Chapter 20
I don’t know how you do it, Sergeant Moreau, but each time I see you, you stun me anew with your beauty.” Dragging his gaze over her slender frame, pausing for an instant at each of her most bodacious features, Mac winked at Jax, who was holding Viviana’s elbow, securing her next to his side. “You better keep a firm grip on her, buddy. In addition to yours truly, there isn’t a man in this room who wouldn’t gladly take your place.” Turning back to Viviana, the smiling commissioner shook his head. “I’m not just trying to stroke the police chief’s ego, Sergeant. I’m still trying to figure out how this arrogant SOB managed to capture the ‘un-capture-able’ Enchantress.”
Jax guffawed and said with an ironic grin, “The fact that I do need to keep a grip on her should confirm that Sergeant Moreau continues to be hard to contain.” Tugging her closer to him, he added blandly, “Although I don’t have to use restraints at all times to keep her in line as I used to have to do. I’m hoping that is progress of sorts.”
Greg Bannon joined them at that moment. “Hmm, Jax, you didn’t mention restraints when you were telling me how important it was that I keep tabs on Sergeant Moreau. Maybe if I’d known that, I could get her to meet for more than five minutes every third day or so.”
Knowing that the last thing she wanted to do was to let Jax know that she was still blowing off her new commander, Viviana smiled sweetly at Commissioner McElroy, then appealed to his attractive wife standing beside him. “You’ve been around these men longer than I have, Mrs. McElroy. Are all former special operatives as demanding as these guys are?”
Sheryl McElroy raised an arched brow and poked her husband playfully in the chest. “Please, don’t think for a moment that my husband doesn’t share all those traits, good and bad, that former special operatives exhibit.” The bold woman shot Jax a knowing glance and said with a smile, “Although my husband hasn’t had to deal with the competition that Chief Hughes does.” Turning back to Viviana, she said, “You must know that you have put my longtime friend Jax Hughes in an unaccustomed position. Over the years, I’ve watched every woman within ten feet of this handsome rogue try to capture his attention. But now, even the most persistent Jaxton groupies concede that the elusive Jaxton Hughes has been snared—by the Enchantress, no less. Instead, Jax has had to deal with the fact that, as my husband cheerfully confessed, every man in the room would kill to be in his place.” Grinning appreciatively at Viviana, she added, “As one who’s watching from the sidelines, I have to admit you and Jax provide great entertainment.”
Viviana was surprised. She was unaccustomed to a woman who wasn’t threatened by her. The fact that she also was willing to take on the trio of accomplished men, including Viviana’s arrogant lover, made the commissioner’s wife an interesting anomaly. She shot Sheryl a sincere smile. “Thank you. It’s nice to know that someone other than me has figured out how trying and entertaining these powerful men can be. I just wish that I wasn’t always included in the entertainment, given that I’m only trying to do my job unobstructed.”
Jax shook his head, slipped his hand over her backside, and pinched her butt. At Viviana’s surprised squeal, he shrugged and said to Sheryl, “Trust me, wise woman. No matter what this unrepentant loner says or does, it is always entertaining—as well as annoying.”
Greg Bannon snorted. “I’m glad that all of you have figured out what makes this unusual couple tick. I will only add that I have been a bootlicking admirer of Chief Hughes from the time he deigned to put me on his Delta squad. But I’ve never been more impressed by his omnipotence than I am now. Given that at least as much as anyone could, he seems to keep my uncontainable sergeant somewhat contained, my respect for him has hit astronomical levels.”
Viviana tossed her head and said with an impish smile, “Sorry, Commander Bannon, hate to burst your hero-worship bubble, but containment has never been my bag, nor will it be. Suffice it to say that the only reason Jax has my attention is because he is smart enough to give me room to excel. And yes, while he is annoying as hell and as arrogant a man as ever walked the earth, he does have some good qualities.”
To underscore what those qualities might be, Viviana looked up at him, then salaciously licked her lips and sucked her bottom lip into her mouth. At her saucy gesture, all three men laughed. Jax pulled her up next to him and said in an audible stage-whisper, “I’m glad to know that I’ve impressed you at least on some level, Sergeant Moreau. We’ll discuss my other commanding attributes later—when we are alone.”
