by Autumn Reed
So why do I feel so betrayed? Why do I feel like such a fool?
For the first time, I let myself admit it, if only to myself—I wanted them to be my guys. But even if one of them showed interest and I allowed myself to choose just one, I knew the situation was too complicated and my time here too fleeting.
I closed my eyes and inhaled, surprised at just how upset I was getting. I knew all along that this was a temporary situation. And if I’d learned anything in the last month, things could change dramatically in an instant. Agonizing over what might be or couldn’t be was useless; my best option was to live in the here and now.
Trying to compose my thoughts, I remained standing with my eyes closed for several moments. So caught up in my anger and frustration, I was completely unaware of my surroundings.
“Haley?” Startled, I opened my eyes to find Chase standing in front of me. “Are you okay?” His voice was tender, concern shining from his pale blue eyes as he reached out toward me, stopping just short of touching me.
I nodded. “Yeah, I’m fine. I just want to go to bed, but my door’s locked.”
“Knox locked it before the party so no one would go in there. If you have your keys, you should be able to get in.”
“I didn’t realize I would need them, so they’re locked in my room.”
“No worries,” he said, extracting a set of keys from his pocket. “I can get us in.”
As I followed Chase into the house, I felt a little better. In all the chaos, I knew I could count on him. He had rescued me from the fire, he understood what it was like to be shy, and he was always there with a reassuring look or touch when I needed it most.
Chase unlocked my bedroom door and let me in before switching on the bedside lamp. The party was still going strong, the loud music sporadically punctuated by outbursts of shouting or laughter.
“What a party,” Chase said, shooting me a knowing look. He seemed as relieved as I was to be hiding in the bedroom.
“No joke.” I was beyond tired, worn out by the events of the evening.
“With all shenanigans going on out there, I’d rather not leave you alone. People can be pretty stupid when they’re drinking.”
I nodded, thankful for the offer; I didn’t want to be alone and Chase was protective, comforting. I stepped into the closet to slip on my star-pattern cotton shorts and matching scoop-neck T-shirt, and when I returned, Chase was slumped over in the leather chair, barely awake. “Why don’t you grab a pair of Knox’s pajamas and sleep here?”
“Knox isn’t really the type to wear pajamas,” Chase said.
“Oh.” Oh! No wonder he was always dressed in the morning and never lounged in pajamas, even on weekends.
“But I have an overnight bag upstairs. I’ll be back in a sec. Okay?”
When Chase returned, he went to the closet to change. He reemerged in athletic shorts and his olive undershirt; he looked so cute with his sleepy blue eyes and disheveled blond hair.
As he walked to the leather chair, I asked, “Where are you going?” Rubbing the back of his head, Chase looked at the chair then back at me.
“Don’t be silly. We should just share the bed; it’s not a big deal.” THIS IS SUCH A BIG DEAL. Sure, I had shared a bed with Ethan, but I didn’t initiate it; it just kind of happened. I had no idea where my sudden moxie came from, brazenly inviting Chase to sleep with me like it was an everyday occurrence.
As we pulled down the comforter on the bed, I yawned. “I can’t believe I’m sleeping with you and I don’t even know your last name.” Hearing my words too late, I cringed. “Not sleeping with you.” I laughed nervously, “just sleeping,” I said, drawing out the last word. I sighed; I wasn’t making this any better.
Chase focused on the sheets. “I knew what you meant. And it’s Phillips. Sorry, I didn’t realize I never told you.”
Just as we were about to climb in bed, the door swung open. Knox stood in the frame—face flushed and eyes blazing, the only thing missing was steam coming out of his ears. He glared at Chase, making me wonder if Knox had automatically assumed that this situation was less innocent than it really was.
He quickly turned his focus on me. “Where the hell were you?” His gravelly voice boomed through the room loud and clear despite all the music and shouting in the background.
“I went outside for some air. What’s the problem?” I was tired and didn’t want to fight, especially with Knox.
