by C. C. Snow
The most unflattering sound came out of my mouth. I could only categorize it as a squawk.
A million things ran through my mind. Galileo Academy was not the type of school to accept students mid term and they certainly did not offer any scholarships. Most likely, Jake had pulled in a few favors and arranged for the tuition to be paid in full.
“How did you know Marcus was at Galileo?”
Jake scoffed as if I had asked him the simplest question in the world. “It wasn’t hard to figure out that the son of Sebastian Branton wouldn’t attend any other school other than the premier institution for math and sciences.”
I looked at the phone number longingly. One phone call could resolve so many of our problems, but having Jake use his clout on my behalf didn’t sit well with me. “Jake, this is too much. It’s wonderful of you to do this for us, but I can’t accept this.”
He dismissed my protest with a wave of his hand. “I didn’t do anything except chat with a friend. Jon was the one who offered the scholarship. Besides, you can’t turn down something like this without discussing it with Marcus.”
“That would be pointless. Marcus would jump at the chance to go back to his old school.” I knew my brother missed the academic rigor as well as his friends. He kept in touch with them online and saw them on the weekends, but it was not the same.
Jake shrugged, unsympathetic to my dilemma. “Well, then I guess Marcus is changing schools. Besides, you can’t deny him this opportunity. I was blown away by how smart he is.”
I felt a glow of pride at his words.
Jake squeezed my fingers around the scrap. “Cora, he needs an environment that would foster his abilities. It would be a shame to turn it down because of some misguided sense of pride.”
I bit my lip, feeling torn. As much as I didn’t want to be beholden to Jake, he was right. Marcus had been languishing at his current school. I inclined my head in acquiescence and smiled at him, a wave of something I was afraid to name overwhelming me. “Okay, I’ll call David Bouchard. Thank you, Jake.”
He grinned in triumph, looking heart-stutteringly handsome.
That he didn’t tell me about his efforts on Marcus’s behalf before he expressed his personal interest in me was to his credit. It showed me he respected me enough not to manipulate me.
Still, I had to clarify my position even though I felt like the worst ingrate. “This doesn’t change anything between us.”
His grin did not dim. “I didn’t expect it to.” His expression turned rueful. “You really do have the most appalling opinion of me. I have my work cut out for me. I have never had to resort to cheap tricks to win a woman’s affection and I don’t plan to start with you.” He stooped down and looked directly at me. His voice lowered until it was an intimate caress against my skin. “Baby, when you finally come to me, and you will, it will be for no other reason than you want me so much you can’t help yourself.”
His endearment sent my heart racing and my breath caught at the determination in his aquamarine eyes. I felt like a rabbit sighted by a hawk. And I was afraid the emotion spreading through me wasn’t fear. It was excitement.
Chapter 9
Marcus thought Jake hung the moon and the stars and the sun and everything in the universe when I told him about the scholarship. He wanted to call Jake to thank him, but I nixed the idea, considering it too intrusive. I compromised by letting him text a thank you to Jake’s cell phone.
I didn’t want Jake to feel obligated to talk to my brother. I loved Marcus, but when he was excited about a topic, he could go on forever about it. It was both endearing and exasperating.
Within seconds of the sent text, I heard Marcus’s cell phone ring.
“Hi Jake!”
I looked up from my book in surprise.
Marcus’s lean face was bright and happy. “Uh-huh. Yeah.” He nodded vigorously, his hair flopping into his eyes.
Shit…haircut.
“It’s awesome. I’m going to start next week. I wanted to go tomorrow, but Cora says we still have to figure out my classes and stuff. Yeah. Thanks!”
There was a long pause. I strained to hear Jake’s side of the conversation, but I couldn’t make out a single word.
“Sure! I’m don’t think Cora would mind!”
The book fell out of my hands and hit the floor with a loud thud. I sat up in alarm. “Marcus!” The idea of a twelve-year old agreeing to something on my behalf filled me with dread.
