Tommy narrowed his eyes at Jessica, but still shook her hand rather politely. Hopefully, she didn’t pick up on the subtle dislike that emanated off him. Tommy didn’t like any female that captured Conner’s attention, and one that looked so similar to Nour was really going to draw his ire. Competition, real or not, irritated Tommy.
“I’ve heard a lot about you. Conner says he couldn’t survive without you.” Jessica threw out a million-watt smile. Conner ducked his head. He was pretty sure he’d never said anything like that. Smart girl.
“Well, that is sweet of him.” Tommy looked down in a fit of the fakest modesty Conner had ever seen. “I haven’t heard all that much about you, but he asked me to pick this up. It must be for you.”
He handed her the tissue-wrapped package. While she unwrapped it, Conner gave Tommy a look that promised pain and torture. He’d make him do filing or some other menial task that would mess up his manicure. Tommy grinned in return.
“Oh, Conner you shouldn’t have gone to the trouble.” Jessica breathed out her surprise at the alabaster vase in her hands. It wasn’t quite the same as hers, but Tommy had good taste. A little bit smaller, the curves more delicate, he’d made a decent choice. “And, Tommy, thank you for going to get it.”
Tommy beamed with pride. He loved praise.
“Yes, thank you. Now go home.” Conner softened the order with a smile.
“Of course.” Tommy rolled his eyes and wiggled his fingers in a small wave at Jessica. “You kids have fun.”
“Really, Tommy, thank you.” Jessica gave him a full smile again, and Conner could have sworn that a little of the ice around Tommy’s girl-hating heart melted.
Jessica changed into some yoga pants and a t-shirt and put on some classic rock while Conner got out the plates. They kept the conversation light, and after dinner, Conner stretched out on the couch. She didn’t hesitate to get in right beside him, and he was more than content to hold her. Very innocently. He didn’t try to win a kiss or push things forward. When she fell asleep on his chest, he let her stay there until his phone buzzed again.
He sent Ahmed a text to go on home for the evening. He was staying there for the night, but he wanted Ahmed to come back early with one of his suits. Scooping Jessica up, he carried her into the bedroom. Once he tucked her in and was sure she was still asleep, he grabbed an extra blanket and headed to the couch. No way was he leaving her alone tonight.
Nour never once crossed his mind.
Jessica woke with a start.
She rolled over and looked at the clock. It was only 5:30. She didn’t remember going to bed. Her alarm wasn’t set.
Conner.
He must have brought her in here before he left. That was sweet of him. In fact, everything about him had been pretty perfect last night. She’d expected him to run screaming from her apartment when he heard her story. He didn’t. Not only did he not, he cleaned up, and stayed with her till she fell asleep. He sure had a sweet side. That was dangerous to know.
She kicked off the covers. Coffee. That was her first goal. She shuffled into her kitchen and froze. Conner’s phone was on the counter.
Curiosity almost made her pick it up and turn it on. Just to see whom he was getting texts from. That wasn’t right though. She had no claim on him. It was none of her business if other women texted him.
Coffee was brewing when the phone went off.
Nope. She wasn’t going to look.
She walked into the living room to pick up after last night and found the phone’s owner asleep on her couch.
A gasp of surprise escaped her.
He must have slept on her couch all night. His phone buzzed again. She went to the kitchen and grabbed it. Knowing him and the fact that he was probably late for work, he’d want it first thing.
She walked back and sat on the coffee table beside him. His dress shirt and slacks were tossed on the floor. He did still have a t-shirt on. Small mercies. A bare chested Conner would be hard to resist this morning.
“Conner,” she said softly to not startle him.
He threw his arm over his eyes and turned his back on her.
She couldn’t help it. She giggled. He looked so boyish with his hair all spikey and his white tee.
“Conner.” She laid a hand on his arm and gave him a gentle shake.
That didn’t work either. His phone’s text sound in her hand did though. He sat straight up and looked around, obviously confused where he was for a moment. The blanket pooled around his waist, and Jessica couldn’t quite discern exactly what he was wearing on that end.
