“We’re never going to be square.” Jane kissed his cheek. “Machiavellian.”
“What?”
“A thirteen letter word for expediency, deceit and cunning. Seven down.”
“I’m not to the down part yet.” He smacked her knee with the paper. “Go face your mama alone.”
She stood up. God she loved him. “I brought my Kevlar.”
“You’re going to need it.”
That was cool. “Oh I have a souvenir for you.” She handed him the three plain beige boxes.
He flipped the lid and then closed it quickly. “Are those what I think they are?”
She nodded. “I have no idea what you are talking about.”
“How did you--”
“I liberated them from a corrupt fascist regime so they could taste the sweet freedom of this glorious country. I was doing God’s work.”
“You’re a patriot.” Pete snickered.
“I am.” Jane got up and walked into the kitchen to see her mom standing over a boiling pot. Her nose told her it was gumbo. Tradition was that everyone showed up to Addy’s and Pete’s for Sunday lunch. Jane showed up early so Addy could get her ass chewing out of the way and they could get on with the rest of day. Baby Marisol was sitting in her highchair munching on carrots, she turned her head and squealed. Jane walked over to the baby.
“Did you think you could sneak up on me?” Addy lifted the spoon from the pot and banged it on the lip. She put it down and popped her hip against the granite kitchen counter.
She wasn’t that good. Jane took the baby out of the highchair and hugged her inhaling her sweet baby scent. “I like your new hair. You wear the braids well.”
“I could afford to get my hair done since I no longer have a house payment.”
“Win win.” Jane walked over and leaned over and kissed her caramel skinned forehead. “Don’t be mad.”
“What did you have to do this time?”
“I helped make the world a little safer.”
Her hazel eyes narrowed. “The more money you make the badder they are.”
Jane laughed. The op went by the numbers. “Actually it was one of the easiest job I ever had to do.”
“I heard you got shot at last night.”
Damn sometimes she hated that her dad was a cop. “Did Detective Swan call Pete?”
Addy rolled her eyes. “He asked a lot of questions about you. Pete said he’s in need of the right wife.”
Well shit, that ain’t me. She didn’t want to talk about Swan he was so not her type. Which was strange because he used to be. “So we’re not going to talk about the money?”
“Are you going to take it back?”
“Nope.”
Addy pursed her lips. “Why should I waste my time? I’ll be silently angry.”
“Cool.” I can handle that. “Actually Declan Shaw was shot at, I was just in the same room.”
“Is he okay?”
“He handled it better than I expected.”
“Disappointed?”
How did she tell her mom, she have a crush on a big bad rock star. “He’s not the ass I thought he'd be.”
“What about the other one?”
“Malcolm?” That’s one Addy really wanted to hear about. “He’s not the ass I needed him to be.”
“You like him?”
She did like what she knew about him, although he was trying to figure her out, but she had been politely evasive. “I don’t know if I’d go that far, but he seems okay. He’s a good friend to Declan.”
“Are you going to tell him who you are?”
At this moment no, but in five minutes that might change. “I’m conflicted.”
“In what way?”
When you had a mother who worked in the foster care system, she knew how to dissect a problem and make you talk whether you wanted to or not. “I’m jealous.”
“Why?”
Jane didn’t detect any judgment in Addy’s question. “I’m angry that Fox Elliot threw me and my mother away.”
“So it’s not Malcolm you're mad at, it’s your father.”
She leaned back on the counter. “I shouldn’t be mad at either of them. I have a great family. You and Pete love me. You kept me safe and made me the person I am. Who knows how I would have ended up if my bio dad was in my life. I could be some waste of space celebutant.”
“It’s okay to be mad at your father. It’s okay to like Malcolm, and you would still be you no matter who raised you.”
God she loved Addy. “How do you know the right thing to say?”
She shrugged. “I wing it.”
“We’re cool?”
She let out a long breath. “I don’t have to sell a kidney to pay for Kendra to go to Stanford, but I still don’t like that you didn’t ask me or your father first.”
She kissed her mother’s forehead. “Get over it.”
“I will… eventually.” Addy pointed to the back of the house. “Go take a nap, you look tired. Lunch will be ready in a couple of hours and you can tell Kendra the good news then.”
Jane smiled breathing a sigh of relief. She knew if Addy pressed the point she would have relented and taken back the money. She did feel better getting her feelings about Malcolm and Fox off her chest. In her logical mind, she knew Addy was right all those thoughts were okay, but she still had to deal with Malcolm and mostly she had to deal with her escalating attraction to Declan Shaw. That man was rocking her world and she didn’t like it one bit.
Chapter Nine
DECLAN STUDIED his appearance in the mirror. His hair was disheveled but sexy or so the hairdresser said. He was wearing a thin white long sleeved Henley and black jeans. They gave him room to move but showed off his assets. He hoped Jane liked what he was wearing. He noticed the way she checked him out and for the last couple of weeks they’d been playing this little cat and mouse game that was really turning him on.
Ever since she’d slept with him something had begun to change in their relationship. Not that she didn’t still give him a hard time and was a verbally challenging as always, but when he touched her she didn’t momentarily tense. It was like she was accepting his attention. She still denied him when he tried to get her into bed, but she definitely softened toward him. He liked it.