Knox charged toward me, pulling me into a fierce hug. He held me so tightly, my feet lifted off the ground, and I instinctively wrapped my arms around his neck. Burying my face into his muscular chest, I inhaled, scarcely believing what was happening. I couldn’t see anything; I could only feel his strong arms around me and his heart beating rapidly beneath my ear.
He dipped his head close to mine and spoke in a tone that was barely audible. “I was worried about you.”
I could have stayed like that forever, but the sound of breaking glass shattered the brief moment of peace. Knox squeezed me gently before releasing me from his embrace. He seemed torn between staying and leaving.
“I better go before they destroy the loft.” Knox rolled his eyes and closed the door on his way out, leaving me and Chase alone.
Relieved that the evening was finally over, and still on a high from Knox’s hug, I sincerely hoped no one else would barge in. I locked the door and then switched off the light and got into bed next to Chase. We were inches apart, and I tried to stay calm and act normal, unsure what defined “normal” under the circumstances.
But his presence was calming, and before I knew it, I was fading into sleep. Just as I was drifting off, I heard Chase whisper my name.
“Haley . . .”
“Yeah?” I managed to mutter.
“You looked really pretty tonight.”
With my eyes still closed, I smiled in the darkness. “Thanks, Chase . . . And thanks for always looking out for me.”
Read Between the Lines
After the chaos of Theo’s birthday party and the subsequent clean up, I was almost relieved when Monday morning arrived. I fed another document into the scanner, grateful Melissa assigned me such a mindless task for the day. Fortunately, she was too preoccupied to demand a rehash of my weekend. And considering I had shared a bed with Chase on Friday night, I didn’t know how I would act if she interrogated me about him again.
The entire office seemed on edge, and I suspected it was due in no small part to Kenneth James’s visit. As one of the four regional directors, head of the Washington, D.C. office, and a co-founder of Zenith, he was one of the few people that ranked as highly as Patrick Ross. I wondered if these inter-office visits were a regular occurrence, but judging by the atmosphere, it certainly didn’t seem like it.
Honestly, I didn’t understand why everyone was so intimidated by Kenneth James. Sure, he was one of the most senior members of Zenith, but so was Patrick. And while I hadn’t spoken to Mr. James, he didn’t seem as scary as everyone made him out to be. He had a long, oval face with a dimple in his chin. He had to be about the same age as Patrick, but unlike Patrick with his silver hair and tanned skin, Kenneth had blond hair and pale skin. Must spend more time inside in D.C., I thought.
By five o’clock, I was more than ready to escape, and according to my calendar, Jackson was meeting me in the lobby. I was a little nervous at the prospect of spending time alone with him, but thankfully, the schedule said he was simply giving me a ride to the loft. Exiting the elevator, I reminded myself that Jackson was just another guy. But when he glanced up from his phone, my good intentions shattered like glass. His smile, though slight, made my heart jump and my steps falter. Sheesh, Haley. Get it together before you embarrass yourself.
When he led me to a charcoal Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, I forced down a squeal. “Can you put the top down? This is the closest I’ve ever gotten to riding in a convertible,” I said excitedly.
He looked pointedly at my long hair hanging halfway down my back. “Are y
ou sure? You’re not worried about messing up your hair?”
I laughed. “Not at all. Why? Are you embarrassed to be seen with me and my crazy windblown hair?”
“I think I can handle it.” I watched while he unlatched then unscrewed the two front panels. “Next time, I’ll remove the entire hard top so you can get the full experience. But only if you promise not to call my Jeep a convertible.”
Grinning, I agreed. “Cross my heart.”
Once we were on the road, Jackson looked over at me, his aviator sunglasses perfectly framing his sun-kissed face. “I need to make a stop before I take you back to the loft. Do you mind?”
