“What if I’m not willing to pay her price?”
“That’s the great thing about people. We all have multiple wants and needs to be fulfilled. You’ve just gotta find the right one.” His gaze dips to my mouth. As always, his eyes on my lips causes my breath to catch in anticipation of another kiss. “Now, no more talk about work. What kind of movie you wanna watch?”
The press of his thigh against mine proves to be a great distraction from my worries. I relax into his chest, resting a hand on his leg. We watch a comedy. It feels good to laugh for a change. He’s warm and comfortable, the perfect resting spot after a long, emotional day. Halfway through the movie, my eyelids grow heavy and close.
The next thing I know, the movie is over. Cash scoops me off the couch, carries me up the stairs to his room, and places me gently in his bed. Through sleepy eyes, I watch him strip out of his shorts, feel the mattress dip as he climbs into bed next to me and shuts off the lights. I turn to face him, snuggling as close to his chest as I can manage. He wraps his arms around me. The tip of my nose rests in the hollow of his throat. A few minutes later, his breathing evens out and I drift into sleep.
In the morning, I crawl out of bed to get ready for work, taking extra care not to wake him. The sheet puddles around his waist, revealing those delicious abs, and spikes of his short dark hair spill across the white pillowcase. I linger to take a final look at the fan of his long eyelashes over his high cheekbones. One of his hands snakes out to grab my wrist. I squeal as he drags me into bed with him.
“Hey.” I land on top of him. “I’m going to be late for work.”
“So what? You’re the boss. Call in.” His hands find my bottom and press my pelvis into the steel rod between his legs. He bucks into me, making my panties dampen. “I want you.”
His mouth finds mine. Our tongues dance against each other. When his fingers slip inside my panties, I summon the strength to protest. “No, Cash. Seriously. I’ve got to go. Em won’t be there to open.”
“I’ll be quick.”
My panties are already around my ankles. I lift my hips so he can drag the sheet from between us. With his hands on my waist, he guides me down onto his erection. The burn and stretch of his thickness make me hiss with pleasure. I rock slowly, already on the edge of release. Cash meets each of my movements with one of his own. His fingers dig into my flesh. Our pace quickens out of need. His upward thrusts become ruthless jabs. I cry out, caught off guard by the sudden grip of orgasm.
Cash’s head tips back into the pillow. The tendons in his neck strain and his body tenses as he comes. I’m mesmerized by the twitch of his muscles, the thick line of veins running down his biceps, and the expression of bliss on his face. His eyes open and capture mine. Taking my face in both hands, he draws me closer until our foreheads touch. “You feel so good, Jagger.”
“We didn’t use a condom.” The realization hits me like a punch to the gut. I’ve never had unprotected sex.
“When I’m with someone, I’m with them completely,” he replies. “We don’t need them. I’ve been tested, and I’m clean. Unless you’re afraid of getting pregnant.”
The thought of carrying Cash’s baby stirs a new kind of desire. How would it feel to hold his dark-haired baby boy in my arms? I shove the idea aside. I’d probably make a terrible mother, having never had a good example in my own life. “I’m on birth control.”
“Problem solved.” A smug smile bows his mouth. He clasps his hands behind his head and watches through narrowed eyelids as I climb off him. “Not that I’d mind a baby with you.”
My pulse stutters. “You want kids?”
“Sure. Someday. Lots of them.”
“How?” To cover my confusion, I head to the bathroom to clean up. “I mean, your lifestyle won’t provide the best environment.”
His silence makes me regret the statement. He rolls onto his side and stares at me. “I’ve been thinking about retiring. That’s why I’ve been working so hard over the past couple of years. I want out.”
Something in the tone of his voice gives me pause. I study his face. “You’re serious?”
“As a heart attack.” He throws the bedclothes aside then walks into the bathroom and turns on the shower. “I just need to finish up a few jobs, and I’m out.” His gaze finds mine in the mirror. “I have a plan.” Before I can ask more questions, he opens the shower door. “Care to join me?”
