by Harte, Jenna
ISBN: 978-0-9881770-3-1
Old Flames Never Die: A Valentine Mystery Book Two
Copyright 2012 Moxie Vie
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author or Moxie Vie except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are product of the writer's imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental.
Moxie Vie
265 Turkeysag Trail
Suite 102, 104
Palmyra, VA 22963
Acknowledgments: Lots of people provided encouragement and support to get through this book. Thank you to beta readers Tammy and Jill for finding the errors and cheering me on. Thank you to my writing group for feedback and tips; especially to Robert Agee the resident rock and gem expert. A big salute to Laurie Jensen of Anne's River Media for her edit expertise. I want to give a shout out to all my new fans. Each time you posted a good review or a note about book one, it was validation to keep on writing. And finally, thank you to my family for not snickering at my saccharine sweet stories.
For excerpts and information about upcoming releases from Jenna Harte visit JennaHarte.com.
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
About Jenna Harte and Upcoming Works
Chapter OneWhat am I doing? Tess looked into the antique mirror over the dresser to view herself in the teal-colored shirt that dipped down between her breasts. Did her new La Perla bra show? Turning slightly, she inventoried her butt in the skintight jeans. She felt like pork sausage about to burst from its casings. The very idea that she was dressed like this because it made a certain man grin and ogle was equally disturbing. If anyone told her three months ago that her house and law practice would go up in smoke and that she would be hopelessly in love, she'd think they were one peanut short of a Snickers bar. Yet here she was; homeless, jobless and stuffing her curves into clothing clearly too small just so she could turn on a certain blue-green-eyed man.
She wondered if Jack missed her as much as she'd missed him. He left Friday morning for a board meeting in Washington, D.C. and stayed the weekend to meet with his right-hand man and Tess' former fiancé, Brad Chancellor, about business. This morning, he drove straight to Worthington Media Corporation offices in Jefferson Tavern, Virginia, for a Monday morning meeting. His next stop would be home. It was the first time since their reunion in February they'd been apart for more than a day.
Jack had invited her to go with him and even enticed her with bribes about making love in government monuments. But she had a house and a career to rebuild again and opted to stay behind. Instead, she spent the weekend buying new lingerie at Cezarier's boutique and making chocolate truffles in preparation for his return.
“Honey, I'm home,” she heard him call from downstairs.
“Show time,” she said to herself. “I'm upstairs.”
She could hear him bounding up the stairs.
“Tell me you're naked.” He blew into the room, skidding to a stop a few feet from her. A slow wide grin spread on his face. She blushed, embarrassed. How did he do that?
“You know what that outfit does for me, don't you?” he said as his arms wrapped around her. With a hand on each buttock, he pulled her flush against his body.
“Why else would I spend hours to get into it?”
“I'll be happy to help you remove it.”
She slid her arms over his shoulders and looked up into his striking blue-green eyes. He leaned down to kiss her. It was a kiss of renewal. As if they'd been without water for days and could finally drink their fill. They stopped only because they needed to breathe.
“How was your trip?” Tess asked still whirling from the intoxicating effect he had on her.
“Uneventful. Brad says 'hi'.”
“And how were things at Worthington today?”
“I think they're beginning to see how beneficial my purchase of the company will be for them.”
“Ah. Greed.”
“Not just greed. Slothfulness too. They won't have to work.”
Tess laughed. “And what about the fact that you're related to them?”
“I think that is the only reason they're going along with the merger. The company does technically stay in the family.”
Just a few months ago, Jack was the prime suspect in the murder of the company's CEO, Asa Worthington. What seemed like a little murder mystery actually turned out to be something much more when it was discovered that Jack was the illegitimate son of Asa's father, Senator Worthington. At the time of his death, Asa was planning to reveal the scandal and make it worse by turning the company over to Jack. As it turned out, the Senator was thrilled to learn about Jack. Jack didn't return the sentiment. He also didn't want to be handed the company, but agreed to buy it because Philip, the only other Worthington left to run it, was inept in business.
“You look tired,” Tess said.
“I am. I'm not used to working every day,” he grinned, showing the one dimple that got him whatever he wanted. “I can't wait to hand the whole thing over to someone.”
“That won't be popular.”
“It’ll be my company.” His hands squeezed her butt. “Can we get back to this outfit and getting you out of it? I have another meeting tonight.”
“Tonight?” Tess said, not hiding her disappointment.
“Actually…” The tone of Jack's voice had Tess thinking she wasn't going to like what he had to say. “I got a call from an old friend…old girlfriend.”
“Oh,” Tess automatically took a step back.
“Don't do that, Tess. Her husband was murdered over the weekend. She just needs some support.”
“From you?”
He shrugged. “Liv wasn't one to have lots of girlfriends.”
