by Evie Nichole
I wiggled against his broad shoulders and sighed. “Not that kind of job, Jack.”
He stilled and turned his head so he could look at me. “You’re still dancing?”
“Stripping. I strip. And yes. Turns out that it’s one of my only skills. It’s easy to find work. I just need a ride into town and I’m sure I can be working by tonight. I’ll find somewhere willing to pay under the table and I’ll have money by early tomorrow morning. Then I can get a motel room and buy my own food.”
He looked pissed. Instead of putting me down, he walked me into a beautifully decorated living room. “This is your living room. There’s a TV and a DVD player. DVDs are in the bookshelf in the corner. There are some books in there, too. Also, there’s satellite TV, so pretty much anything you’d like to watch, it’s there.”
“Are you just choosing to ignore me completely? I just said I’m not staying here and I gave you my plan. Just listen to me, dammit.”
“That isn’t a plan. You don’t have to strip anymore, Red. You can just relax while we figure out how to handle Snake.”
I struggled even harder to get away from him. He was actually really starting to push me too far. “I don’t need saved from my career choices, Jack.”
“Are you sure about that? You’re still stripping, six years later. Have you really gotten that far away from where you were?”
I saw red and thrashed so hard that he pulled me down, into his arms, and held me firmly to his chest. I ended up head butting him and still he didn’t let me go. It took the wind right out of my sails, though. I groaned and rested my head on his shoulder as a throbbing pain shot through my forehead.
“Jesus. Your head is a rock.”
Jack grunted and shook me. “You’re starting to piss me off.”
“Well, good! Welcome to the club. You assume that because I’m stripping that I’m still in the same position I was in all that time ago. I’m not. I’m not stripping because if I don’t someone will beat the shit out of me. I’m not stripping because it gets me away from my old man for a few minutes and those few minutes are the best part of every day. I’m stripping because I need money. That’s all. I’m just stripping to pay bills and to get out of the shelter. That feels worlds away from where I was.”
When he still didn’t say anything, I sighed. “Jack, when my Mom was alive, I barely got to go to school. After she died, Snake took me out of school completely. I can’t have a normal job. A friend gave me a job at the local library in Jackson, but it didn’t pay enough. I have to do what I can to make sure I can support myself. It’s not a big deal.”
He stared into my eyes, and I saw the frustration and concern playing in his. It’d been a long time since anyone looked at me with concern in their eyes. “I’ll give you a job at the office.”
I shook my head. “I can’t do anything. I have virtually no education. No diploma. No GED.”
“You worked at the library. What did you do there?”
I shrugged as best as I could, still in his arms. “Everything.”
“Then I’m sure you can do the same at my office. I’ll loan you some money to buy work clothes and food. Then, if you feel it absolutely necessary, you can pay me back when you get paid.”
I hesitated. “I’m not sure that it’s a good idea.”
“Why?”
“Your office is very nice, Jack. I saw the women that worked there. They’re used to being around men in suits all day long. I’m not going to fit in. I’m more used to being around men in leather.”
He shifted and lowered his arms. One of them hooked under my ass and my legs naturally went around his waist. With my arms free, I crossed them over my chest to keep from touching him anymore than I already was. My body was aching for him in ways that I couldn’t remember ever aching for another man.
Jack cleared his throat. “You’ll fit in fine. Bo liked you. He never likes anyone.”
“Bo liked me because I embarrassed all of his recruits.”
“I’m not putting you down until you agree to work for me.”
I wanted to refuse to ever work for him. I could feel his hard body pressed against mine and all I wanted to do was take my clothes off for him. Ironic, since he was fighting to keep me from stripping. “Fine. I’m only agreeing to work for a couple of days, though. If it doesn’t work, I’m not chained to it. And I’m not staying here. This place is too nice.”
“The house comes with the job. Either you stay here or you stay in a guest room in my house. Your choice.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “This house it is, then.”