Ten
Cash
After Jag heads to work, I drive over to my warehouse on my Harley. Once a week, I meet Gage there to go over outstanding business items and check on my guys. The peeling paint and derelict appearance of the building are deceptive. We use this place as a hub for our many businesses, both legitimate and underground. Climate controlled rooms store precious works of art. An underground vault houses my personal records and cash. My men hang out in the clubhouse at the back, complete with a billiard room and an entertainment theater. There’s also a garage for bike repairs. Having a centralized meeting place keeps the guys out of trouble.
Gage is in the office, his feet resting on his desk, chair reclined to a dangerous angle. His boots drop to the floor when I open the door. “Morning, boss. You’re up bright and early today.”
“It’s a beautiful day.” I drop into my chair and avoid his raised eyebrows.
“You’re awfully fucking chipper.” His chair squeaks as he rocks forward. “Feeling okay?”
“Yeah, thanks for asking.” I toss a wadded sheet of paper at him. He snatches it from the air with a large hand.
“I suppose Jagger is responsible for your new outlook on life.” He tosses the paper back at me.
At the sound of her name, a grin stretches my cheeks. “Yeah. Maybe. What’s it to you?”
“It’s just—I haven’t seen you smile in a really long time. That’s all.”
I nod. Gage lets the subject drop, understanding my inability to discuss my feelings. That’s the thing with our friendship—he knows what I’m thinking without having to say it. I clear my throat. “What do you have for me today?”
“I put a tail on that guy in the green pickup truck.” He scrolls through the emails on his phone. “Here it is. Kyle Langdon. You’re not going to like it.” His gaze flicks up to mine before returning to the phone. “He got a six-year sentence for assault and battery but was released early due to overcrowding and good behavior. Seems he threw his girlfriend down a flight of stairs then stomped on her a couple times.”
“What a dick.” I rifle through the stack of papers on my desk in search of an invoice. “Why is he following me? Do you think Reaper is behind this?”
“That’s the thing. The girl he attacked was Jagger.”
It takes a few seconds for Gage’s message to penetrate the gears in my head. A spark of rage flickers to life in my veins, catches fire in my arteries, and explodes in my heart. I growl and sweep the contents of the desk onto the floor. This piece of trash hurt my girl. No wonder she has trust issues.
“She has a restraining order against him, but we both know those aren’t worth shit.” Gage’s calm voice clears away some of my fury. “According to his files, he’s put four other women into the hospital. Two of them dropped the charges against him, and two of them died from unrelated causes.”
“She must be terrified.” Her pain becomes mine. “Why didn’t she tell me?”
“Really?” Gage cocks an eyebrow. “You’re not exactly a nurturing kind of guy.”
“Right.” I walk to the window overlooking the warehouse floor and stare into the darkness. “I’m trying to change that, but it’s not easy.”
“Give her some time. She’ll come around.”
“I want him dead.” I turn to face him, leaning back against the wall, and cross my arms over my chest.
“You want me to put out a contract on him?”
“No. We can’t afford to bring this war back to our house. Not after Chelle.” I exhale to clear my head. “A loser like that has to have enemies. Se
e what you can dig up. And put someone on Jagger. I want her protected twenty-four-seven, but make sure our guy stays out of sight. I don’t want to worry her.” No one will hurt her again. Not while I have breath in my body.
Eleven
Jagger
Emeline doesn’t come to work for the rest of the week. In an effort to respect her request for space, I resist the urge to check up on her. I spend my days running the store, my evenings making copies of jewelry for Loretta, and the nights with Cash. We lounge around the pool beneath flickering torches and starry summer skies. Behind the gates of his mansion, he’s a different man—gentle, considerate, and sweet. However, his dark side lurks beneath his calm surface. A fact I haven’t been able to forget.
On Sunday, we cruise around the lake on his boat until late afternoon. He anchors in a quiet cove. The boat rocks gently on the blue water. Heat shimmers in the air. I’m wearing my best red bikini. He toys with the strings tied on my left hip. Every accidental brush of his hand on my skin sends a shiver of need along the insides of my thighs. I love spending time with him like this, often in silence. We’ve been staring at each other for almost an hour, sometimes smiling, punctuating the passing time with chaste kisses.
