by Autumn Reed
“I think Ethan has a tendency to struggle with Jax’s authority more than the rest of us. Clearly Jax made a decision yesterday that Ethan disagrees with, and he assumes that Jax didn’t take his opinion into consideration. Whether he’s right or wrong, I don’t know, but it’s really not the point; Jax has final say. That’s how it works, and we’ve all agreed to abide by the team structure. So, of course, it seems to Ethan that the rest of us are taking Jax’s side when we’re only following the rules.”
“Is Ethan still angry?”
“Perhaps, but it will blow over. With all the testosterone in the team, it’s natural to have the occasional quarrel. Maybe it’s time we added a female . . . interested?”
“Me?” I laughed. “I’m not sure that I’m private security material.”
“Are you sure? From what Ethan said about your self-defense lessons, you definitely have potential.”
“I think I’ll stick with my desk job for now. I’d hate to show all of you up,” I said teasingly.
“Good point. I don’t know if Chase’s fragile ego could handle that kind of beating,” he replied with a laugh.
I rolled my eyes since we both knew that out of all the guys, Chase was probably the only one without an inflated ego. “Yes, because Chase would be the problem.”
“So, Haley, I’ve shown you mine, now it’s time for you to show me yours,” Liam said, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.
Ignoring his innuendo, I blurted, “Jessica. I was talking to Jessica.”
“Your friend from Coleville?”
“Yes.”
“I see.”
When Liam didn’t say anything more after a few long moments, I asked, “Are you upset?”
His angular face softened as he leaned over the table, drawing closer to me. “Of course not. After everything that has happened to you in the last few months, I’m glad you have someone to talk to. I just hope you’re being careful with how much you tell her.”
“I am, I promise. Although I’ve told her generally what is going on, she has no idea where I’m living or that I work at Zenith.”
“Good.” His thoughtful expression transformed into his usual charming smile. “What have you told her about me?”
Laughing, I said, “You can’t help yourself, can you?”
“I could, but then I would have missed out on the pleasure of your laugh. And that would be a shame, for I dearly love to see you laugh.”
“Wow, now you’re even misquoting Jane Austen. I’m actually kind of impressed.”
Liam chuckled. “You should be. I don’t quote Pride and Prejudice for just anyone, you know.”
And, shockingly, I believed him. Although I wasn’t naive enough to believe that Liam had completely turned over a new leaf since I met him, he seemed different somehow. Sincerity rang through words that used to merely sound like lines. Was I crazy to think that I wasn’t just another girl to him? Maybe, but I found myself wanting it to be true anyway.
Gestures
“Wake up, sleepyhead.” Knox’s deep voice broke through my consciousness, and I rolled over and opened my eyes to the sight of water dripping down his bare chest. Now I’m awake. “Ready for a day of fun?” he asked in an uncommonly bright tone.
Stretching, I looked at him suspiciously. “Did you magically trade bodies with Theo overnight? You are way too cheery for so early . . . or any time of day.”
Knox laughed as he ran a towel over his hair. “Honestly, it’s nice to have a real day off. Usually even when I don’t go into the office, I end up working remotely or tinkering with one of the cars. Today I actually feel like I’m on vacation.”
“And you really want to spend your day sightseeing? You don’t all have to go with me, if you’d rather do something else.”
“Trying to get rid of me?” Knox asked as he pulled a fitted gray Henley over his head.
More like trying to spit out a complete sentence while in your recently-showered presence, I thought. “No, just giving you an out.”
“Lucky for you, I don’t want an out.” Walking to the bedroom door, he said, “But, I will get out of here so you can get ready.”
I quickly showered and braided my hair before getting dressed. Exiting the bedroom, I found Jackson and Knox hovering near the coffee pot. I paused for a moment, watching them together. Apparently Knox’s good mood had rubbed off on Jackson, because he looked utterly relaxed, his head thrown back in laughter.
Jackson spotted me and pointed to his mug. “Good morning, Haley. Are you sure you don’t want some coffee? You don’t know what you’re missing.”