That could only mean one thing: She was tall, gorgeous and bitchy. “How about family?”
“His family is in town, but they aren't close. It's just dinner. You can come if you want. I figured you wouldn't want to.”
“Why would you figure that?”
He shrugged and stepped away, apparently deciding sex was no longer going to happen. “You're insecure when it comes to relationships.”
That was true, but it sounded pathetic to hear it. “I'm here, aren't I?”
“For now. But for how long? Even though I've asked you to stay, you're working on getting your home back.”
“I have to rebuild it. It’s sitting charred in the middle of a residential neighborhood.”
“I don't want to fight about this, Tess. I love you and I'm sorry if it bothers you that I'm having dinner with Liv. But she was there for me when my mother died. I should do the same for her.”
“I'm not mad that you're having dinner with her. I'm mad that you think I'm not committed to this thing between us.”
“I know you love me and you’re as committed as you can be. I just wish you'd trust that my feelings are sincere.” He
unbuttoned his shirt. “I'm going to take a quick shower before I have to go.”
Tess frowned at his back as he entered the bathroom. That didn't go as planned. Just because she was wary and nervous about their relationship didn't mean she was insecure. It's not like she didn't have good reason not to trust in love. But she was here. With him. What else did he want?
~~~~
Jack let the water spray over his head hoping it would wash the frustration away. He'd had a tough day sparring with the Worthingtons. When Liv called, his first instinct was to tell her he couldn't meet her. He'd been looking forward to a reunion with Tess from the moment he'd left her three days ago. The smell of chocolate and her kick-ass clothes told him she'd been thinking the same thing. But he couldn't abandon Liv. It wasn't that long ago that she'd saved him from himself. With her help he got back to work and ended up in a position where he could meet Tess again.
He knew Tess' reasons for distrusting in love, but that didn't mean it didn't drive him nuts. Even as challenging as she could be though, he was completely in love with her. It proved that Cupid had a sense of humor or he was a sadist.
But Jack wasn't discouraged. He wasn't a man who got everything he wanted. If he were, his mother would still be alive. Turns out cancer can't be bought. But he was successful more times than not when he put his mind to something, and his mind was on Tess and convincing her to commit to him. He'd managed to get her into his home, although she thought she was just staying with him until her house was rebuilt. Jack figured he had until the house was finished to convince her otherwise.
But as fate would have it, his reunion with Tess and moving a step closer to keeping her would turn out to be two steps back. He knew having dinner with an old flame was a bad idea under the best of circumstances. With Tess, it could be disastrous. But he owed Liv. It seemed only right that he be there for her.
He picked up the bar of soap when he heard the shower door open and felt a burst of cool air. He turned to see Tess stepping into the shower with him. Immediately, his body heated and his annoyance was replaced by desire. She had a body that drove him nuts. She had no idea how potent she was, which only added to her allure. She had chestnut colored hair that naturally formed large soft curls he wanted to run his fingers through. Indulging himself, he slipped his fingers through her hair as he pulled her to him for a kiss that was equally as potent.
“You're killing me, you know that?” he said looking into her eyes. It had been her eyes that first captured his attention. They were the color of aged whisky and were filled with a fire that he felt burn deep in his soul. He never grew tired of looking into them.
“I can leave.”
“Don't you dare.” He pulled her body against his. She was small in height, but had curves in all the right places. Because she worked out, her body was one soft curve over firm muscle after another. His hands slid down over her bare backside and squeezed its firm roundness.
“I missed you,” he whispered in her ear.
Her hands slid up his chest and over his shoulders “Show me.”
He was a goner. His lips captured hers briefly, making their journey down her long neck and through the valley between her breasts before finally taking her into his mouth. She moaned, giving him the praise he loved to hear. Tess was guarded when he'd reunited with her. She tried to hide her passion under unflattering clothes and behind her job. But in her eyes he'd seen passion and sensuality, and he'd made it his life's mission to bring that out in her.
She slid one hand through his hair as the other slid lower and wrapped around him.
He groaned and dropped his forehead against hers. “I'm sorry about tonight. I know you made plans.”
“Looks like we simply need to adjust them. You can see my new purchase from Cezarier's later.”
He let out another groan. “I'm not sure I deserve you.”
“I'm not sure either, so now is your chance to prove it to me.”
He grinned. “No pressure.”
“Oh, I think there will be lots of pressure. Besides, I want you looking sated and well-loved when you see Liv.”
“I'm up for the challenge.”
“Yes, I know.” Her hands slid over and down.
“I could call Liv and cancel,” Jack said, doing all he could to keep from throwing her against the wall and taking her.
“You could, but under the circumstances, I think that would be rude.”
“It's not like we're close –” he hissed as Tess' hands continued to work wonders. “We haven't kept in touch. I'm not sure why she called.”