“How did you get this?” He runs a fingertip along the scar below my eyebrow.
“I fell. Years ago.” I pull away from him and smile to deflect a history I don’t want to share. “What about you? Where did your scar come from?” I kiss the faint white line above his eyebrow.
“Don’t change the subject.” He cups my chin. “I want to know everything about you.”
“It doesn’t work that way. You want me to share my past, but you don’t tell me anything about yours.” I try to pull away, but he holds me in place. There’s sadness in his eyes. My chest aches for the pain he never expresses.
His voice crackles, raw and rough. “I got my scar the day my dad died. I ran next door to get help. I fell and hit my head on the neighbor’s front step.”
“What happened to him?” I touch his scar.
“Like I said, he died.” He grabs my hand and kisses my index finger. “Your turn.”
“I don’t like to talk about it.” I blink away from his gaze, pushing the ugly memory out of my head. I understand his reluctance to revisit the past. How can I judge him when I’m the same? “Maybe we don’t have to share every detail of our histories.”
“Okay.” He tucks my hair behind my ear. “Agreed.”
The air cools as the sun progresses. We head back to the house, dock the boat, and go upstairs to change out of our bathing suits. Once he closes the bedroom doors behind us, he wraps his arms around my waist, kisses my bare shoulder, and holds me close. I tug on the strings of my bikini top then the bottom, letting them fall to the floor. He carries me to the bed and lays me on the mattress. We make love at an easy pace. He savors every inch of my body. It’s so easy to imagine this is my life. When he comes, he whispers my name, but it’s the softness in his gaze that undoes me.
It’s past midnight when we fall asleep. We spoon together, facing the lake. I fall into a deep sleep filled with sunshine and laughter and no worries. In the morning, he’s gone, but there’s a tray of fresh fruit and croissants next to the bed along with a vase of daisies from his flowerbed. There’s a note next to my plate. Meet me here at six. Wear something fancy. We’ll do dinner. Love, C.
Love, C. I read and reread the note a dozen times throughout the day. His handwriting is loose and scrawling, almost illegible. Does he really love me? The thought makes my face heat. I want to think it’s possible. My feelings are all over the place. Tonight will be our first real date, and I’m more than a little excited to see what happens.
At the end of the day, I head home to pick up a few items. None of these things are essential, but I needed an excuse to see Em. Now that I’m here, my courage dissipates. Em and Tony are seated at the dining room table eating a pizza. She doesn’t look up when I walk past. Tony gives me an apologetic smile. I feel like a stranger in my own home, and I hate it. It’s not about the house. It’s about Em. She’s my family. This feud is breaking my heart.
“I’ll be out of here in a minute.” I hustle into the bedroom and close the door. This is going to be so much harder than I anticipated. Disappointing Em is one of the most painful experiences in my life. I stuff Lucy’s favorite chew toy, my e-reader, an extra phone charger, and a framed photo of Callie into a duffel.
Her voice is tight when I re-enter the dining room. “Did you make the deposit today?”
“Yes. And I signed the checks you left on my desk.” I hate the way she avoids my gaze. “I really need you to come to work tomorrow.”
“I’ll be there.” Her lips press into a tight line.
Tony wipes his fingers on a napkin and gives us a stern frown. “Look, I don’t know the details of what’s going on here, and I don’t need to. All I know is that Em feels your boyfriend is taking advantage of you. Maybe he is. Maybe he isn’t. The two of you need to sit down and talk this through.” He gestures toward the empty chair at his side. “Em loves you to death, Jagger, and I’m sure you feel the same.” His words bring the sting of tears to my eyes. Em sniffles. He rubs gentle circles on her back. “Don’t let a difference of opinion ruin a beautiful friendship.”
“I’m willing to try,” I reply.
“Are you going to keep seeing him?” Em asks. “Because that’s the only way I’m going change my mind.” The point of her chin quivers.
