“Seth Jewel, it’s Seth Jewel.” she could hear different men muttering now and some were coming up the stairs from the basement rooms and down the stairs from the upper loft. Those in the kitchen crept closer to the two of them. Apparently, Seth was every bit as famous as Ridge had claimed he was.
“You okay?” he asked quietly.
“Y-yes,” she squeaked out. Her mind raced and she wanted throw her arms around his neck and hold him tight and ask him a bunch of questions about his plan and his intentions.
He gave her a reassuring smile and then turned to the man who’d first recognized him. “Yes, I am Seth Jewel. Can you please ask Flint Brooks to come speak with me?”
The man swallowed and nodded. “It’d be a pleasure, sir.”
Breeze hadn’t been aware any of these men knew how to say “sir”.
“Thank you.” Seth looked majestic, and completely out of place here. Though he was tough and famous for his dirt bike and snowmobile skills, he had a natural charm, intelligence, and culture about him that made him stick out. This ultra-appealing combination made Breeze even more certain she wasn’t worthy of him. Her pastor might tell her that she was worthy of every good blessing, but truly, Seth Jewel? That was too much of a blessing for someone in her situation to hope for.
She sensed movement behind them. Turning slightly, she saw four well-built men file into the room and stand behind her and Seth. She recognized his twin, Caleb, first. He gave her a wink and an over-confident grin. The other three men were obviously Seth’s brothers as well: tall, strong, good-looking, sharing the same bright blue eyes and an inherent confidence and class that demanded respect. Though they were dressed casually, she suspected they were usually wearing business suits worth more than her trailer house.
Breeze’s mind was spinning to understand what this all meant. In her Idaho hometown, there were a lot of “good-old boys” who treated a lady with respect and would step in to protect a woman. The Jewel brothers gave her that same feeling, though she knew they were heaps wealthier and more accomplished than any person she’d ever met.
Loud footsteps pounded down the staircase. Breeze gripped Seth’s hand tighter as Flint descended the steps. His gaze darted over them, pausing on their joined hands before focusing completely on Seth. Splaying his hands wide and grinning as if he’d just won the lottery, he reached the main level and said in a booming, obnoxious voice, “Seth Jewel. To what do I owe this pleasure?”
Seth tilted his chin up at him. “Flint,” he said, in a level tone that didn’t reflect any of the warmth of Flint’s greeting. “I just found out that my friend Breeze and her brother are working for you.”
“Yeah.” Flint nodded. His gaze traveled lazily over Breeze, as if she were his possession. “Breeze has proven to be quite the—” He licked his lips and dropped his voice, “—worker, If you know what I mean. But from the look of you all coming in here for her, as if she’s some innocent filly, maybe you don’t know quite what I mean yet.” He gave a nasty-jerk wink to her, as if he and Breeze had some inside secret.
Breeze clung tightly to Seth’s hand. She wanted to scream “liar” at Flint for his creepy insinuation. She felt like she was in the middle of a medieval battle, like any sort of upset in balance caused by her would cause Flint to throw a javelin through Seth’s heart and take away her hope of being rescued. A mix of fear and hatred toward Flint boiled within Breeze.
Seth’s eyes narrowed but he didn’t say anything. Did he believe Flint? Breeze had told him that Flint hadn’t tried anything with her, but what if he believed that she was the kind of girl who welcomed that sort of behavior?
Seth released her hand, and her heart dropped with disappointment, but only for a moment. Seth immediately wrapped his arm around her waist and drew her closer to his side as if to shield her from Flint. The strength in that arm and his chest brushing against her was a comfort she’d rarely felt.
One of his brothers let out a low growl that made Flint ease back a step as his smile slipped a little. Breeze’s heart leapt. Maybe these impressive men were on her side. She should stand on her own like she always did, but she couldn’t dredge up her pride or turn Seth away right now. She simply wanted to stay close to him, let this incredible man protect her.
“I understand Breeze’s brother owes you twenty grand,” Seth said, ignoring Flint’s filthy words.
Flint nodded.
