You didn’t know what to say.
I could’ve said it with a bit more tact and without terrifying the woman.
How could you let someone speak to our mate that way? Do you not want to protect her?
Of course I wanted to protect her, but there were certain situations when Kara obviously preferred to take care of herself. If she didn’t want me to interfere when a large man was intimidating her, why would she want me to butt in when a woman she already knew was doing the same? I had to control myself, and my dragon, even if I had wanted to rip the stupid woman’s head off.
When I got to the truck, Kara eyed me curiously. “I saw Cynthia walk that way but couldn’t see if you two interacted.”
I grunted and leaned against the bed. “It wasn’t a big deal. I just said she should leave both of us alone.”
Kara’s green eyes twinkled. “I’m sure she’ll listen to that.”
It took me a second to realize she was being sarcastic. “You never know.” I stuck my nose in the air. “I used a very stern tone of voice.”
As Kara jumped nimbly off the back of the truck and circled around to the driver’s seat, I listened to her laugh. The melody thrummed through me. Damn it.
She’d told me we had two more jobs today, but she drove back to the shop. “You can take the rest of the day off if you’d like. You did well for your first day. Much better than I expected you to.”
What the hell? Maybe she didn’t want to share all her money with me, but hell, it was only ten percent, and I’d told my aunt and uncle I’d be gone all day. If I came home early, they might think I was let go or didn’t do well. “The day isn’t finished, though,” I pointed out.
“I know, but my last two clients are women and the jobs should be easy enough for me to do alone.” She refused to look at me.
Ah. She was embarrassed. I suspected she’d gotten past it as we ate, but seeing Cynthia brought it all back out. “If you’re sure,” I said. “But I don’t mind going and helping out, really. Not because of the money, but I’d like to learn.”
“It’s nothing big,” she said in a slightly higher tone of voice. “You won’t be missing much.”
Yeah, she’d gotten more embarrassed. I wasn’t going to press it further and cause her any more shame, so I reluctantly opened the door.
“I’ll see you at nine tomorrow,” I said. “Sharp.”
She laughed. “Make sure your aunt feeds you early.”
I rolled my eyes and got out of the truck before walking over to my own. By the time I opened my door, Kara had already backed out of the parking lot. She gave me a little wave but still hadn’t looked me in the eye.
I hated that she was upset over someone as insignificant as that hag. I didn’t take any stock in what Cynthia had said, but it was hard to verbalize that to Kara. I didn’t want to say something wrong and embarrass her further. I’d just have to hope she got over it overnight and tomorrow could be a new day.
She needed space. Given my plans for when I finally inherited my trust, I could respect that.
I considered going for a quiet drive to waste some time so they wouldn’t know I was home so early, but I wanted to watch some more of those videos. I was sure I wouldn’t have been as helpful today if I hadn’t studied the videos Kara had given me. And I’d convinced her to install the app on my phone that showed what projects were upcoming, so I could see what we were going to have to work on in the coming week and watch videos pertaining to those particular jobs.
It couldn’t hurt, so I headed back to the manor. If they asked, I’d tell the truth.
Unfortunately, as soon as I walked in the door, Uncle Perry spotted me. “What are you doing home?” He walked out of the living room before I had the first chance to slip unhindered up the stairs.
I’d convinced myself I’d simply explain and that would be it. But Perry’s tone of voice ran through me all wrong. “It’s not a big deal,” I said. I hopped up the first two steps, still hoping to get away unscathed. Maybe I was a little defensive, but then his next words proved my need to be.
He crossed his hands in front of him. “You got fired, didn’t you?”
They assume the worst of you.
I didn’t need Valor to point that out. I knew it already. “Damn it, Perry, why do you assume that? Why do you always assume the worst of me?”
“Because you’ve disappointed me one too many times.” His low, sad voice made me growl.
My grip on the banister tightened. “Why can’t I be given a chance to prove that I want to be a better person? If you assume the worst at every turn, how can I grow?”
James walked out of the door in the foyer that led directly to the kitchen. “What’s going on? Why are you yelling?”
I hadn’t realized I had been yelling, but now that he pointed it out, I sucked in a deep breath.
“Come sit down, son.” James held out his arm as if to put it around my shoulders. “Tell us what’s going on and why you’re home early and so easily upset.”
Not doing as he asked would have resulted in more arguing, so I turned back and walked into the bright living room and plopped down on the couch. “Being home early was no big deal, really. Kara got embarrassed about something and said she didn’t need help for the afternoon. She did say that I’d done a good job and to be there at nine tomorrow.”
I fixed James with a glare. “Carla made me