Speaking of Jane, she was late. Which never happened. That woman ran better than the Atomic clock. He stepped out of the bathroom just as his bedroom door opened and she rushed in carrying a garment bag.
“Sorry I’m late.”
“No worries, the band can’t start without me.”
“I’ll be ready in ten minutes.”
She was in her usual jeans and t-shirt so he doubted that. He’d never met a woman who could get glammed in less than an hour. “If you say so.”
She rushed passed him into the bathroom and slammed the door, but the lock didn’t catch and it eased open. He was going to get a show. Not that he hadn’t seen Jane in her panties and tank tops. It was the sexiest thing he’d ever seen on a woman. He liked the fact that she wasn’t self-conscience about being in her underwear in front of him.
He went to the closet and took out the wrapped present for her. He was anxious to see if she liked what he got her. He sat on the foot of his bed and watched her getting ready. By the time he got comfortable she had her wig on and was strapping her weapons to her thigh. Sexy and lethal.
They were out at a bar the other night when an overzealous fan got in her face. He tried to grab her and she did this thing where she twisted his arm and he dropped to his knees and screamed like a bitch. The bar went silent, she grabbed his hand and led him out of the bar as if nothing happened. Today he had Steve teach him the move.
He watched her shimmy into her sparkly white dress. The color accentuated her honey skin and she looked like a goddess. The dress was short just hitting her at mid-thigh. It was a shame to cover any part of those legs. The back dipped down exposing the long curve of her spine. Declan bit his lip. By the time he came
out of his lust fueled fantasy, she was putting on her makeup and only seven minutes elapsed.
A minute later she stepped out of the bathroom glamazon ready. What man wouldn’t want to have her on his arm.
“I’m ready.”
Declan stood and held out the box. “This is for you.”
She pursed her lips, but didn’t take the box.
“Take it.”
She did and he noticed her hand shook as she took the box. “Thank you.”
“Are you going to open it?”
She began to unwrap it without tearing the paper. She stopped when she saw the Barbie doll in the box. “Hawaiian Barbie.”
“I wasn’t sure so I figured circa 1985.”
She touched her lips with her fingertips. “She’s perfect.”
“I’m glad.”
“Why?”
“Because you keep me safe.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
She leaned over and kissed his cheek.
Declan’s knees went weak and he had to stop himself from pulling her against him and kissing her. Mostly because he was afraid she'd belt him in the mouth and he wouldn’t be able to sing tonight.
They just stared at each other for a few seconds. There was a knock at the door. It opened and Malcolm poked his head in. “We have to go.”
“Ah yeah.”
“Am I interrupting something?”
“No!” They said together.
Malcolm glared at them and he knew they were lying. He backed out of the door and slammed it.
“He’s testy.”
Jane held the box to her chest. “He asked me not to sleep with you.”
Malcolm was worse than a girl. “Are you?”
“You have to ask?”
Yeah he did because if there was a hope in hell he was going to do everything in his power to make it happen. “Just taking your temperature.”
“Is that all?”
He flashed her a smile praying it was sexy and not desperate. “We have to go.”
He watched her put the box on the dresser pleased with the pleasure she took from her gift. Funny he thought he didn’t spend hardly anything on her doll, but he’d never had any woman so happy. He’d given women diamonds and they weren’t half this happy. He was okay with that.
* * *
DAY FIFTEEN of my captivity and I am so ready to fuck Declan Shaw it’s embarrassing. Jane squeezed her thighs together as Declan dazzled the press. He smiled, he flirted, he totally mesmerized them. A skinny blonde in the front row was so ready to lift up her skirt and spread her legs, Jane felt sorry for her. Not really, she wanted to do the same thing herself.
It was interesting to watch him turn the Golden God on people. This guy could stop a tidal wave with that smile. There wasn’t a reporter in the room that wasn’t sucked into his vortex. They loved this guy. She hated him. Not him the man, the image. In the last week he stopped turning the Golden God on her and was himself which she liked, but pretended not to. Then tonight he hit her with both barrels when he gave her the Barbie. She’d almost cried. It was one of the sweetest gifts she ever received. She was tempted to keep it. She remembered how it felt the day her mother had given it to her. She was so happy, because the doll reminded her of her mother from the long black hair and the big brown eyes. Her mother had been so beautiful, so happy. They had each other. A few days later she was gone. She took a deep breath, and let the pain go.
The blonde raised her hand and Declan nodded at her.
“There’s a rumor that Travis is engaged, anyone else thinking of taking the plunge?”
Declan waved his hand. “There hasn’t been an official announcement, but he’s off the market.”
“And you?”
Declan turned his head and winked at her. “A gentleman never tells.”
Jane rolled her eyes.
Declan checked his watch and stood. “That’s all we have for today. I hope you all enjoy the Scorned performance tonight and write a nice article. This is a charity event for the Blues Historical Foundation. Give generously.”
“Declan one more question. Why are you and the band trying to save the blues.”
“Where do think rock and roll came from?”
