“I swear I could sit here and look at hot daddy all day.” Rose sighs as she stares at Lee. I’m grinding my teeth and fighting the urge to do something crazy like pull her hair for gawking at my man when she suddenly switches her attention to me. I can tell by the smirk that settles over her face that she’s picked up on my jealousy and is amused by it. “Remind me again why you’re not all over that.” She shakes her head as if I’ve gravely disappointed her.

“Remind me again why you’re lusting after Lee when you’re engaged to Max,” I snap.

Lia laughs softly before bumping her friend on the shoulder with her fist. “I guess she told you, Perv. Haven’t we discussed how creepy it is that you’re constantly ogling my father?”

Rose rolls her eyes before pointing at the object of her obsession. “Give me a break. Your daddy looks like freaking Brad Pitt—only hotter. It might be weird for you to notice it, Lia, but I’m betting you haven’t missed it, Liza—am I right?”

The anger drains out of me, and I find myself giggling and no doubt blushing. Yep, guilty as charged. “It would be a little hard to miss it,” I admit. “And he’s way more attractive than Brad Pitt.”

“You’re damn right he is.” Rose nods. “Can you even imagine how he’d be in bed?” She fans herself quickly. “I get chest pains thinking about it.”

Lia makes a gagging noise, and I put a hand on her arm in sympathy. I remember what a surprise it had been for all of us to find out Lee had a grown daughter. I had watched him closely, wondering what he’d do. After the initial understandably shock, he threw enormous effort into being there for Lia. Some men would have turned a blind eye and believed it wasn’t worth the bother, but not Lee Jacks. The love I’ve seen in his eyes toward his daughter has not only impressed me but also has, at times, almost made me jealous. My dad has known about me since birth, but I’ve never seen the pride and affection in his eyes that Lee has toward Lia. Buying the company that they now run together was just one of many things he’s initiated to connect with her. He’s so very proud of the beautiful, intelligent woman before me. His eyes light up when he talks about her. In a strange way, it’s given me hope to know that he is capable of that type of love. Before I can comment, Lee walks up and raises a brow in inquiry when we all look at him with varying degrees of guilt. He drops a kiss on Lia’s forehead before asking, “Have I missed something important?”

“God, no.” Lia shudders. “Trust me, it’s nothing you want me to repeat.”

He shrugs, giving her an affectionate smile. “If you say so. How’s Lara? I was hoping you’d bring her with you this morning.”

Lia beams at her father as they discuss her daughter. “She’s teething, so she would have probably raised holy hell during the meeting. You know you’re always welcome to stop by, though, Dad. She loves seeing you.”

I see Lee swallow audibly when Lia calls him Dad—and he’s not alone. I’m battling a lump in my throat as well. I couldn’t be happier that he’s no longer on the sidelines while his brother has a family. I realize that it was a choice he made, but life has a funny way of changing all that when you least expect it. “I’ll drop in soon, honey,” he promises. He shoots me a wary look before adding, “If everyone is ready, let’s get started. I have a lunch meeting after this.”

I fight the urge to laugh as Lee reluctantly pulls out a chair at the conference room table for me before taking the one next to it. Since the whole fiasco in his office yesterday, he’s been treating me like a ticking bomb he expects to go off at any second. I’d love nothing more than to jerk his chain, but I’m not sure how he’d react if I were to crawl onto the table and start stripping. He certainly lost it over the coffee spill. I’ve worked for him long enough to understand how he is about order, but he freaked out a little more than I expected. Not that it would stop me from doing it again—but still, watching him struggle for control was as fascinating as it was scary. I set my phone in front of me and push the recorder application on it. “Boy, do I love this sucker,” I say enthusiastically as I point at my iPhone.

“Liza, you’re supposed to be taking notes instead of texting,” he says in disbelief as he stares at the neon-pink case with the black zebra stripes across it.

I shake my head. “Nah, that’s old school and a complete waste of my time. You see, this baby can be used like you would a cassette recorder.” I point at the image of a cassette tape on the screen. “Plus, I don’t have to listen to any of this because I can do that later. And I can send the recording to you as well if a question arises.”

His mouth moves in a way that’s comical, but no words come out. Finally, he pinches the bridge of his nose in the way that he always does when he’s frustrated. I can just imagine him counting to three in his head as he struggles for control. “Taking notes is your job. I realize it’s asking a lot, but surely, you could focus in on the meeting for an hour.”

“Sure”—I nod— “but what I’m trying to tell you is that it’s not necessary.” I give him a bright smile and turn away from his glare only to lock gazes with an amused Rose.

“I totally underestimated you,” she murmurs. “It’s not exactly the route I would have picked, but you’ve certainly got his attention.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I mouth back, then ruin the denial by winking.

“If he doesn’t kill you first, this might just work.” She wiggles her brows. “Let’s do lunch soon so we can make some plans.”

The meeting is called to order, and despite what I told Lee, I follow every word as usual. Although when he looks my way, I pretend to be studying my nails. At one point, I even draw a tic-tac-toe board on a nearby legal pad and put a big X in the middle square before sliding it in front of him. He freezes for a moment before shocking the hell out of me by putting an O in a nearby box. We finish that game—and three more—and I admire the fact that he never misses a beat again—following along with the meeting while beating me in every single game. It’s a sad commentary on my romantic life that this is one of the coolest things to ever happen to me. I would have never believed Lee capable of participating in something so silly. If I wasn’t already in love with the man, I would be now. I take a sip of water just as he passes the notepad back to me and then begin to choke when I read what he’s written below the game board. “I want to lay you out on this table, bury my face between your legs, and lick your pussy—right fucking now. Circle Yes or No.” Rose thumps me on the back, craning her neck to see what I’ve hastily put my hand over. “Are you okay?” Lee whispers in my ear, sounding vastly amused at my dilemma.

“I’m fine,” I hiss back. He begins to pull back, no doubt thinking he’s won this round. I reach out and grab his tie, halting his progress. His eyes widen in surprise as I mouth one word: yes. Then it hits me that the room has gone quiet. Please don’t let them be looking at me. Naturally my inner plea has fallen on deaf ears because when I glance around, everyone is focused on the interaction between us. This is why you don’t mess around with the boss. I’m considering crawling under the table when Lee tugs his tie from my hold and asks Lia for some figures as if nothing unusual has occurred. I sag back in my chair in relief only to feel his hand squeeze my knee briefly. And this round belongs to him. I might have pushed his buttons yesterday, but Lee has changed the game today, and he knows it. My body is still throbbing from his naughty words, and I’m honestly hoping he means them. What would it be like to be so sexually overpowered by a man like Lee? To be devoured? I’m not brave enough to fall onto his desk with my legs spread to see if he follows through, though. But I’m thinking about it…

Then the meeting is over and Rose pulls me aside as we get to our feet. “Whatever you’re thinking, I say go for it. You two were obviously doing some type of dirty note play, and trust me, he was into it. I’ve never seen Lee be anything other than professional during these things, but you had him acting like a horny college boy.”

“He wasn’t rattled at all,” I say. “He picked right up where he left off, which is kind of insulting.”

“That’s where you’re wrong.” Rose smirks. “He’d already asked Lia for those exact figures once. And that’s not a mistake he’s ever made before.”

“Really?” My eyes widen in shock because she’s right. Lee doesn’t forget anything. And he’s far too impatient to repeat himself. Of course, if I’d been listening at all, I would have picked up on it myself. Hell, I wouldn’t have noticed if someone had stripped naked and started pole dancing in the corner. I’m beginning to really suck at my job.

I nearly jump out of my skin when a hand settles on my waist. “I’m running late for my next meeting,” Lee murmurs. “I’ll take a cab and leave the car for you.”

