“What in the hell is this?” she asked out loud to no one in particular.
“Interesting reaction, because that’s also my question,” Pierce said. “What the hell are you doing in the company of this guy?” He nodded at Seth and another slide popped up on the large screen. It was of this morning at the coffee shop in the exact moment she gave him that saucy wink before exiting.
Jessica stared at Martin. He was obviously as surprised as she was. Her focus then went to Pierce. “That is none of your business.” Her tone was harsh and angry from shock, and she didn’t care.
“You’re right, it’s not. But I’m about to make it my business.”
“What does that mean?”
“Obviously, you have a relationship with this man. You are not being asked to disclose the specifics. However, I’m hoping you’ll help us get into the club in a much easier fashion than we’d initially planned.”
Jessica opened her mouth, but words escaped her. They wanted her to use him? She shook her head, unable to speak just yet.
Pierce continued. “We could go the whole time-consuming—and very expensive, I might add—route of setting up an undercover operative to get inside and assess the place. You know, like where the vile bad guy we’re trying to catch will be sitting to discuss all of his nefarious plans. However, since you have a more readily available way to gain entrance to this very exclusive club, we’d like to use your cachet if at all possible. So is it, Agent Hayes? Possible?”
She swallowed hard. What he asked wasn’t completely unreasonable, but she was still reeling from being caught practically with her pants down in regard to her secret love affair. One she hadn’t even truly committed to yet.
If she did fess up, her options of disclosure were limited. She refused to admit that he’d only started out as a one-night stand to remove her virginity or rather a two-night stand, because the first time had been so amazing. Or she could say they were a couple with a budding romance and agree to this crazy plan. But then she’d have to use a guy who’d been used before in this exact manner.
Neil managed to snort loudly from across the table. “You’re with that guy? I don’t believe it for a minute. You were a virgin looking to hook up for the first time only last weekend.”
Jessica stood up, eyes on Neil, ready to burn her career to the ground. Because that’s what would happen if she followed through on the tempting vision of launching herself down the conference table, using a military crawl on hands, belly and knees to reach Neil, wrap her fingers securely around his throat and strangle him in front of half a dozen federal agents.
In the next second, though, Pierce saved her the trouble.
“That is a wildly inappropriate remark, Agent Wiley,” Pierce said coldly. He snapped his fingers loudly and pointed at Neil. “You are off the team. Get out of my meeting this instant!”
Neil, who’d been looking rather proud of himself for outing her most closely held secret, looked confused. “What?”
“What part of get out of my meeting this instant do you not understand? Go. You aren’t needed here any longer.”
“Do you know who I am?” Neil puffed up, looking like he did when anyone challenged him for being an ass.
Pierce stood. “I don’t care who you are. Get out! Or else I’ll make you get out.”
Neil got to his feet, glared at Jessica like she was the one who caused his humiliating departure, and stalked from the room, slamming the door on the way out like a petulant child. In an instant, Pierce became her new favorite person in the world.
He turned to her immediately and said, “I’m sorry for his unfortunate and outrageous comments. I’m hoping you won’t hold them against me. I’m not trying to get into your personal business, Agent Hayes. I’d just like to get inside that club and possibly plant some listening devices without anyone employed there knowing what we’re doing. We could take a chance on trying to get in like anyone else does, but my understanding of this club is that it’s very difficult to gain entrance. That is, unless someone already has an in. I believe that you possess that critical piece of our tactical strategy. Will you help us?”
Jessica took a deep breath and sat back down. She wanted to be a team player. She was grateful to Pierce for getting rid of Neil after only a single inappropriate remark. But what he was asking her to do was personal. She didn’t know Mark Reece that well. She hated to use him at this point in their relationship, especially considering what she knew about his history.
“Are you asking me to try and get inside with another man on my arm? Because I’m fairly sure that might end our new relationship rather quickly.”
“Of course not. You and your new best girlfriend Elsa will head inside there to dance the night away.”
Jessica closed her eyes. “It won’t work.”
“Why not?”
“I already told him I’m not a club girl. He knows I hate loud club scenes and that I don’t dance. He’s invited me inside as his guest, but—”
“Really? When?”
She cleared her throat. “Well, tonight actually. I agreed to go in and get drinks, but—”
“Perfect.”
“How is it perfect? I don’t think he’d buy me scurrying off to plant bugs with my friend as reasonable behavior.”
“Perhaps you could call him, tell him the date’s off unless you can bring your old college roommate Elsa and her date Gordon, who arrived in town at the last minute. Do you think he’d agree to bring them along to the club if the alternative is no date at all?”
“Would you?”
Pierce shrugged. “Maybe.” He looked over his shoulder at the picture of Jones kissing the backs of her fingers. “In this particular photo, he looks very interested in you, if you don’t mind me saying. I think he’d do anything for you if he could.”
Jessica did not want to test her ability to keep Jones interested, but it was likely he’d agree since he was the one who wanted to keep seeing her when she balked. She pushed out a long breath. “Okay. I guess—”
“Excellent.”
