by Vivian Arend
“It was a simple misunderstanding,” Gillian began with a barely restrained smirk.
“I really don’t think anyone needs to hear this.” Dean folded his arms and pouted.
“If I find out you’ve violated any DreamMakers rules and regulations, I will be very disappointed with you, young man.” Didi focused on Dean, her glasses perched on the tip of her nose as she glared down forbiddingly. “That’s why I gave you the easy pocket version of our most important commandments.”
The rest of the team had settled around the table, Pepper joining them. Jack couldn’t help but smile even harder. Her expression showed complete contentment, and he was the one who’d put it there.
The new guy, Colby, observed the interplay at the end of the table like he was watching a tennis match, his dark eyes bouncing back and forth, his shaved military haircut a mere buzz of black over his head. The tattoo covering one muscular arm stood out against his mocha skin, and he would’ve made a seriously deadly picture if not for the one line of ink at the bottom of the tat—the one that read Mom.
Jack liked the guy, whose charming smiles came fast and easy.
“I don’t know what I’m more curious about,” Colby said with a dimpled grin. “The pocket version of the rules, or how you ended up naked when you were supposed to be gathering recon on a librarian?”
“Ooh, Colby!” Didi turned with a smile. “What a good boy you are. I’ll make sure I get you a set. I was at a scrapbooking party and decided it would be a fun way to help everyone remember the rules. I even found the cutest little sticker to go with ‘no recording devices’.”
Dean groaned. “Is that why I have cut-out flowers and sparkles all over the damn thing?”
“Language, Mr. Colter. How many times do I have to remind you?”
“With Dean? At least a million more,” Parker offered. “Spill the details, or let’s get on with it. We’ve got work to do.”
“I don’t know what you’re all making such a fuss about. The mark went into a massage center. I followed her. End of story.”
“Nearly end,” Gillian teased. “For some reason Dean decided he needed to actually get a full-body massage, which meant when the fire alarm went off and the building was evacuated, he ended up outside wearing nothing but a towel.” Her dark eyes twinkled at Jack before she went back to complete seriousness. “It wasn’t his fault that woman tripped and ended up pulling his towel off.”
“And on today’s agenda…?” Dean lifted his head from where he’d rested it in his hands while Gillian spoke. “Parker, do you mind?”
Jack’s best friend had grown soft, his recent love life mellowing him—Parker took pity on Dean and changed the topic.
“Three major projects we’re working on.” Parker nodded in his direction. “Jack, Charlene is supposed to be in the office this afternoon with more information about the end-of-summer gala. Pepper, if you can take some time from your other assignments to sit in with them that would be great. Charlene has more ideas for that slideshow, and I’d love to get your opinion of how we can best execute them.”
“Okeydokey with me.” Pepper held up a file folder in the air. “I’m working on the brochures and flyers you requested. I need to know, does anybody need new business cards?”
Gillian and Colby held up their hands, as well as Didi.
Pepper turned to Jack. “You already have something?”
“The three of us got cards made up the first year. I’m good.”
“What about for Big—?”
Shit.
“No problems with the gala birthday,” Jack interrupted, the feigned look of innocence on Pepper’s face all too clearly showing what she had planned on asking. Minx.
While the rest of the meeting was fairly standard, Jack was very cognizant of two things. One, he was glad Colby and Gillian had joined the crew as the workload before him dwindled to manageable amounts. Especially considering the second thing—he had nowhere near gotten Pepper out of his system. He swore he could smell her skin even though she sat down the table from him. Every time the woman spoke it was like she was running her fingers up the back of his neck. Or over his cock.
In fact, walking down the hallway after the meeting into his office, his mind was full of pretty much nothing except ways to get her to join him for a quickie. Desk sex sounded damn good right about then.
He hadn’t had nearly enough time to work up a good plan when Parker stuck his head around the doorframe. Jack shoved all the dirty fantasies aside and focused on conveying a “do not let it show on my face that I’m thinking about rocking your sister’s world” look to his best friend. “Can I help you?”
