Chapter 19
Caroline walked downstairs feeling like crap. She didn't drink often, but when she did have a few, the next day she paid for it. Jax stood at the kitchen counter staring at her over the brim of his coffee cup. Heat immediately bloomed through her body, landing on her cheeks. She had been a total slut last night.
"Good morning." Jax's eyes crinkled at the corners. The cup hid his mouth, yet she knew he was smiling. "How you feeling?"
"Honestly, like a big pile of dog crap." She poured herself a cup of coffee. "Guess I drank more than I thought. I'm kind of a lightweight and don't drink often."
"What exactly did you drink?" Jax set his coffee cup on the counter, crossing his arms across his chest.
"Ice tea something." Caroline took a sniff of her coffee, closing her eyes in pleasure. "You could hardly taste any alcohol at all so it was perfect for me."
Jax chuckled, shaking his head. "Long Island Iced Tea, and that has five different liquors in it."
"Are you serious?" Caroline's eyes widened. "Well, they sure were good. I hardly tasted any alcohol."
"They? You had more than one?" Jax grinned. "Hell, no wonder you were…"
When he trailed off, she looked up at him. "I acted like a slut, didn't I?" She sat down heavily at the kitchen table, putting her face in her hands.
"Hey." Jax walked over, pulling her hands away from her face. "Did you enjoy what we did last night?"
Caroline bit her lip and nodded. "Yes, I did." She then grinned. "Very much."
"So did I, and any time you want to do a striptease for me again, please, by all means…." Jax chuckled when she buried her face in her hands again. "You were amazing."
Loud pounding had Caroline putting her palms over her ears. "Make it stop." She moaned.
"Stay here," Jax ordered, all chuckling and smiling coming to a halt.
Caroline turned to see Jax open the door. "We need you guys." Lana walked past Jax, Sid following.
"Why, what's going on?" Caroline stood and grabbed the aspirin from a cabinet, downing three of them with a glass of water.
"You know that special project Jill set up?" Lana frowned, looking at Caroline closely. "What's wrong with you? You look like shit?"
"Oh, well, thank you." Caroline rolled her eyes. "I had a little too much to drink last night and—"
"But you're a lightweight and can't handle your liquor." Lana pointed out the obvious before turning toward Jax. "Why the hell are you letting my sister drink?"
"First of all, she's an adult who doesn't need you telling her what she can and cannot handle," Jax responded, his tone indicating he did not like being chastised by Lana. "And she was well taken care of." Jax then winked at Caroline, making her cheeks heat.
"Now, if you're finished getting on my nerves"—Caroline glared at Lana—"tell me what's going on."
"Oh, and she also gets bitchy the day after." Lana shot back with a glare of her own.
"Think we're going to see some sister-on-sister action?" Sid whispered to Jax, but loud enough to be heard.
"Shut up, Sid," both women growled. Caroline picked up and threw a dishrag at him and then grabbed her aching head.
Lana's phone dinged. Looking down, she cursed. "Come on and get dressed. We have to get to the warehouse."
"Why?" Caroline didn't want to get dressed. She wanted to lie around all day and not move unless it was to…. Her eyes met Jax's and his eyes darkened as if he could read her mind. Was he reading her mind?
"They had to move the interviews for Sloan's secretary to the warehouse because more women showed up without even applying." Lana shook her head. "Jill is in way over her head on this one and she's freaking out."
"How many women are we talking about?" Jax glanced at Sid.
"Hundreds at last count," Lana answered for Sid. "They need crowd control."
"Give me about ten minutes to get dressed." Caroline headed for the stairs. "This is something I need to see. Does Sloan know yet?"
"Not yet, but I'm sure he will very soon," Lana called after her. "Hurry up!"
******
Caroline loved riding on the back of Jax's motorcycle, except he made her wear a helmet. Even though she was a little sore from their previous night's activities, a grin spread across her face as she held on to Jax tighter. He knew she liked to go fast, so when it was clear, he sped them down the road.
Too soon he was pulling into a parking lot that was packed with cars. Women were everywhere. "Oh, my God." Caroline's eyes widened as her eyes roamed the lot. There were even news crews.
