Full Bloom

whispered.
    He shook his head once. "No, I've finally figured it all out. I tried to scare Stone off, but things went wrong."
    "It
was
you who sent those two thugs after him here in my garage that night, wasn't it?" Emily was genuinely shocked at the realization. "Jacob and my family had their suspicions, but until now I didn't really believe them. I thought I knew you well enough to bet you wouldn't have stooped to such a thing. How dare you, Damon? How dare you pull a cowardly trick like that?"
    "Cut the drama. It was worth a try. I'd had those two watching your garage since Stone first appeared on the scene. Hell, I had them in place right after you got back from Portland. I knew something was up. I just wasn't sure what or how to deal with it. I finally decided to make a move on Stone. I decided to see if he could be scared off. But things went wrong. Dammit, Emily, I was so close! I almost had you, and with you I would have had RI. You've ruined everything!"
    He reached for her without any warning.
    It happened so quickly that Emily did not even have time to think. In a matter of seconds the argument had gone from a shouting match straight into outright violence.
    She felt his fingers close around her arm and knew he was going to jerk her off her feet. This time he wasn't just trying to force a kiss on her. This time Damon was going to hurt her. There was no time to reflect on the subject. Emily acted without conscious planning.
    She leaned into the direction he was pulling, throwing Damon off balance because he had been expecting resistance and was braced for it.
    As he staggered a bit, readjusting his weight, Emily pushed against his opposite shoulder and simultaneously hooked a foot around his ankle.
    Completely off balance, Morrell went sprawling. He shouted something as he reeled back against the car and tried to catch himself by grabbing at the side mirror. The mirror bent, offering no support, and Damon hit the concrete.
    Emily did not stick around to gloat. She whirled and began to dash around the corner of the lobby wall, heading for the elevators.
    She was halfway to her goal when she collided with Jacob's massive frame as he came charging around the partition.
    The impact took away Emily's breath. His big hands caught her and steadied her for an instant. Her dazed eyes flew to his face. She had time to register the cold granite of his features and then he was putting her aside, getting her out of the way so that he could reach Morrell.
    "I told you what I'd do the next time I found you bothering Emily, Morrell." Jacob leaned down and grabbed a fistful of the other man's jacket, jerking Damon to his feet. Jacob cocked one arm, his hand knotting into a fist.
    "Jacob, wait?" Emily finally came to her senses. "There's no need to hit him. I don't want any unnecessary violence."
    Jacob didn't look at her. His eyes were savagely intent on his victim, who was staring at him groggily. "What do you expect me to do? Shake his hand?"
    "I expect you to call the cops like a good citizen," Emily said firmly. "I mean it, Jacob, this has gone far enough. I will not have you meting out your own brand of justice."
    Jacob did glance at her then, his expression unreadable. "You want the cops? Go call 'em," he suggested innocently.
    Emily nodded warily and turned toward the elevators. Then she paused. "You promise you won't beat him up while I'm gone?"
    "Now, why would I want to do that? You've already decked him once. Emily, if you're not going to go upstairs and call the cops, we might as well break out a pack of cards and play gin. Make up your mind."
    Emily gave him one last warning glance and then put her key into the elevator call lock.
    Jacob waited until the elevator closed and then he smiled at Damon in wolfish anticipation. "I'll bet you had no idea how dangerous these underground parking garages can be, Morrell. Well, live and learn. I'm going to show you just how risky it is to hang around one."

    Emily did not get a chance to really talk to Jacob until that evening. After dealing with the police, she had gone straight in to work and the rest of the day had been spent telling Diane the story, dealing with a real estate broker who had a potential client for the shop and selling a great many flowers. By five Emily had had it. She was ready to put her feet up and enjoy a glass of wine.
    Jacob wandered into the shop right on time, chatted briefly with Diane and then escorted Emily out to her compact. He took the