“Nope.” I figured he was picking up his dry cleaning or something, and I was perfectly content to ride along. The sun was radiant, warming my skin while the fresh air whipped through my hair. I felt a sense of freedom and abandon as strands blew around my face and shoulders. All the while, I was still trying to get used to the idea of him driving such a rugged and adventurous vehicle. Apparently what Jackson told me at the party was true; I had a lot to learn about him.
We soon pulled into a large circular driveway where uniformed attendants opened each of our doors before handing Jackson a ticket and driving off. Too distracted by the building’s appearance, I didn’t have much time to dwell on how odd it seemed to trust a complete stranger with your car. Taken aback at our unexpected location, I wondered what exactly we were doing at “The Corinthian.”
We scaled the wide steps that led up to the front of a stately stone building with large ionic columns and flags waving in the breeze. The historic exterior stretched several stories high, and on top rested a more modern building that somehow managed to complement the original facade. Between the valet service and the bellhops buzzing around with luggage, it was clearly a swanky hotel. I quickly tried to smooth my unruly hair. That’s what I get for not asking where we were going.
Jackson held the door open for me and we entered the grand foyer, complete with an enormous crystal chandelier. I tried not to gawk as I admired the patterned rugs, dark wood floors, and antique furniture of the ground floor. We passed the reception desk and an elevator bank before exiting through doors to a courtyard.
When Jackson decreased his pace, I circled the quatrefoil fountain, surrounded by lush, green plants and delicate orchids. The water in the fountain flowed slowly into the basin, each drop melodic and calming. The cooler temperature and peaceful ambiance provided a refreshing outdoor retreat. Unable to quell my curiosity any longer, I said, “So what exactly are we doing here?”
“I believe Liam invited you to the fundraising gala at the end of the month?” I nodded, and Jackson continued. “Well, this is the event venue, and I wanted to get a feel for it so we can start preparing.”
“He mentioned it was a work function.”
“More of an assignment, actually. Our team and Team Falcon will be there.”
Well, that certainly cleared up the question of Liam’s intentions. What appeared to be a romantic date at a glamorous ball was just another assignment. I was genuinely relieved that Liam didn’t expect me to be a proper date until the real reason for his invitation dawned on me: all of the guys would be working that evening. And Liam was stuck babysitting me; he must have drawn the short straw.
When the frustration and uncertainty I’d felt at Theo’s party tried to resurface, I immediately smothered my negative emotions, consoling myself with happy thoughts of the gala. At least I would finally have an excuse to wear a Halloween costume. And knowing my fairy godmother (a.k.a. Theo), I would probably be wearing something extravagant with the hairstyle and accessories to match.
I thought back to what Jackson just told me and was surprised at his mention of another team, especially Team Falcon, being present at the gala. I’d always gotten the impression that the teams worked independent of each other.
“I didn’t realize teams worked together.”
“Occasionally—when we have a large or complex assignment.”
Knowing this was as good a time as any to find out more about Zenith, I decided to ask Jackson a few more questions. “Do you like those assignments or do you prefer the smaller ones?”
“That’s a tough choice since I like variety and crave a good challenge. But, if I had to pick one or the other, I’d choose the ones that utilize part or all of our team. We work best together without interference from outsiders.” Perhaps I was being paranoid, but I hoped that wasn’t a dig at me.
“That makes sense. I’ve seen you all in action, and it’s obvious how in sync you are.”
“Yeah, that comes from years of training and then working together. Uncle knew what he was doing when he encouraged us to bond first as friends and then later as teammates.”
“Really? I didn’t realize that your uncle was so involved in the process.”
Jackson laughed a little, scratching his chin. “He isn’t normally, but once I convinced him that I was determined to follow in his footsteps, he couldn’t help himself.”
“He needed convincing?” I was surprised by the thought; Jackson seemed like a natural extension of Zenith.
“Mostly he just encouraged me to pursue a different path, but in the end, I couldn’t resist the allure of Zenith.”
I grinned. “I’m confident he got over any reservations.” I wanted to ask more but figured I was already pressing my luck.