Jax rode his bike all the way up by the building and parked. Helping Caroline off the bike, he frowned. "Stay close to me," he ordered, his whole personality shifted into Warrior mode. He glanced over at Sid, who had parked next to them. "Mika could be anywhere in this crowd. Make sure everyone stays alert."
"Done." Sid's eyes shifted to the crowd of women who were lining up, waiting to go inside.
Caroline held on to Jax's hand tightly as he ushered her through the crowd to get inside the door. Steve was in charge of letting women inside and opened the door for them.
Jill, Pam, Nicole, and Tessa all stood in different locations interviewing women. Jill's panicked eyes met hers. "It's okay," Caroline mouthed, but in truth, it was pretty damn scary. Impressive, but overwhelmingly scary.
"I want to be Sloan when I grow up." Steve sighed as he opened the door for a beautiful woman who'd just finished being interviewed by Nicole, giving her a sappy grin. "I mean holy hell, will you look at this? Women from everywhere coming to be his secretary."
"Sloan is going to shit bricks when he finds out about this." Sid frowned. "And we'll probably get our asses chewed."
"Why?" Steve looked confused. "What man in his right mind wouldn't love this? Hell, he could have a different secretary every day of the week for a year."
"Do you not know who Sloan is?" Sid glared at Steve. "Have you not been involved in any dealings with the man whatsoever?"
Steve appeared to think about it, nodding. He opened the door for a pretty brunette who patted him on the cheek, giving him a wink. "Well, maybe this is exactly what he needs to loosen the stick up his ass." Steve's eyes stayed on the woman's ass, before they shot wide open. "But please don't tell him I said that. Holy fuck, this is going to get me killed. I can't think straight."
"Steve, shut the hell up," Jax growled, not in the mood for his antics. Caroline, on the other hand, was trying to hide her grin behind her hand.
"Please, Caroline, help us." Jill ran up, handing her a bunch of papers.
"Of course I'll help." She took the papers and a pen. "What do I do?"
"Just ask them these questions and see who you think would qualify. We'll narrow it down from there." Jill glanced out the door. "They're still coming. I'm dead. Sloan is going to kill me."
"Probably." Jax frowned down at her.
"Stop it." Caroline elbowed him in the stomach. "No, he won't. Now, come on. Let's get this done."
"Okay." Jill nodded, but when she turned her back, Caroline looked at Jax with wide "'holy shit'" eyes.
Jax stopped her as she passed him. "Keep aware and if something doesn't seem right, let me know."
"I will," Caroline promised. She went over to a table then nodded toward Steve, who let the next woman inside and pointed her to Caroline's position. "Hi." Caroline had to practically put her head in front of Jax, who had moved close to her, in order to get the woman's attention.
"Hi." The woman smiled at Caroline and then continued to stare at Jax.
"Do you have your resume?" Caroline asked her. She then looked at Jax, who looked very annoyed.
"Oh, yes." The woman handed it to her. "Are you Sloan?" she asked Jax.
"Fuck no, I'm not Sloan," Jax bellowed, his eyes narrowed at the woman.
"Jax!" Caroline scolded, taking the woman's resume.
The woman started to cry. Turning, she then ran out of the warehouse. Steve barely had time to open the door.
>
"Damn, Jax." Steve frowned over at him. "Take a chill pill, meanie."
"Steve, you want me to smash you through that glass door?" Jax growled. His loud voice dragged everyone's attention to him, then Steve.
"Ah, no." Steve's tone clearly indicated he didn't know whether Jax was serious or kidding, so he wore a terrified smile on his face.
"Then shut the fuck up." Jax crossed his arms after giving Steve that warning, settling against the wall.
Caroline frowned, wondering what was wrong with Jax. She'd seen him rude, but never this bad before. "Why are you being so rude?" she asked'.
Jax just cocked his eyebrow at her without answering.
The next woman came in, handing Caroline her resume. When Caroline attempted to ask her questions, the woman's focus was elsewhere, or rather on every Warrior in the room. Her frustration rising, Caroline observed the woman's gaze flicking to Jax, to Damon, and then to Sid. Jared was on the phone inside on the mats.
