Still, her temperature shot up and her bra felt too snug. She became conscious of her smaller stature, which was ridiculous. At five-seven, curvy and with parts of her body refusing to be toned down, she wasn’t tiny. When his gaze paused at the bare skin visible above the neckline of her black shirt, Jade knew she was close to melting.
Pull yourself together before you have an arrhythmia attack. Her mind and body warred. Her mind, as usual, won. Jade took a deep breath, held it and exhaled slowly.
She made her way behind the desk, sat and crossed her legs. The gorgeous hunk remained standing, his gaze locked on her like a heat-seeking missile. What was he waiting for? And why couldn’t he stop staring?
“You, uh, have a problem with sitting down or is it the chair?” Her gaze shifted to her desk clock then back to him. She smiled to soften her next words. “You have five minutes, then I have to leave. There’s a roomful of art history students waiting for me down the hall.”
A hint of a smile flashed in his eyes as he pulled out the chair and sat. “You haven’t changed one little bit, Jade Fitzgerald.”
Jade frowned. What did he mean by that? “Have we met before?”
“You don’t recognize me,” he said with no inflection in his voice, so she couldn’t tell whether he was pleased or disappointed.
Jade tilted her head and contemplated his features. Arrogant arched eyebrows, bold nose and chiseled cheekbones created a face so full of raw determination it mesmerized. His black hair was cut short as though to tame it, but the cut didn’t hide the defiant waves at the base of his neck. His eyes and the dimples softening the austere face were familiar.
An elusive memory teased her, then disappeared. “I know I should because you look familiar. Did we meet at one of my mother’s parties?”
“No. We attended the same high school.”
Oh no, not her worst nightmare.
“High school. That was eons ago.” Her tone came out cool.
Vince nodded. “I know. I was there for a short period, so I’m sure I didn’t leave a lasting impression.”
A memory tickled her mind again. She fought to grasp it as she studied him. His face and intensity reminded her of …who? “I’m sure that’s not the case. I’m just terrible with faces.”
Even as she spoke, an image took hold. He couldn’t possibly be Vinny? The rumor then was he came straight from juvenile detention to her school. After he disappeared, everyone assumed he went right back to the juvee. His tough-guy attitude made him a magnet for girls. Three months were all he spent in her school, and he scored with half the cheerleading squad. Could have been a rumor, but it made him a rebel every hormone-driven boy in school wanted to emulate.
How could she have forgotten him? And how could he remember her? Their paths collided once, a humiliating moment she tried to erase from her mental Rolodex. Even worse, it never stopped her from weaving fantasies about him, envying the girls he supposedly seduced in the back seat of his black Trans Am. Then there was the juicy rumor about the size of his….
Heat spread up Jade’s neck. She tried to cover it with a smile. “I remember you, Vince. You were something else in high school. What happened? You just disappeared after a few months.”
Vince shrugged. “I needed a change.”
And what a change. The rebellious youth was now a man with rippling muscles, a face of sharp angles and planes. His old cocky smile, hinting at dark secrets, was absent, but his eyes still had the power to tug at a heart and pierce a soul.
“So, what can I do for you?”
Vince leaned forward. “I’m in need of some information.”
“Oh.” She studied him, but the man had a poker face. “On what?”
“Who,” he corrected. “Estelle Fitzgerald.”
Jade stiffened. “My mother? Is she the brief consultation you mentioned in your message?”
“Yes. I’ve been trying to locate her. Left her numerous voice mail messages, but she hasn’t returned any of them. I was hoping you’d help me.”
Jade opened her mouth to answer, but bit her tongue. “What’s this about?”
“Nothing serious,” he said.
Her stomach hollowed out, the same sinking-in-the-stomach feeling she had the first and second time someone asked for her mother’s whereabouts. “Why would you seek me out if it isn’t serious?”
His eyebrow shot up at her steel-over-velvet tone. “I need her input on something. Can you tell me where she is and how I can contact her?”