“Morning.” She smiled when he grinned at her, and held out his phone.
“Ahmed. Always punctual,” he murmured and scrubbed a hand over his face. “Is there coffee?”
“It’s brewing,” she said.
“Good. Mind if I grab a shower?”
“Why did you stay?” she asked at the same time.
“I wasn’t leaving you alone.”
That was sweet of him. She blushed. He chuckled.
“Now, your shower?”
“Depends.” She shrugged.
“On?” He raised an eyebrow at her.
“What all you’ve got on?”
He laughed. Her face was on fire.
“I didn’t sleep in just my t-shirt, love. I promise I have boxers on.” He stood up before she could say anything else. Thankfully he was truthful. He had on black boxers, but still, if Jessica blushed anymore, she could light a roman candle with her cheeks.
“I assume there are towels in the bathroom.”
He walked on in without waiting for an answer.
Ahmed delivered his suit while Conner was in the shower. Jessica looked through the peephole and opened the door for him.
“In the bedroom,” she said.
Ahmed dipped his head. “Sabah al khayr.”
She smiled. “Good morning to you too. Thank you again for checking the place out last night.”
“Afwon.” He headed into the bedroom.
“And for dinner as well.” Jessica called after him. For some reason, she really wanted him to like her. She hadn’t really met anyone else close to Conner so his staff were the only ones she had to really make an impression on.
He returned a moment later.
“Can I offer you coffee?” she asked, holding out a cup. An empty cup. “Well, I could put some coffee in it.”
She giggled nervously.
“No, thank you, Miss. Tell the mister I will be waiting downstairs.”
“I sure will. Have a lovely day.” Jessica smiled brightly. Never mind that she probably didn’t look her best as six a.m.
“You too.”
Ahmed didn’t waste another second. He probably couldn’t wait to get out of there.
She set the coffee cup down.
“Well, hopefully he thinks I’m only slightly nuts.”
“Who thinks you’re nuts?” Conner waltzed into the kitchen in his boxers, toweling off his head. Jessica breathed out. His stomach was rock hard. She’d seen it before, at the pool of course, but that was far from looking at home in her apartment. His blonde hair fell in wet waves that grazed his forehead.
He reached past her for the forgotten empty cup and poured his own coffee. He smelled like her flowery body wash, but it didn’t smell so girly on him.
“Huh?” he prodded.
“What?”
“Who thinks you’re nuts?”
“Oh.” She licked her suddenly incredibly dry lips. “Ahmed.”
Conner sipped his coffee, but over the rim of his cup, his green eyes sparkled at her.
”I forgot to thank him for dinner last night,” she rambled on and looked anywhere but his abs. “Then I tried too hard to make up for it.”
“I pay Ahmed not to notice such things.”
Conner sat his cup down and backed her up until she was locked between him and the counter. His hands rested on either side of her hips.
He wasn’t touching her, but
oh how she wanted him to.
“But I notice all sorts of things.”
“Like what?” she asked.
He smiled. But it wasn’t the kind gentle smile that he’d given her last night or even this morning. This one was as hot as the desert sun. Jessica nearly melted.
“Like how adorably pink your cheeks have been this morning. Do you always wake up so flushed?”
He winked and backed away. That was good. Safe for him. She wanted to smack him more than she ever had before.
“I’ve got a business dinner tonight,” he called from the bedroom. Jessica hadn’t moved. She swallowed. Why hadn’t he kissed her? Surely he wasn’t taking her seriously about the Great Pyramid. She checked into it when they got back from Luxor. There was no climbing allowed.
“It’ll be late, and I don’t want to disturb you, but I am making a great sacrifice.”
“How so?” she squeaked out. She hated the tremor in her voice.
“I’m taking the company car service. You get to have Ahmed.” Conner was shrugging into his jacket as he came into the room. His tie dangled loosely around his neck. The red tie went with his gray suit very nicely. His hair, though, was still all over his head.