“I’m going in that direction, so I’ll drop Liza,” Lia offers. I give her a grateful smile and wait as Lee hugs her goodbye. He glances in my direction, nodding his head before leaving the room at a fast clip. Rose gives me a thumbs-up that has Lia laughing as we walk toward the elevator. She pushes a button for the parking garage, then shakes her head. “I can only imagine what advice Rose was giving you. Do yourself a favor. If she ever suggests going shopping, run for your life. Otherwise, you’ll probably pay a few thousand dollars for something a prostitute would be embarrassed to wear.”

She fills me in on the latest funny stories about Lara, and before I know it, we’re sliding into her Mercedes. “I love your car.” I sigh in pleasure as I run a hand over the soft leather interior. “It’s like the much prettier cousin to my Honda.” I laugh.

Lia rolls her eyes before shaking her head ruefully. “It’s one of the few battles I’ve managed to win with Luc. Throw in my overprotective dad, and I usually don’t stand a chance. Luc wants me to use Sam for everything, but that’s just absurd. At the most, I run a few errands and come to work. Luc spends a lot of his time in the car, and he’s always used it to return calls and prepare for meetings. Now I ask you, who needs the driver and who doesn’t?”

“I see your point. I don’t know your husband that well, but I understand the reasoning behind it. They’re both afraid of something happening to you.” I hesitate, but decide not to add the last part to my sentence.

“You mean again, right?” I nod, before reaching out to briefly touch her arm. “I’m so sorry about that. I realize you didn’t know your father at that time, but I want you to know that he nearly lost it when he found out. He’s usually so calm and controlled—but not then. I had never seen him so enraged. Furious. He was yelling abuse and firing anyone in his path. Pete was the only one able to calm him. If you call it that.”

“I really despise that we all have to live with those memories,” Lia whispers as she stares forward. It’s clear her mind is elsewhere as her hands tighten and release on the wheel. I wonder if she’s even aware that we haven’t left the parking deck yet. “Luc still has nightmares about finding me.” She lets out a laugh completely devoid of humor before adding, “He finally stopped having night terrors about Cassie, and they’re replaced with ones about me. The poor man can’t catch a break.”

“Have you thought about seeing a therapist?” I ask gently, not wanting to offend her. You should probably take your own advice.

She nods. “We do see someone, and it really has helped a lot. It’s going to be a long process, though. If only he hadn’t been the one to find me that day. You have no idea how much I wish I could change that. He’ll get better, I know, but he’ll never get that image completely out of his head.” She finally appears to notice that we haven’t moved, and she visibly relaxes before putting the car into gear. “Sorry about that. I didn’t mean to be such a downer. It’s just—I don’t really have anyone neutral to talk to about everything. If I bring it up, I feel like everyone is mentally putting me on suicide watch.”

“You can talk to me anytime you need to, Lia. I know I work for your dad, but anything you say will be between us only. I’d never betray your confidence unless it was a life and death matter.”

“Thanks, Liza.” She smiles before adding, “Now what in the world is going on between you and my dad? Dare I hope he’s finally pulled his head from his ass, and you two are seeing each other outside the office?”

It doesn’t occur to me to be embarrassed. Lia has a way of making everyone around her comfortable. Plus, after what she just shared with me, could I do any less? “I don’t have a flipping clue what’s going on,” I answer truthfully. “He’s been acting completely out of character toward me.”

Lia shoots me a quick glance of inquiry while we’re stopped at a red light. “How do you mean? I did notice that whole distracted thing he had going on during the meeting. It’s not like him to lose his train of thought. I’m almost certain he has a filing cabinet for a brain. Everything is always so well organized, and he doesn’t forget anything. So I was a bit surprised when he asked me the same thing twice.”

Before I can think better of it, I blurt out, “We were playing tic-tac-toe.”

Her jaw drops, and her eyes widen in shock. “I know I didn’t hear that right. Because I thought you said my dad was playing a game during a meeting.”

Heck. I’ve gone this far; I may as well confess and hope she won’t spill my secret. “All right, I have to admit that I’ve been intentionally rattling his cage a little. You know, acting out of character to get a reaction.” I tell her about the previous day and smile as she giggles. “So I drew the game board today and then put it in front of him. For a split second, he froze, but then he started playing along—which I still can’t believe.” I don’t add the part about the dirty message. I feel certain she doesn’t want to hear that about her father.

“He might not be able to admit it, but he’s been lost without you. No one was ever good enough. In his defense, he did have a few weird ones, but it wouldn’t have mattered. He would find fault with anyone who wasn’t you.” I see her lips twitch before she adds, “I personally thought he was too hard on the one with the nose ring. She did have on black and white every time I was there, so I can understand him saying she looked like a bull. I tried to point out that cows come in a variety of colors, but he was adamant that she was too distracting. Plus, she accidentally shredded a whole folder of current financial statements and mailed a signed contract to the wrong customer. And he caught her making out with her boyfriend—in his office.”

“What!” I shriek, then lower my voice. “You’ve got to be kidding. She was getting it on in Lee’s office? His pristine sanctuary?”

“Yep, that’s the one. I’d have given anything to see my dad’s face. Can you even imagine?”

I’m laughing so hard that tears are rolling down my cheeks. “Oh my God,” I wheeze. “I bet he called in a Hazmat team to check for bodily fluids. Please tell me they were doing it on his desk. That would be priceless.”

Lia giggles as she too wipes her eyes. “Dad wouldn’t give me any of the details, but according to Kara, who got it from Pete, they were going at it like jackrabbits on his leather couch. I’m willing to bet if you look closely, he has replaced it. There’s no way he’d keep it after that.”

“I should have asked for more money,” I deadpan. “I’m better at my job on my very worst days than all the others put together.”

“You’re damn right you are, sister,” Lia says readily. “And you’re good for him. He’s… different when you’re near. Not as rigid. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve really come to love my father, but I’m sure you’ve noticed he’s a tad uptight—like a lot. He needs everything around him to be just so. I swear when he comes over to visit, he casually walks around picking up Lara’s toys. I’m not even certain he’s aware of it. I sense it’s more of a reflex than criticism. Heck, you can eat a meal off any surface at his place. It’s that clean. I’m not offended by it, though. Luc even jokes that if things are messy, we should just invite my father over and let him take care of it.” She gives me a stern look of warning when we stop at the next red light. “You’d better never tell him, but Luc has nicknamed him Hoover—after the vacuum cleaner.”

I smile as I reassure her that all her secrets are safe with me. “Do you have any idea why he’s like that?” I ask, curious despite myself. “I know that some people are naturally neat freaks, but there is generally something from their past that causes it.”

Lia shrugs, looking sad for a moment. “I wish I knew. Considering I’ve only had him in my life a few years, I am virtually clueless about his past. I’ve attempted to ask him a few times, but it’s clear he’s not comfortable discussing it. What little I do know mostly came from Kara. From what I gather, they never knew their father, and their mother was a druggie who didn’t take care of them. Dad and Pete left home when they were young and ended up working for Victor Falco. I guess he took Dad under his wing, and when he died, he left everything he had to him.”

“Victor was in the mob, wasn’t he?” I blurt out, then cringe. “I could have worded that better. I’m going strictly on rumors here. Lee has never confirmed that to me.”

Lia appears pensive. “Little is known about Victor, considering the amount of wealth he amassed. I asked Luc once to look into it for me, but he refused. I mean I know that he checked out my dad when he found the link to him in my background, but he’s very vague about the extent of what he learned. I think he wants to protect me, but he also doesn’t want to influence my opinion of my father one way or the other—which I find strangely touching. And of course, like you, I’ve heard plenty of rumors. There’s no way you can live in Asheville and not. Lee Jacks is practically a legend here. The shadowy figure who resides in the ivory tower. I’m guessing they came up with that catchy name from the color of the Falco building.”

“I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that he is single, rich, and refuses to hang out with his peers at the country club. Jealousy breeds pettiness.”

Sounding wise beyond her years, Lia says, “No truer words were ever spoken. Don’t get me wrong. I know that he hasn’t lived a… normal life. There are things he doesn’t want me to know. But considering the shit I went through growing up, I’m the last one to judge. I understand better than most the things that are sometimes necessary to survive. Life isn’t always pretty and whitewashed. Sometimes, it dark and ugly.”