“Wait.”
“We don’t have much time, Agent. Can you call him?”
She blanched. “Right now?”
“Yes.”
Jessica stuttered. “This relationship is…” How can I put this without confirming Neil’s very accurate accusation? “Well, let’s just say we haven’t been seeing each other for very long.” Try less than a week.
“I see that as a plus. He’ll be trying harder to keep you interested.”
She was about to ask how when the door to the conference room opened and Martin’s executive assistant stepped inside, leaned down and whispered in her boss’s ear.
His eyes widened. He turned to her. “Agent Hayes has a visitor.”
“Who is it?” she asked.
Margaret said, “There’s a Mr. Mark Reece downstairs in the lobby asking to speak to you.”
Chapter Seven
Reece wasn’t usually so forward when it came to new relationships and women. He also shouldn’t have his ass currently parked, waiting in the fucking Federal Building lobby, seeking the company of his latest love affair. But this visit onto her turf wasn’t his call.
He wanted to talk to her, just not with ulterior motives guiding him as they did today. It had been made clear to him what he must say and do, whether he liked it or not, and he didn’t.
Last night, after seeing her to her car, he’d gotten the weirdest feeling of being watched. He didn’t see anyone, but that turned out not to mean a single damn thing. The phone call once he’d gotten back to his apartment this morning after coffee with Mike had changed everything.
He hated making the bold decision to just show up at her workplace, knowing Jessica was already very skittish about their relationship, but ultimately he had to guard his cover.
In fact, he’d already been verbally reprimanded for resisting this maneuver and promptly ordered to do it against his better judgement. There was no denying that Mar
k Reece needed to establish their relationship very clearly. It needed to be a very romantic relationship. It had to be a very public romantic relationship because it already was a fact in certain governmental agency circles.
Reece had been contacted by Miles Turner, his handler for this clandestine job, under the orders of several other members of his chain of command early this morning. He’d been linked to her at the coffee shop robbery through the paperwork and the media coverage much faster than he’d been prepared for.
The robbery had sent up a big red flag. Then another lettered agency—he didn’t even know which one—snapped a picture of him and Jessica together last night and promptly entered that photo into a particular database where criminals were often hunted for or linked as associated in some way with other criminals.
He wasn’t a criminal, but he did have a few unsavory ties within the parameters of the club as a part of his street cred. This indelibly linked him and Jessica together for the time being.
It had also led to this morning’s emergency call from Miles, who wanted to know what the fuck he was doing with an FBI agent while undercover for the DEA.
No one seemed to know they’d spent Saturday night together, but he couldn’t rule it out. Maybe they just hadn’t played that card yet. For now, as far as everyone knew they’d met at a robbery on Monday morning. She was publicly established as FBI, but she did not know his true vocation. Then they’d met at his place that same night and been filmed leaving together very early the next morning when he walked Jessica to her car.
The powers that ruled over his career decided immediately that they wanted Reece to use Jessica for his undercover operation. He was to establish their relationship and then tell anyone in his fake undercover world who wanted the information that he had an “in” with a federal employee. The very idea of it made his skin crawl, but he wasn’t in a position to argue. Reece was supposed to tell his club owner boss, Travis Arthur, that his girlfriend had access to any and all field operations information.
Therefore, she would be able to warn the club and its owner if any lettered agencies were going to be sneaking around. This was a very valuable connection for him, especially at this juncture of the seemingly endless undercover job.
Still, he hated to use her in this way or in any way. The only good news was perhaps they wouldn’t have to sneak around to be together. That would be fine with him. He wasn’t certain if it would be fine with her. And above all else he was never to tell her he was an undercover agent. Ever.
There were violent and actionable resources that would be used against him if she ever even suspected he was undercover law enforcement. Those resources were made very clear to him, repeatedly. It didn’t matter if she was a fellow law enforcement officer. Do not tell her was supposed to be his new mantra. He’d added on the word “yet” to the end of his new mantra.
Across the vast lobby of the Federal Building, Reece saw Jessica exit from the area of the elevator banks. A horde of other people came behind her as she headed in his direction. She walked through security and made a beeline for him. Her expression was closed off, hard to read. She might be pretty angry with him for showing up this way. He didn’t blame her.
The moment she was within speaking range, she said, “I didn’t expect to see you here today.” Oh, yeah. She is pissed.
“Honestly, I didn’t expect to be here either. But something occurred to me and I felt I needed to be bold in this particular case.”
She crossed her arms, blocking off any sort of hug or embrace. “What brings you here, Reece?” Shit. She’d used his real name. He briefly paused to enjoy the way she said it, though. It was the first time she’d called him anything but Jones.
“I wanted your car keys so I could take your vehicle to get the flat tire repaired. I know you’re busy, but I’m off today. It would be no problem for me.”