He released me and I slid down his body until my feet touched the floor. “Perfect.”
I couldn’t miss the huskiness to his voice or the straining erection pressing against my stomach. I sucked in a big breath and spun away from him. No matter how much my body said that it wanted him, I didn’t trust it. I moved even farther away and nodded. “When do I start?”
“Tomorrow morning. There’s a laundry room at the back of the house. Do you have anything to wear tomorrow? You can go during your break tomorrow to buy more clothes. If not, I’ll take you tonight.”
I shook my head. I didn’t need more time alone with him. “I have something I can wear tomorrow. Thank you.”
He backed away, looking just as uncomfortable as I felt. “I’ll have someone bring you dinner tonight. Steak okay?”
I nodded. “Yep.”
“Great. I’ll pick you up at seven o’clock in the morning.”
“Great.” I winced at how instantly awkward it had become. My skin wanted to crawl away from me, if the feelings were an accurate representation.
“Great. See you then.” He turned and left.
A few seconds later I heard the door shut and sighed. Thank god that was over.
Chapter 7
I was standing in the laundry room, naked and reading a book, when I heard the front door open. I looked around for something to put on but every stitch of clothing I owned was in the washing machine, soaking wet.
“Red?” Jack called for me while walking in my direction.
Panicking, I slammed the door shut and blocked it with my body. “Go away!”
Jack’s footsteps came closer. “What’s wrong?”
I winced. “Nothing. Just don’t come in.”
He pushed against the door. “What’s going on?”
I forced the door closed with all of my strength. “I’m washing all of my clothes, Jack! Don’t come in!”
He stopped pushing and I heard him groan. “You’re naked.”
I sighed and pressed my forehead against the door. “Yep. Completely naked.”
He was silent for a few seconds. Then, he moved away from the door. “I’m leaving your dinner on the kitchen counter. It’ll be better warm.”
“Thanks. See you tomorrow morning.”
He didn’t say anything as he left. I heard the door slam shut and let out a big breath I’d been holding. I rested against the door and let my head fall back against it.
“Get it together, Raelyn,” I chastised myself, before opening the door and peeking out. After being sure that he was gone, I locked the front door and found multiple plates of food on the table. I grabbed them and went back to the laundry room, more comfortable in the smaller space.
He’d brought me steak, salad, a baked potato, and a slice of cheesecake. I sat on the floor and fell back for a second, thanking whatever higher power there was for a meal that I could never have afforded.
The last time I’d had steak was when I was ten. Mom had actually been sleeping with a guy who was okay. He had come over and grilled steaks for them before taking her to her room and having loud sex. I’d gotten to eat the steak Mom had left on her plate, and it’d been a great day. I’d gone outside and sat in the sun as I read a book with a full stomach.
I sat back up and actually clapped before digging in. I loved food. Being poor didn’t allow me the food pleasures that I really wanted, though. I cherished
every bite as I stuffed my face. Halfway through, I switched out my laundry and grabbed a glass of water from the fridge. Then, I went back and finished. By the time I got to my dessert, I was full, but I couldn’t stop. I cleaned off the cheesecake plate and then stacked them together with the silverware. I lay back on the cold tile floor and groaned.
I fell asleep there and woke up only when the dryer buzzed that my clothes were finished. I cleaned up my mess and folded my clothes before taking a fast shower and then getting into one of the beds on the second floor. I set the alarm clock that was next to the bed and fell asleep feeling warm and comfortable.
When Jack knocked the next morning, I was dressed in my sundress with my wedge heels on. My hair was curling wildly down my back, and I’d found a tube of brand new mascara and lip gloss in the bathroom drawer, so I was wearing makeup.
His eyes went down my body and then he stepped back. “Hi.”
I stepped out of the house and pulled my bag higher on my shoulder. “Hey. Thanks for dinner last night. It was amazing. I have the dishes on the counter inside whenever you want them. I washed them this morning.”