“It is,” I murmur as we both become lost in our thoughts. I’m surprised when the car comes to a stop, and I see that we’re outside Falco. I turn to face her, saying sincerely, “Thanks so much for the ride and the talk.” Looking at my hands, I admit, “I don’t really have many friends, so it’s nice having someone to talk to.”

“You know what?” she says excitedly. “We’re going to have a girls’ night. I’ll get Luc to stay with Lara, and Rose is always up for an evening out. I’ll talk to her when I get back to work and see what we can put together. You’re in, right?”

“Absolutely.” I nod enthusiastically. I feel like the ugly kid being asked to sit with the cheerleaders. I lean over before I can think better of it and hug her before quickly exiting the car. I probably lost major cool points for that, but fuck it. I wave as she pulls away and walk in the doors of Falco with a smile on my face. This has certainly been a day to remember. Lee wrote me a dirty message during a meeting, and I have an evening out to look forward to. In my boring world, that’s some dear diary shit right there.

The rest of the day passes by quickly with Lee in business mode. He leaves while I’m on a call with nothing more than a wave of his hand. So much for some after-hours sex on his desk. I’m beginning to think he’s either a tease or in the midst of an identity crisis.

It’s after six when I reach a stopping point for the day. I am in the process of clearing my desk when my cell phone sounds with an incoming text. I finally locate it under a file and groan as I see my sister’s name on the screen. I debate ignoring her, then figure she’ll probably call next if I don’t respond. Dad wants to see you. Come by the house at seven. I pick up a nearby paperclip and stare at it longingly. I’d rather shove it under every single fingernail than see my family tonight—or most any night, for that matter. I’m pondering a valid excuse to get out of it when my phone sounds again. This is mandatory.

I release a frustrated sigh before flipping my middle finger in the air. It’s childish, I know, given Jacey isn’t here to see the gesture, but it does make me feel the tiniest bit better. What kind of family uses words like mandatory when they issue an invitation? My father is more like Tony Soprano than Lee could ever be.

A quick look at my watch shows that fifteen minutes have passed. I know better than to be late, so I race out the door at a near jog and hop into the elevator. I wave at the security guard who looks confused as I run past him. Luckily, I have a reserved parking spot near the building, and within moments, I’m in my car and driving toward the outskirts of Asheville. My father’s home is in the prestigious Briar Cliff area. The sprawling mansion is a mixture of stucco and glass. It’s well over ten thousand square feet with six bedrooms and eight bathrooms. There is also a tennis court, an indoor and outdoor pool, and a large guesthouse where my sister lives. One of the best things about working with Falco was that it had been my ticket out of my father’s house. I couldn’t very well have Lee find out that I lived with Hunter Wrenn. Until then, I had worked in one of my father’s companies as the head of accounting. Of course, that hadn’t been listed on my résumé. My father and Jacey had invented my background and money had passed hands to ensure my true identity wasn’t discovered.

I arrive at the tall iron gates and smile at the guard posted there. We’ve had twenty-four-hour security for as long as I can remember. I’ve never really questioned it, because even at a young age, I knew that my father had enemies. He’s such a sweetheart; how could anyone not love him? My lips curl at that sarcastic thought as the gates open and I pull around the circular drive. Two visits in less than a month. Lucky me. I brace myself as I step out of my car and approach the large front door. My finger is inches away from the bell when the door opens, and my sister stands there looking as if a stiff wind could blow her over. I automatically feel fat and sloppy but refuse to grant her the satisfaction of smoothing my clothes. She gives her watch a pointed look before saying, “Nothing like waiting until the last minute.”

I make a production of rolling my eyes, not wanting her to miss the sarcastic gesture. “Do you mind?” I ask as I wedge past her and into the foyer. The double staircase and the marble floors look even more impressive with the light of the chandelier gleaming upon them. I lay a hand on my stomach as it growls. I had a sandwich at my desk for lunch, but that was hours ago. “What’s for dinner? I’m starving.”

“Aren’t you always?” she says snidely. “But unfortunately for you, we’ve already eaten. I realize you aren’t used to depriving yourself, but surely you can make it a little longer without food.”

I refuse to let her insults get to me. So I simply shrug, saying, “You mean you don’t have a leaf of lettuce you could spare? You must have really pigged out.” Smacking my lips, I tease, “I bet you even used some of the dreaded ranch dressing, didn’t you?”

“Certainly not.” She shudders. “That stuff is loaded with fat and calories. I wouldn’t even consider it.”

I bet she has nightmares about it tonight. Unfortunately, my humor is short-lived as I hear footsteps to the right a minute before my father appears. He’s still a handsome man who could pass for someone much younger than his years. His blond hair shows just a hint of gray if you look closely, and like Lee, he’s also devoted to working out and staying in shape. He probably had a salad along with Jacey. He gives me a smile that, as usual, doesn’t reach his eyes. “I’m glad you could make it,” he says as if it were an invitation instead of an order. “Let’s talk in my office.” Without waiting for a reply, he turns on his heel, and Jacey immediately follows behind him, leaving me to bring up the rear.

If not for the sheer size and the large windows, the mahogany walls would make the space feel like a cave. In the first surprise of the evening, my father takes a seat on the leather sofa instead of behind his desk. Jacey settles in a nearby chair, which leaves me hovering before them uncertainly. My father gives an impatient sigh before waving to the space beside of him. Oh, shit. There is nothing informal about my family, so the fact that they’re doing something out of the ordinary has warning bells going off in my head. Against my better judgment, I perch on the end of the sofa and wait for the other shoe to drop—because it always does. My sister makes a production of crossing her legs before saying, “We’d like an update on the situation at Falco. Have you regained Lee’s trust?”

How did I not see this coming? They’re nothing if not predictable so I must be slipping. “Er… I’m not sure I ever lost it.” You can’t lose something you most likely never had. “It’s pretty much business as usual. Just—you know, doing the assistant thing.”

My father snorts. I swear the man actually does something as undignified as snort. Maybe it was an accident. “I really couldn’t give a damn about your work there. Have you been able to find anything useful? You’ve been with him for over two years, yet you’ve turned up nothing. I know you have knowledge and access to much more than you’re admitting.”

I roll my eyes. “Trust me, Lee’s not an idiot. He doesn’t leave incriminating evidence lying around for anyone to find. Nor does he issue invitations to his staff to drop by his home and go through his things. I’ve told both of you before that I’ll never be able to get anything on him. He’s too smart for that. Plus, have you ever thought that maybe he doesn’t have anything major to hide? Not everyone is like you,” I finish in disgust.

My father moves faster than my eyes or my brain can track him. One moment, he’s sitting beside me, and the next, he’s in front of me with his hands around my neck. I hear what I think is a gasp from Jacey—or maybe it’s from me. I claw at his fingers as they tighten their hold until I see stars. His breath is hot on my face as he leans closer. “You’ll watch your fucking mouth around me. I will not tolerate this type of disrespect from my own blood. You’ve been a disappointment since the day you were born. You were supposed to be a son to carry on the family name and not a spineless halfwit for me to support.”

My vision begins to blur as he continues his rant. I wonder fleetingly why no one is helping me. Where is my sister? I have my answer a few seconds later when his hold loosens as she says impatiently, “For God’s sake, Dad, don’t kill her. The last thing we need right now is someone else on the payroll. You know how greedy the local police are around here.” The last thing we need is someone else on the payroll? What the hell?

I sag back weakly, coughing as he releases me. I take large gulps of air as I attempt to calm the burning in my lungs. Tears roll down my cheeks as I process the horror of what just happened. I want out of here so badly, but I’m too weak to flee. I know without a doubt that my knees will buckle the moment I attempt to stand. I cower as my father once again leans near. He runs a finger idly through one of my tears, then looks almost curiously at the moisture there. He shrugs and straightens to his full height, smoothing down his dress shirt. “I have a late meeting to attend, Jacey. I’ll see you at the office tomorrow.” He doesn’t so much as glance my way as he leaves the room whistling under his breath. What the fuck just happened?

