Cynthia arrived at her small house exhausted. Now that everything was over with, and they’d gotten the child out alive, the adrenaline she’d been working with made a sudden disappearing act. On her way to the bathroom, she dropped soaked articles of clothing on the pristine dark-wood floor. A bath was a must. Her nerves were fried. She kept visualizing Kyler’s wide green eyes staring at her. She bit her lip and tamped down the urge to cry. Stupid emotions.
The minute she reached the bathroom, she filled the tub with warm water and some of her favorite Jasmine scented bubble bath. She slid out of her underwear and lit the scented candles lining the large tub. It was the main reason she’d bought that house. The bathroom was twice the size of the guest bedroom, but she didn’t care. Besides, nobody visited her anyway.
Her mind wandered as she slipped into the bubbly water. James Brock. Her heart beat faster at the thought of seeing him. She knew she would, but hadn’t been ready for the visual assault on her senses. He looked much better than he had when they’d been twenty-two and in love. She sighed, sunk further into the water, and dropped her head on the white towel she’d placed behind her neck. Ten years. Lord had those years been good to him. He’d toned his body and defined muscles.
God. She’d missed him so much.
He still wore his dark hair short and spiky. Exactly the way she’d told him to cut it for her pleasure. Memories of their time together assailed her brain. He’d been her world. Until her reality had shattered. Raw pain pierced her heart. She hadn’t stopped loving him. Never would. But what she’d done, it had been for the best. He wanted something she couldn’t give him. And if history repeated itself, she wouldn’t put him through a future filled with misery.
She closed her eyes. Saw James’ dark piercing ones staring at her. Guilt assailed her. There’d been shock and anger in his face when he’d first seen her. How would he react when he knew she was his new boss? She licked her lips. He’d probably quit on the spot. Her mind drifted to images of his naked body from ten years ago. Hell, his new body was a lot better filled out. His tattoos probably still looked just as mouthwatering on him now as they did then. They’d been one of the main reasons a good girl like Cynthia Vega would date such bad boy.
Brock. That’s how he’d introduced himself the first time they’d met. She’d been going home alone after a party, and some guys tried to get fresh with her. She smiled at the memory. Though she would have been able to handle the pathetic boys, it’d been incredibly romantic for him to come to her rescue. That one night had changed her life. The moment their eyes met, an instant connection had taken place. And she knew that he was the only man for her.
Love at first sight. Yeah right. She’d been the first skeptic, until she’d felt all kinds of emotions rush through her body and center in her heart the moment James held her hand up to his lips and kissed it.
Now, here she was playing the role of his boss. She couldn’t let their past interfere with the FPU’s future. Galvez would tear the group to shreds if he knew of her past with Brock. But damn it all, James looked better in real life than in every dream she’d had of him for the past ten years. His full lips were still just as sexy. Even with the way he formed them into an angry straight line. The clean-shaven look was new. She missed the scruffy beard he used to keep. Though now she’d seen his clenched jaw and had a good view of the vein throbbing on the side of his cheek.
After the water turned cold, she got out and dressed in boxer shorts and a tank top. The brown wooden box at the bottom of her closet called her attention through the open doors. She placed the memory keeper on top of her bed and rummaged through her past. College photos of her and James picnicking at the park and at the beach sat at the top of the pile.
The photo book of her childhood came out next. She wasn’t going to look at that. A smile worked her lips. Hand-made cards. James had always been romantic. Detailed. He didn’t buy cards. He’d made them for her. Always using something to make her think of a special moment they’d had together. At the bottom of the box, she found the photo of the night he’d proposed. Her throat closed up on her.
Remembering how happy that single act of him getting on his knee and asking her to marry him at their favorite spot by the lake made her heart thunder in her chest. Her eyes focused on a single crinkled sheet of paper, yellowed from the years, under the photo. It was her reminder of why she’d left him.
“You plan on coming to eat or what?”
She shrieked, almost got whiplash with how fast she looked up. Dropped everything and slapped a hand on her chest. “Frickin’ A, Tonya!”
“What?” Tonya’s brown eyes sparkled with laughter.
Her best friend and neighbor loved walking in unannounced.
“Don’t try to act all innocent. You almost gave me a heart attack!” She shut the box and carried it to her closet.
“Hey, it’s not my fault you keep forgetting pizza night.”
She had forgotten. Again. Every Wednesday was pizza night. Tonya picked it up on her way home from the dental office where she was a receptionist. Since she had a spare key to Cyn’s place, she let herself in.
Cyn followed behind Tonya toward the delicious scent of garlic, sauce, and pepperoni. Her stomach chose that moment to growl.
