“One that almost killed you,” Charlie materializes as if she was there the whole time.
Charlie is the only female in the world I wouldn’t fuck with. She’s a former CIA operative, and I’m pretty sure she still does some shit that we don’t know about.
“I heard you that time,” Mark says with a smirk.
“No you didn’t, but I expect your hearing to continue to deteriorate with age,” she digs at him.
They’re so much like Ashton and me that it’s funny. Well, minus the kicking the shit out of each other for fun. Each time, Charlie gives him a run for his money, and I’m pretty sure she lets him win so she doesn’t hurt his ego.
“Watch it,” he warns.
“Seriously, you guys are missing something. I’ve done what I can to get some answers, but whoever it is, they’re hiding their tracks. I would go back as far as you can, figure out who you might’ve pissed off or who would be out for revenge,” Charlie suggests. “None of the stuff leaked is of any consequence, it could be anyone. The information isn’t secretive . . . it’s just annoying. Think back. Think back to who would want to make things difficult for you.”
“You know we’ve already done it,” Jackson says. “We’ve gone over everything already and keep coming up with nothing.”
“There’s still one that I’m not sure about, Muff.”
Jackson shakes his head with a half laugh. “No. It’s not even a real option.”
“What’s not?” I ask.
Jackson grips the back of his neck. “I was married before. I ran Raven Cosmetics for a long time in my ex-wife’s memory. Then, before I expanded to the California office, I sold my shares. Mark,” he says his name like a curse, “seems to think Madelyn’s family holds a grudge.”
“It would make sense,” Liam adds.
“Why? We all moved on a long time ago. I sold the company back to them, and her brother and I made amends over her death. It would make more sense if it was tied to the military.”
The one thing I’ve learned about so many of these situations is that it actually doesn’t ever make sense. Nothing we believe to be true is ever there. Irrational people aren’t about sense and rational people don’t tend to do shit like this.
“I don’t know. I’m with Jackson,” I speak up. “If they wanted to fuck with Jackson, they could’ve.”
Mark shrugs. “But there were never any issues with Raven Cosmetics, only Cole Securities. If it was against Jackson, then wouldn’t they want to hit him from all sides? But they didn’t, which means that there was a personal reason that Raven wasn’t touched. Don’t you think that’s odd?”
“You’re what’s odd,” Jackson says with anger clear in his voice. “It’s not my former in-laws.”
“There’s only one way to be sure.” I get to my feet. “You need to look into it. You need to be sure because, if it isn’t them, then you’re back at zero.”
“And how exactly do you think I’m going to do that? They know Mark and me.”
I shrug. “They don’t know me.”
Jackson’s eyes narrow, and Mark nods slowly. “He’s right, Jackson. Quinn can go, snoop around, maybe gain access to people in their lives, and see if there’s something fishy.”
“And how is he going to do that?”
Please, like that wasn’t what we did half the time we were on missions? “I tail him. I watch, and if I can get close enough, I can plant a device on them and listen. You know, all the shit we were trained to do.”
I can see the uncomfortableness in Jackson’s stance. “I don’t like this. If they found out . . .”
“No one will know,” I vow.
“I would.” Jackson’s voice is steel.
“I won’t let anyone know who I am, Muffin.”
He takes a few breaths. “Fine. They’re in New York anyway. Consider this your first covert assignment. Don’t fuck this up, Quinn.”
I would laugh at him, but I have a feeling he might deck me. “Don’t worry, I won’t.”
“So, you’re investigating who is possibly sabotaging his company?” Ashton asks as she paces the living room.
I should’ve kept my damn mouth shut, but she asked why I was wearing a suit. Usually, when we’re in New York, I’m on the computer or video conferencing. I don’t have to dress up, so when I came out today, she asked a million questions.
“I’m helping because they don’t know me, so there is no reason for them to think Jackson is involved.”
Ashton laughs with a roll of her eyes. “You’re so stupid. You look like a cop or military. You don’t think they’ll be able to figure it out.”
She has no faith in me sometimes. “I was trained to blend, Ash. Give me a little credit.”
I can tell she’s unhappy about this, but I thought she’d understand. We’re in New York, and now I can stay for a few more weeks. Ashton is working at the lab for a few days this week and next because there’s some case she wants to be involved in, so this should’ve been a happy thing.
“I’m not sure I’m okay with this.”
“Okay with what?” I ask with my brows raised.
“You spying on some random people. How is this what you signed on for? You said you were going to be dealing with the logistics and security measures, not spying on his former in-laws.”
“It’s probably not even them.”
“Then you probably shouldn’t be doing this. It’s fucked up and what’s even more fucked up is that you’re the one going! Why doesn’t Jackson just ask them?”
I look at my watch, knowing that my schedule is tight. “I love you, Ash. I really do, but I have to go.”
She rushes over to the door, crossing her arms over her chest. “I’m not moving.” It’s cute that she doesn’t think I’ll lift her and move her to the side.
“Ashton.”
“Quinn. I’m going to give Jackson a piece of my mind about this.”
No, she’s not. I’m not playing a game with her. “I don’t meddle in your work, you’re not going to do it in mine.”