“I have a ride to work.” She had been riding with Jeff even though it wasn’t the best arrangement. Plus, he drove like a maniac. But she didn’t want to complain.
“Not today. Ahmed is taking you to the embassy. Where I hope that you’ll go to the housing office and demand a new apartment or at least new locks.” Conner finished off his coffee.
“And then?” Jessica crossed her arms. She didn’t need his high-handed tactics, especially after she put with his arrogance.
“And then, Ahmed will take you anywhere you need to go, bring you home, check the apartment, and be downstairs watching for unsavory characters all night.” Conner crossed his arms to mirror hers. “Please don’t think I’m being overbearing. I’m worried about your safety. Last night you were too upset to lock the door.”
She opened her mouth to argue, but he held up his hand.
“Honestly, I can’t do much to keep you safe, but I can give you Ahmed, and security is what he does.”
He tilted his head. Half-dressed and sincere as he was, how could Jessica say no?
“For today?”
He crinkled his forehead.
“I tell you what. You see about getting your locks changed, and I’ll do some checking around town. I have a contact or two at the embassy myself. If I find out that this Rick-loser is still in Russia. Then it’ll be just for today.”
He took her hand and pulled her into his arms.
“Deal?” he asked.
She nodded.
“Good. Now remember, I won’t be by tonight, but we’ll do something fun tomorrow.”
He let go and refilled his coffee mug.
“I’ll bring this back tomorrow.” He winked and let himself out of the apartment. Jessica was more confused than ever. He was worried about her safety. He held her close. Why didn’t he kiss her?
Conner looked like hell when he walked into his office. His hair was still damp. He hadn’t shaved or brushed his teeth. And the suit Ahmed had brought him, last year’s, was a little too tight in the seat. Luckily he’d weathered many a party that lasted till dawn and cleaned up at the office.
However, he hadn’t been counting on Trent Baker sitting on the edge of his desk, leafing through his inbox. Conner froze, and Tommy plowed right into his back.
“What are you doing here?” Conner heaved a sigh. Trent, Cahill Jr.’s main flunky, was no doubt snooping for juicy gossip, not actually working. Conner showing up looking like he’d pulled an all-nighter was just the tidbit Trent salivated over.
“I came by to see if you’d be available for a conference call later this afternoon.” Trent swung his leg like this was his office and he was having a leisurely chat. Conner wanted to break his nose. “Looks like you had a rough night.”
Conner shrugged out of his jacket and tossed it on a chair.
“Get lost, Trent.”
“Come down when you’ve had some coffee and a shave?” Trent hopped off Conner’s desk.
“Or never. I can’t imagine there’s anything we need to have a conference call about,” Conner growled.
“There is.” Trent laughed. “Stone has a new drill team he wants to introduce.”
Conner ground his teeth.
“Conner’s team from Zigazag will be handling all projects for the next six months.” Tommy smoothly and calmly said what Conner was sure to have turned into an insult. Playing nice with these jerks was something he just hadn’t learned to do well yet.
“We’ll see about that.” Trent brushed an imaginary piece of lint from his slacks and stood up. “You might want to make sure you’re on that call after all.”
Conner couldn’t even fake a smile or nice comment. He crossed his arms over his too tight shirt and looked at his office door.
“Just get out.”
Trent gave him a lazy smile and made his way slowly to the door. Just before he left, he glanced back.
“Four. In the boardroom,” he called over his shoulder.
“Oily snake,” Tommy muttered. He shook off as if Trent had indeed left an oily film on him.
“How did he get in here?” Conner rolled his eyes. “Were you busy flirting with that boy down in the mailroom, instead of being at your post diligently guarding my office?”
Tommy gasped and plunked his hand on his hip. “You know I only have eyes for you, but you are intent on ruining yourself with all these nonsensical women.”
Conner pushed into his private bathroom.