Seth glanced back at Caleb. With a grin Caleb held aloft a fat envelope. Breeze pulled in a quick breath. She craved Seth’s protection, but she still wasn’t ready to accept him paying her and Ridge’s debt. Seth coming for her with his brothers was incredible, but she didn’t want Seth to wipe away her brother’s mistakes. She wanted to hold on to her pride. If Seth paid the money, then he was buying her freedom and therefore her pride.
Yet she’d do anything to be free of Flint. The contrast between Seth’s family and Flint’s gang made it starkly clear how much danger she’d been in, and how much she would be in if she stayed. Flint hadn’t hurt her yet, but the way he’d pinned her to the wall last night and his disgusting insinuations to Seth moments earlier revealed his intentions. She needed to leave, or she’d be in moral and physical danger.
How could she reconcile in her mind letting Seth rescue her but not take the handout? Would Seth let her and Ridge work for him? Cooking and cleaning for Seth didn’t seem like a hardship at all and she was certain Ridge would think he’d died and gone to heaven to be working for his hero. That could be the solution. She’d beg Seth to let them work off their debt. She’d not only get to retain her pride, but she’d get to stay close to Seth.
Caleb tossed the envelope across the room to Flint who caught it easily. The revolting man opened it, glanced casually inside, and then tucked the flap back in. The cunning look in his pale blue eyes made Breeze’s stomach roll. She knew Seth and his brothers were tough and capable, but there was something about that look. Flint was going to make her and Seth pay for this.
He bent down and shoved the envelope across the hardwood floor. It thumped into Seth’s shoe. Seth glanced down at it then back up at Flint. His body felt hard and coiled against Breeze’s.
A clock’s tick echoed through the otherwise silent huge room. Breeze could hear her own breathing and feel her heart racing. Flint was rejecting the money? Would she ever be free of him?
“I don’t want your money, Jewel,” Flint sneered.
Seth’s jaw was rock hard. “Well you don’t have much choice, Brooks, because I’m not leaving here without Breeze and her brother.”
Breeze’s heart leapt. To heck with her pride. She’d somehow make the money right with Seth. All that mattered right now was Seth was taking her with him, he was sticking up for her, and he wouldn’t leave Ridge behind either. She hardly knew this handsome, famous, wealthy man, but at this moment he was her hero, her champion, and he held a piece of her heart.
“Ridge is out in the shop,” she whispered against his ear.
He nodded his acknowledgement. Turning her with his arm, he started toward the door, leaving the money on the floor. Caleb swung the door wide, grinning at her like this was the most fun he’d had in a month of Sundays. She doubted that was true, but still liked him for helping her to relax. She stepped to walk across the threshold. Free, yet not completely free as she now owed Seth. Yet she knew she could trust Seth to respect her and never hurt her like Flint or these men could have.
“Fight me,” Flint yelled from behind them.
Seth released her, turning quickly and sheltering her with his body. “Excuse me?”
“Fight me,” Flint repeated. “If you win, you keep your money and walk with the girl and her brother. If you lose, I keep the money and Breeze and Ridge still have to finish out the agreement we made.”
“No,” Breeze breathed out. She didn’t want Seth to have to fight for her. He’d come for her and was paying Ridge’s debt, that was more than enough.
“Rip him apart, bro,” Caleb said under h
is breath.
Breeze’s mouth dropped open and she stared at Seth’s twin. He pumped his eyebrows, a mischievous twinkle in his blue eyes. “The only man who’s ever beat my brother is me,” Caleb said quietly to her.
Breeze should’ve felt reassured, but she’d watched all the idiots at this house wrestle and fight and she’d never seen any of them come close to besting Flint.
Seth smiled down at her as if they were strolling through the park. “Pardon me for a moment.”
His talk was formal and didn’t fit in this environment at all. He strode toward Flint. The men in the room gave a cheer and rushed to move the couches and chairs back against the walls to give them more room.
Flint looked around Seth to Breeze and said, “Don’t worry sweetheart, we’ll get more chances to ‘work’ together soon.”
