Josh shrugged, as if he wasn’t convinced, and her temper rose a notch. “Your mother died under his care, didn’t she?”
“I don’t like what you’re implying,” she bit out, because it was ridiculous to think he’d been responsible for her mother’s death in a car accident. “You don’t know him. If you did, you’d see. I wouldn’t have worked for him for so long if I’d had any doubts.”
“Okay.” Josh signaled the waiter and ordered two double whiskeys. “Is that all you do? Work? You ever do anything for yourself?”
She recognized the manipulation for what it was, an attempt to calm her down, and she was grateful for it.
“Not really,” she said sharply, because she was still a little worked up. “All the things I enjoy happen while I’m working. Looking for treasure, outsmarting traps, traveling… I love it. What about you?”
“You mean, do I do things for myself?” When she nodded, his mouth tightened into a grim slash. “I’ve lived my entire life being a selfish asshole. It’s always been about me. Only me.”
“I’m sure you’re exaggerating.”
He snorted. “Trust me, Serena. Pretty much everything I’ve ever done has been because I thought it would benefit me. Why do you think I haven’t gone to see my nephews yet? I’ll have to see how they took Shade away from me.” He cursed. “See what a bastard I am? Jealous of three innocent babies.”
“It’s understandable. You love your brothers. They’re all you have.” She totally got that, because Val was all she had, and sometimes she found herself secretly jealous that David had a connection with him that she didn’t.
He went darkly silent as the waiter arrived at their table to take their orders.
“You only ordered bread,” she said, when the waiter left.
“The motion sickness,” he muttered.
“Are you sure that’s all it is?”
“Yeah.” He squeezed her hand, his tone saying he was through talking about it, so she just ran her thumb back and forth over his knuckles, loving how her hand felt so small in his.
“Oh, I almost forgot,” she said, as she reached into her backpack and fished out a toy. “Here. I got it in the hotel gift shop.”
One tawny brow cocked. “It’s a top.”
Smiling, she placed the colorful wooden plaything in his hand. “This is going to sound so stupid… but I just keep thinking about how you grew up, and… well, I can’t imagine that you had many toys, and I kind of wanted you to have one.” She continued in a rush. Buying the toy had seemed like a good idea at the time, but now, the unreadable, flat expression on Josh’s face told her she might have made a huge mistake. “I’m sorry… I just thought maybe you should have something you didn’t get as a child. It’s dumb, I know—”
“You shouldn’t have.” Josh’s voice was a gruff whisper.
Serena took his hand in hers again. “It’s just a stupid toy.”
“Whatever.” Red splotches colored his cheeks, as if he was embarrassed to be pleased by a gift as small and silly as a child’s plaything. “Thanks.”
“Maybe next time I’ll step it up and get you a jack-in-the-box.”
He grimaced, and that fast, the awkwardness vanished. “No, thanks. Those things are creepy. I’ll keep the top.”
His words were nonchalant, but the warmth in his gaze wrapped around her like a hug, and she wished she was sitting beside him instead of across from him so she could return the embrace. “Good. I’d hate to have to call you an ass again.”
A passenger walked by, and Josh went taut… a very subtle stiffening of his spine, but she got the feeling he was checking out everyone in the dining car.
“Look,” he said, all commanding business. “I’ve been thinking on how we can keep you safe. My brothers are researching Byzamoth, and I’m going to escort you all the way home.”
She smiled. “Thank you. I appreciate the offer, and I’m not going to turn it down. Once I get back home, I’ll have Val—”
“You’ll also have me,” he said slowly, his voice a possessive drawl, and if she didn’t know any better, she’d think he was jealous.
She paused while the waiter delivered their food, and once he was gone, she asked, “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying that as long as you’re in danger, I’m not leaving you unprotected. Either Byzamoth dies, or you have someone at your side.” He tore off a piece of bread. “Someone besides Val.”
“Val is a Guardian. He’s more than capable—”
“I don’t trust him. Not with everything that’s gone down.”
“You’ve made that quite clear, but I do trust him.”
“All the more reason for me to stay with you.”
“Now we’re back to you being an ass,” she snapped, and he actually smiled.
They ate in silence. When they were finished, he walked her to her room, and although she didn’t invite him in, he barged in anyway.
The door closed, something her mouth should have done, but instead she asked, “I know it’s crazy to ask this, but, well, where is this headed? Us, I mean. Where are we going?”