I yelped in surprise at the sight of the tall stranger standing in front of me. I probably should have been worried that he was an intruder, but I was too busy speculating whether he just stepped off the pages of a Ralph Lauren ad. With his sun-kissed skin, pale blue polo, and white shorts, I could easily envision him on the deck of a sailboat, staring off into the distance.
His shirt was just snug enough to display the outline of his muscular chest and biceps. His glossy raven-colored hair was curly but cut short enough to lay in perfect waves. Dark brows hovered over piercing blue eyes that seemed to bore into me with intelligence and purpose. His chiseled face was softened only by stubble that simultaneously looked rough and groomed.
When he spoke, his tone was formal but friendly. “I apologize for startling you, Haley. My name is Jackson Hart.” Jackson? This must be the guy Knox mentioned the other night. He held out his arm, initiating a handshake. I hesitantly placed my hand in his, hoping that he didn’t feel my tremor at his touch.
I stepped back, trying to get a handle on my nerves. “Is there something I can help you with?”
His stance was casual, but somehow his demeanor betrayed an overall sense of authority. “Yes. I need to speak with you about a few things.” Gesturing to the dining table, he said, “Would you mind taking a seat?”
Too intimidated to even consider arguing, I sat in the chair he indicated. I twisted my hands in my lap, uncertain why Jackson wanted to talk to me.
After sliding into the seat diagonal from mine, he got right down to business. “First of all, I would like you to know that my team has fully briefed me on the circumstances of the past week.” His team? While I had assumed Knox was in charge based on my previous observations, obviously I was wrong. Amazingly, I could imagine Knox following orders given by Jackson. While Knox was the epitome of raw strength, Jackson personified calm and control.
“On behalf of the entire team, I would like to apologize for the method that was employed to bring you to Santa Cruz. I hope you know that it was done with your best interests in mind.”
Taken aback by his impromptu apology, I remained quiet, weighing his words. I couldn’t help but wonder how they could possibly know what was best for me when, at that moment, I had no clue.
Seemingly unperturbed by my silence, he continued. “It is my understanding that Knox and Theo have offered to let you stay here at the loft for the time being. Is that acceptable to you?”
It hadn’t occurred to me that I had a choice in the matter. But, even without asking about other options, I knew I wanted to stay at the loft. I felt comfortable here, and it just seemed like the right fit. Plus, after spending the day with Theo yesterday, I was looking forward to more time with him. Somehow I could imagine us becoming really great friends.
“As long as it’s not too much of an inconvenience, yes, I would like to stay here for now.”
Jackson’s deep blue eyes drilled into mine, searching. I wondered what he was thinking but didn’t dare ask. “Good.” He scrolled through his phone, as if consulting a list, and then continued.
“Next, I want to emphasize that you need to stay with one of the guys on the team at all times. They have been instructed to follow a rotation system based on their availability. Obviously since Knox and Theo live here, they’ll be around more than the other guys.”
At this news, I gasped in dismay. “I don’t need a babysitter! I’ve been here by myself all morning, and I’m fine.” I couldn’t believe the gall of him to demand that I remain with one of the guys all the time. Maybe I was a prisoner here after all.
As I was stewing over Jackson’s news, another thought hit me. “Wait, are you saying that Theo is a part of the team? He’s in security?” Considering Theo’s engaging personality, it never even occurred to me that he had the same job as Knox and the others.
Jackson leaned back in his chair and draped one arm along the top of the chair next to him. His relaxed posture seemed at odds with the serious topic of conversation. “Yes, Theo works part time since he’s still in school. And actually, Knox has been in the garage the whole time, so you haven’t been alone. The loft has a sophisticated security system, so he would know if you attempted to leave.” Oh crap. Did that mean they had security cameras around the loft? What if Knox caught me snooping?
Unaware of my internal dilemma, Jackson proceeded. “And while I can appreciate your position, I must insist. Our constant presence is for the benefit of your safety, I assure you.”
As difficult as it was to argue with him, I spoke up. “I don’t understand. Why is my safety an issue here in Santa Cruz?” It didn’t make sense. The guys had supposedly taken me away from the Coleville area for my safety. No one else should even know I was here.
“Yesterday, we discovered that two men visited the home of your neighbor, Mrs. Martinez, asking questions.” Jessica’s mom? Oh, no.
Concerned, I interrupted. “Is she okay? They didn’t hurt her, did they?”
For the first time, Jackson’s voice warmed, losing its cool, professional tone. “She is perfectly fine. There is no reason to believe that she is in physical danger. But, we are concerned that she may have provided the men with information about you. So, you need to be extra cautious while we are still investigating this situation.”