I turn my head and stare at my sister, attempting to convey my shock. She heaves a sigh before saying, “How did you see that going exactly? You’ve been around him for over thirty years. You should know by now that if you push him far enough, he’ll explode.” Her voice lowers as she stares off into the distance. “And you never have any warning that it’s coming. So you learn to only say what he wants to hear.” She appears to snap out of whatever trance she’s fallen into and gets to her feet. She stares at me with what appears to be almost hatred on her face. “Whether you realize it or not, I did you a favor. Working for Lee got you away from here. Thanks to me, you have very little interaction with our father, while I am on the front lines every single fucking day of my life.”

“You argued against me being the one to work for Lee,” I point out hoarsely as I raise a hand and touch my neck to soothe the pain there.

“Of course, I did,” she yells. “Why should you be given the chance for a life while I remain here?” Putting her hands on her hips, she snarls, “I would have done a better job, and when it was over, I’d have taken off. He’d have been so happy about bringing Lee to his knees that I doubt he’d have worried about trying to bring me back. But now—years have passed, and I’m still stuck in this purgatory while you play the dumb-blonde card for all it’s worth.”

“Lee isn’t responsible for what happened to our mother,” I say—knowing in my heart that my words are true. “He may have inadvertently started the chain of events that eventually led to it, but there’s no way he went after our family with the intention of destroying her. I think our father did that all on his own.”

“Possibly so.” Jacey shrugs as if we’re discussing the weather. “But that doesn’t really matter anymore. I’m not sure it ever did. This is about a grudge that Dad has against him, and whether it involves Mom is of little importance.”

“We have to stop him,” I say urgently as I stagger to my feet. “You know this can’t end well for anyone involved.”

She gives me a pitying look. “It was too late before this started. The wheels were set in motion before you and I even knew Lee Jacks existed. This hate has festered for years, and it’s out of control now.” She laughs, shaking her head. “Lee may have taken Dad’s parking space when they were teenagers. Anything could have set the old man off. I really don’t need the particulars because they change with our father’s mood. And that has gotten a lot worse in the past year. All I do know is that while he’s obsessed with the man you love, he has less time to focus on the rest of us—which, as you’ve probably guessed, is a very good thing. So unless you want to be the center of his attention, you’d better find something for him to use.”

“I won’t do it,” I say stubbornly. “If he wants Lee, then he can damn well go after him on his own.”

Jacey’s eyes widen for a moment before she gives me a look of reproach. “After what just happened, you’re still protecting Lee? He may not be guilty of everything Father accuses him of, but make no mistake about it, he’s far from innocent. Do you think he’d walk across the street to save you if it came to it?”

“Absolutely,” I say without hesitation. Somehow, I know with a certainty. If possible, he’d come to my aid without question. Not out of love, but because that’s the type of man he is. He’d never let an innocent woman be hurt on his watch. But you betrayed him. I shake that sobering thought off, desperate to believe that it wouldn’t matter. A part of him feels something for me. I think.

“You’re a fool,” she says quietly and then leaves the room. I hear the front door shut a moment later, and I panic. I don’t want to be left alone in this house. I’m in no condition mentally or physically to face my father again tonight. I need to get home and attempt to process what happened.

I reach for my purse on the floor near the sofa and fumble through the contents until I locate my car keys. With one hand on my throat, I make my way out of my childhood home quickly. My legs feel like rubber, but somehow, I reach my car. I hate him. I hate that he can invoke such fear in me. My hands are shaking so badly it takes three attempts until I get the key in the ignition. I shift the car into drive and take a deep breath as I approach the front gate. I wave at the guard and feel a moment of panic that he won’t let me pass. Thank God that fear is unfounded, and I’m soon on the road headed toward home.

The trip passes in a blur of tears and disbelief. I pull into my garage and cut the engine. How could he do that to me? His own flesh and blood? And Jacey just sat there. I stay seated for a moment, hating the tears falling because of that man. I’m almost to the side entrance of my home when a voice sounds behind me. “Where have you been? I’ve been trying to reach you for an hour.” I whirl around, then realize my mistake a moment too late. Lee’s eyes flare as his gaze moves over my wet face and then downward. His harsh inhale tells me that the light of the garage has revealed more to him than I want to. “What in the fuck happened to you?” He moves closer and places a hand lightly on the side of my jaw. When I flinch, his mouth tightens, but his hold remains gentle as he tips my head back. “Are those handprints?” he asks stiffly.

I want to deny it, but how can I? “It’s nothing.” I attempt to shrug his hold off, but only end up hurting myself with the movement. When I grimace, he curses under his breath, but immediately releases me. My throat is so sore that swallowing is torture. There’s no hiding the hoarseness of my voice as I ask, “What did you need?” Even though I’m intrigued that he’s paying me yet another house call, I don’t have the energy to deal with it tonight. I just want him to leave until I’m feeling stronger and less likely to sob at any moment.

The shaking returns to my hands as I attempt to unlock my door. Without a word, he takes the keys from me and makes short work of the task. He’s not going anywhere, so with a sigh of resignation, I walk into my kitchen with him close behind me. He shuts the door and flips the deadbolt, before leaning back against the kitchen counter. With his feet crossed at the ankles, he appears completely relaxed—but I know he’s anything but. He’s waiting for me to explain what happened, and I’m desperately trying to avoid it. I have no idea what will happen if he finds out the truth—and I don’t want to know. One thing I am sure of, though, is it will lead to a lot more questions, and I can’t answer them without giving myself away. I’m still trying to decide on the best course of action when he says, “I’ve got all night, Liza, and I’m not remotely tired. So take your time. But mark my words, you will tell me who dared to lay hands on you.” He sounds so calm, as if he’s discussing nothing of importance—yet I hear the steely undertone. He’s beyond furious—but it’s not directed at me. Thank God. But how can it not be? He knows who I am, so why isn’t he calling me on it? Why isn’t he demanding I tell him whatever it is he already knows? When will his game conclude and he throws me away as well? That thought is harder to deal with than anything my father could do to me.

LEE

I put my hands in my pockets, so she can’t see me clenching and releasing them. I make a concentrated effort to calm myself—but it’s not easy. And as I stare at the marks against her white skin, I feel the rage building inside me. I’m so close to losing it, yet outwardly, I give nothing away. I long ago learned to never show my hand too early, and that skill has served me well. Liza is making it harder and harder to maintain my impassive exterior, though. I feel like a kid around her who has no self-control, and I fucking hate it. A smart remark is on the tip of my tongue when I notice her slim shoulders shaking. She’s crying—again. I didn’t miss the wetness on her cheeks when I found her in the garage. I put aside my impatience for answers and move to her side. Without a word, I pull her into my arms and sigh as she wraps her arms around my waist and begins sobbing in earnest. “Shhh, amore mio, you’re safe now,” I whisper against the crown of her head as I drop a kiss there. I rub her back soothingly as the floodgates open. I hate the feeling of the wetness from her tears against my skin, but I don’t pull away. Regardless of the reason, holding her close feels strangely right. When her sobs quiet and she’s leaning limply against me, I murmur, “Who did this to you?” She stiffens and attempts to pull away, but I hold her firmly as I scold her gently. “Stop struggling. You’re going to hurt yourself further.”

Her movements cease, but I can feel the tension in her body. Finally, she says, “I can’t tell you.” She doesn’t have to—because I already know. That’s why I’m here. Surveillance tipped me off when she went to Hunter Wrenn’s home. This time, she didn’t attempt to elude them. She drove straight there from the office, but the visit was brief.