“Not every second of my day revolves around you.” Tommy was right behind him. “Don’t start with me, Tommy. You know I don’t want Junior or Trent in my office. I need you watching my back.” Conner yanked off his tie. There was a fresh suit that actually fit in his closet.
“So you fall head over heels for a blue-eyed Egyptian woman with a crazed father. Take her around, introduce her to all your friends. Ask her to marry you. Create this perfect life for her. An escape from the traditional path her father wants her to take. She turns you down flat. Chooses a miserable life with another man because that’s what’s expected of her, but strings you along, giving you one night a year. Then you spend the next five years clinging to that one night like a damned drowning man, and when it’s over, who is there to put you back together? Me. Not any of your snooty frat brothers. Me. And you have the nerve to say I don’t have your back.” Tommy tapped his shoe on the tile. He was pissed. Beyond pissed.
Conner took a deep breath. He couldn’t take out his frustration on his right hand, not when he needed him to not only spy on Junior, but now Jessica’s ex too.
“You’re right. I know. I’m sorry. I’m an ass,” Conner was much gentler, by way of an apology.
“Would you please get me a fresh coffee? Special like you make it.” Conner doled out Tommy’s favorite smile. Worked like magic, every single time. But he still rolled his eyes at Conner before he left.
While he was gone, Conner shaved and brushed his teeth. He put his new suit on, and by the time he came out of the bathroom to find a steaming cup of coffee and a pastry on his desk, he felt human. He rubbed his neck and rolled his stiff shoulders. Jessica needed a better couch. Better yet, next time he’d sleep in her bed.
“Hey, Tommy. I need a favor.”
Promptly, his assistant popped back into his office with his notepad at the ready. Conner wrote down Rick-loser’s name on a sticky and passed it on.
“This guy works for the U.S. Embassy in Russia. Could you verify that he showed up for work today?”
Tommy studied the name and then spared a glance glance for Conner.
“Does this have to do with last night?”
“It does.” Conner sipped his coffee, without making direct eye contact.
“Is this going to be like that time you had me hire some goons to follow Nour�
��s brothers while they shopped for fruit?” Tommy’s disapproval could be a terrible thing. He never forgot anything.
“Nothing like that, and don’t call them goons. They were just some extra security.”
“Oh really, how about that time you had me have Nour followed the whole month of June in case she changed her mind and decided to come back to you.”
That had been after their first yearly meetup. Conner had been in bad shape.
“No. This isn’t like that at all.” Conner slouched down in his chair.
“Or…” Tommy started.
“Okay, yes.” Conner cut him off. “I’ve had you do some stupid things in the name of love.”
“In the name of obsession.” Tommy threw down his pad and pencil on Conner’s desk. “You’re a blind fool.”
That stung. A little too close to the truth for comfort.
“No doubt, but this is different. This guy is Jessica’s ex-husband and is responsible for the break-in at her place last night. I want to know if he did it himself or hired it out.” Conner ran a hand through his hair. He’d give about anything to start this morning over. Well, at least the part after he got to work. Jessica’s lovely blushing cheeks had been pretty spectacular to wake up to. “I only want to keep her safe. Not obsessing.”
“Hmm.” Tommy scooped his pad back up. “Let’s see if you can keep it that way.”
The proposal Cahill Jr.’s team put forth was garbage. It would cost twice as much as Conner’s team and take twice as long.
Conner shot Junior and Trent a nasty look before leaving the conference room. What a complete waste of time. Of course the old man ate it up. Proud to see his son showing an interest or some crap. Now Conner was going to have to put together a counter proposal.
“Conner?” Trent yelled after him.
Conner didn’t bother to look back.
Tommy leapt up when he neared the office.
“I found what you were looking for on that gentleman in Russia,” he said as he closed the door.
“And?” Conner flopped down in his chair.
“He did show up to work today. He’s not left Russia since he took the post.” Tommy handed him a series of emails between him and a staffer at the U.S. Russian Embassy dated today and discussing a couple of meetings.
Pyramids and Promises (Omega Mu Alpha Brothers Book 2) Page 7