"What kind of hours are you available?" Caroline asked, her voice firm and pen poised, ready to write down her response. When only silence greeted her, she looked up; the woman was still staring at Jared.
"Who is that?"
Caroline frowned, laying down her pen. "Are you here for a job or to gawk at Warriors?" Caroline didn't hold back her attitude. This whole thing was ridiculous.
"I'm here for a job." The woman looked taken aback by being called out.
"Okay, good. I'm asking the questions," Caroline said, then repeated, "What hours are you available?"
"If I'm working for him or any of the Warriors, then I'm available 24/7." The woman gave her a sleazy grin.
Caroline took her resume and tore it in half. "We'll call if interested." She proceeded to wad up the torn resume and tossed it in the trash can, right in front of the woman.
The woman sneered and turned to leave. "Bitch," she said as she walked away.
"Better a bitch than a whore," Caroline hissed under her breath. Hearing Jax chuckle, she threw him a dirty look. "Hush."
"Why are you being rude, Caroline?" Jax mocked her.
The next candidate headed toward her, so Caroline didn't have a chance to say anything back to Jax.
"Hi." Caroline tried to smile, hoping that this wasn't going to be another woman like the last one. "Do you have your resume?"
"Yes, I do." The woman, who was a beautiful redhead dressed in a fresh business suit, handed it to her. "It's a zoo out there."
"It's not much better in here." Caroline snorted, glancing at the woman's professional resume. "Please tell me that you're really here for the job and not a Warrior."
"I'm definitely here for the job," the woman replied. "I've been battling a nasty divorce and I don't need another man, Warrior or not, in my life."
"Thank God." Caroline sighed, but gasped. "I'm sorry. I meant that about you wanting a job, not your divorce."
The woman laughed and stuck out her hand. "I knew what you meant. I'm Becky Spencer."
"I'm Caroline Fitzpatrick." Caroline smiled, shaking her hand. "Wait a minute. Do you have a son who went to Campbell County High, Frankie?"
"Yes." Becky laughed. "I thought you looked familiar."
"How's he doing?" Caroline asked excitedly.
"He's doing okay. He's starting college in the fall." Becky's smile beamed, but then faded slightly. "The divorce hasn't been easy on him, but he's doing okay. I want to thank you for everything you did for him. I know he gave you some problems, but he ended up respecting you. Still talks about you, as a matter of fact. He won't believe I ran into you."
"Well, you make sure to tell him hello for me." Caroline started to ask more, but she heard Nicole's raised voice.
"If you touch my mate one more time, I'm going to throw you out of here on your ass." Nicole growled, blocking Damon from the woman.
Sid and Lana rushed over to defuse the situation.
"I don't want to tell you how to do your business, but you're going about this completely wrong." Becky grimaced at the woman's shrill shrieks as Lana escorted her to the door. "Most of the women out there want to land a Warrior. We all saw Jill on the news when she collapsed on the steps of Town Hall and that Warrior saved her. 90 percent of the women out there want that more than the job."
"I'm starting to see that." Caroline frowned, then jumped when the door blasted open, knocking Steve on his ass.
"Jill!" Sloan bellowed, his shirt torn. The rage on his face made one woman faint.
Chapter 20
"I take it that's Sloan?" Becky leaned over to whisper to Caroline.
"Yep, that's him." Caroline grimaced when Sloan looked their way.
"Sloan, I can explain." Jill held folders against her chest like a shield.
Slade came in the door, stepping over Steve, who still lay on the floor. He stopped, standing next to Jill.
"No, I don't think you can," Sloan growled, his attention going back to Jill.
"Oh!" One lady fluffed her bleach-blonde hair, walking up to Sloan. "Here's my resume. I'm sure you will find me well… qualified."
Jill plucked the resume out of the woman's hand and ushered her toward the door. Steve had finally gotten back up and out of the way. "We'll call you for a second interview if you qualify," Jill whispered, shoving the woman out the door and closing it quickly.
"It got a little out of hand, but we've got it under control now." Jill hurried back to stand in front of Sloan.
"A little out of hand? Does this look like things are in control?" He pointed to his torn shirt. "I want these women gone and I want them gone now."