“Why did you go see him?” I ask bluntly, and her hiss of surprise gives me a perverse sense of pleasure. It’s always better to catch people off guard. They tend to reveal more than they realize even if it is only through their body language. Hers is telling me that I’m right, and that she didn’t expect it. She begins to struggle anew, and this time, I let her go. I need to see her face. But when my eyes fall to the marks on her neck, murderous rage fills me again. “Did he do that to you?” I yell, then want to hit something when she backs away, shaking her head in denial. You’re fucking lying to me—but why? To protect that piece of shit? “Goddammit, Liza, enough! Don’t insult my intelligence. I rarely ask a question that I don’t already have the answer to. So I know you went to see Hunter Wrenn. And it’s past time you tell me what is going on. Are you romantically involved with him?” Bile fills my throat at the thought, and I must make a concentrated effort to swallow it down. I’ve never wanted to kill someone as badly as I do him now. She belongs to me.

“It’s not like that,” she says, and strangely enough, I believe her. But there’s something there, and I don’t intend to leave here until I find out what it is. “We’re not… he isn’t—God, it’s not even close to what you’re thinking.” Even in my anger, I feel a smile pulling my lips as she squares her shoulders and straightens to her full height. My little bird is full of fight, and I fucking love it. “And since when is Falco privy to the private lives of their employees? Come to think of it, how do you even know where I was tonight? Am I—are you having me followed?” she sputters out indignantly.

I go from wanting to smile to almost laughing outright. Forget the bird nickname, she’s more like a spitting cat now. I swear even her hair is bristling with anger. It won’t surprise me to hear her hiss or see claws pop out. “Of course, I am.” I shrug nonchalantly. “It’s for your protection as much as it is mine. You’re in a position that puts you closer to me than anyone else other than family. So naturally there could be some who seek to discover information you may have.”

Her eyes drop, and she shifts as if uncomfortable. “That’s absurd,” she argues weakly. “What could I possibly know that would benefit anyone?”

“Don’t be naïve, Liza,” I say impatiently. “Just our contract negotiations alone are worth billions. If our competitors got their hands on that information, it could deal a serious blow to Falco.” She appears to mull over my words before finally nodding.

“I guess that’s true.” She flinches.

“Get some fucking ice on that, Liza. Do you have a Ziploc bag to wrap it in?” She moves her hands shakily to her neck again, and I hate the pain I see in her eyes. Thankfully, she then moves to the freezer to get the ice.

“Do you have everyone at Falco under surveillance, Lee?” She sounds resolved but still a little hurt and angry. “I mean, surely there are many other people there who have access to a lot of the things that I do.”

Maybe the cat is a tiger after all. I put my hands in my pants pockets and rock back onto my heels. “You’re mine in a way that even I don’t fully understand. That makes you different from everyone else. It also means that I need to know who hurt you tonight. Because violence against you is violence against me, and I will not tolerate that.”

She shakes her head as she stares at me. “I can’t—but it’s not—sexual.” She appears to shudder when she spits out the last part.

Liza eyes me warily as I pull my hands from my pockets and begin to pace the kitchen. I want nothing more than to take her to bed and fuck the answer out of her. But she looks like absolute hell. What kind of monster will that make me if I give in to my desires tonight? I’ll never knowingly hurt her—but I could in her present condition. There’s no way I’m leaving her alone, though. I don’t know if she’s in danger, and if whoever did this will come back for her, but the point is moot. It’s easy to have someone watch her house, but that thought doesn’t satisfy me. Maybe it’s the mixed-up shit I feel at not being there to protect Lia, but I need Liza near me. How can I let another woman I care about be hurt? I’ll hire every fucking private eye in the state tomorrow if I must. Regardless of the cost, I will find out what she’s hiding. I’m simply amazed that I’m even in the position of letting someone close to me who has so many secrets. It both infuriates and excites me. A mixed-up combination, to be sure. Since when has anything in my life been normal, though? Even I can appreciate the absolute irony of the situation. The master has been outplayed by his assistant. And like the twisted SOB that I am, it only makes her more desirable to me. “Go pack whatever you’ll need for a few days. You’re coming with me.” She opens her mouth to no doubt argue with me, and I raise my hand before she can utter the first word. “Don’t waste your breath. Believe me, you’re getting off lightly. I’m tired, hungry, and irritable. You don’t want to push me any further. So either do as I’ve asked or I’ll assume you want to stay here and discuss your association with Hunter Wrenn further.”

She narrows her eyes but pushes away from the counter. “Give me five minutes.” She stalks out of the room, muttering under her breath. Again, I smile. Since returning to Falco, Liza has shown me a new side of her that I never knew existed. She’s always been so perfectly professional and proper, but that appears to have changed. The old Liza certainly would have never put her feet on my desk or had a wad of bubble gum in her mouth while in my office. And she didn’t talk back constantly. Then there was the whole tic-tac-toe episode at Lia’s board meeting. If she didn’t look the same, I’d swear it wasn’t her.

When she returns in what is more like thirty minutes, she’s struggling with a huge suitcase and a smaller one that is making some type of sound. “What the hell is going on with that?” I ask warily.

She drops the biggest bag at my feet, barely missing my shoes before bringing the one in question to within an inch of my face. “That’s Rufus.”

“Rufus?” I question as a scratching noise fills the kitchen. Then it hits me. “Hell no,” I say firmly. “If that’s a cat, then you might as well unload it. There’s no way he’s going with us.”

“Rufus goes where I go,” she insists stubbornly. “Plus, a lot of hotels are pet friendly now if you pay a deposit.” She raises a brow at me before adding, “And we know you can afford it.”

“That’s nice to know,’ I say sarcastically. “But you’ll be staying with me, and I can assure you, I’m not pet friendly.”

She sets the carrier down and puts her hands on her hips. Here we go again. “Are you allergic?”

“Not that I’m aware of. But that’s of little importance here.” The carrier is shaking now as the cat meows and claws at the plastic. It sounds like fucking Cujo is going to burst free at any moment. I fight the urge to take a step back. Don’t be a pussy.

She narrows her eyes at me. “So you’re an animal hater? You know they say you should never trust a man who doesn’t like pets. It’s un-American.”

What the fuck? “Honey, I’m not sure why the fact I don’t want a cat that sounds more like a hound from hell roaming through my home makes me unpatriotic.”

“It’s because Rufus is a cat instead of a dog, right?” She rolls her eyes. “I know some men have a problem with that, but if you’re secure in your masculinity, it should never be an issue. Would you rather I have a poodle with painted pink nails?”

My head is beginning to pound. I have rubbed my temples more in the past few days than I have in years. I have never met a more exasperating person in my life. “Liza, for God’s sake, this has nothing to do with the type of animal. I just don’t do—clutter.”

“Clutter?” she echoes in confusion. “He really doesn’t require that much. I’ve packed some food and bowls. We’ll need to stop for a litter box—but that’s it.”

“A litter box?” Now I’m the one repeating her words as I stare at her stupidly. Somehow, I don’t think I want to know exactly what it means. I wonder idly which one of my employees will be willing to come over and pet-sit for a while. I have no idea why I didn’t already think of it. I’ll even throw in a bonus. Money is certainly no object when it comes to avoiding having whatever is in that box under my roof.

“Well, it’s this box full of a kind of sand. The cat sits in it and does his business. Then they cover it back up. The next day, you get the shovel and scoop it out.”

My mouth drops open in shock. “Wait—what? Let me see if I have this straight. The cat shits in my home, and I’m supposed to pick it up afterward? Are you fucking kidding me? Who in their right mind would do that?”

Liza takes a step closer until we’re literally yelling at each other over the damned cat. “Well, what else do you expect, Einstein? The last time I checked, Rufus doesn’t sit on the toilet. And what kind of self-respecting mobster is afraid of a little cat poop? You act as if I’m asking you to line the litter box with one of your suits.” I have no idea how it’s possible since I’m quite a bit taller, but she manages to look down her nose at me—or give the illusion of it. “You’re acting like a big baby.”