Moving fully into the room, I responded with a grimace. “I don’t have a problem missing out on a morning cup of bitter sludge, but thanks anyway.”
Knox chuckled. “Don’t worry, Liam and Ethan will be back in a while with breakfast, including fresh-squeezed orange juice.”
“Thank goodness,” I said with an exaggerated sigh. “I was worried I’d have to drink tap water or something.”
“So, what do you think of San Francisco so far?” Jackson asked as he took a seat at the small dining table.
Knox and I joined him while I considered the question. “Everything feels so crammed together and crowded, I’m not sure I would ever want to live here, but it’s nice for a visit. And, I’m excited about our harbor cruise today.”
“Yeah, I have to agree with you,” Jackson responded. “I much prefer the laid-back vibe of Santa Cruz over the craziness of San Francisco and San Jose. Some days the commute feels long, but it’s worth it.”
“Absolutely,” Knox chimed in.
The guys continued discussing the virtues of living in a relatively small city, but when there was a lull in the conversation, I took advantage of the opportunity to change the subject. Jackson had offered to discuss Vincent DuBois, and after having time over the last couple of weeks to agonize over everything I’d read, I knew it was past time to face it.
“Jackson, I’m ready to talk,” I said simply, knowing he would understand my meaning.
He instantly sobered. “Okay, fire away.”
Jumping right into the deep end, I asked, “Did you know Vincent DuBois was responsible for the accident that killed my mother?”
“I’m not surprised you came to that conclusion. Although your father is probably the only person who could tell us the whole story, I suspect that you’re correct. DuBois was most likely the one who ordered the hit on your father and his partner.”
I exhaled and fought the tears prickling my eyes. Even though I’d known the truth as soon as I’d put the pieces together about DuBois, having someone else confirm my suspicions made it feel more real. And the worst part was knowing he was still out there, living his life and probably continuing to harm innocent people.
Knox’s hand brushed my shoulder. “You okay?”
I nodded and returned my attention to Jackson. “Where is DuBois now?”
“Haley, I will look into it, but I can’t make any promises. We don’t have a valid reason to investigate him at this point. He shouldn’t be a threat to you or your father since he thinks you’re both dead.”
“I get it. It’s not your job to hunt down the man who destroyed my family,” I responded, my voice almost shaking with untapped anger. It wasn’t aimed at him, but I still struggled to keep control.
“Haley, that’s not what I meant—”
“I know, Jackson,” I said, interrupting. “And that’s not even what I’m worried about right now. The fact that my dad broke into the archived evidence warehouse means that he’s probably pursuing his own investigation. So, I believe that DuBois is still very much a threat to my dad.”
“What do you want us to do?” Knox prodded quietly.
I took a deep breath, knowing that my next words would likely be a shock. “I want you to stop searching for my dad.”
They both stared at me in stunned silence, so I continued. “I have been so consumed with finding my dad that I didn’t stop and think
about what I was doing. And, now I realize that I was being selfish. Just the act of looking for him could put him in more danger, and I’m not willing to do it anymore, especially now that I know what a monster DuBois is.”
“Are you worried we’ll share his location?” Knox asked. “Because I swear we wouldn’t tell anyone this time, not even Douglas.”
I wasn’t willing to give away that I’d received messages from Dad stating not to look for him, so I knew my explanation had to be convincing. “It’s not that. I just finally understand that if my dad wanted me to find him, he would have made it happen by now.” Looking directly at Jackson, I asked, “Is Douglas still looking for him?”
“The last time we spoke, he indicated that he had connections that would pass on leads, but he didn’t go into detail. I don’t know if he’s actively searching.” Jackson’s forehead wrinkled into a frown. “I can discuss it with Patrick, but I doubt we will be able to assert much influence over Douglas.”
The suite door opened then, and Liam and Ethan appeared, each holding a bag and a tray of drinks. Jackson mouthed “later” to me and I nodded. I had already put a damper on what was supposed to be a day of fun, and there wasn’t anything Jackson could do at that moment anyway.