Seth slammed his fist into Flint’s temple and Flint went down, hard. He hit the hardwood floor with a pronounced thump. Flint’s men let out a collective gasp that sounded like a bunch of teenage girls. Breeze could understand what they were feeling. She hadn’t even seen that coming.
Caleb nudged her with his elbow, his smile even broader. “Told ya,” he said.
Seth’s other brothers were smiling like proud parents.
Seth crouched down next to Flint. “We good here?” he asked in a taunting voice.
Flint let out a roar, sprang off the ground, and plowed into Seth, lifting him clean off his feet and slamming him onto his back. Some of Flint’s men cheered but most of them seemed to be on Seth’s side. Seth’s brothers didn’t really react, besides one of them muttering, “The idiot is glutton for punishment.”
Breeze was sick. She didn’t like violence and seeing this heroic man being knocked down and beat upon made her want to intervene. She started forward but Caleb grabbed her arm and smiled down at her. “He’s having fun. Don’t worry.”
Fun? Don’t worry? Why weren’t his brothers doing something? Flint was having a go at Seth’s face with flying fists. Breeze could see the grin on Seth’s face from here as it appeared that he wasn’t even trying to block Flint’s hits or react. How was that fun?
“Done with your tizzy fit?” Seth asked as if he were dealing with a toddler.
Flint let out a primeval yell. Seth simply smiled and started ramming his fists into Flint’s abdomen. Flint yelped like a whipped puppy. Seth easily flipped the man off him and pounced. Flint had no chance to react or defend himself as Seth knelt on his shoulders and smashed his fists into Flint’s face. Breeze’s mouth was wide open as she gaped at Seth. The muscles in his back and arms were visible through his shirt as he made short work of Flint. She’d seen many fights, but she’d never seen a man so tough and in control. Could he truly be doing all of this for her? It boggled her mind, but also made her irrationally happy.
The men in the cabin stared wide-eyed with surprise, cheering for Seth or at least grinning and nodding their approval. Finally, Flint cried out, blood spurting from his face. “Stop! She’s yours.”
Seth popped to his feet, shook out his fists, and looked down at Flint as if he were a pitiful little child.
“I didn’t know you could fight,” Flint grumbled, spitting out some blood.
“Well now you know. Stay away from Breeze.” Seth stalked to where the envelope of money was. He scooped it up, walked back to Flint, and dropped it on his chest. “Keep the money. I don’t want you to think you have any excuse to come near Breeze, or her brother, ever again.”
With that he turned and strode to Breeze. He looked so irresistibly dangerous and handsome that Breeze swayed slightly.
Caleb chuckled. “The tough guy’s pretty appealing, eh?”
Breeze surprised herself by laughing. She couldn’t believe she could laugh at this moment, but it felt almost as freeing as knowing her and Ridge’s debt to Flint was settled.
Flint’s men were chattering excitedly. Seth’s other brothers held the door open for them. Caleb extended his fist for a bump. Seth hit it with his own, scratched knuckles.
“Nice one, bro,” Caleb said loud enough for the entire room to hear. “That loser won’t bother Breeze again.”
“He’d better not.” Seth gave Flint one more glare over his shoulder and then turned to Breeze. “I’m sorry you had to see that.”
Breeze let out a disbelieving whimper, threw herself against his chest, and wrapped her arms tight around his neck. He happily responded by pulling her in even snugger to his chest. “Thank you,” she whispered in his ear, “Thank you so much.”
“Anytime.” He released one of his arms but kept his other securely around her waist and escorted her out the door.
Breeze made the mistake of looking back. Flint was still on the floor, but the hatred in his gaze was unmistakable. She burrowed into Seth’s side and let him lead her away. She could not believe this was happening. She still felt guilty about all that money, but not guilty enough to overpower her desire to leave.
All she wanted was to be free of Flint. No, she wanted more than that. She wanted to stay close to Seth Jewel, for a very, very long time. Sadly, she knew that would never happen. Unless he accepted her offer to work for him. That would be a dream come true.