She did not just go there. How many times in one conversation can I have my manhood questioned? This must be a record. Well fuck, of course it is. I’ve never let anyone else get away with the shit she does. I can do this. How bad can it be? It’s just some extra cleanup. “Get the damn thing.” I point at the carrier. “I’ve got your suitcase.” When she stands there looking uncertain, I add, “You’d better hop to it before I change my mind. I’m sure Rufus will love to be set free. Have you ever thought of that?” She gives a sniff and picks up the carrier, somehow managing to wrap her arms around it in a protective gesture.

When we reach the front door, she snaps, “Dammit, the keys are still on the kitchen counter. Can you grab them? Rufus doesn’t like being shifted around, so I don’t want to put him down again.”

“Well, we certainly don’t want him to be unhappy, do we?” I mumble sarcastically before retracing our steps. She’s waiting on the front sidewalk when I lock the door behind me before sliding the keys into my pocket. I stare in surprise when my driver gets out of the Rolls Royce and walks around to open the back door. I forgot he was waiting. He looks at the cat carrier then over at me as if to say, are you fucking kidding me, boss? I nod, since no words are needed between us. He attempts to hold the carrier while she gets into the car, but she stubbornly refuses.

We both watch as she awkwardly manages to slide into the seat. Denny shuts the door behind her before asking, “Where to, Mr. Jacks?”

Before I can answer, Liza rolls the window down and sticks her head out. “We need to stop at Walmart.”

Denny shoots a look in my direction, and I swear the bastard grins before turning away. In all the time he’s worked for me, I’ve never requested that we stop at the discount store. It’s not that I think I’m too good for it. I simply cannot handle the crowds and mayhem that those places cultivate. There’s no possible way to keep an eye on that many people, and the need to watch my back has been ingrained in me since childhood. I glare at the space where Liza was, then stalk to the other side of the car. As always, Denny manages to have the door open a split second before I reach it. “Thanks,” I say automatically as I get in next to Liza.

We ride in silence for several moments before she says, “You can stop sulking anytime. This was all your idea. I’m perfectly willing to go back home, then you won’t have to deal with any of this.”

Her voice sounds husky and muted. My eyes fall to her neck, and I’m grateful that the dark interior hides the worst of the damage there. I can’t think straight where she’s concerned. And knowing that someone hurt her is more than I can handle. I’d like to at least make it home before I lose it again. “It’s fine, Liza,” I say more calmly than I feel. “Your well-being is what’s important here.”

She sighs and lays her head back on the seat before saying softly, “I want to tell you what’s going on—I really do. But I’m… afraid.” Fuck. Surely, she doesn’t think I’d hurt her.

Her bravado has deserted her, and she sounds so small and lost that I automatically want to comfort her. I’m also frustrated at her hesitation. I’m not used to begging for information. When I ask questions, they’re answered. But she’ll retreat if I make demands. The woman is beyond stubborn and has no sense of self-preservation. I’m trying to decide on the best approach when the car comes to a stop in a brightly lit area. “We’re at Walmart, sir,” Denny says. I can plainly hear the amusement in his voice, and I can’t blame him. He knows my skin is crawling, but he just has no idea why. He probably thinks I’m too snobbish to do my own shopping. If he only knew.

Suddenly, something is thrust in my lap and I look down in horror at the cat carrier. “I’ll go, but you need to hold Rufus. If he feels abandoned in a strange place he might—have an accident.”

A what? I look after her retreating figure helplessly. The carrier begins to shake as the cat’s howls fill the car. “Denny!” I shout to be heard above the noise. “Do something with—this thing!”

I can barely make out a series of sneezes before he chokes out, “Sir, I’m allergic to cats. My tongue’s not going to swell up or anything, but if I get any closer, it will get a lot worse.”

“All right, all right,” I say impatiently. “I’ll just put the damned thing on the floor.”

I’m in the process of moving it from my lap when Denny’s words halt me. “Sir, I wouldn’t do that. I don’t know about you, but being in this tight space with an animal who has an accident is the last thing I want to do tonight.”

“Fuck,” I hiss. “She’s talking about it shitting, isn’t she? I was hoping she meant it would run into the side of the cage and knock itself unconscious.”

Denny lets out another sneeze followed by a laugh. “I think you had it right the first time, sir. I’ve never known you to have any animals. Are you actually going to let this stay with you?”

“Well, apparently paying you to take it home with you is out now,” I say wryly.

Denny opens his door and moves around to help Liza with the bags she’s carrying. She gives me a bright smile when she’s once again next to me. “Everything okay while I was gone?” she asks but makes no attempt to take her cat back. In fact, she crosses her arms and looks the picture of relaxation. “What a long day. I’m beat.”

For once, I wish the damn animal would start raising hell again, but with the return of his mistress, he appears to have gone into some type of trance as well. So I have no choice but to lay a hand on top of the carrier to keep it from falling as the car begins to move again. I hear soft snores coming from Liza and am amazed. After what happened to her this evening, how can she fall asleep so easily? When we reach my building, I use my other hand to shake her awake gently. “We’re here, honey. Wake up.”

She blinks like an owl in the light of the parking garage. Releasing a yawn, she struggles upright. “Sorry, I must have been out for a moment.” Denny opens her door before removing her suitcase from the trunk of the car. I wave her away as she reaches back for the cat. As much as I’d like to dump it off on her, it seems wrong to make her carry it. She picks up the items she bought at Walmart and gets out. We walk toward an elevator up ahead, and Denny sets the suitcase down while he removes his cardkey to the private lift. Most everyone who visits me comes through the lobby of the building so they can be announced. But I prefer to avoid unnecessary socializing when possible and simply go straight to the top-floor penthouse of the building I own.

When we reach my door, I set the carrier on the floor and use my key to open it. I motion Liza in, then pick up the cat and follow her. Denny deposits her luggage in the foyer before asking, “Will there be anything else, sir?”

“No, thanks, Denny. I’ll let you know in the morning what I’ll need for the day.” After he leaves, I turn to Liza, “Have you eaten?”

The prints on her neck appear to glow brightly in the overhead light, and I avert my gaze, striving for calm. There’s no way I’m going to bed tonight without knowing how that happened. But first, I need to make her feel comfortable. “No, but I’m fine.” She shrugs a second before her stomach growls loudly. I can’t resist flashing her a grin. “All right, I’m a little hungry,” she says sheepishly.

I point toward the kitchen and flip on the light when we reach it. I put the carrier next to the wall, wishing I left it in another room. What if the thing wakes up and starts raising hell again? She might insist on taking it out—something I hope to avoid for as long as possible. “Have a seat.” I point toward the breakfast nook, but she takes a stool at the center island instead. I open the double doors of the industrial refrigerator and survey the contents. “There’s some leftover pasta or I can make us an omelet.”

“You cook?” she asks, sounding skeptical.

I smile as I begin pulling out vegetables. “Of course. I find it strangely relaxing. But before you get too impressed, I’ll point out that this is hardly fine cuisine.”

She puts her head in her hands as she studies me. “I’m just surprised. You seem too impatient to wait on a pot of water to boil or a pan to heat.”

I chuckle as I wash the ingredients before pulling out a knife and a cutting board. “Is there anything here you don’t like?” She shakes her head, and I get started on our meal. I make quick work of chopping mushrooms, spinach, avocado, and parsley. Then I crack some eggs into a bowl and whisk them together with a touch of cream. Liza has gone quiet as she watches me move around the kitchen. She appears fascinated by the sight of me cooking, and I’m surprised at how right it feels to have her here with me in my kitchen. I drizzle some olive oil into a skillet and then pour in half the eggs. I then layer the ingredients onto one side and fold the top over when it’s ready. I plate the finished product and add a pinch of parsley to the top before depositing it in front of her.