Mac put up his hands as if in defeat and shared a collegial glance with Greg Bannon. “What can I say, buddy, except that once a superstar, always a superstar?” Pulling his attractive wife next to him, he added, “Fortunately for me, Sheryl has provided more than enough entertainment for this randy old goat. All I can do is wish both Jax and Viviana a smidgen of the happiness that we have had in nearly twenty years of wedded bliss.”
Sheryl punched him in the arm and said in mock disgust, “Nice recovery, hotshot. Now if you can just take your eyes off the delectable Sergeant Moreau long enough to greet your other guests, you may not have to sleep on the living room sofa tonight.”
Glancing across the room, Viviana saw Annabelle Simpson standing next to her friend Penelope Williams and the man she now knew was Penelope’s husband, Rodney. Determined not to make Jax suspicious, she did her best to hide her interest. Somehow she needed to get close to the trio without piquing Jax’s suspicions. Tugging on his arm, she said, “Any chance that this thirsty sergeant could have a drink? From what I can tell, the commissioner and his wife have a fully stocked bar.” She smiled at Sheryl. “While Jax is getting me some well-deserved single malt, can you direct me to the ladies’ room?” After Jax walked away, a slight frown marring his handsome face, Viviana said to Sheryl, “I trust you understand, but I need a break from these overbearing men. One can only take so much overt testosterone unaided by good scotch.”
Sheryl laughed a throaty sound and shook her head in agreement. “I understand. Although surely you must be used to the pheromones that follow you wherever you go—as long as there is a man in the vicinity.”
Viviana shrugged and agreed as she moved in the direction Sheryl indicated. “Yes, I am. But that doesn’t mean I don’t need a break. The problem is that most other women aren’t confident like you, Sheryl. They see me as a threat when that is the last thing I am.”
Not hiding her appraising study of Jax’s compelling backside as he strode toward the bar, Sheryl said with a saucy grin, “Girlfriend, you are a lot of things that threaten other women. All I can say is that I admire the heck out of you. I’ve known Jaxton Hughes for nearly as long as I’ve known Mac. In all those years, I’ve never seen him fall for a woman. But, Viviana—if I may call you that—if I’ve ever seen a man crazy in love with a woman, it is the studly police chief and how he feels about you. Congratulations. You have accomplished what those of us who know and love Jax considered an impossible feat.”
Viviana managed to hide her reaction to the refreshing woman’s claim. She acknowledged that she hadn’t yet come to grips with what being in love with the sexiest, most demanding man she’d ever known required. Good God, it was bad enough that if he was within two feet of her, her libido soared to missile-seeking heights. Not to mention the swarm of butterflies that fluttered in her gut. Or if she was truthful, the telltale dampness in her nether regions that appeared at the thought of him, much less his actual presence. Rather than reply to the woman standing next to her, who was clearly interested in her response, Viviana brushed aside her comment with a shrug. Determined to change the subject, she glanced across the room and pretended to see Annabelle and her friends for the first time.
“I see that the mayor and his wife have arrived. Are they friends of yours?”
Sheryl nodded. “Yes they are. I serve on several committees with Annabelle Simpson and consider her a friend. And George Simpson is as good a mayor as a troubled city like ours could have.”
Couching her interest with nonchalance, Viviana nodded. “Yes, I agree. He handled the scandal involving the sexual predators as well as he could, given the high-level criminals who were involved. I don’t really know Mrs. Simpson, although I talked with her at the party the mayor hosted for Jax and Greg Bannon. I also met her friend, Mrs. Williams.”
Sheryl tugged on her arm and said with a grin, “Unless you really do need to go to the loo, come with me. I need to welcome the mayor and Annabelle and their important friends. Mac is convinced that Rodney Williams can be a huge asset to the city and the police force.” Sheryl added in a conspiratorial whisper, “Apparently those two benign-looking people are Brahmins to the core. Old money and lots of it.”
Following her brassy new friend across the room, Viviana made a point of ignoring Jax, who was gazing at her from the bar. She didn’t know if she should be relieved or suspicious when he didn’t follow her or bring her the drink she had requested. She hoped that he’d decided to give her space. God knows they had made enough of a scene with Mac and Sheryl. She could only pray he was giving her some breathing room.