As much as I despised the thought of the guys being forced to babysit me, his reasoning was sound. I was sure Mrs. Martinez would never intentionally hurt me, but she may not have realized why the men were asking questions. And it was probably too much to hope that the men had been unable to understand anything she said due to the language barrier.
Giving in seemed to have become my default these days. But, knowing I didn’t have room to argue, I consented. “Okay, I will stay with the guys as directed. But don’t think I’m happy about it.” I gave him a small smile, hoping he would realize that I was joking . . . sort of.
Jackson’s lips lifted slightly in response, and I relaxed a little. “Thank you, Haley. Finally, I wanted to let you know that I have found a potential part-time job for you at our office. The official title is a temporary office assistant, but you will basically be doing administrative work. Does that sound like something you would be interested in?”
My heart raced in excitement, but I didn’t want to get ahead of myself. “I don’t have any work experience, but I would be happy to do administrative work. Also, I don’t actually have a formal high school diploma or identification, and I would prefer to stay off the radar as much as possible. Is that going to be a problem?”
He didn’t appear at all disturbed by my admissions. “Don’t worry about any of that. Based on what the guys have shared about you, I’m sure you will have no trouble with the tasks required for the job. And, since it is a temporary position, it will be simple to keep you off the books.”
For not the first time, I found myself curious about the private security company. Why were they so willing to give me a job when I didn’t even have proper identification? That’s not normal, right? I started picturing a dinky office in a strip mall with stained carpet and the smell of burnt coffee permeating the air.
Jackson stood up, clearly ready to leave now that his business was complete. “I will move forward with getting things set up. The office is in San Jose, and you will be riding to and from work with one of the guys. Since your position is part-time, we will work your schedule around the team’s availability.”
He gave me a polite smile, “Haley, it was a pleasure meeting you. I’m sure I’ll be seeing you again soon.” And with that, he walked out the door.
I remained at the table, stunned by what had just transpired. It didn’t help that Jackson Hart was so good-looking. As attractive as my other new acquaintances were, Jackson was in a completely different league. He had tall, dark, and mysterious down to an art. And at this point, I couldn’t tell if I was intrigued or disconcerted.
* * *
Considering I was going to be staying here a little longer, in Knox’s home, I figured it was time to clear the air. How could he be here and I didn’t know it? I thought through the layout of the loft and wondered where he was hiding. I hadn’t yet been behind the opaque glass door on the first floor hallway; maybe the answer lay behind it.
I got up from the table and grabbed my crutches. Once I reached the end of the hallway, I hesitated. Was I supposed to go in there? I knocked, but when I received no response, I gingerly opened the door. I peeked my head around, unsure what I was going to find.
A wooden table with metal legs and metal chairs sat in front of a garage door made of glass overlooking a delightful patio and garden. The glass door was a design feature I’d never seen before but immediately loved; it was an industrial loft’s equivalent of extravagant French doors. The garden was small and intimate, surrounded by the brick walls of other buildings.
I entered the room, noticing the potted plants on the stained concrete floor. A large chalkboard hung on the brick wall to my left, covered in stunning chalk art. To the right was a spiral staircase made of iron. My eyes followed the staircase to the second floor where about thirty or forty glass jars covering exposed lightbulbs hung from the ceiling. Imagining them lit at night, I smiled; they would probably look like giant fireflies.
I debated whether to head upstairs or outside, but the matter was settled when I heard noises coming from my left. Previously distracted by my new surroundings, I had failed to notice a door to the left of the chalkboard. Although the door was thick, I could make out a radio playing, scarcely covering the sounds of metal occasionally clanging on concrete. Considering Theo’s comment yesterday about Knox and cars, it seemed likely Knox was behind the door working in a garage.
I knocked on the door but wasn’t surprised at the lack of a response. With some effort, I pushed the door open as it squeaked on its hinges. The radio and sounds of the garage grew louder, and the smell of damp concrete, motor oil, and metal mingled in the cooler air.
The space was large with several bays, some with cars; dark metal tool boxes lined almost an entire wall. Glancing around, I didn’t immediately see Knox, so I continued walking. With no windows, the space was lit by fluorescent lights and the natural light streaming in through several large skylights. Peg boards hung above the tool boxes, covered in meticulously organized tools of all shapes and sizes. I was amazed by the number of items one could need for working on cars.
Finally, I spotted a pair of jeans with leather boots attached to them sticking out from beneath a car. Now faced with the prospect of actually talking with Knox, I wanted to turn and run. Before I could, Knox rolled out from under the car and spotted me. Crap.
I froze, unsure what to do. Since I was the one intruding, it seemed like I should be the one to speak. “Sorry. I knocked, but there was no answer, and I guessed you were in here since I could hear noises.”