He watched as I locked the door and tucked the key into my bra. He coughed lightly and then backed even farther away. “You look nice.”
I looked down and sighed. “It’s not really office appropriate, but I don’t have anything else. I had this one outfit I wore on stage that would’ve been perfect, but…it’s back in Jackson.”
“One of your stage outfits?”
I blushed and nodded. Why was I still talking? “Naughty secretary. It starts out innocently enough, though. White button down shirt with a black pencil skirt. Of course, they’re both breakaways, so that could get awkward.”
Jack swallowed so hard that I heard it from four feet away. He nodded and then motioned toward the large truck behind him. “Let’s go.”
I groaned under my breath and slapped my forehead after he’d turned away. What was wrong with me? I’d lost my ability to remain calm. I’d had dreams of Jack all night long that were so far from appropriate that I could barely look at him in the light of day.
He opened the passenger-side door for me and offered me his hand. “Do I need to go with you shopping today?”
I climbed into the truck and settled into the seat. “I’m not going to buy anything that I could strip in, Jack.”
He eyed me with suspicion before going to his own side and getting in.
He drove silently, with just a news station playing quietly in the background. I was losing it. It was too quiet, and I was feeling too much tension between us.
“Sorry about being naked last night. I just needed to wash everything.” I cleared my throat. “I guess I shouldn’t be shy about it, though, right?”
He sped up and chanced a look over at me. His blue eyes looked stormy.
I turned back to the road and balled up my hands in my lap. Things were painfully awkward. “So…”
He jabbed at the radio until music came on and then turned it up. “Let’s just not talk about it.”
I bit my tongue and nodded. It was probably for the best. I was saying stupid shit.
For the rest of the ride, I kept my mouth shut. Even as we walked into the building together, I didn’t say anything. Something about him was making me stupid.
Something. As if I didn’t know what it was. I was stupidly attracted to him. His smell, his looks, the way he held me… Everything about him invaded my senses until I’d lost the ability to think straight if he was close.
The elevator ride to the top floor was painful. A few men had joined us and they’d picked up on the tension, apparently. They didn’t speak at all, and when they got off on their floor, they looked back at us with curiosity.
I turned to him to say something about it just as the elevator doors opened. He stepped out and started down the hallway without waiting for me. I hurried after him, getting fed up with his attitude. It was awkward, sure, but he couldn’t just ignore me.
He stepped into his office and I touched his shoulder, ready to make him face me, but he spun around faster than I’d expected and grabbed me. He pushed me back, closing the door with the weight of my body, and then lowered his mouth to mine.
His mouth was firm and demanding as he pressed his body against mine. He was all hard muscle while I just melted against him. I held onto his shoulders as he lifted me and held my ass as his mouth teased mine into opening.
The first taste of Jack was like a rush of adrenaline. He stroked my tongue with his and moaned when my fingers scraped over his scalp. I kissed him back for all that I was worth, feeling out what was right in the moment. I’d only kissed two other people in my life. One of them hadn’t been willing, and kissing Mark had been soft and so delicate. Nothing like kissing Jack.
I bit his full lower lip and then sucked it into my mouth to run my tongue over it before opening to him once more. He rubbed his body against mine and I felt how hard he was, pressing into my core.
“Jack.” I moaned his name and cupped his face to kiss him again, when there was a knock at the door.
He jerked away from me so fast that I fell to my ass. Instead of helping me up, he paced away from me and ran his hands through his hair roughly. “Fuck!”
I pulled myself to my feet and glared at him. “What’s your problem?”
Another knock sounded at the door and I stepped out of the way as it opened. A petite blonde woman wearing an all-white outfit, including white tennis shoes came in. Her hair was curled perfectly and her makeup was done well enough that she could’ve walked down the red carpet. Her wide blue eyes didn’t even pause on me as she moved across the room to Jack.