The expression on her face shifted from wary to utter disbelief. It was the only thing he could think of in an attempt to endear her affections. Plus, he truly did believe she was driving around unsafely on that temporary tire.
“What?” She shook her head. “Why would you do that?”
“Because I care about you. What if you need to be in a car chase later? You’d be up shit creek without a paddle.”
Her lids narrowed, but he sensed she was softening. “How do you know the donut is still on my car?” Her eyebrows lifted, and he could definitely tell she was not as angry as when she’d first arrived.
“Isn’t it?” She scowled, and he knew he was right. He’d gambled she wouldn’t have had time to have it replaced on her way to work after leaving the coffee shop earlier.
He leaned closer. “I know for a fact that the donut is still on your car because I saw your vehicle at the coffee shop this morning. Before you tell me it could be another car, I memorized your license plate for fun. So please, let me take it and get it fixed. It’s a safety thing.”
“Really? That’s the only reason you came in here today?”
He shrugged and rolled his eyes. “Okay. I also wanted to see if you were really an FBI agent.”
Her brows furrowed once more, but her expression lightened considerably. “You didn’t believe I was in the FBI? Why not? I flashed my badge at the coffee shop. Not to mention the local cops take a dim view of people who claim to be an FBI agent and start shooting up the place.”
He shrugged. “Well, I didn’t see your badge up close and personal. Could’ve been a fake. Trust me, I know all about fake IDs in my line of work. But since you didn’t show it to me I couldn’t be sure, now could I?”
A smile shaped her lips. Fuck, she is stunning. Jessica took a step closer, coming into his personal space. “So what I’m hearing is that the next time we’re alone together you want me to show you my badge so you can get a good look at it?”
“Yes,” he whispered, leaning forward to add, “and if you’re wearing only my discarded shirt at the time, that would be awesome.”
“Well, I’ll have to think about it. Naturally, I don’t show my badge to just anyone.”
“What if I said please and then went and got your tire fixed for you?”
Jessica giggled. “You are something else.” She looked over her shoulder, probably checking to see if anyone listened in. No one was within fifteen feet of them.
“I do my best.”
“Fine. I’ll show you my badge the next time we’re alone…and I’m wearing your discarded shirt.”
“Excellent. Now give me your car keys so I can be a hero and I’ll be on my way.”
She reached into her pocket and pulled out a key fob with a single key. Handing it to him, she held his fingers briefly before letting go.
“When do you get off work?” he asked quietly.
“Usually six, but I’m not certain about today.”
“Oh, right, because you have that special project. The one you need extra sleep for. Is that right?”
She stared intently into his eyes for the first time since meeting him in the lobby. “Yes. That’s exactly right.”
“But we are still going out to my club tonight to dance, right? Please say yes.”
That seemed to startle her. The powers ruling his life wanted them together in the club as soon as possible to establish him as linked to her in an intimate way. He was supposed to make a big show of having her on his arm, introducing her around to his fellow employees. He had no doubt that Jessica would loathe any special attention.
“Yes. But maybe we can just sit and have drinks.”
Reece wasn’t going to let her be a wallflower. Well, Reece Langston would have, but Mark Reece needed to establish her as a love interest. Being seen dirty dancing with her in the center of the club was his best option. “Oh no. We need to get on the dance floor at least once. I need one sexy slow dance around the room at the very least, maybe two. Don’t make me look bad in front of my club friends.”
She pushed out a sigh. “Okay. Just remember I don’t dance, so you’
ll have to lead.” Her head tilted back and she stared deeply into his eyes. She seemed distracted. Or was that regret he saw?
“I can’t wait. I promise to make you look great on the dance floor.”
She huffed. “That will be a tall order.”
“Don’t worry. I’m up for it.”
“Of that I have no doubt.” She gave him that same seductive look she had at the coffee shop this morning. The tip of her tongue touched the center of her top lip briefly and he wanted to press her to the marble floor of this busy Federal Building and have his wicked way with her.
“Watch it. I’m a mere mortal man and I love your sweet tongue.”
She grinned, but stopped teasing him. “Sorry. I lost my head and forgot where I was. You make me want to do wild things. Guess I’ll have to keep my eye on you.”
“That’s probably a good idea. So, shall I pick you up at your place tonight?”
Her gaze went to one side, as if she was about to make an excuse to call it all off. He held his breath, but soon she shrugged. “Sure.”
Reece frowned. “You aren’t afraid to give me your address, are you?”
Jessica shook her head in amusement. “No.”
“Good. Because I’d planned to plunder your glovebox to find out where you live when I get your tire fixed anyway.”
A mischievous smile surfaced. “Sorry. That won’t help you. In fact, you’d end up at my parents’ house several states away. But I’m sure my dad would love to talk to you.”
“Ooh. That might be a little awkward.”
She glanced around again as if doing a quick perimeter check to ensure their limited privacy. “Did I mention that I’m the youngest of five and the only girl?”
Bouncer (Bad Boys in Big Trouble Book 2) Page 8