Peeking at me, he turned away and said quickly, “Bye, Jake. Thanks for everything.” He ended the call and stuffed the phone in the pocket of his baggy jeans.
I stood and planted my fists on my hips. It would have been more effective had I been taller than he was, but I tried to project authority. “What wouldn’t I mind?”
He shuffled guiltily toward his room. “Um… Jake said he had an empty apartment that was closer to my school and to your work. He said it’s sitting empty and we could move into it if we want.”
He spoke so quickly that the words strung together. It took me a few moments to register the words. “Marcus Branton! We are not taking charity from my boss!”
His jaw jutted out pugnaciously. “It’s not charity. Jake said we could pay the same amount of rent as we do now! And I hate it here. Something’s always broken and it’ll take me an hour to get to and from Galileo.”
I walked up to him and put my hands on his shoulders. “Marcus, you know this is wrong. If we accept Jake’s generosity, we are essentially letting him subsidize our apartment. And that is charity. I know our living situation is not ideal, but Jake has done enough. He already pulled strings to get you a full scholarship. It’s not fair to take advantage of his kindness. When our lease is up in a few months, we can take a look at our finances to see if we can move closer to the school.”
His eyes brightened with hope. “Really?”
“I can’t promise anything, but yes we’ll seriously look into moving.” With Marcus’s tuition taken care of, I was sure we could upgrade to a nicer location.
Long arms snapped around me and I almost cried at Marcus’s spontaneous display of affection. He had not voluntarily hugged me since he was a young kid. Every time I pulled him into a hug, it felt like he was tolerating my touch.
I wrapped my arms around his bony figure and held him close. For the first time in a long time, I felt like my brother and I were on the same page. I closed my eyes to savor every precious second, but all too soon, he pulled away awkwardly.
“Um…should I call Jake to tell him?”
I narrowed my eyes in anger at Jake’s manipulative ways. “No, I’ll talk to him.”
“Okay. Don’t make him mad, okay?”
I gnashed my teeth. The man was turning my own brother against me. “Why would I make him mad?”
“Uh…cuz you look really pissed off.”
“I’m fine. Don’t you have to get ready for school? Just because you’re transferring doesn’t excuse you from finishing your homework. You have that paper due in English Lit.”
“UGH!” He groaned and walked to his room, feet dragging on the floor. English Literature was his least favorite subject. Before he reached his door, he paused and looked at the floor. “Um…Cora, I’m sorry for saying I hate you the other day.” He slanted a sideway glance at me. “I didn’t mean it.”
Tears welled up. “I know.”
He gave me a small smile of relief and walked into his room.
I took a moment to savor the shift in our relationship. My heart already felt lighter.
After a few minutes, I took out my phone and dialed Jake. My foot tapped with irritation as the phone ring.
“Hey, baby. I was hoping to hear from you.”
At the sound of his deep voice calling me baby, I almost forgot the purpose of my call. All I felt were the tremors of pleasure running from my ears down my spine to my feminine core. I bit my lip hard, hoping the pain would help me focus.
Work today had been an uphill battle.
After our passionate kiss, Jake’s demeanor changed. He was never outright unprofessional, but there were little things that kept my nerves humming the whole time. When he spoke to me, he stood close a tad too close. His eyes followed me with a calculating glint, as if he were plotting something. When he spoke to me, he used a softer tone. And most distracting of all were his little touches. They weren’t lewd or inappropriate– a hand at my elbow or our fingers meeting when I handed him something– but each glance of his skin electrified my senses.
“Jake, what the hell are you doing?”
“What do you mean, baby?”
I almost groaned out loud, giving away how much he affected me. “Don’t call me that!”
His voice lowered to a croon. “But you are my baby. My beautiful, sexy, stubborn baby.”
“Jake!” I meant to say it as a rebuke, but it came out as more of a half-moan.
