by Marie Carnay
That morning had been like any other. She got up late, stumbled around, made coffee. Three cups in, she’d woken up enough to turn on her computer and lose track of time.
Now she was headed out to a waiting car and a whole world she had spent years avoiding. Every time opportunity presented itself, she had done the sensible thing and said no. The mantra she lived with every day repeated in her head as the elevator doors opened.
Don’t be the nail; they get hammered down.
Her father had never wanted this for her. She was meant to walk a different path, not repeat her mother’s mistakes.
But this wasn’t about just her this time. She needed to take the assignment for Harvey. Jess squared her shoulders. I can do this.
It wasn’t like dropping into a war zone or going undercover to bust politicians taking bribes. All she had to do was follow them around. She would be a shadow. A ghost. She wouldn’t be in the spotlight. The only thing at risk was her time.
A black town car, sleek and shiny, stood at the curb. A driver waited, hands clasped in front of him like an altar boy at Sunday service. Jess thought about the MacIntosh brothers’ reputation. With all the things that poor driver saw, he probably had reason to pray.
She walked up to him with a smile. “I’m Jessica Woodson. I think you’re waiting for me.”
Chapter 4
GAGE
Between the developments planned in New York and New Jersey and the potential casino venture with Travis Beauchamp in Vegas, Gage already had a full plate. Adding in the hostile takeover of MacIntosh Hotels stretched him thin. Now Holt had roped him into being hands-on with the acquisition of NNT—something he had specifically declined to do.
Ever since their father passed away, the pair of them had co-run the family empire. As long as they didn’t interact, everything ran smoothly. Thanks to push-back from the board and the shareholders of the hotel chain, Gage and Holt were now stuck making decisions as a team. Talk about miserable.
He flicked open the blinds and looked down from the living room in their penthouse suite. “She’s late.”
“Perhaps it took some convincing.” Holt sprawled across the white leather sofa, the epitome of the younger brother. The man never took the world seriously enough.
“This isn’t fun and games. If we don’t win the shareholders over, this takeover attempt will fail. The chance to bring the hotels back into the family will pass us by.”
Gage remembered the night he’d made the promise. All those machines beep-beeping in time to their father’s failing heart. Blurs of blue scrubs and white lab coats. The smell of antiseptic still turned his stomach.
“Relax or this reporter will see right through you.”
“I have nothing to hide.”
“What about all the skeletons in your closet?”
Gage sighed. Did he really have to spell it out for him? “That’s why I requested a researcher and not a frontline reporter. A researcher is interested in doing the job. A reporter is into a making a splash and grabbing headlines. If Harvey tells this Woodson woman to prepare a piece chronicling our lives today then that is precisely what we’ll get.”
He turned to his brother. “Just spend the next three weeks being as boring and straightlaced as possible.”
The phone rang and cut off any chance Holt had at a comeback. He answered before relaying the message to Gage. “She’s on the way up.”
“Splendid.” He straightened his cuffs as a knock sounded on the door.
“Come in.”
A moment later, the hotel concierge appeared at the edge of the living room and smiled. “Ms. Woodson is here, gentlemen.”
A woman stepped out from behind the man’s back, and Gage clinched his jaw. That was Jessica Woodson?
Halfway through the meeting at the network she had caught his eye. High cheekbones. Big blue eyes. None of the overdone bullshit he had grown so sick of lately. The woman gave off one of those straight-shooter vibes that sent a throb through his dick.
She probably screamed when she came.
The whole introduction, he’d imagined it in his head. The way she’d arch her back and moan. How her throat would shudder as she took him deep. The softness of her hair wrapped around his fingers as he released.
She turned that meeting from excruciating into bearable. Intriguing, even. And there she stood, ridiculous T-shirt and all, exuding equal parts annoyance and sex appeal.
Gage stepped forward and offered his hand. “Gage MacIntosh, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
She eyed him for a moment before sliding her hand over his. Firm grip, skin that wasn’t overly polished or butter soft. Her grip spoke of work, not leisure. He gave her fingers a squeeze before letting go.
“Jessica Woodson.” Her lower lip disappeared into her mouth, and Gage caught a glimpse of white teeth as she nibbled.
Add in nervous, too. He pulled his shoulders back a fraction. “This is my brother, Holt.” Gage stepped aside.
As his brother clasped the researcher’s hand in both of his, a tremor rocked Gage. Was it jealousy? Pfft. Impossible. No woman would come between them ever again.
As soon as he thought it, images of Jessica pinned against their chests flashed through his mind. If she shook off her nerves… Fuck. Gage dug his nail into his palm. Fantasizing about the woman who would determine their future would get him nowhere.
It could never happen. Not while she was there to write a story.
Before he came up with anything to say, his brother got straight to the point. “Ms. Woodson, did Harvey fill you in on what your assignment would be these next three weeks?”
She nodded. “Please, call me Jess.”
“Okay, Jess, then. Tell me what he said.”
Her blue eyes went wide and she gripped her messenger bag a bit closer to her body. The strap dug between her breasts and despite the baggy T-shirt, the sight turned him on. Shit.