She scowls at me, and huffs. If I weren’t running late, I might find it adorable, but I am late, and right now, she needs to move aside. “Fine. I’m so mad though.”
“You’re being overly dramatic.”
That was probably not the right thing to say.
Her eyes widen and her teeth clamp down. I swear her head is about to explode with how heavy she’s breathing. I need to walk this back—quickly. “I didn’t mean it like that. Just that the hormones are probably not helping, and you know what my job is. You know who I am.”
A smile spreads across her face, and she moves toward the chair. Slowly, Ashton sits, her eyes watch me and I know I’m in for it. “You’re right, honey. The hormones are making me dramatic.”
I don’t trust this. “Ash.”
“No, no, I get it. I wouldn’t want to worry about you. It’s not like you’re untrained.”
“I’m not saying you don’t have cause for concern.”
She puts her hand up. “I won’t even think about it again. I mean, why should I care that you’re stepping into a possibly dangerous situation when we’re finally on solid ground, right? There’s clearly nothing to be uneasy about because, you know, people have only been blown up, shot, kidnapped . . . it’s fine.”
Fucking hell. I put my foot in my mouth this time. I crouch, taking her hands in mine. “I’ve never had anyone who worried about me when I left.” Her blue eyes lift to mine. “I spent my entire military career not even bothering to tell anyone when I was gone or came back. This is new for me, fragolina. Yes, I had you for a few years, but you never cried when I left, did you?”
She nods. “I just never told you.”
My heart breaks. I feel my chest grow tighter thinking of her being sad when I was gone. I didn’t think about how she might have felt, and I fucking hate myself. “You cried?”
“I missed you, Quinn. I love you, and when you were gone, of course I worried and cried.”
Jesus Christ. How dumb am I? I don’t think there are even words to adequately describe what a fucking fool I was. I assumed she went on with her life as though I meant nothing. It was probably my own idiot way of coping too.
“I’m so sorry.”
She touches her hand on my face. “You’re making it hard to be angry with you.”
“You have nothing to worry about, fragolina.” I lean up and press my lips to hers. “I’m just going to observe, and I’ll keep my distance unless I think there’s something more. Jackson doesn’t think it’s them.”
“This whole thing is unsettling.”
I agree with her, but I don’t want her to concern herself with any of this. I’ve been trained in ways she can’t even imagine, and the last thing I’m going to do is be stupid. If it is Jackson’s former in-laws, then they’re using someone else to do it, and that’s who I need to find. My plan is to find out what I can from afar and only get close if I have to.
“I trust Jackson,” I tell her with conviction. “He wouldn’t knowingly let any of his men walk into a dangerous situation. He’d do this himself, but he doesn’t want to worry Catherine, and he doesn’t think they’re capable of any of this.”
Ashton releases a heavy sigh. “You know she’ll kill him if she finds any of this out.”
“Not my problem.”
She leans in, kissing me softly. “No, but I’ll be your problem.”
“You’re my favorite problem to have.”
Fire ignites in Ashton’s eyes. “And what exactly would you do with me, Mr. Miller?”
The sheer number of things I’d like to do with her are staggering. “First,” my voice drops. “I’d like to kiss you.”
“I like that.” She smiles against my lips. “What else?”
“Take every fucking thing you’re wearing off.”
My cock goes hard as I imagine her naked. It’s only been twelve hours since I had her, but I want her again. Hell, I want her all the time. If I could get a job where all I do is pleasure her, I’d work overtime.
“I’m liking this problem-solving.”
I grin, pull her to her feet, and wrap my arms around her. “Then wait till you see the rest of my plans.”
I’m thinking we have a lot of things to work out, so I should get busy. Then I bring my lips to hers and get very, very busy.
30
Ashton
“So, why is this so important to you?” Quinn asks while I practically drag him toward the boardwalk.
“Well, you are about to experience what should be a staple in every person’s life.”
“Eating a cheesesteak?”
I shake my head with an exasperated sigh. “This isn’t just any cheesesteak, this is a Midway cheesesteak, Quinn. It’s where all the magic happened for North Jersey girls.”
My summer didn’t begin until I had one of these. Catherine, Gretchen, and I would drive to Seaside Height at the first sign of warmth for one of these. This beach is the beach of my youth. Now, if Quinn is going to be an active participant in my future, he must experience all the things that make me—me.
“I’m not a North Jersey girl, babe.”
“No, but you’re having a baby with one.”
“So, we drove over two hours for a sandwich?”
I groan and tug harder. “Just go in with an open mind.”
We walk up the steps, and the sea air hits me. It’s home. There hasn’t been a single summer since I turned sixteen where I didn’t come here. When Gretchen got her license, we would drive here each weekend. Our parents hated it, but it was freedom for us.
There was nothing like a Friday night, windows down, blaring some Nelly, and sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic on the parkway.
Every car was filled to the brim with teenagers, trying to escape to the shore.
And that’s not even mentioning prom weekend. I look over to the right, knowing the hotel that’s one block off the beach is where I lost my virginity. I should probably leave that part out when selling my love for the shore.
“I’m still not understanding why going to the beach was necessary for you. New York City is on an island.”