“This looks amazing, Lee,” she says as if I’ve presented her with a masterpiece. I’m strangely pleased by her praise, feeling almost proud that I’ve made her happy after her earlier ordeal. Don’t think about that now, I chide myself, not wanting to ruin the moment. As it is, I find it hard to look at her and see the reminder of what someone did without demanding answers. I know instinctively that if I do, she’ll retreat, and I’ll get nowhere. She looks up at me with an almost apologetic expression. “I’m not in danger, Lee. I didn’t need to come and stay with you. I don’t want to put you out.”

Even though she has opened a door for me here, I won’t ask what I’m desperate to know. Not yet. “Well, as I said, someone hurt what I consider mine, Liza. I would not have allowed you to stay in your house tonight.” I’m not sure how to read the small smile on her face, but fuck if I don’t like it. I glance at her neck again, and any peace I felt momentarily leaves me. “Would you like some juice?” I ask instead as I turn away. I take some glasses from a nearby cabinet, then a pitcher of orange juice from the refrigerator, placing it in front of her. She splashes a small amount on the island when she pours it, and I twitch inwardly. I need to clean it up more than I need to breathe. I make a pretense out of gathering the items together for my omelet, but sweat dots my forehead before she finally grabs a napkin from a nearby holder and wipes up the spill. It’ll be sticky now. That’s not going to do it. Such a fucking mess.

She’s talking, something about the cat—who has picked this moment to begin making its presence known once again. Please, God. Don’t remove that thing now. I’m disgusted as I notice my hands shaking. What in the fuck is wrong with me?

Pull it together.

Don’t want her to see.

To know.

Somehow, I manage to finish my omelet without burning it. When it’s plated, I can no longer wait. I get some paper towels and pull a bottle of cleaner from under the cabinet. I’m careful to shield her food as I move her glass and spray a small amount where the spill was. I scrub it vigorously until I’m satisfied that no residual remains. Her voice sounds small when she says, “I’m sorry, I should have done that. I just—wasn’t thinking.”

I feel like an asshole. She’s clearly uncomfortable as she stares at her plate. I put the cleaning supplies down and move to her side. Without thinking, I pull her against me and drop a kiss on the top of her head. “It’s nothing, little bird. I guess I’ve lived alone for so long that I’m a little set in my ways.” I force myself to relax even though I want nothing more than to clean up the kitchen before I eat. But I desperately don’t want her to realize how fucked up I am inside. I give her shoulders another squeeze before taking a nearby seat and forcing myself to eat. I’m so distracted by the nearby disarray that it almost hurts to force each bite past the lump in my throat.

I pause with the fork halfway to my mouth as she gets to her feet and begins doing the very thing I’d been fighting against. She’s humming under her breath, but it sounds strained. The tension begins to leave my body as she efficiently handles the clutter that had been driving me to distraction just moments earlier. I’ve barely finished my meal when she whisks the plate away and deposits it in the dishwasher with the other items. She then begins to clean the countertops and the island, and even though I’d rather do it myself, I don’t say a word. The result is the same as my kitchen is returned to its former pristine state, and I can breathe easily once again. Of course, before I go to bed, I’ll go back over it myself—there’s no way I can’t. I won’t rest without confirming that everything is just so. “All good?” she asks softly as she comes to a stop next to my stool. It’s as if she knows. Knows me. Knows what I need and when. But how is that possible?

Once again, I find my arm encircling her, and for a few moments, we stand there savoring our connection. We haven’t been simply employer and employee for a long time, and that’s more obvious than ever now. “Thanks, sweetheart.” I nod, and before I can stop myself, I lower my head and take her lips with mine. I wonder faintly how she can taste of strawberries after just eating an omelet, but rational thought soon flees as she steps between my parted knees and her arms go around my neck. My body kicks into overdrive when my tongue slips between her plump lips and tangles with hers. I have no idea how long we stay that way. Her mouth is like the finest wine, and I’m drunk on the taste of it. My hands lower to her ass, and I fucking love the softness that fills my hands as I squeeze her firm cheeks. Unable to resist, I move my head and begin dropping gentle kisses onto her bruised neck before licking the pounding pulse I find there. “You taste amazing,” I say huskily as I raise my head to stare at her flushed face. Her eyes are glazed, and she’s panting for breath as she stares at me. I lower my hand and cup her between the legs. She shudders as I whisper in her ear, “I want to taste your wetness and hear you scream when I push inside you.”

“God, yes,” she says in a near shout. Thank God. But before I can act on it, a loud noise fills the kitchen. I jerk backward, releasing her in my haste to assess the threat. As my eyes swing around the area, they fall to the carrier against the wall. The damn cat is very nearly rocking the plastic container onto its side. I wouldn’t be surprised to see it explode out of the thing at any moment. “Rufus,” she says hoarsely. She sounds disappointed when she straightens away from me. “He’s probably hungry, and it would be a good idea to get the litter box set up before he has an accident.”

That’s all it takes to bring me to my feet. The last thing I want is the beast shitting in the kitchen. Then it hits me that I’m going to have a box of sand somewhere on the floor in my home, and the feelings of unease return. “I don’t suppose we can sit the box up on the balcony, can we? Do you think he’d jump off?” I ask it jokingly, but I’m dead serious.

She rolls her eyes at me before saying, “I’m not willing to find out. Maybe we could put it in a spare bedroom or bathroom. Trust me, it’s not a great feeling to step in cat litter in the middle of the night, and he tends to spray that stuff everywhere when he does his business.”

Holy fucking hell. This is sounding worse by the moment. Why do people have pets if this is the kind of thing you have to deal with? “Don’t they have people you can hire to take care of stuff like this?”

She doesn’t bother to answer. Instead, she walks over and kneels in front of the animal that is soon to defile my home. “My poor baby. Mama’s gonna get you out of there right this moment. Just hold on.” She continues as if she’s speaking to a child instead of a pet. It appears that both Rufus and I are mesmerized as she lifts him from the carrier and cuddles him against her chest. I’ve officially hit rock bottom. I’m jealous of a cat. I swear the thing smirks at me from her arms as he gets all the attention that I was enjoying just moments ago. The bastard cat-blocked me. Unbelievable. “Can you get the box and the litter? Then lead the way to where you want to put everything.”

I wonder idly if she’ll see the humor if I walk out into the middle of the street. After all, she did ask where I wanted him. Instead, I move toward the foyer where the bags of supplies are and then grudgingly make my way to the bathroom at the back of the penthouse. It’s the logical choice since it’s not used. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I’d allow an animal to crap in a box that I willingly placed on my marble floors. This is just plain fucked. But apparently, the worst is yet to come. Because seconds later, the cat is deposited in my arms, and she’s bent over rummaging through the contents I’ve just placed on the floor. I hold the wiggling, hissing demon away from me. “Liza, you need to get this thing.” What are the symptoms of rabies? “It’s—there’s something clearly wrong with it,” I say in a panic as it turns its fucking head like that girl from the exorcist and hisses at me. I’m waiting with bated breath for green stuff to fly out of its mouth. When that happens, no amount of protesting on her part will keep me from tossing it outside.

She barely glances over her shoulder before returning to her task. “He doesn’t like the way you’re holding him. Put him against you and he’ll stop. How would you like for someone to shake you around like that?” I stubbornly refuse to take her advice until she adds, “Plus when he’s scared he’ll pee.”

Holy fucking hell. I pull the bastard close and glare at him as he stops howling and starts doing something that sounds like a motor running. Then I feel something wet and faintly abrasive on my hand. The thing is licking me. Running his tongue down my fingers now as if it’s the best thing he’s ever tasted. Without thinking, I drop him. Or at least I think I do. But the beast barely falls a few inches before he’s latched on to my leg and his claws are inches away from my cock. I freeze, afraid to move a muscle. “Liza,” I whisper in panic.

“What?” she grumbles without turning around. “I swear, Lee, it’s just a cat. I hate to sound like a broken record, but you’re really disappointing me with your lack of mobster badassery. How in the world did you ever intimidate anyone? All the other guy would have to do is sic their dog on you.”