Gage shook his head to focus. “We want to make sure we’re on the same page, that’s all. Come, let’s sit in the living room.”
She hesitated. “If it’s all right with you, I’d prefer to stand. The ground rules need to be set before I agree.”
Holt snorted. “This isn’t optional, Ms. Woodson. You do realize we own NNT now, correct?”
Jess took a step back and Gage knew his brother had made a huge mistake. He flashed a conciliatory smile. “Of course she has a choice, Holt. Don’t be an asshole. We can’t demand an employee accept an assignment or be fired. What kind of employers would we be?”
Holt opened his mouth to argue, but Gage refused to give him the chance. He would only dig a deeper hole. A woman like Jess needed encouragement, not a strong arm.
“How about you explain your understanding of the assignment and your reservations? I’m sure we can come to a mutually beneficial arrangement.”
After a moment, Jess nodded. “Harvey said it would be an in-depth look at your lives now. I would be your shadow for three weeks. Go everywhere you go, live in your house, basically eat, sleep, breathe the two of you. Then I’d write up an article for the website and put together a few spots for our morning shows and the nightly talk shows.”
Harvey had prepared her well. Gage smiled, but Holt took back control. “Why the hesitation?” His voice had a harsh edge that would earn him no favors with this woman.
Her gaze flicked back and forth between them, but settled on Gage. Score one for me. “I’m well aware of your reputation as ladies’ men. Tabloids aren’t my thing, but it’s difficult to avoid the front pages in the checkout line.”
“Do you believe everything you see in print?”
She laughed and her whole body softened. Gone were the hard edges and the forced pose. In their place was all sensuality and grace. Pure sex. Holt tensed beside him. The woman affected him as well.
Damn. The one time he wished they didn’t share the same taste in women.
“I make it a habit of never taking the news at face value. Meet enough repo
rters and that happens, I guess.” She smiled. “But to get back to your question, Mr. MacIntosh, I’m not a bullshitter. I don’t stroke egos, ignore the facts, or give a damn what anyone thinks about my research. I tell the truth. That’s it.”
Gage smiled back. It was the answer he’d hoped for. “Do you think we have a problem with that?”
“Obviously.”
“Well, that’s where you’re wrong, Jess. You are exactly the type of person we’re looking for. We want you to write the truth. No more. No less.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“I don’t joke about business.”
Holt agreed. “Neither do I. Most of the time.”
Gage wanted this woman to be their shadow. Not a flash-bang reporter with her own agenda or an up-and-comer out to make a name for himself. Jessica Woodson with her straight talk and honest appearance would be perfect. A woman who didn’t care to impress with anything other than her skill.
If only they had met another way. Gage would love to enlighten her. Showing her the effect she had on men would be a delight. Too bad. He cleared his throat. “What would get you to accept the position?”
Jess stared at him for a few seconds. “Harvey told me the assignment started immediately, is that right?”
“Yes. We’re under a time crunch for publication to be effective.”
She nodded. “I understand. But if you want me to take the job, I need to go home and pack a bag, get my things in order.” She looked at her watch. “Is six o’clock tonight acceptable?”
That’s all she wants? Gage glanced at his brother.
From his scowl, it was obvious he didn’t like it, but that was too damn bad. Gage held out his hand to seal the agreement. “You have a deal, Ms. Woodson. How about we have a driver pick you up?”
She shook his hand and nodded. “That would be fine. Thank you.”
Holt escorted her out of the suite and out of his sight. As the door shut, Gage exhaled.
If this were any other situation… If they didn’t need a favorable article to win over the shareholders and secure approval for their bid, he’d have already propositioned her.
He could feel her soft skin beneath his fingers. Her lips pressed against his as he crushed her to the wall. Her cries of pleasure as he took her places she’d never been.
Holt strolled back into the room like a cat with a canary. “Well, well. I guess Harvey knew who we wanted after all.”
“Excuse me?”
Holt ran a hand through his hair. “Jessica Woodson is one gorgeous woman. Underneath all those frumpy clothes, she’s a total knockout. Did you see the way she bit her lip? Mmm. Imagine the possibilities.”
“It’s a dead end.”
“What are you talking about?”
“We can’t go there. Not while the bid is pending. We’ve got to play this safe, Holt.”
His brother frowned and headed for the bar. He pulled down a bottle of scotch and poured them each a glass. “What if she’s into it? I saw the way she checked you out. There’s something there, Gage.”
“How much is Father’s company worth to you?”
Holt snatched back the drink he’d held out for Gage. “What’s that supposed to mean? I want Macintosh Hotels in our portfolio as much as you do.”
“Then you need to keep your dick in your pants. Jessica Woodson is off-limits. For both of us.” Gage grabbed the scotch and downed it in a single gulp. It burned, but didn’t take away the fire the researcher had lit inside him. The next three weeks would be hell.
Holt took a sip and flopped down on the couch. “I still think we could test the waters.”
“It’s an unnecessary risk.”
His little brother smiled. “When have I ever let that stop me before?”
Chapter 5
JESS
A black dress flew out of the closet and landed on the bed beside her. “Take that!” Wendy’s voice bellowed from the open door. “It’s good for dinner, dancing, a cocktail party…”
“It’s too tight!”
