Sitting in the hotel room, Joslynn still couldn’t believe Chip was with her. The one person—besides her brother—she’d wished was by her side was now actually there. It still felt like a dream, one she didn’t want to wake up from. Even though he hated flying, he’d gotten on a plane and flew across the world to find her. That was the kind of man she wanted to make her life with. Not a man like Sal, who only cared about appearances and money. There was so much more to life than money and status. Those were the things she wanted in her life.

“Drink?” Chip stood next to the in-room bar, his hand already untwisting one of the little liquor bottles.

“I’m fine.” She dropped her bag onto the floor and sank down onto the arm chair. “Want to tell me why you’re here yet?”

“I already told you, Annie told me what was happening.”

“Yeah, you told me that.” She glanced around the large hotel room. “That doesn’t explain why you flew half way around the world.”

“I’d fly to the end of the universe for you.” Without bothering with a glass, he tipped the small liquor bottle back, chugging half of it. “You don’t believe I’d do nothing, do you?”

She wasn’t sure how to answer his question, so she threw a question of her own at him. “What did Annie tell you? I mean…”

“That the asshole was harassing you. That your boss forced his jerk of a son on you if you wanted to keep your job.” Sitting the bottle on the bar top, he stalked toward her. “Fuck, Jos, what were you thinking? Jack would kill the guy if he knew.”

“If…” That one word gave her hope that Jack didn’t know what was currently happening.

“You thought I’ve spoken to him.” He let out a sigh and squatted down in front of her. “Even if I had spoken to him, what would I have told him? That you were in Ireland with this asshole, and in trouble? How do you think that would have gone? Without him able to do anything to help, it would have only distracted him.”

She reached out and closed the distance between them by placing her hand over his. “Thank you.”

“I have to say I was surprised to find you in that bar instead of his hotel room. So why don’t you tell me what else has happened?”

As she leaned back in the chair, her hand slid off his. Yet, she barely noticed the loss of touch. Rather, her thoughts were filled with what had brought her to Dublin. Accompany Sal on this trip and perform whatever duties he needs. With a satisfactory report from him, we’ll discuss the promotion when you return.

“It’s been a disaster from the start.” She shook her head and looked back up to meet his gaze. “You know what? I’ll have that drink. Anything strong.”

“Coming right up.” He rose from his seat in front of her and headed back to the bar.

“I never thought things would turn out like this. I mean I wasn’t sure about this trip or spending the time alone here with Sal. Without his dad to keep him in check, he’s a different person.” She’d recognized the signs before but until this trip she hadn’t realized how bad things were between them. Nor had she realized how dangerous things had become. Not just to her, but Sal was also a threat to himself and those around him, especially women.

“This trip was supposed to be my key to the promotion. Instead, it left me without a job and a ticket home.” She accepted the glass he held out to her and before continuing, she took a sip. The burn of the alcohol as it slid down her throat warmed her and gave her the courage she needed to tell him what had happened.

“Sal’s an asshole, there’s no denying that, but I never expected him to go this far. What he was asking…” Her checks heated with embarrassment at the thought of telling him about the straw that broke the camel’s back and sent her running from Sal’s hotel room. “Even though I knew it would cost me my job, I couldn’t go through with it. But I never thought he’d tell me to find my own way home. He has the plane tickets.”

“Don’t worry about that. I’ve got us booked on a flight out in two days. Do you have your passport?”

“It’s in my purse.” She nodded. “I’ll pay you back. I swear.”

“Jos.” Leaning from his seat, he took her hand in his. “It’s not the money and that’s not why I came here. You should have called me.”

“I couldn’t. I thought you’d tell Jack. Plus, what was I going to say?”

“Damn it, Jos.” His hand tightened over hers, squeezing it tightly. “You know me better than that. You know I’d be there for you.”