“You’re so stubborn.” I throw my hands into the air, forgetting my vow to remain calm. “Why does it always have to be your way or the highway?”
“Because I’m right and you know it.” Em slams her hand on the table. Water sloshes over the top of her glass and drips onto the floor.
Tony clasps his hands in front of him. “I don’t know this guy, and I’m sure you have your reasons for disliking him, Em, but don’t you think you’re being a little unreasonable?” I’m surprised that Tony is actually on my side. “It’s not like she’s going to marry the guy.” Em’s gaze narrows. Tony continues, oblivious to her growing annoyance. “Maybe you should get to know him before you pass judgment. Why don’t the four of us go out for dinner or drinks this weekend?”
“I know enough about him,” she snaps, shrugging away from his hand.
“Fine.” I shoulder the strap of the duffel, take two steps toward the door, then stop. “I’ll be at the other store tomorrow. Call me if you need me.” I draw in a deep breath before launching my next sentence. “I’m going to make you co-manager of Mercer’s. You’ve earned it. You practically run the place anyway. I’m going to be busy with this other job for a while. I’ll stay out of your hair. Unless you’re still going to quit.”
“Really?” A flash of interest brightens her face. I’ll have to thank Cash for the tip on employee management. “Is Mr. Mercer okay with that?”
“Of course. Maybe you can do a better job than I have.” My phone buzzes with an incoming text from Cash. “We can talk details later. I’m late for a dinner date.”
“Where are you staying? With him?” Her scowl returns. “You are, aren’t you?”
“Yes.” Instead of giving into my feelings of guilt, I hold her gaze. “I really like him, Em. He’s being very good to me.”
“Because he wants to control you. Why can’t you see that?”
“He doesn’t.” My words are confident, but inside, I’m not so sure. I haven’t seen the dark side of Cash since I started staying at his place. My phone vibrates again. “I’ve got to go.”
“Right. He snaps his fingers, and you go running. Just like with Kyle.”
“He’s different, Em.” I sigh. “Why can’t you just be happy for me?”
“Because I know how this ends.” The legs of her chair scrape over the floor as she pushes away from the table and stands. “Have fun with your gang banger, but don’t come running to me when he breaks your heart.”
I watch her stomp down the hall to
her bedroom. Tony shakes his head. “I’m so sorry, Jagger. She’s only angry because she cares.”
“I know.”
“I’ll talk to her. She’ll come around.” He takes the duffel from my shoulder and walks me to the front door. “If you ever need someone to talk to, I’m a great listener.”
Something about his generous offer rubs me the wrong way. Shouldn’t he be with Emeline right now and not me? I pause with my hand on the doorknob to study him. His gaze is open and friendly, his posture relaxed. In a bold move, I decide to test his loyalty. “You still don’t know who I’m seeing, do you? She didn’t tell you?” He shakes his head. “It’s Cash. Cash Delacorte.”
“Oh?” His thick eyebrows lift. “No wonder she’s upset. Man’s got a helluva reputation down at the station.”
“Em’s upset because I asked her not to tell you—for obvious reasons—and she doesn’t like lying to you.” I brace for disapproval, questions, or a lecture.
“It complicates things for sure, doesn’t it?” He shoves his hands into his jeans pockets, rocks back on his heels, then exhales. “He’s a dangerous guy. She’s right to be worried, but you’re an adult. I’m sure you know what you’re doing.”
“That’s not the reaction I was expecting from you. Don’t you want to interrogate me?” I study his face, looking for clues about his thoughts. His reaction to this news is unexpected, like he isn’t surprised at all.
“I don’t like to mix my personal life with work. Unless I catch one of you in the commission of a crime, I have no reason to interfere.” He hands the bag back to me. “My offer for dinner or drinks still stands. I gotta say, I’m curious to meet this guy.”
“I don’t know. He’s not really a social kind of person.” I don’t want to hurt Tony’s feelings, but a meeting with Cash seems like a recipe for disaster. Especially when Tony seems too overeager and accommodating.
Absolute Trust Page 6