“I’m sorry, I can’t.”
“Why not?” His eyes narrowed.
Those eyes and ruthlessly controlled expression belonged to a dangerous sort of man, an unpredictable man. She didn’t do unpredictable. “Because you’re the third person to ask about her in the last two weeks.”
Vince shifted, the heel of his hands coming to rest on her desk. “Who were the other two? What did they want?”
“Why do you want to know?” she shot back, fighting the urge to lean back. “I may only be her daughter, but I’m tired of everyone being vague about why they want to see her.”
“Look here, Jade—”
“No, you look here.” She leaned forward. “I’m not going to tell you anything unless you come clean with me. And the more you hedge, the more I’m convinced I have every right to know what’s going on.” He glowered at her and a sliver of apprehension shot up her spine. The man was intimidating when riled, but she wasn’t backing down.
She lifted her chin. “So. Why are you looking for my mother?”
He shot his watch an impatient glance. “You don’t have time for a lengthy explanation.”
“Make it brief. I’m sure I can get the gist of—”
“Excuse me, Professor J,” a voice interrupted.
Jade smothered a groan and looked toward the doorway where a young man stood. Shaun Holton, her graduate student. “Yes, Shaun?”
“Sorry to interrupt, but the students are getting restless. Do you want me to cancel the class?”
She needed to know why Vince wanted to see her mother, especially since Estelle’s behavior before she left for her trip was so peculiar.
“No. Just a second.” She stood up to give Shaun the photocopied revision notes. “Distribute these in class for me. Let them know I’m on my way.” As the grad student took off, Jade turned to find Vince on his feet. Didn’t the man ever smile? He didn’t say much and used movements economically, but he had a presence that was tangible. “I really need to know what’s going on.”
Vince studied her for a few seconds as though pondering his options, before nodding. “An important artifact is missing and your mother might know something about it.”
“What do you mean by ‘might know something about it’?”
“It could be in her possession.”
Could he be any vaguer? “My mother is an avid antique collector. If she has it, it was given to her.”
“Not when the owner has reported it missing.”
Jade blinked in confusion, then her jaw dropped as the implication sunk in. “If you’re implying my mother took it,” a sarcastic titter escaped her, “then you’re mistaken.”
“I don’t make mistakes.”
Her eyes widened. “That’s so arrogant.”
“Just stating a fact. About your mother’s—”
“Slow down, Vince. Do you know who my mother is?” That sounded pompous and she was never one to flaunt her family’s wealth or connections, but something about Vince’s attitude rubbed her the wrong way. “Do you know anything about my family?”
“Actually, I do.” But I’m not impressed, his voice seemed to say.
“Then you’d better get your facts straight, because our lawyers will drag you to court and sue you for slander so fast you’d wish you never walked through that door. Accusing my mother of stealing?” A snicker escaped her. “Please, leave.” She reached for her laptop and notes.
“I haven’t made any accusations…yet.” Jade’s head jerked
up at his calm voice. He hadn’t moved an inch and something hot flashed in his eyes. “And who said they were groundless?”
Eyes narrowed, Jade gripped her laptop across her chest and started around the desk. She wanted to toss him out. After a few steps, she paused, her heart hammering, her breathing rapid. What now? Vince Knight’s tough guy attitude might be irritating but the man was too huge and rock-hard to be tossed anywhere.
“I want you to leave,” she said firmly.
“I can’t. Not without getting what I came for.”
“I don’t care.” She took a deep breath, wanting to curse him out. “If you’re not out of my office in five seconds, I’m calling the campus security.” It would take them at least five minutes to get here, if she was lucky. Knowing how helpless she was only added to her ire. “And if I were you, I’d watch what I say and who—”
“But you’re not me, are you, professor?” Vince interrupted, ticked off with himself for letting her get to him. It wasn’t that bit about her family and lawyers or campus security that rankled. It was her. What happened to the sweet, shy girl from high school? This tigress knocked his world-weary ass off balance.
