But what he’d said to Data was true, too. They weren’t finished. He couldn’t even guarantee they’d wait until the job was done. They just needed to step back and make sure they were on the same page. A little stress relief would do them both some good.
He stopped at a sandwich shop and ordered a bunch of subs because he had no idea what either woman would eat. Back at the apartment, he let himself in and put the food on the table. Nikki was in her usual spot on the couch, this time playing a video game. She pounced as soon as the bag made contact.
“I hope you bought a lot. I’m famished.”
He glanced over to where Data sat at the computer, typing madly with her headphones on.
“Don’t bother. When she gets like that, she’s oblivious to everything around her. If she’s hungry, she’ll figure it out.”
He leaned against the back of the couch. “How long does she stay that way?”
“Hours? Days? Who knows?”
“Does she move at all?”
“Depends. If she has snacks and drinks at the desk, only to run to the bathroom.” She paused as she unwrapped a sandwich. “It’s kind of like watching a new breed of animal at the zoo. You never know what’s going to happen.”
It didn’t look like Data had any sustenance surrounding her, so he set a sandwich and can of pop near her. She didn’t even look up.
He didn’t know quite what he’d expected. That his proximity would break her concentration? He’d been known to have that effect on some women. They had chemistry as evidenced by their kiss, but she didn’t acknowledge him at all.
Moving back to the table, he asked, “What’s she working on?”
“Not totally sure. She was dicking around with their DVR because that’s how she’s getting access to everything else in the house.”
Watching her in her zone was mesmerizing. He could sit there all day and stare. Just then, she froze and her gaze shot up to meet his. Her look screamed, “Stop staring.” He winked and offered her a smile, so she switched to a glare.
The need to kiss that attitude away strengthened, so he grabbed the keys for the rental car. “I’m going to return the car. I’ll be back later.”
“Wait,” Nikki said with a mouthful of pastrami and lettuce. “I want to do a trial run to time getting in and out.”
“What do you need?”
“A dummy painting—or at least the frame—hanging on a wall. The entrance and exit like I’ll be going through. It all looks good on paper but we have to plan for everything because I’m not getting my ass tossed in jail because you and your...whatever she is can’t plan a heist.”
“Okay. I’ll set it up. We’ll find a way for you to run through as many times as you need to be comfortable doing this.” He looked back at Data who had returned her attention to the screen in front of her. They had time to address things later.
After returning the rental and being dropped off back at the apartment, he went for a walk. The sun hung low and the air was still warm. He needed to think and talk with Mia. He dialed her number and when she answered, he asked, “Is everything going well with the artist?”
“Yes. The painting is fabulous. How are the other things coming?”
“Good. We think we have the system figured out, but Nikki wants a run-through. I told her we’d get something set up. She needs the painting or something of the same size and space to mimic the actual job.”
“Where are you?”
“Taking a walk.”
“You’re out in public talking about this?”
He rolled his eyes. Mia worried about the most ridiculous things. “No one is around. Even if someone was walking beside me, he wouldn’t have a clue what I was talking about.”
“Can she do her imitation at the apartment?”
Jared briefly calculated the distance she would have to cover at Scott’s house with the layout of the apartment. “Not really. We can try, but it won’t give her the real effect. Any other ideas? I don’t suppose we have an empty warehouse available, do we?”
Mia was so quiet that he thought he’d lost her.
“Mia?”
“I’m here. I think I might know of a place. London, our painter, works out of a loft that would offer plenty of space. Let me check.”
Jared stopped. “You’re going to let her know the entire plan? And introduce her to Nikki and Data?”
“Ugh. Can’t you call her something else? What is the woman’s real name?”
“Data? I haven’t asked.”
“At this point, it makes sense to, don’t you think?”
“I don’t know. Are we sharing our names with them?” He shoved his free hand in his pocket and rocked back on his heels. As tempted as he was to ask Data her name, he knew Mia wouldn’t want to share.
“They don’t need that information.”
“And you don’t need her real name.” But he did. Need was a strong word, but he’d never pursued a woman without even knowing her name.
“You’re awful protective of our employee.”
He didn’t like the emphasis she placed on her last word. As if he needed to be reminded of their professional relationship.
Hell, maybe he did need to be reminded since he was having anything but professional thoughts about her.
“I like her, Mia. And not as an employee. I respect the hell out of her abilities. But beyond work, we click.”
“You absolutely cannot click with her.”
He chuckled at the euphemism.
“I’m not kidding, Jared. We’re too close to making this happen.”
“I won’t do anything to jeopardize our plan.” He turned to head back to the apartment.
“Be sure you don’t. I told you I didn’t expect you to be part of this.”