“Do you think your fans are going to get it?”
“Scorned fans are the best and they are on a journey with us. I think they are open minded to give it a listen. Today I’m singing with a living legend, Hawkman Turner. Trust me he’s the one doing us the honor of allowing us on the same stage as him.” He took Jane by the elbow. “Ass.” They went through the opened door to the bands dressing rooms.
“Touchy.”
“I need to get laid.”
“I could help you with that.”
He grabbed her arm. “Sweet God in heaven Jane let’s go.”
As much as she would like to, she knew if he was with another woman she could move on. “Not me, the blonde reporter. She’s been vetted and she was flashing you the goods.”
He ran a hand through his hair. “You’re giving me permission to get busy with Blondie?”
She forced her expression to remain blank, because she was roiling with jealousy. “I’ll find you a broom closet. You have an hour before your show.”
He stared at her.
“What? She’s your type and you could use the action.”
“You’re okay with this?”
She’d deal. “I’ve had to let worse things happen on my watch. You want me to send Hoss to get her?”
“She’s not what I want.”
“You’re kidding?” That surprised her.
“I’m not.”
Jane shrugged. “Don’t say I didn’t try to help. Let’s get you to the dressing room.”
When they entered the dressing room the rest of the band was sitting around laughing.
“What’s so funny?” Declan asked.
Gavin pointed to Chill. “Glen was telling us a Jane story.”
Did they ever get tired of hearing tales of her Army days? “Which one, Chill?”
Chill snickered. “I was just about to tell them what happened when you took one in the ass.”
That was a banner day. “Just tell it right.”
Declan leaned toward her. “I can stop this.”
She waved away his concern. She was cool with it. “Don’t. It’s a funny story.”
Chill ran a hand through his dark hair and put a serious expression on his face. “So we’re on an op and we get a radio call some Marines were trapped and taking fire a few clicks from where we were, so we hustled over there to lend them a hand--”
“To save their asses.” Hoss interrupted.
Chill held up a hand. “I was trying to be nice so long story short, we save the day and in the ruckus, Jane took one
in the butt--”
“Instead of up the butt.”
Jane sighed. “Classy Hoss.”
Hoss grinned. “We’re all thinking it.”
Chill cleared his throat. “As I was saying. So Hoss tries to pick Jane up and she cuffs him upside the head saying I can walk. We had some Abduls coming in hot, we didn’t have time to linger. So he points to her ass and says, you’re bleeding. I’m cool Jane said and starts to take off her pants. And I’m watching praying let her be wearing bikini’s or a thong or sweet Jesus let her go commando. ‘Cause the only bare ass I been seeing for the last three months is Hoss’s hairy ass and let me tell you it ain’t pretty. So she drops them and what is she wearin’? White cotton granny panties. Fuck--”
Jane held a finger. “A size too small. Sand creeps into the crannies and you need to keep a tight seal on things.” There was a round of laughter.
“So she's standing with her unis around her ankles with her hand on her hips and said ‘slap a band aid on it and let’s get the fuck on.’”
Everyone started laughing louder.
“Then Mick looks at her and said. ‘Damn Bodi, you look like a girl, you sound l
ike a girl, sometimes you smell like a girl, but deep down where it counts you’re a guy.” Chill started to laugh and he and Hoss fist bumped.
Jane held up her hand. “What can I say. Modesty, privacy, and hygiene are the second, third, and fourth causalities of war.”
Gavin stared at her with this lusty expression his face. “Shit that’s hot.”
Then Jane’s stomach rumbled. “Sorry.”
Declan touched her elbow. “You didn’t eat.”
“I ran into an unexpected complication.”
He seemed mad at her. “You couldn’t stop to eat?”
“I ran into a skip that’s been on my list for a while.”
“A bad one?”
“Yeah he likes little girls. I didn’t want him loose.”
“No one would have been mad if you would have called off.”
She hated that he could be so sweet. “I’m not leaving you unprotected.”
“Thank you.” He took her arm and led her to the craft service table and started making her a sandwich. “What would you like?”
She tried to snatch the bread away from him. “I can make a sandwich.”
“I want to make it for you. Ham? Turkey? Roast beef?”
She turned to see Malcolm glaring at her. “I can’t eat with Malcolm giving me the evil eye.”
“Would you like me to smack him?”
She shook her head. Then he’d know there was something up. “He cares about you. How can you be mad at him?”
“He should be thinking about his own dick.”
“I might want to, but I would never cross that line.”
“Did you just admit you want to sleep with me?” He whispered.
“Under all the I’m Declan Shaw bullshit, you’re sweet. And you’re making me a sandwich and not judging that I want ham, turkey, and roast beef on it.”
He broke into a smile. “All it takes is a sandwich?”
“Men get funky about women and food. Like if we eat there is something wrong with us.”
“Watching you eat is hot. You couldn’t do what you do if you didn’t eat and I like you strong and powerful.”
Wow that was sexy as hell. “Did you tell me another secret?”
“I did.” He smiled. “Are you going to tell me another?”
I Hate Myself For Loving You (Scorned Lovers Book 2) Page 9