Everything about the woman was designed to shock a man’s system. Her voice, low and husky, had the power to make his hair prickle and his gut clench. Her siren scent, subtle but sensual, was a blend of something exotic and flowery. Every time he inhaled, it punched through his defenses with the precision of a sniper.
He shot her a look and caught her smoldering eyes. He thought he had the whole situation figured out. Meet Jade, get the info on her mother, leave. Stating that her mother had the missing artifact was a stupid mistake. In his line of business he couldn’t afford stupid mistakes.
No, wrong. He couldn’t afford them when he used to be an investigative journalist. He’d slammed the door on that life. No more interviewing reluctant witnesses, rummaging through garbage and chasing scumbags, or so he’d thought. A call from his aunt and a plea for help changed all that. For her, the only blood relative to ever care about what became of him, he dropped everything and took the first flight out of Seattle for Los Angeles. Dealing with Jade Fitzgerald wasn’t part of the plan. It was a distraction he didn’t need.
But he knew the drill. Deal with it. Stay uninvolved. Move on.
“What’s it going to be, Vince?” she asked, interrupting his thoughts, daring him with her eyes.
Short of keeping her in her office until he got what he wanted, he had no choice but to give in. Clenching his teeth, Vince stepped out of her office and turned to watch her. Her seductive, hip-swaying gait sent heat straight to his groin. He shifted his gaze away from her body.
“I’m not going anywhere without knowing your mother’s whereabouts, Jade.”
“Really?” She tossed her abundant mahogany hair and shot him a disdainful look, eyes flashing. “How do you propose to get that information? What are you anyway? A cop? P.I.?” Without waiting for an answer, she turned her back to him and locked her office door. When she started down the hall, he fell in step with her.
It rankled she’d challenged him. Surprised him how she ignored him with such ease too. Women never ignored him. He slid a sideway glance her way. Her hazel eyes were fixed ahead, her lush lips set in an uncompromising pout, pert nose and determined chin stuck in the air.
The changes in her were amazing. The extra weight in high school had melted away in just the right places. Now the generous hips and rounded ass, tiny waist and well-sized breasts demanded a man’s attention. Her creamy skin still glowed with vitality and invited one’s touch.
Unfortunately, they weren’t in high school anymore and this sexy and aloof woman wasn’t the girl he felt he had something in common with. Not that it did him any good then. After their first meeting, she made a point of staying out of his way and snubbing him the few times their paths crossed. That had bugged him, an amazing feat for a kid already hauling a bucket load of hurt. Vince shoved his hands into his back pants pockets and scolded himself for deviating from his agenda.
“We need to talk, Jade.” Frustration made his voice harsh.
She didn’t respond. He took a swift breath of irritation and the scent of whatever else she smeared on her delectable body hit his lungs, causing him to swallow with difficulty. “I’ll still be here after your class ends.”
“You’ll be wasting your time. I’ve a busy schedule.”
“Then meet me tonight,” he heard himself say.
She sucked in a breath and turned to face him. “We have nothing to discuss, Vince. The person you need to speak with is my mother. You need to look her in the eye and tell her what you just told me. I’ll call her assistant at Fitz-Valdes to find a slot for you as soon as she comes back.” She turned and lifted her hand to push the door open.
Before he could question his intention, Vince shifted and slapped his hand on the doorframe, blocking her entrance.
“Excuse me?” she snapped, gaze flying to his face.
Her blistering stare could have scotched a lesser man, but after his upbringing and living in the trenches in war-torn countries to cover stories, he could handle anything she sent his way. He glared right back.
Four seconds later, he dropped his arm and stepped back. He was in trouble. His defenses meant jack when it came to her. She shifted as though to enter the room. He reached a decision.
“What do you say we start over? I’m Vince Knight.”