“I am part of it. My father is every bit as guilty as yours. They both deserve to pay.” Just thinking about their fathers had his stomach in knots. Sure, when they’d been kids, they had no reason to think about what their fathers did for a living. But the entire time they were being raised to be upstanding, successful members of society, Cesar Towers and Dwayne Benson were stealing from anyone not smart enough to see it coming. Hell, he’d been finishing law school when shit hit the fan. He should’ve suspected. He and Mia both despised that even as adults they had never questioned what their fathers did or how they’d been so successful.
They’d been sucked into their lies as easily as their victims.
“Then don’t let your dick get in the way.”
He laughed again. “It never gets in the way. I can take care of myself.”
“I’ll let you know if I have a place for a trial run.”
They disconnected and he stood in front of the apartment. Mia had a point—she always did. As he debated going up, the door opened and Data stepped out.
She pulled up short when she saw him standing on the sidewalk.
“Done for the day?”
“Yeah. I think I have everything about ready to go.”
“Okay. We’re trying to secure a location for Nikki to do a trial run for timing.”
She nodded. “See you tomorrow.”
“You need a ride?”
“No. I’ll catch a bus on the next block.”
“That’s crazy. My car is right here.”
She hesitated, biting down on her lower lip.
“It’s been a long day. A ride from me will certainly save time.”
“Fine. It doesn’t matter if you know where I live because I’m probably going to have to find a new place anyway.”
He pointed his fob at his car and unlocked it. “Why?”
“Just because.”
So they weren’t at the sharing portion of this relationship. He got behind the wheel. “Where to?”
Instead of answering, she punched in an addres
s on his navigation system. The robotic voice directed him. He decided to use the time alone to get to know her better.
“Why hacking?”
“Why fixing?”
“I’m a negotiator.”
“Whatever you need to tell yourself to sleep at night.”
“How often does your mouth get you in trouble?”
“Almost never. Hard to do when you don’t interact with people.”
* * *
It took everything Audrey had not to stare at Jay while he drove. His profile was strong and beautiful and begged to be stroked. Instead, she forced her gaze out the side window, which didn’t help because then she thought about their kiss earlier. Kisses.
“You don’t interact with people at all?”
“In person? Other than at the coffee shop, not if I can help it. I don’t like them much.”
His quiet chuckle drew her attention.
“What’s funny about that?”
“You’ve been spending a lot of time with Nikki.”
“Because you set up the equipment at the apartment and told me to work there. And as far as I can tell, you make Nikki live there.”
“We want to keep her out of trouble until the job is done.”
“And I interact with her because she’s there. I’m not totally rude. Doesn’t mean I like people.” She said the words, but she didn’t feel them. They weren’t a total lie. In general, she didn’t like people, but she liked Nikki.
“I guess hacking makes sense then. Distance from the human race. Why the coffee shop? Nothing but people there.”
“That’s my legitimate money. I work regular hours, get a paycheck, pay taxes. Hacking pays the bills.”
“Where’d you get your start?”
She sighed, debating on how much truth to dole out. “I needed money fast. Not too many legit jobs can do that. Once I started, I didn’t see the point in stopping. Like I told you, black hat jobs pay well.”
“I’m aware of what side of the law pays best.”
“How did you get your start in negotiating?”
“Law school.”
Damn. He’s a lawyer? Pulling a heist like this? “Don’t you worry about getting caught on the wrong side of the law?”
“Are you?”
“I play in the shadows. Nobody really cares about the person sending the malware; they want the person who hires me. I’d think that as a lawyer, you’d be out in the open dealing with people.”
“I’m not a practicing lawyer. The law degree is pertinent only insofar as having the ability to know where the lines are so I can decide whether or not they should be crossed.” He got off the highway and sped down Western Avenue, his sleek car eating up the distance. “Although I’m not always one hundred percent law-abiding, this job is the first time I’ve gone that far over the line. I prefer to walk the line.”
“Then why?”
“Some things are worth breaking the law for.”
She knew that, too. But she couldn’t imagine it was money. He definitely had plenty. Her curiosity got the better of her and she twisted in her seat to fully face him as he parked in front of her crappy apartment building. “What is?”
“Huh?”
“What’s worth it for you?”
“Family.”
She hadn’t expected that. She didn’t know what she had expected, but it wasn’t that his answer would be the same as hers.
He stared at her, his dark brown eyes asking her to reveal her secrets even though he didn’t speak the words.
The silent request had her spilling. “The first time I hacked, it was to steal money to give to my mom’s dealer. He threatened to kill her and she was desperate. I was thirteen. Helping her meant selling my body or stealing.”
“Did she clean up?”
“I doubt it. Not long after, I went to live with my grandmother.” Still leaning on the console, she figured it was only fair for him to give up some secrets, too. “Based on the cringe you offered when I suggested Ms. Green was your girlfriend, I assume she’s the family worth doing this for?”
He nodded. “We’re cousins.”
“Really? I’d never guess. I don’t see much of a resemblance.”
“Our mothers are sisters. Mia looks like her mother. I take after my father.” He paused. “In appearance only.”
