Page 39 of High-Priority Asset

“No.”

“I should fire up the grill. Mindy has everything prepped and ready to go.” He stood, grabbing his drink. “Burgers and chicken kabobs for the kids. Steaks and baked potatoes for us. I think Mindy is skipping lunch since I spoke to her about her weight. You’re staying, right?”

The video ended and Chad muttered a curse under his breath over how short it’d been. “Steak sounds perfect.”

“Hey, when are you and Isabel getting back together? Mindy misses her.”

Of course she did. Isabel was the only friend Brett allowed Mindy to have at the house.

Starting the video over again from the beginning, Chad said, “I’m working on it.”

Chapter Eleven

Lucky. That was how Isabel felt. Dutch had taken care of her and McQueen for the past two days. First thing in the morning, he was there with her coconut-milk latte and take-out breakfast from a café, then he took her dog for a walk.

They’d watched the top five Steve McQueen movies along with her favorite films, snuggled together with no pressure for anything more than comfort and affection. He paid exquisite attention to her, giving his whole self and not asking for anything in return. Dinners had been delivered and after he took her dog for one final jaunt outside, he’d hold her, kiss her and leave.

Part of her didn’t want her recovery to end.

She was back in her regular routine finally, but behind on everything. Work, jogging, Krav Maga lessons. Wednesday had rushed up on her and she was supposed to have dinner with her uncle in two hours and still hadn’t told Dutch one way or the other if he was going, too.

Before her near-death allergic reaction, she’d been ready to invite Dutch, but now that he’d earned his place at the dinner table beside her, she could barely contain her excitement.

Isabel dialed her uncle as she grabbed her workout bag from the trunk of the loaner vehicle the car repair shop let her use and walked inside the Krav Maga school.

“Isabel, mi hija, I hope you’re not calling to cancel.”

“No. I wouldn’t dream of it,” she said, relieved her face no longer showed any sign of swelling. “It’s just, I’d like to bring someone to dinner. A guy I’m seeing. I know how much you hate surprises.”

“You haven’t mentioned you’re dating anyone.”

“It’s new, but he’s special. I’d love for you to meet him.”

“Not tonight,” her uncle said. “I have business I want to discuss with you at dinner.”

“How about we talk privately and then he joins us for dessert?”

“We’ll discuss it when I see you later. The car will be at the gallery at seven.”

Isabel groaned into the phone, wanting her uncle to hear every decibel of her frustration.

“Don’t pout. It’s unbecoming. I hate to disappoint you, truly, but I need some one-on-one time with you. That’s it. Te amo.”

Isabel hung up without saying I love you back.

It was no wonder she’d gotten caught up with Chad and went along with his controlling behavior. She’d grown accustomed to similar treatment from her uncle, who was just as imperious. The same won’t-take-no attitude. It was his way or consequences.

Thank heavens she’d met someone different like Dutch.

Isabel threw her phone in the gym bag and zipped it.

“You really pushed us today, John. Thanks,” a male voice said, sending a hot rush of adrenaline shooting through her system.

Isabel looked up and stared at Chad. A class had just finished, and he was walking out with the instructor, John. The two of them were smiling and chatting. They were chummy.

What the hell?

A torrent of emotions flooded her.