“I love the way you say my name. I can’t wait until you’re screaming it when you come on my cock.”
The phone landed on the floor with a loud crack. I stared at it, my mind pure sludge. My limbs were weak and shaking and it felt like I was running a fever. To my embarrassment, my panties were wet.
Shit! A few sexy words and I creamed myself.
“Cora! Are you okay?” My name sounded far away and with a start, I realized Jake was still on the other line.
I clenched my jaw and picked up the phone. Afraid he would derail me with his seductive voice, I spoke rapidly, “How dare you talk to Marcus about moving! It was an underhanded tactic and you know it. He’s twelve, Jake.”
His voice was surprisingly calm in the face of my angry words. “I knew you weren’t going to agree to move, but I don’t like where you live. It’s not safe for you or Marcus.”
“That’s for me to decide. It’s the best I can do right now and I don’t need your interference.”
“I’m not interfering. I’m trying to help.”
“We’re fine where we’re at!” I said haughtily.
“Your stubbornness is exactly why I talked to Marcus about it in the first place. Sometimes your brother is more levelheaded than you are. Why won’t you let me help you? What I told Marcus is one hundred percent true. There are several units in River North which are sitting empty. You and Marcus could move in this weekend.”
I gnashed my teeth in frustration at his deliberate obtuseness. “Jake, I’m not some helpless woman who needs rescuing. I won’t take charity.”
“This is not charity, damn it. And I know you’re not helpless. Although I swear to God, things sure as hell would be easier if you were.” I could hear a trace of anger in his voice before he drew a deep breath. When he spoke, he sounded calm again. “Your neighborhood is not safe. Your building is falling apart. A single woman and a teenager are vulnerable. If you won’t do it for yourself, do it for Marcus. Aren’t you worried about him walking home from school?”
“That isn’t fair!” I gasped at the sly attack.
“I don’t care. You’re not thinking rationally. I’ll do whatever it takes.”
“We’re not moving!”
A string of vicious curses blasted out of my speakers.
I took the phone away from my ear and stared at it in astonishment. Jake cursed on occasion, but it was always limited to one-word expletives. He must be extremely aggravated to lose his cool.
When I heard his words slow down, I cautiously put the phone back at my ear. “Feel better?”
“No! I’d feel better if you agreed to move.”
“No!”
“Fuck! You’re so damn pig-headed,” he grumbled.
“Ha! That’s rich coming from you!”
There was a pause and then a bark of laughter. I blinked. I had not expected that reaction.
“Damn, my mom’s going to love you!”
I could not keep up with this man’s mental acrobatics. “What are you talking about?”
“Poor baby. You won’t even see it coming.” There was a note of pity in his voice.
My hands rose to massage the throbbing ache in my head. “God! I’m getting a headache talking to you. Nothing you say makes any sense.”
“I’m sorry, baby. The headache will go away if you stop fighting me.”
For some reason, that sent me into peals of laughter. Jake was so unrelenting in everything he did. “You can’t stand to lose, can you?” I gasped between giggles.
“No, I can’t. Remember that.”
It was a warning and I sobered, thinking about what he wanted from me. Maybe I should just give in. An affair with a sexy, handsome billionaire doesn’t sound so bad.
Until he breaks your heart, a voice pointed out.
I sighed. “Jake–”
“Fine, we’ll talk about it tomorrow.”
“We will not–”
“I’ll see you bright and early, baby. Sweet dreams.” Click.
I glowered at the phone. I wished he had remained the aloof, cold boss from a month ago.
Liar.
My spine lost its starch. Jake Weston was making me so crazy, I was arguing with myself.
Chapter 10
When I arrived early for work, there was a strange man sitting at my desk, working on my computer.
“Excuse me, may I help you?” I asked sternly, frowning at him.
Light blue eyes in a narrow face looked up in surprise. “Oh, sorry. You must be Cora. I’m Jason Hughes.” He stood up and offered his hand. His handshake was firm and confident.