“Damn, girl! Was that your stomach?” Tonya jumped away from her. “Let’s feed you already. Before you decide to take a bite out of me.”
“Hah. Real funny,” Cyn muttered.
The pizza box lay on the middle of her coffee table with some glasses filled with wine.
“Tonya, you know I don’t drink during the week.” But really, who cared about that nonsense right now? With the day she’d had, she could use a whole bottle. Or two. She brought the wine glass straight to her lips and took a big gulp.
“I know. I just figured with the rescue you did tonight, I think you earned that glass girlfriend.” Tonya handed her a slice of gooey heaven on a paper plate.
“Thanks.” She took a bite and sighed.
“Glad to see something bring a smile to your face.” Tonya’s shrewd gaze was a little nerve wracking. Though she was old enough to be Cyn’s mother, they got along better than she ever had with any of her friends her age. Tonya came from a gypsy line who believed in karma, and she was constantly telling Cyn stories of the different colors she saw on people out in the street.
“I’m fine. I’ve just had a long day.”
“I saw.”
Cyn lifted her brows.
“The news. Guess you didn’t notice but they arrived to cover the fire just as you were leaving. They showed a quick scan of the area. I caught a glimpse of you taking off, leaving the big guy pissed as hell.”
Shit. She hated being in the news. The headache she’d been fighting, which had slowly started to drain away, made a comeback.
“I saw James tonight,” she said softly.
“I know.”
Dammit. She hated when Tonya did that whole seeing the future shit. She sucked at her own ability. How was it that Tonya could do it better than her?
“Go on,” Cyn groaned. “Tell me what you know.”
“Honey, I’ve tried to tell you that James will love you for the rest of his life. There is no other woman for him.”
“This isn’t about love.” If it were something that simple, it’d be easy. But it wasn’t. Loving him and wanting to see him happy was the reason she’d left.
“All you need is love,” Tonya sing-songed.
She sat back and continued to eat. “Not all the time. Anyway, my relationship with James is in the past.”
Tonya choked on her wine. Her laughter bounced around the walls of the small house. She combed her fingers through her short blonde hair, all the while grinning unrepentantly.
“How can you say that? You’ve loved him since the first time you saw him. He’s loved you the same. You’re together again.” She lifted her brows. “Working together.”
Cyn rolled her eyes. “It’s a group. It’s not like it’s just me and him. Besides, from what I saw tonight, I bet he doesn’t want to be anywhere near me.”
Unfortunately, for big, sexy, angry James Brock, she had a job to do. And he was part of it.
Brock studied his laptop screen, trying to make sense of the notes he’d taken for his report, but unable to concentrate. Fuck. Ten years. She’d left and said nothing for ten years. Her last message to him was to tell him not to look for her. That she couldn’t marry him. A familiar dull ache filled his chest.
Soft knocking jerked him out of his trance. He glanced up. Their gazes met and held. Her. For a moment, they stared at each other, unmoving.
Cyn turned the knob and entered into his private space. The soft scent of jasmine immediately dug into his lungs. He didn’t want to like it. Didn’t want to bury his nose in her neck and inhale hard. So damn hard he’d feel the animal under his skin fighting to let loose.
He grit his teeth and frowned instead. “What can I do for you, Vega?”
She lifted a brow. He watched her torture her bottom lip with her teeth for a moment before she finally spoke. “I guess you’ve heard, huh?” She shifted in her pantsuit, as if uncomfortable.
“Heard?”
Her hazel eyes turned a greenish color. Not the aroused gold.
“That bastard!” The green showed off her anger. “I should have known he wouldn’t tell you,” she muttered and started pacing the confines of his office. “No, leave it to me to have to break the bad news. Asshole!”
“What news?” He loved watching her curvy body move around his office in that pantsuit. Hell that outfit fit like it’d been made for her, and it probably had been since she always complained she never found clothes that fit right. If they fit her hips, then everything was too big around the waist. He wouldn’t be surprised if she’d started having things tailor-made.
She stopped. “Okay, so here it is.” She visibly gulped and gripped one of his chairs. “I’m your new boss.”
He sat back, waiting for her to say gotcha or some other phrase when one was being played a prank on.
“Honey, I report to Thomas Wheeler. Head of the Bureau.”
She shook her head. Long dark curls bounced around her shoulders and arms. “No, you don’t.”
“Yes, I do.”
Her brows dipped. “No. You. Don’t.”
