They’d settled themselves in Nancy’s section. Jenny gave a discreet wave to Jeremy, who had his back to the door. He smiled in response. She went to the serving station in the corner and started a fresh pot of coffee. Then she scooped up the sweet tea pitcher and made the rounds to refill glasses, starting with Peter Alvarez-Kendall and Joe Grant.
“Hey, guys. Can I get you anything else?” She knew their main purpose for being there at the moment was to act as her bodyguards. She did her best not to let them see how guilty she felt about that. She’d already been told by numerous Benedicts, Kendalls, Jessops, and Parkers—the last being the family Joe was a proud member of through marriage—that this was what Lusty was all about.
“No, we’re good, Jenny. How are you holding up?”
Peter’s question didn’t surprise her. She knew him to be a sensitive man. “I’m doing fine. You know, the usual. Just working. Making cow eyes at my guys whenever they look in my direction.”
Peter and Joe both chuckled. “Not nearly as often as they’re making cow eyes at you,” Joe said.
“Jenny, we know you’re having difficulty believing that trouble might find its way to you.” Peter met and held her gaze. “Just follow the protocols we discussed, and hopefully this won’t last much longer.”
Jenny nodded. She had no intention of interfering in this “operation,” even if she suspected she didn’t know all of the behind-the-scenes details. Maybe these men deserve more than a nod from you since they’re giving up their family time to protect you. Jenny sighed. “You’re right, I am having a hard time wrapping my head around it all. But I’ll do everything you tell me to do. Trust me, if trouble comes bursting through that front door, I’m not going to step up and go all G.I. Jane in his face. Whoever the hell ‘he’ turns out to be.”
“You know, with the right training, you could probably do just that,” Peter said.
“He’s right,” Joe said. “The minimum age to join the Bureau these days is twenty-three. In addition, you have to have a four-year college or university degree and a driver’s license. You meet all those requirements. Come to Houston and put in an application. Within just a few years, you could go all G.I. Jane in some asshole’s face, if you wanted to.”
Jenny chuckled. She knew Joe was teasing her because his smile told her so. But she also knew the information he’d just given her was true.
“Actually, I had thought at one point I might be interested in a career in law enforcement. I even took some self-defense classes, including some martial arts training for the first couple of years I was in college. But I came to know being a cop just wasn’t me. I like what I’m doing. I not only never know what each day is going to bring, I get to meet and hang out with the best people.”
Both men smiled that kind of smile she’d come to recognize that told her she’d made them feel just a touch better with her compliment. My work here is done. She headed on to the next table, chatting, pouring tea, taking note of who was drinking other beverages. When she’d covered the restaurant offering tea, she returned the pitcher to the service area and picked up the fresh pot of coffee.
She looked up and saw Nancy waiting on Jeremy and Marcus. Look at the way Jeremy is focused on her. Since the guys were likely going to become regulars, it would be interesting to see if anything developed there. She’d learned from Ari that the men were both bisexual.
Jenny decided she would chat with her bestie the next time she saw her and ask her what she thought of the possibility of a little matchmaking in the future. Nancy looked like she could use a couple of good men in her life.
She poured coffee for the two lone women—one sitting next to the green relish hamburger man and the other at a table by the window between two couples who appeared to be tourists and in the process of finishing up their lunches. They’d already been given their checks. Each of those couples signaled her, so she stopped and settled their bills. They got up to leave as she headed to Benedict central.
“More coffee, guys?” She stood beside Parker. He wrapped his arm around her, and she executed one of her favorite maneuvers. She swooped down, bussed his lips, then straightened again.
“I’ll have a bit more, thanks,” Cord said.
“Me too, sweetheart.” Dale grinned at her. “Just a few more hours.” And he raised his eyebrows twice in quick succession in a way designed to make her think he was thinking lusty thoughts.
Of course, he was thinking lusty thoughts. Jenny shook her head and blushed, and then she filled the two cups, executing a diving kiss on Dale as well.
“Jenny, when you get a second, would you stop by that table up there and let my brother-in-law know he and Marcus are welcome to join us?” Jackson gave her a smile to go with his request.
“I will do that.”
The door opened, and another two men entered, these ones strangers. Both were middle aged, looked in good shape, and took a moment to scan the interior. Then they headed to a table midway back, against the windows. One of the two looked at her, and for some reason, she shivered.
Nancy’s section. That thought was a relief. And because it was, she’d try to keep her eye