After a leisurely breakfast, the five of us headed down to Fisherman’s Wharf. While we waited to board the boat for our harbor cruise, I shivered, wishing I’d worn a heavier coat. The sun was hiding behind the typical San Francisco fog, and the ocean breeze made it feel even colder than it actually was. I was digging in my pockets for gloves when I sensed a presence hovering and glanced up to find Ethan’s broad form blocking the wind.
Placing his hands over my cold ears, he smirked. “I’m shocked that Miss Always Prepared is lacking the proper attire for the weather. Did you forget it’s December?”
Pleased to see the playful spark back in his chocolatey-brown eyes, I shrugged. “Maybe you should have reminded me, Mr. Always Wright,” I retorted, taking advantage of the play on words Ethan’s last name so easily afforded. Eyeing his covered head, I said, “You could offer me your beanie instead of leeching onto my ears.”
Leaning in close, he murmured, “But sharing body heat is so much more effective . . . and fun. Don’t you agree?”
Did I? I felt like I didn’t know which way was up when it came to Ethan these days. Stepping back far enough to force his hands to drop, I pulled on my gloves. “If you were a werewolf, perhaps.” When he gave me a blank look, I explained, “Werewolves have much higher body temperatures than humans. Supposedly.”
“Of course. Everyone knows that,” he replied sarcastically.
“Don’t bother, Haley,” Liam cut in. “Ethan is entirely too jaded to be interested in the supernatural.”
“Well, there goes my plan to convince you guys to watch Twilight with me tonight.”
Jackson groaned. “Anything but Twilight.”
“Anything? The Notebook it is, then,” I countered with a smug grin.
Knox coughed out a laugh and Ethan shook his head sadly while Jackson and Liam just stared. I thought about torturing them for a while longer, but after picturing the awkward undressing scene and then the incredibly sexy kissing-in-the-rain scene, I realized I shouldn’t even tease about it. I had no desire to sit through that movie with any of them, much less all of them, in the room.
“Actually, you know what we should watch? Vertigo. That movie has always made me want to visit San Francisco.” When they all enthusiastically agreed, I tried not to laugh. Boys.
A few minutes later, we boarded the boat, and Liam led us to a table by the windows. I remained standing and pointed to the stairs. “I’m going to the top level.”
“Are you crazy?” Ethan asked. “Do you realize how cold it will be up there once the boat starts moving? You were already freezing just standing in line.”
“Yes, but this is my first time out on the ocean, and I want to get the whole experience. I’ll be fine; you guys can stay down here.”
Knox stood up. “I’ll go with you.”
“Me too,” Jackson agreed.
On the top deck, I took a seat on the end of the bench closest to the railing and Jackson scooted down until our thighs were touching. When I looked at him questioningly, he quirked a brow. “What? I may not be a werewolf, but Ethan wasn’t wrong about that whole body heat thing.”
Trying not to be embarrassed by the fact that Jackson overheard Ethan’s comment, I looked around and then smiled when I saw Liam and Ethan grudgingly sit down behind us. Most likely, they didn’t want to look like wimps compared to Jackson and Knox.
The harbor cruise, while cold, ending up being a thoroughly enjoyable excursion. In addition to the great views of the San Francisco skyline and waterfront, we circled Alcatraz Island and went under the Golden Gate Bridge. Since most of the tourists weren’t crazy enough to sit outside, we had the top deck mainly to ourselves, and the guys took turns attempting to keep me warm—sitting close, blocking the wind, and offering various pieces of outerwear.
After the cruise, we wandered along Fisherman’s Wharf and eventually ate lunch. Not surprisingly, Ethan insisted on stopping for dessert at Ghiradelli Square. I kept expecting the guys to get tired of sightseeing, but they made sure I got a taste of San Francisco’s most popular spots—Lombard Street, Chinatown, Coit Tower, and we even rode a cable car.
By the time we returned to the hotel many hours later, I was about to drop. We decided to order room service, and Jackson hooked up his laptop to the television so we could all watch Vertigo after dinner.
