Chapter 6

Emma

It was already twenty minutes after five before I looked up from my spreadsheet to check the time. I’d promised to volunteer at an adoption event tonight for a local pet shelter, which meant I needed to finish up here and head home to change soon.

I’d just finished packing up my things when the door opened. Jack strode in, bypassing my desk without a look and heading back towards Dad’s office. “He’s not here,” I called after him.

Jack froze and turned around, finally making eye contact.

“He and Matt are out on Hilton Head, discussing a new security contract. They might not come back to the office tonight.”

I could see that he was tense, his hands in tight fists by his side. I realized then how dangerous he would be if someone angered him. He was tall and muscular, trained in a hundred ways to kill, I was sure. But, for some reason, I didn’t fear him. I knew instinctively that Jack would never use his strength against me.

Noticing a tic in his jaw, I knew I had to help him calm down. It was only his first day on the job with Jansen, but I couldn’t blame him for being pissed. He was probably going to ask Dad to take him off the assignment. I tried to warn Dad, but would anyone listen to me?

“Jansen’s a real jerk,” I said, intending to establish a dialogue. The man was silent as stone most the time. But if I could get him talking, maybe it would help him to relax. “I can’t imagine being cooped up with him all day.”

Jack didn’t respond, but he did begin to pace. I was taken aback by the fierce expression on his face. Something was wrong, something more than just being annoyed by the rich bastard Jansen.

“Hey,” I said, moving forward. “What’s going on? Tough day on the job?”

It was an inane question, I knew, but I had to do something to get him talking. I could feel tension radiating off him and the waves were getting thicker. It bothered me to see him like this, causing a feeling almost like pain in my chest.

“Jack?” I asked, taking another step closer. Instead of answering, he shook his head. His eyes were bright, a far-off expression taking over his face. It was like there was a brick wall between us, keeping me out, stopping me from reaching him.

If I wanted to find out what had set him off, if I wanted to make the tension go away, I had to be brave. Fuck it. Time to climb the wall.

Without hesitation, I walked straight up to Jack and grabbed him, stopping him in his tracks. Putting my hands on either side of his face, I pulled his head down to mine. Before I could lose my confidence, I pressed my lips to his.

I could feel him jolt, as if hit with a bolt of electricity. I held on, softening my lips, coaxing his. A few moments later and I could feel him start to relax. Then he began returning the kiss, and it was my turn to lose my cool.

His mouth devoured mine, little nips that was sending pulses of sensation straight through to my core. I would have never guessed that he was even attracted to me, let alone capable of feeling the hunger for me that was revealed in that kiss.

And then it was over. He pulled away, intensity radiating from his dark eyes. I met his gaze, wondering if I’d succeeded in making it over the wall.

“Tell me what happened.”

He turned his head and took a deep breath. “Something’s wrong with the Jansen gig. There’s something he isn’t telling us.”

“What makes you think so?” I kept probing, not wanting him to go silent on me.

“Jansen got a call.” Jack paused, running a hand through his hair. “He gets tons of calls, and he always speaks at full volume, regardless of the topic or the person on the other line. Except for one call. It was different.”

He turned away to start pacing again, his words coming to a halt at the same time his legs started moving. I gave him a moment, but he didn’t continue. It was clear that the next part was hard for him to say.

“How was it different?” I kept my expression neutral.

Jack stopped and stared down at me. I stood my ground, not breaking eye contact. I’d always avoided conflict, and normally would have backed down minutes ago. Hell, I wouldn’t have ever tried the kiss gambit. But there was something about him, about the situation. I could be brave. For him.

Finally, he spoke. “He was whispering, for the first time all day. I checked him out in the rearview and...I saw him mouth the word ‘blackmail.’”

I could tell he was waiting on my response, his attention focused. “Blackmail?” I swallowed, unsure of how to proceed. “Do you think someone is blackmailing him?”

Jack shook his head. “I’m not sure. But I know he’s hiding something.”

His hands were shaking slightly. There was something more he needed to share. “What else happened?”

“I was followed.” For the first time since we’d become reacquainted, the pace of his words quickened, the tone somewhat frantic. “After I left his hotel. A black SUV. I made several turns to make sure. Then I lost them before I came back here.”

His words hit me like a blow. “Someone followed you? But...why?”
His mouth opened to respond, but before anything came out, the sound of the door opening interrupted him. I looked over my shoulder, catching sight of Matt and my father entering, twin smiles on their faces.

“Hey, little girl,” Dad said, coming over to plant a kiss on my forehead. “You’re here late.”

I nodded. “Yeah. Dad, Jack needs to—”

“We closed the deal,” Matt said, cutting me off and slapping Dad on the back. “Three months of round-the-clock security detail for a visiting diplomat. I think we just earned our Christmas bonuses.”

Dad laughed, and Jack smiled, but there were more important things to talk about. “Dad, Jack was followed after work today. He thinks—we think—that there’s something Jansen isn’t telling us.”

Jack’s eyes met mine, an unreadable expression on his face. After a moment, he spoke. “A black SUV pursued me, but I managed to lose him.”

I wanted my father to have all the information. “And Jack saw him talking about blackmail. He’s definitely hiding something.”

Dad’s smile evaporated and he took a breath. “Look, son,” he said, putting his hand on Jack’s shoulder. “I know Dexter is a bit of a snake. I can smell it on him, just like you can. But this is business, not the service. We’re not assisting civilians in need. He paid us to protect him from corporate espionage, not blackmail. I don’t give a damn what he does in his spare time.”

Jack nodded, his face blank. For some reason, looking at him made my insides hurt. I was about to respond, but Matt interrupted again. “What say we go down the street to that brewpub and knock back a couple to celebrate this new contract?”

“Sure,” Jack says, trying on a grin.

I rolled my eyes, then locked up after them as they made their way out of the door and into the parking lot. Just another example of the boys not listening to me. But that didn’t mean I was going to give up just yet.

At the pub, I cornered my father when he went to the bar to grab another round of beers. The adoption event would have to wait a little while longer. “Dad, I think there’s something going on with Jansen. You shouldn’t blow Jack’s concerns off so easily.”

Dad gave me a tolerant grin. “Okay, little girl, I hear you. Now you listen to me. Jack just got back from ten years in the service, seeing things you’ve never even thought about. Which is good, you shouldn’t think about those things. But when you’re used to finding danger around every corner, once you’re back stateside, it’s hard not to keep looking for it.”

“You think he’s overreacting?”

Dad shrugged. “Jack’s a great guy, and your brother thinks the world of him. I’m sure he’ll calm down after a few more months. Learn to relax. Until then, I’m taking his suspicions with a grain of salt.”

The bartender handed him a fresh group of bottles and he took them, heading back to the table. I sighed, leaning back against the bar and watching the table.

An earnest expression had taken up residence on Jack’s face as he listened to Matt relating the details of the deal. I realized then why he had been so hesitant to talk to me earlier. He’d thought I wouldn’t believe him that I’d assume he’d been seeing something that wasn’t there.

Suddenly his eyes meet mine and a heat rushes through me. The memory of his kiss exploded in my mind. For a moment, I’d felt him responding, before he’d broken away. Could he be thinking about it too, I wondered as he continued to look at me.

Could I ever stop thinking about it?

Or stop wanting him to do it again?