who are scared. A lot of people hate going to the dentist. You give them the proper facts and then they’re not so scared.”
She nodded. “Yes. Information is very powerful. I’m glad you get that.”
“Information can transform the world.” He was definitely getting to her. She was dying to tell someone. He wondered if she’d told Sarah, but he would bet she hadn’t.
“It can be very important. Sometimes people aren’t what they seem and it takes someone willing to stand up and tell the truth to make justice work the way it should.”
“What are we really talking about, Mia?”
She bit her bottom lip, but a light came into her eyes. He knew that light. It was determination, pure and simple. She’d made a decision. She was going to spill.
“Hey, brother. I thought I’d find you here.” His brother strode in, a smile on his face like he hadn’t been out partying like a rock star into the wee hours of the morning. Hell no. Not Jared Johns. He was practically glowing.
He was fairly certain his brother used some serious moisturizer. And Kai wanted to punch him in his cosmetically perfect face. He’d almost had Mia talking and now she was shut down. It was right there in the stiffness of her body, the way her arms crossed over her chest as though she needed protection.
“Aren’t you supposed to be at McKay-Taggart this morning?” He’d made a schedule for his brother, one that kept him busy most of the time and out of Kai’s hair. He’d also thought about the fact that if Jared bugged Ian too much, Big Tag might take care of his problem.
Jared gestured back toward the living room. “Your friend came looking for you so he gave me a ride here. I’m trying to get into character so I’m avoiding limos like the plague. According to Big Tag, they’re for douchebags.”
So Ian was already fucking with Jared. That was inevitable. He glanced back and Case Taggart was standing in the doorway, his massive body filling the space.
“I went to your office to find out if Kori’s all right,” Case said, his eyes going to Mia. “Hello, Mia. I’m surprised to find you here. Shouldn’t you be at work?”
She slid off her barstool. “I was getting ready to go. Kai, it turns out I don’t have time for breakfast. Thanks, anyway. I have a train to catch.”
Case didn’t move. “Or I could take you. I’ll drop you off wherever you like.”
Mia stopped, as though wary. “Really?”
Case nodded. “Of course. I’m sorry. We got off on the wrong foot. I’ve been sharp with you and I apologize.”
“You’ve been a complete asshole,” she argued.
“Then let me make it up to you. Let me give you a ride to work.” Where he would likely follow her to see where she went because Mia didn’t work at the place she said she did. It looked like Case was taking a play from his brothers’ book. Charm. It was so much easier to catch flies with honey or a smile and the promise of pleasure.
Mia softened, her eyes lighting a bit. “If it’s not out of your way.”
“Not at all.” Case was working. Kai was certain she could have said she needed to go to Oklahoma and Case would have claimed he was going that way, too.
Thank god. One less thing for him to deal with. Where the hell was Kori? If she’d slipped out, he was going to spank her.
He flipped the omelet and then slid it on the plate.
“It’s raining men in here today,” Sarah said with a smile as she looked over at Jared. “Can I get you some coffee?”
There was no way to miss how Jared’s eyes slid over Sarah’s curves. “I’ll take anything you have, honey. And I like it strong.”
He was going to vomit. “Mia, do you want to try to take this with you?”
“I’m late, but thanks anyway.” Mia was following Case into the living room.
“Thank god,” Jared said, taking her place at the bar. “I’m starving. All you had at your place was granola and shit. I need some protein. I can start with that, but I’ll probably need two or three of those.”
Sarah set the coffee mug in front of him. “Because you burn so many calories when you’re doing all that workout stuff. I subscribe to all your YouTube channels. My favorite one is Jared’s Abs of Steel where someone spliced all your Dart workouts together and set it to Marvin Gaye’s ‘Let’s