"But…" Jill frowned and started to point to the door.
"I said, NOW!" Sloan bellowed, again scaring the woman who had fainted. Tessa was just helping her up, with Jared's assistance.
"Fine." Jill huffed, then grabbed the resumes from the women inside before they left. "We'll call you in a day or two if you qualify for a second interview."
"It was nice seeing you again." Becky smiled at Caroline, glancing at Sloan as she headed toward the door.
"You too, and make sure you tell Frankie I said hello," Caroline called out. Immediately, she bit her lip when Sloan glared at her.
"Uh, I think you've got a problem." Becky hadn't walked outside yet.
Sloan turned and walked to look outside, his size dwarfing Becky. Caroline stood on tiptoe to see what was going on. "Oh, no." In shock, she turned to look at Jax before focusing on the scene unfolding outside. It was a free-for-all as women began fighting each other.
"Son of a bitch." Jax headed toward the door, giving her a stern look. "Do not leave this room."
"Don't worry about that." Caroline raised her eyebrows as the Warriors walked into the biggest catfight she had ever seen.
"Fuck that." Steve stood by the door. "Ain't no way I'm getting in the middle of that crazy shit!"
Jax grabbed him by the neck on his way out the door, tossing him right in the middle of the action.
Caroline, Nicole, Tessa, Pam, Becky, and even Lana, who Sid refused to let help, were the only ones left inside. As one, the women went to the front and watched in shock as the Warriors tried to subdue and calm down over a hundred pissed-off women.
"Is that Angelina?" Nicole pointed against the glass.
"Damn, it is." Tessa was ready to open the door for her. "She had school today and was coming by to help when she was done."
"Adam has her." Nicole sighed in relief. "Get ready to open the door, Tessa. Here they come."
Adam pushed Angelina inside before running back out to help.
"Are you okay?" Caroline steadied Angelina.
"Yeah, but what the hell is going on?" Angelina squeezed herself between the women to watch the mayhem unfold.
"That bitch just smacked Damon." Nicole growled. "Oh, hell no."
Tessa stopped her from going outside. "Nicole, they said to stay inside and that's exactly what we're going to do. They can't do their jobs if they're worried about us."
&nb
sp; "But I'm a damn vampire," Nicole hissed. "I'll bite a bitch."
"And that's exactly why they want you inside," Tessa replied. "They're not hurting any of the women. Just separating and calming them down so they don't hurt each other."
Caroline covered a chuckle. This so wasn't funny, but it was. She glanced toward Becky, who was also trying to hide a grin.
"Why's Steve running?" Pam asked.
Caroline turned to find Steve. Indeed, he was running with a look of terror on his face. Behind him, two women were running extremely fast after him, trying to hit him with their purses. Caroline couldn't hold it in anymore. That had to be the funniest thing she'd ever seen. Soon, all the women were laughing, but trying to hide it.
Her eyes met Jax's, who was trying to separate two women who had handfuls of each other's hair. He happened to glance up, his eyes landing on her grinning face, and his eyes narrowed.
She wiped the grin off her face and looked away from him to see Steve had lost the two women and was trying to calm another one down. Obviously, he failed miserably, because she kicked him between the legs and he went down.
"Ohhhh!" the women gasped in unison.
Finally, after what seemed like hours, the Warriors cleared the parking lot without major injury… to the women.
One by one, they walked into the warehouse with torn clothes, scratches on their bodies, and Steve holding his balls.
Caroline and Lana made eye contact and then looked away from each other quickly. She had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from giggling. Jax stood across the room, glaring at her as if he knew she was trying so hard not to laugh.
"Guess it's safe for me to venture on out." Becky cleared her throat, sounding suspiciously like she was trying not to laugh.
"Jared, make sure she gets to her car," Sloan ordered, glancing briefly at Becky.
"Thank you," she responded, but he only gave a nod.
"I need an ice pack for my boys." Steve broke the silence, still holding his balls with a pained look on his face. "It don't matter, human or vampire, that hurts like a bitch."
That was all it took for the women to burst out laughing, except for Jill, who looked like she was ready to stand in front of a firing squad.
Jax (The Protectors Series) Book #8 Page 13