“Look, I don’t know what Galvez has been telling you, but—”
“It’s not him. Though he was used to recruit me, Wheeler hired me to oversee your group directly.” She gave an apologetic sigh. “I’m sorry.”
“That’s not possible. The last time Wheeler and I spoke—” He broke off, remembering the conversation. Wheeler had told him he’d be getting a new person in the team. Or maybe he’d said someone to lead the team. Fucking hell! She couldn’t be his new boss. What kind of messed up game was Galvez playing?
“Look, James—”
“Brock.”
She pursed her lips. “Fine. Brock. The past is the past. We can’t change it. Let’s focus on the job. Though I am sure you’ve been great at leading this team, they want someone with more experience doing physical retrieval of victims.”
“Is that what you’ve been doing?” When she’d left, he’d been hurt, angry, and lonely. But he’d ignored her wishes and tried to find her. Every search brought him up empty handed. She’d disappeared. Left him alone. Left him hurting to be with her, near her, again.
“Yes… I-I’ve been working for the Bureau for a few years now. Let’s try to find common ground to help this team succeed. I really want to prove to Galvez that Wheeler made the right move.”
He shot to his feet. In a fluid move, he walked around his desk and stopped in front of her.
“Brock…” Her voice had that little tremble he recognized when she was trying really hard to act tough. Unfortunately, for her, he’d learned each of her body’s reactions. He also picked up on the scent of pain seeping from her pores.
“Okay, you want to find common ground? Let’s start by you telling me why you left after accepting my proposal.” He ground the words out past the knot in his throat. The beast inside him hurt. He’d missed her. His mate.
Raw pain flashed through her eyes. Pain that made his breath catch. Pure agony drifted from her and shot straight to his heart, stabbing holes into him.
“Don’t do this, James.” Her soft plea wrapped around his gut and squeezed. Squeezed until his muscles burned from how hard it was to stand there and not grab her. Hold her. Touch her. But how could he not ask? He needed to find out what drove her away, or he’d never move past it.
He stepped toward her. Watched her eyes widen. Need urged him to touch her. To slide his fingers over the side of her face liked he’d done countless times before. Then she would lean into his touch. And he’d lick a slow trail over her full lips. The animal inside him urged him to get a taste.
Of her skin.
Of her lips.
Of her scent.
Those pouty lips beckoned him closer. Lust roared through him like a volcano erupting for the first time. He had to control himself. They were at his office. In full view of everyone. No matter what his animal wanted, he couldn’t have her. Yet.
“Brock, wh-what are you doing?”
The beast pushed under his skin. Power danced over his pores. It was the ultimate high. Her presence had created a chain reaction he hadn’t experienced since she’d left. The room shook. He wanted to let go. To let his thick dark pull of power reign.
“Brock! Control yourself,” she demanded in a barely audible whisper. Her gaze darted out of the room to the work floor. No one seemed to realize what was going on in his office.
He inhaled and reined in his power. “Sorry. Got a little excited there.”
“Yeah, I know all about that.” She glanced at his lips. Seductive gold eyes met his gaze. Lust shone bright.
“Listen—”
Ringing stopped him short. She frowned, dug into her pocket and pulled out a cell phone. Her frown deepened as she pressed the talk button. “Vega.”
“Cici?”
Brock heard both sides of the conversation without a problem due to his enhanced hearing.
“Clara?”
“I need you, Cici.” The female voice on the other end of the line sounded upset.
“What’s wrong? We haven’t spoken in so long, Clara. What do you need?” Cyn rubbed a hand over her right temple, brow puckered in confusion.
“It’s my little girl, Roxy. She’s missing. I think something’s happened to her.”
“The best thing to do is call the police,” she replied slowly. “Have you tried that?”
He wondered why she was speaking as if the woman couldn’t understand.
“Yes, I did. They are looking for her boyfriend. Stupid girl,” the woman’s voice grew angry. “I told her that boy would get her into trouble. Now look at her.”
“Okay, Clara. Let me call your local police department and speak to them directly.”
“No, no, no. You have to come. You have to find her.” Clara choked out. The poor woman sounded desperate.
Cyn glanced up. Their gazes clashed. Sparks flew. She bit her lip. Confusion and concerned floated toward him, enveloping him in its grasp. Instinct urged him to hold her. Make it better. He curled his hands into fists, waiting.
“Clara, let me try the police, and then I’ll see what the best course of action is.” Her voice stayed soft and reassuring.
“Okay. I’ll wait for you, Cici.”
She disconnected the call. For a long quiet minute, she stared down at the phone lost in thought.
“Everything okay?”
Her head jerked up. “You heard. That was my aunt. I haven’t seen her in a long time. Many years.”
