Jack led Larissa from the room.
Taryn crossed to the window in her office and stared out. She was pretty sure she looked normal on the outside, but she was still shaking on the inside. Being mad at Larissa had helped her keep her worries at bay, but now she didn’t have a distraction. She’d been reveling in the afterglow of her unexpected morning encounter with Angel when she’d gotten the call that he was in the hospital, suffering from a snakebite. Talk about a random event.
She hadn’t liked knowing he was in danger and she’d been shocked by the intensity of her concern. Her relationship with Angel was supposed to be fun. A couple of adults having a good time together. No strings, no promises. She didn’t want it to be different. There was no win there. Because neither of them wanted a happily ever after. He’d already had his and there was no way she was trusting anyone with her heart.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
TARYN’S ASSISTANT WALKED into her office. Taryn glanced up and saw the worry on the other woman’s face.
“What?” she asked, instantly coming to her feet. “What happened?”
She knew Angel was okay. He’d been released from the hospital a good three days ago and was better every time she saw him. He’d been cleared to resume normal activities and had planned to go to work today. Which left the boys. Knowing them, there was no way to guess what disaster one of them had gotten into.
“You have a visitor,” Jude said. “She doesn’t have an appointment.” She gave a little shrug. “To be honest, I’m a little nervous about telling her she has to make one.”
Taryn relaxed. “I have to see who has flapped the usually unflappable you.”
She followed her assistant out into the waiting area and saw Consuelo pacing there. The petite brunette wore her usual tank top and cargo pants. She looked like a caged animal waiting to pounce.
Taryn grinned. “Don’t worry. I can handle this. Come on, Consuelo. You’re frightening the staff.”
Consuelo walked with her to her office, then stood in front of Taryn’s desk. She crossed her arms over her chest and stuck out her chin.
“You have to make it stop,” she announced.
“Okay.” Taryn sat down and motioned for Consuelo to do the same. The other woman remained standing. “Make what stop?”
“The people. The food. Do you know that we have over twelve casseroles in the refrigerator right now? And even more in the freezer. Women and children stop by without phoning. They want to know that Angel’s okay, and then they want to talk to me.”
Taryn didn’t bother to hide her amusement. “How horrible. They’re all bitches.”
Consuelo’s eyes narrowed. “Are you mocking me? Do you think that’s safe?”
“I’m feeling brave and tough.”
“Then you’re a fool.”
“Very possibly.” Taryn crossed her legs. “What do you want me to do about it? Angel is a member of the community. People care about him.” She decided the moment was too good to pass up. “You do realize they would do the same for you, if you were sick or injured, right?”
Consuelo took a step back and glanced around, as if expecting the walls of a trap to close in on her. “Shit. You’re right. That would be awful. They’re so nice and normal.”
“Disgusting,” Taryn agreed.
Consuelo’s angry stare returned. “You are clear that I could kill you where you sit, right?”
“Or pretty much anywhere else. But you won’t. Enjoy the food. I’m sure it all tastes good.”
“There is that,” she admitted grudgingly. “But they’re in my house.”
“Stay with Kent for the next couple of days.”
Consuelo’s eyebrows rose. “At his place? He has a child.”
“He has a teenage son who has probably guessed the two of you have had sex at least once.”
“Oh my God. You didn’t just say that.”
Taryn loved that the normally taciturn and tough Consuelo was living so close to the emotional edge. Oddly, it made her feel closer to her.
Taryn leaned forward and lowered her voice. “We’ve all guessed.”
Consuelo sank into one of the chairs and groaned. “I hate it here.”
“No, you don’t.”
“I don’t,” she admitted with a sigh. “It’s just hard, you know. To fit in.”
Something Taryn could relate to. “The niceness can be grinding.”
“Right? Having to say hi to everyone. Asking about family members. And they’re all breeding. Everyone is pregnant or getting pregnant or has just had a baby. Kent and I aren’t having kids.”
“I didn’t know you’d decided that.”
“We haven’t talked about it, but there’s no way.” Consuelo’s mouth twisted and her tone became wistful. “Unless he would like us to have a baby.”
“You’d be a great mother. You wouldn’t take crap and you’d love fiercely. That’s nice.”
Consuelo’s gaze snapped back to her. “Do not say that word when you’re talking about me.”