Audrey felt like he was handing out pieces of a puzzle of his life, but she had no idea how they fit together. “So, you’re breaking the law for her?”
“In a manner of speaking. It’s been her plan for a long time.”
Although he didn’t offer more explanation, Audrey understood there was more to it. “You mean, you guys aren’t like just freaky art collectors?” She put some teenage girl vibe into her speech, earning her a smile.
“I’ll tell you a little secret.” His curled finger beckoned her closer, so she inched forward. “I couldn’t care less about art.”
“That’s not much of a secret,” she whispered. The intimacy of the space urged her on. “Tell me a real secret.”
“All right.” His voice dropped. “My cousin would kill me if she knew I was doing this.”
Without waiting for her to ask what this was, he closed the miniscule distance between their mouths. Only their lips and tongues touched, but pleasure skittered across every inch of her. Heat built from her mouth straight down to her toes.
They were alone with nothing to stop them. No cousin. No Nikki. No job.
Jay’s mind was on the same track because he growled. “Fuck. I want to get you naked.”
She pulled back. No way was she inviting Richie Rich into her dingy bedroom. But she wanted this, too. “Move your seat back as far as possible.”
His eyes glittered at her suggestion. He reclined the seat and moved it back, creating plenty of space between him and the steering wheel.
She deftly climbed over the console and onto his lap. Straddling him, looming above his face, was powerful. “Not naked but still fun.”
Pressing closer, she lowered her mouth back to his. He groaned and raised his hips to grind against her. The thin cotton of her leggings wasn’t much of a barrier. She was hot and damp and the hard length of him rubbed her just the right way. Gripping his fancy button-down shirt, she swiped her tongue against his. She rocked her hips, so he would know how turned on he made her.
He trailed kisses down her neck and reached between them to pinch her nipples. She sucked in a harsh breath and rocked against him. The car filled with the sounds of their heaving breaths and the windows fogged. He banded one arm around her and pulled her tight as he drove up against her.
Oh, God. Am I really going to come in a car dry humping like a kid? She pressed a hand against the roof and moved like she was riding him, as if he were inside her. She wanted that, but she didn’t want to stop long enough to make it happen. He rose up against her and sucked on a nipple through her shirt. Since she still wore the skimpy tank top Nikki had given her, she yanked the neckline lower, freeing herself from the shirt and her bra, giving him full access.
His teeth scraped the sensitive peak and she saw stars.
“Fuck, you’re hot.”
“God, don’t stop.” She rocked and bucked her hips so his dick prodded her clit. Over and over. Seeking release. “Harder.”
He complied. His guttural groan was all she needed to go over.
For a minute she allowed herself to rest her forehead on his shoulder to catch her breath. But only a minute. They were not a cuddling couple.
Tugging her shirt back in place, she climbed off him and back to her seat. She stroked him through his tailor-made pants. “I’ll take care of this for you.”
He stilled her hand. “Your hand isn’t enough. Unless you’re taking me into your place to do this right, it’s going to wait until we can. Which will be soon. Very
soon.”
No, she wasn’t about to bring him into the apartment. It would lead to way too many questions. Like why she had a padlock on her bedroom door. “You sure you don’t want me to finish you off here?”
“Fuck no, I’m not sure.” He leaned back against the headrest and closed his eyes.
She stifled a laugh as she slid her hand out from under his. “Not quite how I envisioned my night ending.”
“Doesn’t have to end,” he said, eyes opening to slits.
“Yeah, it does. We both know you don’t belong in there.” She hitched a thumb over her shoulder. “It’s one thing to flirt and kiss in your fancy apartment or get off in your luxury car, but we aren’t part of each other’s worlds. Let’s not pretend we are.”
His lust-filled gaze sobered a little. “So I can fuck you as long as it’s in my car or in the apartment.”
It wasn’t a question, not really. “Neutral territory.”
She reached for the door handle. He grabbed her free wrist.
“This isn’t over.”
She answered with a smile.
He let go of her and said, “We do a dry run with Nikki tomorrow. I’ll text you the address when we have it set. Bring whatever you need to simulate the night of the heist.”
“No problem.” Why do I find it incredibly sexy that even with a raging hard-on in his pants, he can flip a switch and be all business? She left the car, her legs still a little wobbly, and went inside her apartment. She didn’t look over her shoulder or run to the living room window to see if he’d waited for her to get inside. She held no illusions about what they were to each other.
Even if she did have the silly thought that made her seem like a teenager coming home from a first date.
Then a note on her bedroom door caught her attention.
I need the rent~~M
Damn. She’d hoped Misty wouldn’t notice how late she was. She dumped her bag on her bed and went to get at least fifty bucks to keep Misty off her back. When she stepped out on the street, Jay’s car was still sitting in the same spot. What was the likelihood she could get by without him noticing?
It Takes a Thief--A Heist Romance Page 10