“I am,” Tess cooed.
“She's newly widowed. I don't think she's interested in rekindling a romance.”
“That's not what I meant. If you were as good to her as you are to me, and she has no friends, who else would she call?”
“I see your point.” He wrapped his arms around her and lifted her as he stepped towards the shower wall. “Now you can see my point,” he said as he pressed into her. He took his time to savor the feeling of being sheathed by her, skin to skin.
“I love you, Tess,” he managed as he moved with her.
She responded with a moan he took to mean she loved him too.
“Come with me, Tess,” he said as he captured her lips with his.
~~~~
“I can't believe I'm coming with you.” Tess sat next to Jack in his car as they drove towards the center of Jefferson Tavern's old district.
“I was surprised you said yes.”
Tess rolled her eyes. “I thought you were talking about something else.”
Jack turned to her and grinned. He reached out to take her hand and brought it to his lips. “I'm glad you came.”
“Are you talking about now or earlier?”
“Both.” He kissed her knuckles again. “Seriously though, I'm glad you're here. Liv is pretty upset. She feels the police are putting a lot of pressure on her even though she was out of town when it happened. That, on top of losing her husband, it can't be easy.”
“It's not uncommon to look at the spouse first,” Tess replied.
“I know. I've told her that. Maybe you can tell her that too. It might reassure her since you're a lawyer.”
“Sure.” Tess wouldn't describe her feelings as jealousy, but there was definitely uneasiness at the thought of meeting Liv. When she first met Jack five years ago, he seemed to have a preference for leggy blondes whose names ended with i like Candi or Brandi. It still boggled her mind that he loved her. Not that Tess was ugly, but she wasn't blonde or leggy. She was quite the opposite at barely 5'3” with brown hair that had curls with a mind of their own. She didn't have a dimple or a beauty mark or anything that set her apart from other women. And yet, she had the most gorgeous man ever falling all over her. She wanted to revel in it, but couldn't help but wonder when the other shoe would drop or the punch line of this cruel joke would be delivered and he'd be off with the next tall blonde to come his way. Perhaps this was her now, Tess thought, as a blonde woman with legs to her armpits approached them.
“Jack,” she said. “Thank you for coming.”
Jack kissed her cheek and gave her arm a squeeze. “I'm sorry about Charles.”
The woman sniffed. “It was such a shock. I still can't believe it… it…” She shook her head. “I'm sorry. This is all surreal.”
“Are you sure you want to be out for dinner?”
“Yes. I had to get out or go crazy.” The woman cocked her head towards Tess.
“Liv, this is Tess Madison—”
“You brought your lawyer with you?” Liv said turning back to Jack. “I know the police seem overly interested in me, but I don't think I need a lawyer.”
“How'd you know I was a lawyer?” Tess asked.
“I read about you in the paper. It was so wonderful what you did for Jack. To think the police thought he'd kill anyone. Well, it's ludicrous.”
“Tess isn't my lawyer,” Jack explained.
“Oh,” the wo
man's eyes showed understanding. “How wonderful.”
“Tess, this is Liv Danforth.”
“It's nice to meet you. I'm sorry for your loss.” Tess extended her hand, which Liv clasped in a firm but friendly shake.
“Thank you. And thank you for being here. I could use all the support I can get.”
Tess acknowledged that she'd gone into the dinner wanting to dislike Liv, but so far she couldn't find a good reason, except for the long leg thing. They sat at a table at the back of the restaurant, allowing them quiet and privacy. They talked about all the things old friends would cover to catch up. Liv asked Jack about his business and reuniting with Tess. She talked about her life, but avoided talking about her husband until Jack specifically asked her if she needed anything now that he was gone.
“I have to go in to the police station tomorrow,” Liv said, sipping her wine at the end of dinner. “I don't know why. I'll tell them the same thing I've told them twice already.”
“I'm sure it's just routine, right Tess?”
Tess nodded, but a third interview in two days seemed more than routine to her. Especially since Liv was asked to the station.
“I mean I wasn't even in town. I was in New York.”
“Maybe now that some time has passed, you'll remember something that helps the police,” Jack offered.
“I don't know what. I barely saw him that morning. He was already up and eating an egg white omelet when I woke. I left the house by 9:08 and he was still at the breakfast table.”
“9:08?” Tess asked.
Liv nodded. “Yes. Charles had the weather channel on and it was time for the local weather, which is on the eights of the hour. Anyway, from there I went to the airport and made it just in time for the 10:30 flight to New York. I gave the police all my receipts for parking, the spa, the shopping, the show, the driver—everything.”
“Maybe they just want to know about his business dealings or other people who might want to hurt him. You're the best person to ask about that. Isn't that right, Tess?”