Leading Viviana across the stone-covered patio, Sheryl called out a greeting. “Good evening, Annabelle. Mac and I are delighted you and George could attend our little soiree.” Reaching for her hand, Sheryl bussed Annabelle’s cheek, then nodded to the patrician-looking pair standing beside the clearly flustered mayor’s wife. Proffering her hand to Penelope and nodding to the stern, gray-haired man standing beside her, Sheryl said, “Good evening, Penelope, Rodney. I am delighted you could come to our get-together. As you know, we are honoring our new police chief, Jaxton Hughes.” Sheryl smiled and nodded to Viviana. “And this gorgeous creature beside me is Sergeant Viviana Moreau, who is also known as the Enchantress.”
Viviana felt her cheeks heat but managed to nod, determined to hide her interest in the pair. “I’m pleased to meet you, Mr. Williams, and to see you again, Penelope.” Turning to Annabelle she smiled, “And, of course, it is always a pleasure to see you, Annabelle.”
If the mayor’s wife was surprised by her pleasant greeting, given what a brat she had been at the mayor’s party, Annabelle was too polite to acknowledge it. Instead, she turned to her companions and added to Sheryl’s introduction. “You need to know that Sergeant Moreau is a true star in our city. She . . . she is actually famous. Our police force has run into some understandably bad press after the awful things that happened. But Sergeant Moreau and Chief Hughes and, of course, Commissioner McElroy, took down those dreadful people and have managed to convince the public that the police force is under new leadership.”
Sheryl McElroy agreed. “You are absolutely right, Annabelle. Jax and my husband are great leaders. But no one should minimize the importance of this woman. Yes, she is beautiful, but she is also a powerhouse in her own right. Which makes me think that we need to get her to help us with one of our committees.”
When Viviana started to demur, Sheryl stopped her. “I know from Jax that you consider a lot of what we women are involved in ‘do-gooder’ work. And sometimes that is true. But Annabelle and I, as well as the Williamses, are involved in a project that is smack in the middle of your wheelhouse. Knowing how you brought down those horrible sexual predators, you must know the good work Sister Eloise is doing at St. Vincent’s Shelter. Annabelle just convinced Penelope and Rodney to join the shelter’s board. I know you couldn’t do that, given how busy you are—”
Annabelle jumped in. “But you could be a wonderful advisor, Sergeant Moreau. We are having an organizing meeting on Wednesday at the Williamses house. Are you ever able to get away for lunch?”
Pretending to consider, Viviana shook her head as if to refuse. She was gratified when Penelope stepped in and seconded the invitation. “I hope you will consider joining us, Sergeant Moreau. We hope that Sister Eloise will be able to attend. I assume you know the good work that she does.”
Viviana frowned slightly, then shrugged as if conceding. “I am one of Sister Eloise’s biggest fans. And yes, if you all think that I can add to the discussion, I would be pleased to join you for lunch.”
Annabelle Simpson flushed with excitement. “Oh, Sergeant Moreau, that would be wonderful. You are a hero in this community.” She gushed to her friends, “Just think of all the publicity we could get for the shelter if the media knew that you had joined our committee.”
Too late, Viviana realized Jax had come up beside her and heard her accept Penelope’s invitation. She didn’t have to look at him to know his reaction. His amused comment said it all. “Am I hearing correctly? Did I just hear our elusive sergeant agree to attend a luncheon meeting? I must tell you, good people, you have achieved a miracle. This has to be the busiest and most enigmatic officer we have on our squad. Ask her commander how difficult it is to meet with her, much less for lunch.” He added with an ironic nod to Annabelle, “But you are absolutely correct, Mrs. Simpson. If it is publicity you are seeking, know that where Sergeant Moreau goes, the media follows.”
When she could leave without making a scene, Viviana excused herself from the group and went to hide in the bathroom. Even though she sequestered herself for a good five minutes, she wasn’t surprised to see Jax waiting for her in the hallway. Pulling her into a room that looked like an office, he closed the door behind them. Reaching for her, his rigid jaw and flashing eyes telegraphed his intent. “Are you going to tell me what you are up to, Viviana?” When she tipped up her chin and glared at him, a lazy smile crept across his face. “Or, my devious little bad girl, am I going to have to beat it out of you?”