“It’s down the shore. Down the shore, not the beach, not the ocean, not going to catch waves . . . learn the lingo,” I chide as we move forward. “Sheesh, people will think we’re tourists.”
Quinn’s gaze sweeps the horizon, and I wonder if he’s seeing it the way I do. The hurricane destroyed this place and then a fire destroyed it even more. The old roller coaster that was on the pier was sitting in the ocean after Hurricane Sandy. I remember watching the television, calling Cat, and both of us crying. My cousin’s beach house was completely flooded, and so many people we know lost everything.
But no matter what people say about New Jersey . . . the people who live there are strong and don’t surrender.
We fight.
So, while it’s not the same roller coaster, there is a new one. And even though I didn’t kiss my high school boyfriend at the top of that one, I’d bet another girl has, which makes me smile.
“There are actual boards,” he muses as he kicks the ground.
“Yes, which is why it’s called a boardwalk, unlike in Virginia where you have it paved.”
“We pave it so people don’t trip, like that guy . . .”
Silly Quinn. “That’s part of the experience.”
He wraps his arm around my shoulders, pulling me to him and then kisses the top of my head. “Sometimes, I wonder about you.”
“Wonder away, but wait until you officially become Jersey approved.”
He doesn’t seem all that excited, but he will be.
We walk a bit and then the stand comes into view. In the middle of the boardwalk, there it is . . . Midway Steak House.
“That is where you wanted me to eat? It looks like a carnival stand.”
Oh, no. He will not ruin my day at the shore. I know that he’s overly careful about what he eats, but I’m not having it. We are going to enjoy this as though calories don’t count.
I turn to him, making sure my voice is strong and convincing. “For one day, you’re going to indulge me. You’re going to eat fatty, greasy foods, and like it. You’ll get ice cream wrapped in a waffle, fries, a cheesesteak, and maybe even some cotton candy because I’m pregnant and you did it to me.”
“On one condition.”
“I don’t think you’re in the position to bargain.”
Quinn grins as his hands rest on my hips. “I’m pretty sure you love me and I’m not going anywhere. So, now that we’ve established my groveling period is officially over, I’m most definitely in the position I want to be in.”
“Are you so sure of that?” I ask with one eyebrow raised.
“Yup.”
Damn it. He’s right. I do love him and I’m not about to get rid of him—even if it’s over food.
“What are your demands?”
He fights back a smile, but I still see it before he is able to control himself. “First, after this, you’re going to clean up your diet. You need to eat better, especially since you’re eating for two.”
I look at my belly with a frown. “The baby likes fries.”
“The baby”—he shakes his head—“should eat more apples than fries.”
“Whatever.”
“Second, you and all fast food are about to break up.” I go to open my mouth, but he starts back up before I can speak. “I know that you like it and I know the baby likes it, but if you want a day of me eating food I would never touch, then you’re going to sacrifice a bit for me.”
“For how long?
“One week.”
That’s not even an option. “No way. One day for you and one week for me?”
“Fine, two days.”
He’s nuts. I’m not giving up junk food because of this. Then I think about how I should turn the tables on him. Quinn wants me to quit junk food because he’s a health nut? Well, he hasn’t seen me really eat b
ecause I often hide some of it around him. “You know . . .” I say sweetly. “I was thinking, and you’re right.”
“I am?”
“Yeah, you shouldn’t have to eat anything you don’t want, even if it is something I want to share with you.” Quinn’s eyes narrow. He knows I’m up to something. I drop my head, looking at where my hands rest on his chest. Very innocently, which is not innocent at all, I start to move my fingers as though I’m playing with the fabric. “I know that it’s important to you to stay healthy, right?”
“Ash?”
Very slowly, I raise my head and look at him through my lashes before our eyes are fully engaged. “I’m sorry. I was being selfish wanting to give you a little part of my past. You see, if we had gone to school together, I’m one hundred percent sure it would’ve been us eating a cheesesteak and not my ex-boyfriend.”
His hands tense. Yeah, he’s done for. The one thing that Quinn can’t handle is me thinking about another man, even if said event happened before his time. “If it means that much . . .”
“No, no,” I say quickly. “There’s so much that I did here, and I wanted to have you be the man who erased the old memories and replaced them with new ones.”
“Memories?”
“Yeah, I mean, my ex-boyfriend in high school used to bring me here for a cheesesteak and then we’d ride the rides, get cotton candy, and he’d play a game until he won something.” Which he never did because he was cheap, but I don’t tell him that.
“Oh.”
“Yeah, and then in college, this guy I was seeing would bring me here on the weekends sometimes, and we would get an ice cream waffle. I just . . . I want to have that with you.” He seems to be at a loss, and I use this moment to go for the kill. “I’m sorry, Quinn. I just love you.”
“Don’t be sorry. I didn’t know, and I would erase your entire past if I could, sweetheart.” He leans forward, bringing his lips to mine.
“Come on, let’s go get that cheesesteak.”
Life with him is going to be so fun if I get my way this easily.
“You are not riding a damn roller coaster. I don’t give a shit what memories you have on it, you’re pregnant.”
Indefinite Page 18