“I couldn’t risk it getting back to Jack. Not when I had other options. I was waiting for Annie to get back to me. I just needed to find the money to get a ticket home. Once I got there, I’d be able to pay them back. I have the money in my checking account. I just never wanted to deal with credit cards and my bank card was stolen before I left Pittsburgh. All I’m left with is the cash I have on me. It shouldn’t have been a problem; everything was supposed to go on the business card, but…”

“That jackass has it, which leaves you at his mercy.” Chip’s voice held a deepness to it that hadn’t been there before. He was angry and it was seeping into his tone.

“Can’t really blame him.” She shrugged. “It’s his father’s company.”

“Don’t stand up for that asshole.” He rose again, his hand still holding hers, and pulled her up to stand with him. “Did you really think Jack or I would stand by and let you marry that imbecile?”

“You?” Her eyebrow rose in question as she wondered if she was reading more into what he was saying than she should be.

“You’re too smart to act as if you haven’t known.” He pulled her tight against the front of his body as his hand slid along her ribcage.

Air escaped from between her teeth as pain blossomed within her stomach. The slightest brush of his hand against the fresh bruises along her side made her woozy.

“What the hell?” He stepped back, his fingers gripping the edge of her sweater and pulling it up before she could stop him.

“It’s nothing.”

“Nothing!” he roared, his gaze on the bruise that ran from the middle of her ribcage down the length of her side until it disappeared below the waistband of her jeans. “He did this to you.”

“Chip.” She reached up to cup his cheek. Her fingers brushed along the stumble.

“She told me he threatened you. That he wanted you to do something you weren’t comfortable with. But she didn’t tell me he put his hands on you.”

She could see the fires of rage burning within his eyes. “Annie didn’t know. I didn’t want her to worry.”

“Never again.” His fingertips brushed along the edges of the bruises. “In the morning, I’ll go to the hotel and get your suitcase. After that you will have no further contact with him.”

“No.” As his gaze shoot up to hers, her chest tightened.

“What?”

“Just forget the suitcase. Nothing that’s there is important.” She slipped her hand out from his and brought it to his chest. “You said I should have known I could have counted on you. Well, just as I knew that, I also was aware what you’d want to do to him. Don’t…please, Chip. It’s not worth it.”

“You’re worth it.” He placed his hand over hers. “No man should ever lay a hand on a woman.”

“I just want to forget it all. To go home.” She turned her hand around, so she could intertwine their fingers. “You can’t be there for me if you get yourself locked up in Ireland. Please, Chip.”

“Fuck!” He stepped back from her. “I’m going to grab some food. Stay here.”

“Chip—”

He held up his hand, cutting her off. “I need some air and we both need to eat. You have my word, I’m not going to hunt him down tonight.”

Knowing that was the best she was going to get from him, she let it drop. Chip and Jack had always been hot headed. Both of them had strong principals and would stand up for what they believed was right. Maybe that was why they’d both joined the military.

* * *

As Chip stood in the diner across the street waiting for the takeout he ordered, he did his best to battle his emotions. He wanted to hunt down that asshole and teach him a lesson for touching her. No one touches what’s mine. Even as the thought flashed across his mind, he knew he had no claim over her. Still, that didn’t diminish his need to teach this asshole a lesson.

Men like Sal would feed off whoever was easiest and until he had to pay the price for his actions, he wouldn’t stop. With his father riding to the rescue every time there was the hint of scandal it would be hard to get Sal to see the error of his ways. Chip would need to find the opportunity to confront the bastard when he was alone. Though Jos was right, that needed to wait until they were back in the States. Back home, he’d have the upper hand. He just needed to keep his temper in check until the right opportunity appeared.

Patience had never been his strong suit. The only trait that outranked his patience was his inability to take orders. Funny how he’d lasted eight years in the military doing the two things he hated most—waiting and taking orders. He’d still be following his commanders if it wasn’t for his last unfortunate mission.

“Sir.” A waitress strolled toward him with a brown paper bag in hand. “Your food. Enjoy.”

“Thank you.” He accepted the bag and headed for the door.

There would be plenty of time to put a game plan together. For now, he wanted to get back to Jos. He needed to show her that she deserved better than Sal. Hell, she deserved better than him but they had two days before their flight back to the States; in this time, he planned to show her just how much she meant to him.