Seth fully enjoyed Breeze pressed against his side and the victory over the pompous Flint Brooks. They walked down the porch steps and around to the garage. His brothers all waited for him. He really appreciated their support, even though he hadn’t needed it. Yet without his bro squad, some of those men might’ve tried to jump into the fight or come after him now. He smiled to himself. Maybe not. The men all seemed to respect who he was, and he’d made pretty short work of that idiot, Flint.
They stopped at the door to the garage and Breeze glanced up at him. She was so beautiful and innocent he wanted to kiss her full on the mouth. He refused to believe anything Flint said and prayed that she was as innocent as he believed her to be.
“You were like a machine,” she said. “So tough. Thank you.”
He nodded, trying to act humble. He’d always loved to fight and, being the youngest of five brothers, had plenty of opportunities. His mom hadn’t known, but his dad had at one point employed a former lightweight professional boxing champion named Pedro. Pedro had taught all the boys, but Seth had been his most diligent and persistent pupil. As the youngest he’d felt like he had to prove himself.
“You shouldn’t have left all of that money. Why did you do that?” Her dark eyes filled with anguish.
He shrugged. “Making a point. He can’t claim you or your brother shorted him. Too many witnesses.”
“Scumball witnesses, but I guess I see your point.” She bit her lip and it took all his strength not to kiss her. “But now I owe you a lot of money.” She looked embarrassed and as if she was fighting to hold his gaze. “Ridge and I will work for you. Pay it off like we were planning to do for Flint.”
He let out a surprised breath and quickly shook his head. He didn’t want her feeling like she was beholden to him like she’d been to Flint. No way would he accept that. “You don’t owe me anything.”
She started to protest, but he cut her off quickly. “No, Breeze. I don’t care about the money. I’m just glad you’re done with this.” He gestured back to the huge cabin. Men were watching them from the porch, the windows, and the open door.
Her dark eyes filled with frustration, but she clamped her mouth shut. He swung the door open to the garage and waited for her to walk inside. He would love for her to work for him and travel the country with him. She could be his personal assistant. She could be his hairdresser, fashion consultant, social media guru, whatever she enjoyed doing. Heck, he didn’t care, he could give her any title that she wanted, simply to keep her by his side. No. He shook his head and followed her into the brightly lit shop. She didn’t owe him, and he didn’t want her to feel beholden to him. It was enough that he could help her.
He watched her run to her brother and throw herself against the tall, skinny, blond kid wearing beat-up jeans and
a t-shirt covered in grease stains. The kid hugged her, awkwardly looking at Seth and his brothers over her head. Breeze rushed to explain what had happened, praising Seth as if he were a superhero. Her brother, who she introduced to everyone as Ridge, looked shy and awestruck.
Seth knew he had to spend more time with her. He’d have the two of them come to his mom and dad’s house. At least he’d have today with her and then he could see what she wanted to do after that. Maybe after his next event he could come see her, wherever she lived. All he knew was the twenty grand and the fight meant nothing to him. But this beautiful, sweet, vivacious, and determined woman—she meant a lot.
Chapter Five
Breeze and Ridge climbed into a large silver SUV with all five Jewel brothers. The vehicle was clean, fancy, and the leather seats were softer than a baby’s cheeks. She’d never been in such a pretty vehicle. She’d tried to climb in the very back, but Ridge and Caleb had beat her to it. Now she was sandwiched in the middle row between Seth and the tougher-looking brother. The two more polished-looking brothers rode up front.
She was uncomfortable and wished she dared ask where they were going. Seth had offered her last night to stay at his parents’ house. The idea of going there made her even more nervous than the fact that she was sitting in a vehicle with all these tough, handsome, accomplished men.
Seth shifted against her and gave her a smile. “Are you okay?”
“Am I okay? I’m awesome.” Minus the nervous jitters of being completely out of her element, but it was a thousand times better than being in that cabin with Flint and crew. “You just rescued us. Thank you, thank you, a million times thank you.” Her words seemed too loud and out of place in the quiet vehicle yet not nearly zealous enough for what Seth had done for them. She recognized that in this moment she’d dumped a lifetime of self-preserving pride, but she couldn’t find it in herself to care right now.
Do Rely on Your Protector (Jewel Family Romance Book 4) Page 4