I grit my teeth as the cat-from-hell digs in even harder and begins to howl. What in the fuck does it have to sound alarmed about? I’m the one in danger of losing my fucking dick here. “Goddammit to hell, Liza, can I get some help here? If you value my cock, then you’ll remove this thing while it’s still operational.”

That gets her attention. She whirls around so fast she falls against my leg. The good news is that the cat is jarred and loses its hold. The bad news is that he slides down my leg like it’s a fireman’s pole. “Oh my God.” Liza looks from me to her soon-to-be-deceased cat. “Are you okay, baby?”

I open my mouth to answer her, then realize—in amazement—that she’s talking to the cat. There are snags in my two-thousand-dollar suit, but she doesn’t appear to give two shits. My thigh is stinging, but I’m hesitant to even mention it for the fear of being called a pussy. Apparently, I’ll need to lose a limb to get any sympathy from her. I turn on my heel and leave the room, knowing it’s for the best. Time to regroup before I say something I’ll regret—or get attacked again by Cujo. I’m not going to lie. I’m disappointed when she doesn’t call me back. I’m not sure she even notices. So I go directly to the bar in the living room and pour myself a generous amount of bourbon. I wince as it burns its way down my throat. My other hand rubs absently at my still smarting thigh as I deliberate what a fucked-up evening this is. Then she’s there, standing before me. She says nothing—simply stares at me.

“I do hope the cat is all right,” I say, keeping my voice neutral. “It would be a shame if he hurt his claws while he was tearing into my flesh.”

Her eyes widen, then drop as if to inspect me for injuries. “Where?” she asks as she moves closer to me.

“It doesn’t matter.” I shrug away her concern. I know it’s childish, but it’s too little, too late for me. As far as injuries are concerned, these are nothing. I’ve had much worse in my life and not given them a thought. I don’t want or need comfort from anyone. Shit like that makes a man weak. I learned long ago that to expect anything is to beg for disappointment. Even those rare people with the best intentions will let you down or turn away when things get too tough. It’s human nature to choose the easiest route.

She puts her hand on my arm and squeezes it lightly. “I’m sorry.” She sighs. “It’s been a long day, and I’m making a mess of this.”

I feel myself softening as I study her upturned face. How dare anyone touch her? How. Fucking. Dare. They. I reach out and cradle her face in my hand. My thumb brushes over her bottom lip, and my breath hisses as her tongue darts out to lick the tip of my finger. “Liza,” I whisper. I want to warn her off. To tell her to run and hide, but I don’t. It was too late the moment she walked into my lair. I’ve wanted her for a long time, and despite any noble intentions I had, I can no longer wait. Staying away has gotten me nowhere, and it certainly hasn’t helped her either. Decision made, I swing her up into my arms, surprising a shriek from her.

For a moment, I think she’ll protest until she all but latches on to me. “I swear if you stop this time, I’ll put a hit out on you myself.” By the time we reach my bedroom, she has my tie off and my shirt halfway unbuttoned. Every bit of polish and self-control that I have is gone, and I’m just as frantic as she is. Then she’s on her feet and the scary part is that I have no recollection of putting her down. Fuck, I hope I didn’t drop her. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but the sexy black bra she’s wearing is fucking gorgeous. I run a finger over the silky material and circle the outline of a nipple clearly visible through the thin fabric. She moans low in her throat before swatting me away and pulling at her pants. Something about her eagerness is a boost to my ego. Hell, I don’t even know if that is possible. I’ve always been more than confident in my ability to turn a woman on. But this is Liza. And holy mother of God, she’s wearing a thong. Again, been there—seen plenty of those. But I wasn’t expecting it from her. I never have guessed that she likes skimpy lingerie. I feel like a kid at Christmas. The fact that she very nearly trips as she awkwardly kicks off her shoes before sliding her slacks off does nothing to distract me from the beautiful and desirable package she presents when she finally straightens.

“You’re absolutely beautiful,” I say hoarsely as I put my hand on her hip possessively. Mine—finally. We kiss. Tenderly. Slowly. I’m rock hard at the feeling of her soft body nestled close to mine. Then once again, she’s a flurry of activity as she undresses me. It’s as if she’s terrified I’ll stop. “Liza,” I whisper softly when I’m down to only my boxer briefs. “Slow down, little bird, and let me enjoy the moment.”

She stares at me with a pleading expression on her face. “You can do that the next time. I just—need you now… please?”

There’s no way I can deny her anything right now, not with her looking at me that way. I remove the remainder of our clothing before backing her against a nearby wall. I leave her briefly to grab a condom from my dresser drawer before returning. I quickly sheath myself, then lift her into my arms. Her legs automatically wrap around my waist a second before I plunge into her wet heat. “Fuck,” I hiss. I take her lips with mine as her back rests against the wall. My hands curl into her hips as I pull her down to meet each of my thrusts. “So good,” I groan against the curve of her neck as I circle my tongue against the rapidly beating pulse there.

“Lee, I love you,” she groans. I lose my rhythm for a moment and almost send us both tumbling, but quickly recover. I convince myself I heard her wrong. “Love you so much.” There is no more time to dwell on it as she begins to spasm around me. I don’t need her to tell me that she’s coming, because I can feel every contraction as she cries out. My movements increase in speed, and my jaw clenches as I explode inside her.

I rest my forehead against hers. My legs are like jelly, and I don’t have the strength to separate us yet. I start in surprise when her hand runs through my hair. Normally, this type of closeness would be far too intimate, but it’s… strangely comforting. I close my eyes and allow myself to enjoy this rare vulnerability with a woman. I brush a kiss against her temple in a gesture as foreign as it is tender. What in the fuck is happening to me? If I had any strength left in my body, I’d be in a full-on panic, but I’m too tired to fucking care. “You okay?” I ask as I stare into her flushed face.

Her lips turn up into a contented smile as she nods. “Never been better,” she adds, then yawns very inelegantly. Never been better. Yeah, I’m feeling that too.

I chuckle before lifting her to separate our bodies. She shivers, and my cock stirs to life again. Down, boy. I shouldn’t have fucked her. But, God, I want her. Once will never be enough. But regardless of how badly I want to, twice is out of the question. Especially until I know the extent of what happened to her earlier. Someone hurt her, and I need to know who and why. I place my hand on her hip before saying, “I’m going to shower in the bathroom down the hall. Why don’t you use the one in here?”

She pushes her bottom lip out adorably, and before I can stop myself, I nip it with my teeth. “Ouch!” She laughs as she pushes my head away. “I would suggest that we conserve water by sharing, but it seems like you’re on your own, buddy.”

I shake my head, before giving her ass a light swat. “Having you wet and naked isn’t the way the save water, sweetheart. Hell, we’d probably both drown in there. So be a good girl and do as you’re told.” Her snort lets me know what she thinks of my words, but she walks in the direction of the master bath without comment. The sight of her full hips and firm ass swaying seductively almost has me following her, but I force myself to turn in the other direction. There’ll be plenty of time for that after she gives me some answers.

I started the day with a vengeance on my mind for a betrayal I didn’t know much about. Fuck, I embarrassed myself in front of my son-in-law. I played tic-tac-toe in a board meeting. Both screw-ups are because of the luscious woman heading toward my shower. Somehow, some unknown fucking way, the day has ended up off course. The minute I saw her mouth yes after I told her what I wanted to do to her on that table, I knew I was in trouble. It’s her. For the past two years, it’s been her. I’ve fucked other women, seeing her in my mind, often feeling as though I was betraying her in the process. But right now? I feel as though every moment was leading to this. To making her dinner. To kissing, being kissed, being touched. God, being inside her. Yes, I’m pissed that something other than the truth brought her across my path. And I need to know the what and the why. This will be the first of many nights that Liza will be in my bed and in my arms. There’s a surprising kind of freedom in giving in to something that you’ve long since tried to deny. I haven’t a clue as to what will happen in the light of day, but for now, we belong to each other. I only wish I could give her more.