’s smile widened but she dropped her gaze, as if…embarrassed? Pleased? When she peeked at him from behind her lashes, he figured his second guess was right. She’d not just felt flattered by his honest compliment; she’d taken it to heart.
And that was sweet. Really, really sweet. Her reaction stirred something inside of him, but before he could figure out what it was, Iris came over and they gave her their order. A few minutes after she went to put their order in, Branden saw Sampson and his friend get up. He looked over at Iris who saw them, too; she gave Branden a little nod.
When Sampson and his friend headed to the door, Lee followed them. Iris was right; this was all very cloak-and-dagger.
Branden and Cara finished their lunch and Iris cleared their plates. Then Iris came up to them carrying a small white bag. She handed it to him. “Here’s your leftovers. Enjoy!”
She’s good, Branden thought. He’d have a lab run a DNA test on the glass. If and when the authorities found Davies and brought him into custody for those stolen bonds—which Branden suspected would happen eventually—he’d make sure they got DNA from Davies to compare to Sampson’s. Failing that, Branden would raid his mother’s house. She was a pack rat bordering on a hoarder, prone to keeping items that belonged to all her exes, be it old clothes, empty beer bottles, or a piece of old wedding cake. If he could find something with Davies’s DNA, he could have it tested against Sampson’s to confirm whether the two men were indeed related.
“Shall we go?”
“Maybe,” she said, “But first, I’m curious about something. A place like the Bull’s Den isn’t really the spot where you get a doggie bag, and you’re hardly the kind of man who’d accept one without even asking. Are you going to explain all of this to me?”
“It’s probably best if I don’t. It has to do with business, and when it comes to mixing business and pleasure…”
Her eyes grew hooded and she glanced away. “Right. Things are complicated enough as it is. Besides, it’s not like you really know me.”
As she turned from him, he took her arm, unable to see that clouded expression that she now wore. What was it with this woman that made him want her to know him deeply? That made him want her to trust him?
“I know enough about you, Cara. This isn’t about trust. It’s about protecting you, the way I promised I would. You hear me?”
She bit her lip, then nodded. “Yes. Before we go, I want to say good-bye to Iris and use the ladies’ room.”
“I’ll take care of the bill and meet you by the door.”
After he settled the bill, Branden saw Cara come out of the ladies’ room. He was thinking about how he couldn’t wait to get her home when the man sitting at the end of the bar said something to her. He didn’t hear what the man said, but he did see the uncomfortable look on Cara’s face. She continued past him and the man actually stood up and grabbed her arm.
Branden saw nothing but red as he crossed the bar. When he got there, the man was still holding on to her wrist, despite the fact Cara was trying to walk away.
“Take your hands off of her,” Branden said. The man dropped his arm, but that wasn’t good enough. Branden shoved him several steps back. “Who the fuck are you?”
“He works at another trading firm,” Cara said, her lips tight, her skin white. “Apparently, he’s a friend of Greg’s.”
The man held his hands up, palms out, and said, “Hey, sorry. I didn’t mean anything by it.”
“By what?” Branden said in a dangerous tone.
The man swallowed hard, but he didn’t say anything.
Branden looked at Cara and said, “What did he say to you before he put his hands on you?”
“Branden, it’s fine. Let’s just go.”
“What did he say, Cara?”
“He called me the boss’s slut,” Cara told him with a look of distaste.
Branden immediately grabbed the man by his collar and almost jerked him off his feet.
“Branden, he’s not worth it,” Cara said.
“Oh, I agree. But you’re mine. And you’re worth it.” Branden pulled his fist back and punched him in the face.
When Branden let the