We wandered around the rest of the ground floor and mezzanine. Oversized flower arrangements, large mercury glass mirrors, and worn works of art enhanced the historic feel of the original structure. Jackson glanced at his watch as we neared the entrance to the hotel restaurant. “I thought we could grab dinner before I take you back to the loft.”
Not giving me a chance to respond, Jackson requested a table and we passed the host stand. Enormous lanterns of wrought iron and glass cast a warm and almost romantic glow about the majestic space. The incredibly tall ceiling stretched above us, the massive wood beams inset with alternating panes of blue glass and intricately detailed panels of gold. It looked like stars in the night sky. The rest of the hotel was beautiful, but the ballroom-turned-restaurant was magnificent.
We were seated in one of the banquettes along the side of the room, and I felt Jackson’s eyes watching me. “Stunning, isn’t it?”
“Yes, that’s an excellent word to describe it.” When I turned toward him, I was slightly unnerved by the look in his eyes. He is referring to the venue, right?
Perusing the menu, I racked my brain for something to discuss over dinner while trying to summon the courage to strike up a conversation. Fortunately, I remembered that Ethan had mentioned Jackson’s bookworm tendencies. “Rumor has it we have something in common.”
He cocked an eyebrow. “Is that so . . .” He paused, his expression almost playful. “You’re obsessed with manga, too?”
I tilted my head. “Manga? What’s that?”
“Apparently not the answer you had in mind. Manga are Japanese comics.” Is he teasing me or is that truly an obsession of his?
“Um, I was actually referring to reading. Ethan mentioned you’re a bibliophile.”
“Ahh.” He tilted his head back, and the way the dimmed light bounced off the angles of his face was breathtaking. “How many books have you read?”
I laughed. “Are you serious? I could probably give you a rough estimate, but I don’t know the exact number. Do you?”
“Of course; I keep a list.” He would, wouldn’t he?
“Well . . .” Jackson stared back at me, unanswering, before I finally asked, “What’s your number?”
“That’s quite a personal question, Miss Jones. Maybe I’ll tell you once I get to know you better.” He smirked, and I rolled my eyes at his response. After all, he asked first.
We dove into the topic of books, exchanging opinions and debating which were best. Although our tastes were mostly different, we had a few overlapping favorites. And Ethan was right; Jackson was definitely a voracious reader. He con
versed easily about many of the books I had read and seemingly endless ones I hadn’t.
When dinner arrived, there was a momentary lull in the conversation while the waiter inquired if we needed anything else. Once the waiter left, Jackson resumed the conversation. “Considering your love of reading, I think you’ll thoroughly enjoy the gala. Guests will be dressed as their favorite literary characters since the gala raises funds for children’s literacy.”
I smiled. “What a perfect idea. And who will you be dressed as?” I tried not to laugh as I imagined Jackson dressed as Frankenstein, before the image of him dressed as Mr. Darcy almost made me blush.
“No costume for me; I’ll be working more behind-the-scenes this time.”
“That’s too bad, especially considering your love of literature.” I thought about his admitted appreciation for the classics. “Let me guess, you’d be Odysseus?”
Jackson smiled a rare smile. “Maybe. You would make a fitting Penelope.”
Trying not to read too much into his comment about Odysseus’s virtuous wife, I looked away, feeling somehow comfortable and awkward all at the same time. Despite our surprisingly easy conversation, Jackson always managed to make me nervous.
“Haley, I hate to bring this up, but unfortunately it’s necessary before the gala.” He paused, waiting for me to face him. “Did you ever see the men that were chasing your dad on the day of the fire? Perhaps more importantly, did they see you?”
My breath hitched at the unexpected question. “No, although I can’t be completely sure they didn’t see me. What does this have to do with the gala?”
“As you know, we’ve been keeping an eye on the client that hired us to find your dad.” I nodded, divided between fear and the desire to know something, anything, about my dad.
“That same client hired Zenith as private security for the fundraising gala Liam invited you to.”