“If you have some time before you meet with Charlene, could you help me do something about the smell outside the back door?”
“Smell?” Jack strode to the door and joined Parker as they headed to the back. “Are you talking about in the parking area? I parked out front today.”
“I think we all did. I only noticed when I went to grab some stuff for Pepper from the storage shed.”
“Don’t blame me.” Pepper looked up with interest from where she’d set up her computers in the staff area near the back door. She rose to her feet and followed them. “I didn’t do it.”
Her brother sighed. “I didn’t accuse you of anything.”
“But you looked at me funny.”
“For fuck’s sake, don’t start that again, Pepper.”
Pepper grinned. “I’m telling Mom you swore.”
Even though it was lighthearted, Jack still felt an edge of unease along his spine as the two siblings bantered. It was like walking into a time machine, the good and the horrific. He ignored the worst memories and tried to focus on the childishness of what he was hearing. “If one of you tries the ‘he started it’ spiel, I’m telling your mom myself.”
Parker pushed open the back door, and a dose of fragrance hit Jack like a two-by-four. He must have grunted, or made some kind of noise, because Parker pulled him forward rapidly, Pepper joining them. She shoved the door shut and they didn’t stop moving until they were standing in the middle of the parking lot behind the building.
“It’s rather overwhelming, isn’t it?” Parker asked.
Jack’s eyes were watering. “What is it?”
“Lilacs. Definitely lilacs.” Pepper fanned a hand in front of her nose. “You do have a higher standard of garbage in this area, don’t you?”
It made no sense. Jack glanced around, but there was nothing there that explained the smell. The dumpster was down at the end of the alleyway, and he couldn’t imagine what would possibly make it smell like an explosion in a perfume factory. “Someone throw a perfume bottle at the side of the building?”
Parker took a deep breath before moving forward, rapidly examining the area at the base of the brick wall before sprinting back to their side, a shard of purple glass held gingerly between two fingers. “You’re brilliant.”
“Oh God. Get rid of it.” Pepper caught hold of her nose, pinching it tight. “I love that scent, but this is way too much even for me.”
Parker hightailed it toward the dumpster, while Jack examined the wall more carefully. “That’s the answer. Someone threw a bottle against the wall.”
Beside him, Pepper stiffened slightly. “Oh, shit.” She turned to Jack, catching hold of the front of his shirt. “I wonder…if this was my fault.”
Behind them, Parker was back. He cleared his throat. “You want to explain that a little more clearly?”
Pepper’s usual devil-may-care attitude cooled slightly. “I’m sure it’s nothing. But…”
Jack slipped his arms around her. He ignored the fact that Parker was glaring just over her shoulder. “If you’ve got something that sheds light on this, say it now.”
She had her stubborn face on. “I don’t want to say anything and get someone in trouble for no reason. What if we check the security tapes first?”
He caught her chin in his hand and tilted her head up until
she had to meet his gaze. “Pepper. Who do you think did this?”
“One of the guys I traveled with seems to have some issues. I didn’t think he knew how to get ahold of me, but when Kendra returned my suitcases the other day there were some things missing. Including a makeup bag that might have had perfume in it. Lilacs.”
Parker was no longer standing quietly behind him. “You’re telling us someone is stalking you? That’s unacceptable.”
“No shit, Einstein.” Pepper twirled on her brother. “I don’t like the idea, either. But it’s pretty childish, throwing my stuff at your building, and I’m still not about to accuse anyone until we have some proof. So let’s go look at the security tapes.”
Only when they cued them up, the tapes showed nothing but static for the previous twelve hours.
“How the hell is that possible?” Jack demanded. He had no idea what was going on, but the idea that someone could have it in for Pepper made his blood freeze.
Pepper pointed to the time signature. “You’ve got a digital security system that’s a dinosaur. The scans are easy to corrupt if you’ve got enough interference in the area. Somebody shut down your system before they did this.”