“That doesn’t explain why you’re at my computer.”
His light brown hair fell into his eyes, reminding me of Marcus. “Oh. I’m just checking on the firewalls on your computer.”
I lowered my voice. “Ah… does this have something to do with the leak?”
He looked taken aback that I would know about the security breach, but he didn’t answer my question. He sat back down and started saving files on a flash drive.
“Am I a suspect?” I asked, aghast.
“I’m just checking your firewalls,” he insisted adamantly.
“Right,” I said sarcastically. “That explains why you’re saving all my files and probably checking my browser history. Just so you know, porn at work isn’t my thing. You might find too many videos of kittens playing with balls of yarn. No wait… there might be some food porn.”
He snorted with laughter before he caught himself.
“Cora, why don’t you come into my office while Jason does his thing?”
I looked over to see my boss leaning against the doorjamb with his arms crossed over his chest. His suit was dark gray with subtle black stripes and fit him to perfection, emphasizing the strong lines of his body. His blue shirt made his eyes look electric. I stared at his mouth, noticing that lower lip was slightly fuller than his upper. Recalling the feel of his lips moving on mine, I swallowed with difficulty.
The smirk forming on his mouth let me know that I had been gawking at him like a schoolgirl. I growled at myself and jerked my gaze away. “Let me grab your calendar.”
“There’s no need. I had to make some changes to the schedule before you came in.” He stepped aside to let me pass and closed the door.
To my surprise, Jake dived right into work and dictated a memo for the next meeting of the board of directors. I told myself I wasn’t disappointed he was all business. This was what I wanted, I assured myself.
A knock on the door interrupted us.
“Come in.”
Jason stuck his head in the door, “All done. Cora was the last of the computers on this floor.”
“Thanks, Jason. Let me know if you find any issues.”
“Will do.” Jason looked over at me with a small smile. “Nice to meet you, Cora.”
I smiled warmly. “You, too.”
Jason closed the door. I turned back to Jake and was taken aback by his dark expression. “Jake, are you okay?”
“Do you have to flirt with every male in your vicinity?” His eyes were narrowed in an
ger.
Stunned, I could only make a gurgling sound at the back of my throat. I jumped to my feet and put my hands on my waist. “You have got to be kidding me! What the hell is wrong with you, Jake Weston? I can’t even be friendly with someone without you accusing me of being a bimbo? First it was with your brother. Then it was with Dale Richards. Now it’s with your own head of cyber security! I’m glad you think so highly of me! Next you’ll accuse me of sleeping with the security guard.” I forcefully threw the memo pad and pen onto his desk. His baseless accusation pushed me over the edge. “That’s it. I quit!”
If I hadn’t been so incensed, I would have laughed at the sequence of emotions that marched over his face: surprise, shame, remorse, and dismay at my last statement. But fury was riding me hard. I pivoted on my heels and stomped to the door. Just as I turned the doorknob, two large hands slammed into the wood, preventing me from opening the door.
“I’m sorry, Cora,” his raspy voice whispered into my ear.
“Let me go, Jake. I’m no longer your employee. I can’t work for someone who thinks I’m a manipulative nympho.”
He grasped my arms and spun me around to face him. His face was etched with contrition. “I’m sorry, baby. I was….”
When he hesitated, I supplied, “Unfair? Obtuse? Idiotic?”
He grimaced. “I was going to say jealous, but I’ll accept all three if you won’t quit.”
His answer set me back on my heels and I searched his face for the truth. “What? Why would you be jealous?” I couldn’t imagine why this man would be jealous of anyone. If anything, he left a trail of envious men and salivating women wherever he went.
Red spots flagged on his slashing cheeks. “Because you seem so at ease in their company! You smile and laugh with Troy, but you argue with me. You go out to lunch with him, but you only have lunch with me when we work.”
“I argue with you because you’re an ass. And I went out to lunch with Troy once,” I pointed out.