She dropped her large purse on his desk and then reached up to press a kiss to his mouth. “Hi, Jacky. You didn’t answer your door.”
I’d seen enough. I quietly slipped out of his office and headed toward the bathroom, feeling like I might actually throw up. I was so pissed off that I wanted to cry. The best kiss of my life and it was with a cheater. Great.
Bo stepped out of an office and spotted me. He grinned until he saw the look on my face. “Hey, what’s wrong?”
I jerked my hand back toward Jack’s office, where the door was still open and I could hear the blonde giggling like Jack was the funniest man on earth. “That…asshole!”
Bo looked behind me and then winced. “Let’s take this into my office.”
I shook my head. “I need to go throw up.”
I made my way to the bathroom and then glared at myself in the mirror. I couldn’t believe how stupid I’d been. I’d gotten sucked into my lust and let that wreck happen. As much as I was pissed at Jack, I was just as pissed at myself for not realizing that I could jeopardize the only thing I had going for me. All of my help with taking Snake down could just vanish. Because I couldn’t put a stop to whatever lust was building between Jack and me.
I stared at my reflection and gritted my teeth. I was not my mother. I could get my shit together.
I tried to shake it off and stepped back into the hallway. At the same time, a man who looked similar to Jack was walking past.
He stopped in his tracks and sent me a raised eyebrow look. “Red?”
“I prefer Raelyn.”
A ghost of a grin crossed his face and he held out his hand. “Brent Stone. I’m Jack’s older brother. He told me that you were going to start working here.”
I smoothed the front of my dress, feeling suddenly underdressed next to his suit. “Nice to meet you.”
He glanced back down the hallway, where the blonde could still be heard giggling, and shook his head. “It seems Jack’s busy. How about I get you started in my office?”
That sounded like an amazing idea. Anything to avoid having to walk back into Jack’s office and ask him for a job to do in front of his girlfriend. Or wife. Oh, god, I thought with a sinking feeling. What if he was married?
“Sure. That sounds great. I’m not sure my office skills will be exactly up to p
ar with what you’re used to, but we’ll see, right?”
That got another ghost of a smile. “I like your optimism.”
“It might be the only thing I’ve got left.” I mumbled under my breath, low enough that he wouldn’t hear me. I didn’t want to come off as easy to one brother and insane to the other. Heaven forbid.
Chapter 8
I stayed in Brent’s office until lunch. He had me sorting out his filing cabinets. The man was old school. It didn’t make any sense. He couldn’t be more than a few years older than Jack was, but he seemed like he already had one foot in the grave. I was concerned he was actually a senior citizen who just looked like a man in his mid-thirties.
I couldn’t see a computer anywhere in his office. He just had files upon files upon files. Stacks of notebooks littered the large office, too, along with random stray pens, balled up sheets of paper, coffee cups, and newspapers. The man was a collector of trash and things that didn’t normally make sense in modern offices. I wasn’t sure, but I would almost swear there was a typewriter behind his desk.
He didn’t want me cleaning anything, just organizing the filing cabinets. They’d gotten out of hand, apparently, even for his standards.
We’d argued for a solid twenty minutes because to have space to start organizing, I had to clean off the top of the coffee table in front of the couch, which was also covered. He wouldn’t let me clean it myself, stating that I hadn’t been hired as a maid. So, I’d cleaned off a table with one of the owners of the company, while asking him questions about the place.
He’d been forthcoming and said that their father had left them all a massive amount of money, but he and his brothers, Jack, Aiden, and Gentry, had all already gone off to become cops or soldiers at that point. They’d had no desire to become kept people, unlike their little sister, so they poured the money into the business. Aiden and Gentry were still on active duty for a little while longer, but when they were done, they’d come back to work at the family business.
Brent spent the rest of his time on the phone, calling people about cases he was working on. I tuned him out and worked hard on getting his office back in order. He didn’t know it, but I was going to clean his office if it was the last thing I did.