“Seems like a hell of a lot of work just to throw some perfume at our back door,” Dean commented, having joined them in the staff room.
“Unfortunately, it’s not really that difficult.” Pepper poked the recording device they were examining. “Since your system is so ancient, it wouldn’t take too much knowledge to knock this out even from a distance.”
“It’s still a lot more work than simply walking up and spraying graffiti. Somebody planned.” Parker turned on Pepper. “That’s it. I’m escorting you to work every day until we figure this out.”
“No way,” Pepper snapped. “I mean, fine that you’re worried, even though I think it’s just some stupid one-off event, if it is Adam. I still don’t understand how it could be him in the first place—he didn’t know my real name, so I don’t know how he could’ve tracked me down to my new job. But if it is him, I don’t need you babysitting me.”
“Of course you don’t need Parker looking after you,” Jack interrupted. “You get me instead.”
It was Parker’s turn to stiffen in dismay briefly before nodding. “Surveillance is yours. Ask for backup if you need a hand.”
No way was anyone going to touch Pepper, not with Jack on the job. “I’ll take it from here.”
Parker left abruptly, Dean hard on his heels as they headed toward the front of the building.
Pepper leaped in front of Jack, catching hold of the front of his shirt and jerking his head down toward her level. Her bright green eyes flashed with furious frustration. “I don’t like it when you talk about me like I’m not right. Fucking. Here.”
“I don’t like it that someone out there might have it in for you.”
She rolled her eyes. “They threw a bottle of perfume. I’m in danger of asphyxiation, not of being kidnapped and sold as a sex slave. And I don’t mind being more careful for a while, but you really need to stop trying this alpha-hole business on me. I will cut off your balls, and you can take that literally or not, however you prefer.”
He inched closer, his lips brushing her ear. “You’re unbelievably sexy when you’re pissed off.”
Disbelief dripped from her tone. “Seriously? You’re hitting on me? In the staff break room?”
Slowly and methodically, he backed her up against the wall as his arms came down on her waist to tug her closer. “Ha. Like you haven’t thought about it too all frickin’ morning.”
To his relief, the anger in her expression dissipated. Darkened with heat. “I’m not going to deny it. But there’s a reason I haven’t jumped your bones today.”
He arched a brow. “Yeah? Why’s that?”
“Because it’s unprofessional.”
Jack blinked before barking out a laugh. Now there was a word he hadn’t thought existed in Pepper Wilson’s vocabulary. The woman was all about whims, act first and think later—since when did she care about showing any restraint?
“Don’t laugh at me,” she grumbled. “I may not particularly want to work here, but as long as I am, I’m not going to give my brother any ammunition against me. He already thinks I’m an impulsive airhead.”
“He doesn’t think that.” Jack came to his friend’s defense, as he always did.
And Pepper frowned, as she always did when he defended Parker. “Yes, he does.” She gave his chest a tiny shove, sidestepping away from him. “So keep those pants zipped, Jackjack. There won’t be any office shenanigans, capiche?”
He knew better than to argue with that steely look in her eyes. “Capiche,” he said with a sigh.
She brightened. “Good. Now let’s go meet with your ex-lover, sugar.”
Jack stifled a groan as he remembered the meeting with Charlene. Shit. The last thing he wanted was for Pepper and his former fling to be in the same room together. But since he didn’t exactly have much of a choice, he sighed again and followed Pepper to the conference room.
Jack liked redheads. Redheads with big boobs, Pepper amended as she examined Charlene Halliwell from head to toe. She supposed she ought to be flattered that she too fell under the category of Jack Hunter’s Type, but it was impossible to stop the rush of jealousy that seized her.
Especially since the visible evidence of Jack’s preferences raised the old chicken-and-egg conundrum. Had Jack hooked up with the redheaded Charlene because she reminded him of Pepper?
Or was it the other way around?