Emotions played across her features. Sadness. Fear. Resignation. “Will you go?”
His door burst open, saving her from answering his question.
Brock turned on his heel to face the intruder. Annoyance at having his time with her interrupted made him react. “What do you want?”
Ramirez and Donovan’s eyes widened at his loud growl.
“Sorry, boss. Didn’t realize you were busy.” Ramirez grinned over Brock’s shoulder to Cyn.
“I’m sorry, Brock.” Donovan glanced to and fro between him and Cyn. Her brows rose. She’d noticed his protective stance in front of Cyn. Fuck. Now he’d have to say something to them about her.
“Donovan, right?” Cynthia marched around him, leaving a soft trail of Jasmine as she passed him by. The scent continued to torture him with memories of watching her spraying some of the perfume over her naked body. All for him. So he could kiss every place she’d sprayed and start hours of lovemaking that would last all night.
“Er…yes.” Donovan glanced at him. There were questions in her eyes. Questions he couldn’t answer.
“I’m Cynthia Vega. The new Director and lead for the FPU.”
Donovan frowned. “Excuse me?”
Ramirez’s smiled widened. He took a step toward Cynthia, grabbed her hand, and brought it to his lips. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Cynthia studied him for a moment. Then a smile split her lips. “You’re Ramirez.”
He bowed low. “At your service madam.”
Brock had to check his anger. He wanted to strangle his own friend. Even though he knew Ramirez wasn’t being serious, it bothered him to see him touch Cyn. She was his. Only his. Something tightened around his gut.
He had bigger problems at the moment. Control. He had to stay in control. Power pushed at his pores, seeking to destroy everything around him. That power was the reason he’d been chosen to lead the FPU. Probably the same reason Cyn was taking over now. What a joke. The heads of the Bureau wouldn’t want someone able to dish out so much destruction in charge of such a special unit. He had known it would only be a matter of time before they took his team.
“I heard about you, Ramirez.” Her voice lowered. “I know you’ve been dying to get some time off so you can go relax at your beach house.”
The vice squeezing Brock’s stomach loosened. Cynthia knew what Ramirez was about.
Donovan had been glaring at Ramirez for his overt display of affection. She smiled suddenly, her green eyes sparkling like two emeralds. There wasn’t another person in the world with Donovan’s eyes. She was unique in every way. A soft giggle escaped her.
Ramirez winked over his shoulder at Donovan. “You are more than welcome to come to my beach house with me, princesa.”
Cyn took a step closer to Ramirez, her posture relaxed. She was anything but. “I’ll ignore your stupidity this one time, Ramirez. Because I know you’re trying to provoke me. But be very clear.” She folded her arms over her chest. “I don’t need to write you up or put you on unpaid time off.”
“Oh?” The cocky grin slid off Ramirez’s lips.
“I know what you are.” Her smile grew, until it showed the small dimple on her right cheek. “You need the outdoors. You need air. But if you don’t behave while I’m around, I’ll have you go work with the analysts who gather our data for us.”
Ramirez snorted. He folded his arms over his chest, large muscles contracting. “So?”
Cyn shrugged. “They work in the basement level.” Her gaze pierced Ramirez in place. “No windows. No sun. No nature.”
Brock knew she’d never do that. But her words had the desired effect. Ramirez turned pale. He glanced at Brock.
“She’s in charge. Behave.”
Cynthia jerked sideways, narrowing her eyes at him. “That goes for you too. Behave.”
If she only knew. He’d closed off his feelings for any other woman after what she’d done. His team was what mattered for the past ten years. The work they did. Saving those people who had disappeared had been his main goal in life. But now she’d returned. There was no way in hell he was going to sit by and not take advantage of that.
In order to find out why she left him, he’d need to spend time with her. Wear her down until she opened up to him. He’d find out. If it meant dragging her deliciously curvy body into his bed and doing some really unprofessional things to her, then so be it. He could live with that.
She headed for the door, stopped at the entrance, and turned to Ramirez. “Try not to get into any more trouble.” She nodded at Donovan. “Keep him in line.”
Donovan grinned. “Welcome to the team.”
“Aw, hell,” Tony groaned.
Brock watched her leave his office. His gaze immediately dropped to her ass. She still had the curves that made his mouth water. He’d always loved that about her. She wasn’t a stick figure. She was fucking hot. Cyn was tough enough to never let anyone take her for a ride. But she was also a good person. Kind. Caring. Compassionate. He’d seen that inner beauty of hers. It made him want to fight against whatever it was that drove her from him in the first place.