Over gourmet sandwiches, I was reminded of my dinner with Liam last night, or more specifically, our conversation. Liam promised not to mention that he’d caught me talking to Jessica, and I couldn’t help but feel some guilt for asking him to keep the secret. Ultimately, if I wanted the guys to trust me with their secrets, I had to be willing to do the same. I wasn’t ready to share my visit to the safe deposit box, but I could tell them about Jessica.
“I’ve been in contact with Jessica.”
Liam gave me an encouraging smile while Jackson’s expression turned steely. “What do you mean by contact, exactly?”
“At first, I just created a new e-mail address and sent her a message. Eventually, I gave her my cell phone number, and we exchanged e-mails and texts until yesterday when I called her.” Not giving Jackson a chance to say anything, I continued, “I’ve only given her basic information about what has been going on; she doesn’t know where I live or work, just that I have a group of overprotective guys helping me out.”
Jackson remained silent for a few long moments, almost like he was counting to ten in order to keep his temper under control. “We have a good reason to be protective, Haley, and you know it. Jessica and her mom are the only people other than your father who can actually be connected to you. I wish you would have talked to us before contacting her.”
“I understand, but I’m not sorry. I needed to let Jessica know that I was okay, and she would never intentionally do something to harm me.”
“Intentionally being the operative word,” Jackson said with a deep sigh. “Just please be careful with what you tell her,” he said, echoing Liam’s advice from the night before. “Not forever, but for now. Okay?”
Grateful that Jackson took the news much better than I’d expected, I agreed. “Okay.” Was his reaction proof that he really was trying to change?
“Enough serious talk,” Liam said, pulling me out of my chair and leading me to the couch. “Time for the film.”
Ethan threw a wadded-up napkin at Liam’s head. “Call it a movie already.”
“I like ‘film.’ It sounds so proper.”
“Thank you, Haley,” Liam responded as he threw the napkin back at Ethan. “At least someone appreciates my innate elegance.”
“More like arrogance,” Knox muttered.
While the guys continued to banter, I relaxed into the couch with Liam on one side of me and Knox on the other. Tired from t
he long day, I found myself shifting periodically, trying to get comfortable on the middle cushion. I crossed one leg, then the other, before bracing both feet against the coffee table.
When I moved yet again, I heard a “pssst” coming from Liam’s side of the couch and looked over to see him propping a pillow against his leg. “Lie down,” he whispered. Too exhausted to protest, I turned onto my side and lay on the pillow. Liam brushed my braid over my shoulder and trailed his fingers down my arm, then settled his hand on my hip. Forcing my attention back to the movie, I was pleased with my selection; watching the Hitchcock classic set in San Francisco was the perfect way to end the day.
The next thing I knew, I was snuggling into a warm embrace and felt myself being lifted from the couch. Hearing the movie still playing in the background, I tried to shift and groaned in the process.
“Shhh, Haley. I’ve got you,” Knox whispered into my hair, his strong arms cradling my body as he carried me to the bedroom.
* * *
“Theo, it’s me,” I called out as I shut the front door. The upbeat tune of “Jingle Bell Rock” filled the loft with the sound of Christmas.
When I rounded the corner to the living room, Theo’s face lit up in a smile and he strode toward me. “Welcome home! I missed you.” He surprised me with a quick peck on the cheek, but I shrugged it off as part of his holiday exuberance.
“It looks like you’ve been staying busy,” I said with a laugh, gesturing to the creative chaos in front of me—a Christmas tree, boxes full of holiday ornaments, garlands. Almost every surface from the floor to the dining table was covered with decorations.
“Indeed,” he replied seriously. “Will Knox be home soon?”
“I don’t know. After we stopped by the office and returned the company car, he dropped me off here and said he’d be back later.”
“Good.” Theo pulled me through the room. “We have some time before he gets home and discovers this disaster.”
“We?” I asked skeptically.
“Yes, my little elf, we are going to decorate the loft for Christmas.”