The thought that it could be the latter boiled Pepper’s blood, prompting her to greet their client in a much sharper tone than intended. “I’m Pepper,” she said tightly, thrusting out her hand. “I’m the one handling all the media displays for your parents’ party, including digitizing any older photos and memorabilia.”
Charlene seemed to be fighting a smirk as she leaned in to shake Pepper’s hand. “Pleasure to meet you, sweetie. I’ve seen what you’ve done so far, and I’m very pleased.”
Sweetie?
Oh hell no. The word sweetie was reserved only for Pepper’s mother and grandparents. When other women called you that, it was an outright sign that you were being patronized.
“Well, bless your heart, hon, I’m so glad you like it,” Pepper responded.
The two women stared at each other for a moment, until Jack cleared his throat and gestured to the table. “Why don’t we have a seat and go over everything?”
They settled in their chairs, Pepper flopping directly next to Jack, leaving no question as to who belonged at his side. It was a childish move, she knew that, but it got the desired result—Charlene’s eyes gleamed with displeasure as she was forced to sit across from them.
“All right, so why don’t you tell Pepper about the slideshow additions you had in mind,” Jack told Charlene.
Looking as if she’d rather talk to Hannibal Lecter, Charlene turned to Pepper and began in a curt voice, quickly explaining everything she needed done. Pepper dutifully scribbled notes on a yellow legal pad, nodding and cutting in with ideas and suggestions every so often. It was all very aboveboard and professional, but the catty undercurrent continued to run beneath the surface as the two women interacted.
Pepper hated Charlene. The woman was smart and articulate and gorgeous and she clearly still had a thing for Jack. She smiled at him way too much. And at one point, she even reached across the table and squeezed his hand when he offered a brilliant solution to getting extra pictures from family and friends delivered in a timely manner.
Pepper had to stop herself from slapping the woman’s hand with her ballpoint pen. Jealousy simmered through her veins, more powerful than she’d ever experienced in her life, mingled in with a peculiar, soul-crushing sense of inferiority that made her throat close up. Charlene was Jack’s age. She was experienced and sophisticated, and not a single word she said seemed to come out without careful thought beforehand.
&nb
sp; Just being around the woman made Pepper feel like…like… A child? Like she might not be good enough for Jack?
But that was ridiculous. They were good together. So what if she was younger than him? So what if she didn’t have Charlene’s elegance and perfectly manicured talons?
Still, by the time the meeting wrapped up, Pepper was overcome with relief. The three of them headed for the door, where Charlene stopped to shoot Pepper a sweet—no, a dangerous—smile.
“So you just finished college, huh? You must be excited to be done with school.”
Pepper nodded warily. “Yeah, I am.”
“And now you’re joining the workforce,” the woman said brightly, all too eager to remind Pepper of her inexperienced place in the world. “That must be exciting for you, too.”
Condescending much?
Pepper had to grit her teeth to avoid making a blatantly nasty remark. “It is.” The smirk, she couldn’t fight. “Especially since I’m working so closely with Jack.”
A flare of anger lit Charlene’s eyes. “Yes, I imagine that’s an added bonus.” She checked the delicate silver watch strapped to her wrist. “I should get going. Jack, always a pleasure.” She practically purred the word pleasure, before her voice sharpened. “And we’ll schedule another meeting in a few days, sweetie. If you’re done by then you can show me the first draft of the presentation.”
“Sure thing, ma’am,” Pepper chirped.
With a look of irritation, Charlene disappeared down the hallway, perfect ass swaying seductively as her high heels clicked on the floor.
There was a beat of silence, and then Jack glanced over with an incredulous look. “What…was that?”
Pepper feigned innocence. “What was what?”
“You. Scowling at her the whole time. Calling her ‘hon’ and ‘ma’am’. Implying you like working here because it gives you the opportunity to bone me.” He shot her a dark look. “When twenty minutes ago, you laid down the no-boning law.”