Wendy shouted something else, but Jess couldn’t make it out. “Are you all right in there? You sound like you’re buried in angora.”
A few more pieces flew onto the bed and Wendy emerged at last. “I’m fine. But you’re going to take every single thing I’ve thrown at you, do you understand me?” She flopped next to Jess.
“That bad?”
“I should have brought more things over. You need a wardrobe intervention.”
“It’s not my fault I’m not invited to spend a few weeks with a pair of billionaires every year.”
“Pfft. It is too. You are totally failing at life.” Wendy jabbed her in the ribs with an elbow. “Plan ahead for once. If you’re going to be their shadow, you don’t want to stand out because of what you're wearing. Blending in, that's what you need to do.”
Shit. She hadn’t thought of it that way at all.
Jess pushed herself up to sit on the edge of the bed. Wendy was right. If she wanted to do the job properly, she needed to blend in. Changing her clothes wasn’t about trying to impress anyone or pretend she belonged in high society. It was about doing the best job possible.
Jess glanced at the clock in a panic. “Do we have time to go shopping?”
Wendy jumped up and grabbed her purse. “Of course. Let's go.”
Half an hour later, Jess was knee-deep in silk and chiffon and enough resort wear to make a Hamptons regular roll her eyes. “I can’t afford any of this, Wendy.”
“Give them a bill. Tell them you needed it to do your job.”
“I don’t know.”
“Then expense it to Harvey.”
The laugh that bubbled up from Jess’s insides broke all the tension she’d been carrying since she walked out of the penthouse at the Ritz that morning. She slumped onto the bench in the dressing room. “I think I’m in over my head with this one.”
Wendy sat down next to her and wrapped a tanned arm around her back. “No, you're not. If there’s anyone who can give those two playboys a run for their money, it’s you, hon. Don’t let their last name or their fancy hotel room intimidate you. You’ve got this.”
“Then why do I feel so out of my depth?”
“Because you spend too much time stuck in that itty bitty apartment of yours.”
Point taken. “Maybe it’s a good thing I won’t be home for a few weeks. It’ll get me out of the rut I’ve been in.”
“And out of that neighborhood. I swear, you’re obsessed with the development going on around there. This will give you a chance to get your focus back.” Wendy gave her a squeeze. “Who knows, you might even start showing up to work on time.”
“Don’t hold your breath on that one.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it. Here,” Wendy stood up and snatched the next dress in the pile. “Try this on, and hurry.”
With a groan, Jess did as instructed. The yellow cotton slipped over her shoulders and Wendy zipped the sundress up the back. “Ooh, doesn’t that just say summer beach party? You have to have it.”
“They don’t strike me as the beach party type.”
“Haven’t you done your research? Those two throw more parties than any eligible bachelors in the country. Do you even know where you’ll be staying?”
“Of course. With them.”
“I mean which house? They’ve got places all over the world.”
Oh, hell. “How about you show up instead?”
“Not a chance. How else am I going to get you back into the dating scene?”
“What are you talking about?”
“You’re spending three weeks with two sexy men who have a reputation for not keeping it in their pants. You know exactly what I’m talking about.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I can’t date them. I’m writing an article about them.”
“I never said anything about dating. Just screwing.”
“Wendy Franklin!”
“What? There’s nothing wrong with ha
ving a fling while you’re doing your research. I’m sure they’re already thinking the same thing.”
Jess tugged the dress off her body and snatched her shirt. The nerve of Wendy to even suggest such a thing. It was one thing to fantasize about Holt and Gage and their naked bodies. It was another to act on it. Like it or not, they were her research subjects and mixing business and pleasure was a recipe for disaster.
“I don’t care what they’re thinking. Neither one of the MacIntosh brothers is getting a hand on me. Clothed or unclothed.”
“Don’t you want to write an honest piece?”
“Of course I do.” Jess tugged on her jeans. “I can do that without sleeping with them.”
“Seems to me you’d be missing out on a huge piece of their lives, then.”
Jess balled up the sundress and threw it at her best friend. “You are incorrigible. Even if I did like either of them, I can’t date two guys at once. It’s ridiculous.”
“It wouldn’t be the first time. Didn’t you see those headlines a few years ago? The MacIntosh brothers like to share.”
Jess turned around to hide her blush. If Wendy knew she’d already run through a million scenarios of the super-dirty kind in her mind, she would never live it down.
All those hands all over her. Wow. She shook the images off. “It doesn’t matter. It can’t happen. The relationship needs to stay strictly professional.”
“There’s what people say and what they actually want, Jess. Those are two different things.”
She scooped up an armful of clothes and grabbed her bag. “Not this time, Wendy. Let’s go. I don’t want to be late.”
An epic hustle from the MARTA station, three jumps on top of her suitcase to zip it shut, and one frantic rush down three flights of stairs, and Jess made it to the town car on time.
A different driver in a chauffeur’s uniform stood outside and smiled as she busted out the door.
“I’m not late, am I?” She panted as she stumbled to a stop in front of him.
“Not at all, miss. Can I take your bag?”