“I don’t have time for—”
“I’m not a cop or a private detective. But I was a career investigative journalist, did a stint as a P.I. but didn’t like it, and now I write fiction. I’m doing a family member a favor by finding a missing statue. I believe you can help me. Please, have dinner with me so we can discuss the details.”
She released a sigh. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“I think it’s the right thing to do. I’ll explain what happened and you can decide whether you still want to sue me for defamation.” His attempt at humor failed when her full lips tightened and creases furrowed her smooth brow. Frustration knitted his gut.
“I’m sorry, Vince. I already have dinner plans.”
He gave her curvaceous frame a quick once over. Yeah, she probably had L.A.’s most eligible bachelors beating down her door. “How about a pre-dinner drink?”
Jade opened her mouth to speak but he didn’t give her a chance to speak. “I’m staying at the Palace, West Hollywood. There’s a restaurant on the first floor. Let’s meet there at six o’clock. Just a few minutes of your time. Thirty minutes tops.”
“I’ll think about it.”
Not what he’d hoped for, but it was better than nothing. He reached inside his back pocket for a business card, and in his haste, dropped his wallet. Several condoms slipped from the black leather holder and skidded across the cemented floor. One landed near her feet.
Just his luck. He debated between scooping his personals and giving her his card. He hung on to his dignity, gripped the card and shoved it at her. When the corners of her mouth turned up with amusement, heat crawled up his neck.
“If you can’t make it, call me,” he explained.
“Like I said, I’ll think about it…Vinny.” She accepted the card, pushed the door with her shoulder and disappeared inside the classroom.
Vince waited until the door closed behind her before he picked up his belongings. Using his high school nickname was a sure sign she still thought he was still the over-sexed, unruly teen who’d terrorized her high school years ago. His rebel-without-a-clue days were long gone. So was the hope that she would call him.
Scowling, Vince left the building and headed to his rented car. He wanted this investigation over and done with so he could go home. His aunt’s insistence that the theft be kept a secret from the police and FBI made no sense. But he knew her well enough to have his suspicions—she was protecting her younger brother, his father.
Pain blindsided Vince, making him clench his hand. The thought
that he could be helping his father ate at him. He didn’t owe the old man a thing after what he did. No love. No loyalty. No obligation. Given a choice, he wouldn’t spend a second thinking about the bastard. Unfortunately, this investigation was stirring things up, taking him back to sixteen years ago, a time he’d rather forget.
Smothering a curse, he pulled out his cell phone and speed-dialed a number.
“Aunt Della?” he said when he brought the phone to his ear. “What kind of relationship did the judge have with Estelle Fitzgerald?”
***
Jade smiled at the students. “If anyone has a question before next week’s exam, you know my office hours. I’ll be leaving on Friday, so any last minute consults will have to be done electronically or handled by Shaun Holton.” A low murmur greeted her words, but no one offered a comment. “Good luck with the finals, people.”
She dismissed the class, waited for the students to file out of the lecture theater before she picked up her laptop and headed toward her office. When her office door came into view, she sighed with relief. He’s gone. Although why she’d expected Vince Knight to be still hanging around beat the heck out of her. The man accused her mother of thievery. Of all the craziest things she’d heard, that topped them. If it weren’t so infuriating, she would have found it funny.
She entered her office, flopped on her chair, and threw his card on her desk. For a moment, she glowered at it as though the act could make it disappear. Erase his words from her head.
Oh, how she’s been looking forward to today—her last class of the semester. A few more days to the beginning of her much needed two-week vacation. That was before Mr. I-don’t-make-mistakes Knight and his accusations.
“Thanks a lot, pal.”
She scowled, replaying their conversation in her head. Actually, the man didn’t come outright and accuse her mother of stealing. She, in her bitchy mood, jumped to that conclusion as soon as he mentioned her mother and the missing artifact in the same breath. All because the man said she hadn’t changed since high school.
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