“Finish that sentence,” Jack said in an ominous tone.
Kendra looked him square in the eye. “She’s back at our place having sex with another man.”
The ground beneath Jack’s feet swayed. Bullshit. Bull. Shit. His mind was only capable of producing those two syllables. He didn’t know what kind of game Kendra was playing, but he didn’t believe a single word coming out of her mouth. Pepper would never sabotage a DreamMakers event, nor would she hop into bed with someone else a mere two days after tending to Jack so damn lovingly.
Whatever was going on right now, he suspected it had nothing to do with Pepper and everything to do with the woman in front of him, who was now crying in earnest.
“I’m so sorry, Jack,” she wailed. “Why did you have to make me tell you? You deserve so much better than her. I hate seeing you get hurt.”
She’d mistaken his silence for acceptance, apparently. But Jack had known enough liars in his life to see through every choked word, every crocodile tear.
Hardening his jaw, he reached for Kendra, intending on gripping her chin to force her to own up to what she was doing, but the damned woman mistook the gesture for one of comfort, and the next thing he knew, she dove into his arms. Slender arms wrapped around his neck and held him tight as she buried her head in the crook of his neck.
Her tears soaked his collarbone and triggered a burst of annoyance. “Stop,” he muttered, attempting to push her away.
She clung on like a spider monkey hugging a tree. Loud sobs echoed between them, but not loud enough to cover up the sound of a car engine. Jack gripped Kendra’s slender hips, trying to pry her off him, while his gaze moved beyond her shoulders to rest on the black Jeep that had driven into the lot.
Still holding on for dear life, Kendra twisted her head to follow his gaze. When both the driver and passenger doors flew open, the blonde gasped. Then her sharp intake of breath rushed out in what could only be considered a jubilant noise. “Oh my God, see? She was with him. I walked in on them right before I came here.”
Jack managed to unhook her hands from his shoulders just as Pepper skidded to a stop, a dark-haired young man in tow.
“What the hell?” Pepper burst out when she caught sight of their too-close bodies. “Get your hands off him, Kendra.”
Jack could have sworn he saw a gleam of triumph in Kendra’s eyes before she finally let him go, taking a step to the side.
“Don’t bother denying it,” Kendra told Pepper, her singsong voice raising Jack’s hackles. “We all know what you and Adam were doing.”
Pepper’s cheeks were bright red, her shoulders trembling with fury, but to Jack’s surprise, she didn’t explode. She simply flashed her friend a cool look before glancing beyond her to the redheaded woman marching toward them.
“It’s about time you showed up!” Charlene snapped.
“I told you I would,” Pepper replied, sounding so calm Jack couldn’t help but be impressed.
The only way to describe what was happening at the moment was clusterfuck. A big ol’ clusterfuck of monstrous proportions, with accusations flying and tempers high. And yet he’d never seen Pepper look more controlled.
Parker came up beside him, warily glancing from Kendra’s tear-streaked face to Charlene’s furious eyes to Adam’s bewildered expression, and finally at Pepper’s unruffled presence.
“Okay, everyone needs to chill out,” Parker started.
Jack hid a smile as Pepper cut her brother off by raising her hand. “I’ve got this under control, Parker.” She turned to Charlene and held up the small flash drive in her hand. “I have the backup right here. I checked it myself and it works fine. I also brought a third copy in case we need it.” Her voice tightened as her gaze shifted to Kendra. “And you…I have no idea what you’re up to, but I don’t have time to deal with this cuckoo-craziness right now. I have a job to do.”
The burst of pride that filled Jack’s chest nearly sent him soaring off his feet.
“Come on, Charlene,” Pepper said firmly. “Let’s go load this up so we can give your parents a walk down memory lane they’ll never forget.”
To Jack’s surprise, Charlene nodded, flashing Pepper a look of deep gratitude. “Thank you. That’s the first rational thing I’ve heard in a while.”
Pepper squeezed Jack’s arm as she moved to follow Charlene. “Don’t kill Adam, and don’t believe a word she says,” Pepper murmured. “We’ll get to the bottom of it later.”
Good heads-up on the Adam business, and Jack didn’t need to ask who she was. He gave a quick nod. “Go. I’ll find you when you’re done.”