He stood up and grabbed a white towel stained with black streaks. His muscles flexed as he wiped his hands on it, and I noticed smudges across his forearms and face. His skin glistened from exertion, and his dark T-shirt clung gently to his chest. It was a good look on him.
“Did you need something?” His voice was gruff as usual.
I looked down at the floor. “I met Jackson. It sounds like I’m going to be staying at the loft a little longer, which I assume you already knew. I was hoping we could talk more about why you felt the need to kidnap me.”
He sighed, stuffing a hand in his pocket. “Look, Haley. My hands were tied, and I wasn’t going to waste time dealing with your stubbornness. I knew you needed to get out of there.” He spoke in an even tone.
I gripped my crutches. “That’s it? So did you have anything to go on other than a hunch that I wasn’t safe?” Unlike our earlier confrontation, my voice was more controlled this time.
He scratched his chin with his free hand. “At first, no. But on our last night at the cabin, there was a break in at your dad's office. His file was taken.”
I frowned. “Why couldn’t you have just told me that?”
“Because even if I had told you, I wasn’t sure you would agree to come with us. And I didn’t want to take that risk.”
Knox brushed his hair back from his face, his green eyes staring into my own. I could easily picture him giving Theo a similar look, and suddenly everything clicked. He was trying to protect me.
I may not know why he cared, but I knew that he did. Whether he and the other guys were responsible for everything that had happened or not, he had gone above and beyond to make things right.
I remained silent, considering, and then nodded slowly. “I still wish you had talked to me, but I am very grateful for all you have done.” I paused. “Thank you for letting me stay here and for the new clothes.”
“Don’t mention it. You’re welcome to stay as long as you want.” His face was unreadable as ever, but beneath the stony exterior, I sensed that this was his way of apologizing.
Ready for a change of subject, I cleared my throat. “So, where are the bats?”
Knox raised his eyebrows and tilted his head. “Huh?”
“You know. The bats.” I leaned forward as if to share a secret. “Isn’t this your Batcave?” I whispered conspiratorially.
He laughed, the sound deep and hearty, and I smiled in return.
“No bats. But lots of cars, cars that put the Batmobile to shame. Want to take a seat?” He gestured to a stool nearby.
He stood in front of the hood of the truck, and I sat on the stool watching, curious. I didn’t want to break his concentration so I stayed silent. While still looking at the hood, he spoke. “Do you know much about cars?”
I laughed. “Not really. Apart from how to drive one and how to change a tire.”
He nodded. “Those are both important skills; at one point that was the extent of my knowledge too.”
Looking at the hood’s contents, hands on hips, he seemed intent on solving something. Seeing him in the garage, I smiled to myself; it felt more like his home than any other part of the loft. While I imagined the process of fixing cars could be frustrating at times, it also seemed like it could be intensely gratifying. Sensing that Knox had worked out his latest kink, I figured I could speak now without interrupting his thoughts.
I fiddled with a loose screw sitting on top of the nearest toolbox. “How did you become so interested in cars?”
He picked up a part. “I guess it was like most things—part necessity, part interest.” He grabbed a tool from the floor. “I used to pick up odd jobs when Theo and I were younger. I noticed that I was most interested in the ones that involved cars, and not just because they paid the best. At first, I had no clue what I was doing, but I gained skills and knowledge over time.”
I continued playing with the screw, watching Knox while he worked. “My dad and I used to love listening to Car Talk. Click and Clack, and many of their callers, were hilarious. Our truck was pretty old but ran well. I kept hoping that something would break just so I could call them. I imagined imitating funny truck noises; then they’d tell me how to fix it, and I would be able to.”
Knox looked up at me and grinned widely, his mouth still closed. The smile reached his eyes, and I could feel his approval.
I snickered. “Obviously, that was kind of far-fetched considering the extent of my knowledge.”
He chuckled. “Perhaps a little, but it doesn’t have to be. You could learn.”
I grinned. “I’d like that.”
We remained there a while, me sitting on the stool observing, Knox working on the car. We talked occasionally, but silence felt just as natural as talking. Used to seeing Knox in crisis mode, it was nice to see him at home. I liked him better this way; living with him temporarily may not be so bad after all.
I didn’t realize how much time had passed until my leg started falling asleep. I stood, gently shaking it. Debating whether to ask my question, my insides danced with anticipation. “So, will you show me black beauty?”
He sputtered. “Black Beauty? That’s a horse. I think you mean the black beast,” his voice sort of growling playfully at the end.
I laughed. “Yeah, that’s the one.”
“Sure, I’ll even take you for a ride sometime.”