“Why?”
She blinked and he moved closer. “Why would I keep tools in the back of my car?”
“In case you need them?” he offered, thinking the answer should be obvious. “If your car breaks down, then…”
Her laughter caught him off guard and he simply stood there, his mind reeling as he listened to the soft, musical sound.
“If my car breaks down, I’m calling for assistance, Simon,” she said, stepping back. “If something breaks, there’s no way I’d be able to figure out what was broken, much less fix it.”
He sighed, wanting to pull her closer again. But she turned back to the boxes, pulling open the next one. Not the one with all of the interesting stuff in it, but another one. When she opened it, he was disappointed to watch her lift a stack of tee-shirts out of the box and place them next to the sweaters.
“I’ll teach you,” he offered.
“Teach me what?” she asked, glancing at him over her shoulder.
“How to fix things on your car.”
More laughter, but he didn’t take offense. He leaned against the door frame and simply enjoyed watching her unpack.
“I don’t want to know how to fix my car.”
“Why the hell not?”
“Because I don’t like working on cars?” she pointed out. “Because there are always perfectly good mechanics that I can call when I need help.”
Oh, was she in for a rude awakening! “Not around here. What happens if it snows and your car breaks down?”
“Well, then I guess I won’t be going anywhere until the snow plow comes and makes a pathway so the tow truck driver can reach me. It would only be a few hours or a day, right?”
Now it was his turn to laugh. “Honey, you’ve got a lot to learn about living in Wyoming,” he told her, still toying with the new lock. “I’ll install this for you.” And with that, he walked out of her bedroom. Better to not tempt his already aroused body anymore.
“Jade, did you know that your guy is…fixing the lock?” Sage commented as she entered the bedroom.
Jade glanced at her sister, then at the cash still sitting on her dresser. “Yes. Apparently, Detective Grumpy’s cop instincts kicked into high gear. He got a lock for my front door.”
Sage pointed in the general direction of the front door. “Yeah, but he’s installing it!”
Jade shrugged. “I know. I’m not sure if I could stop him.” She grinned impishly. “I have to admit that it’s kind of nice not to have to figure it out myself. He is saving me hours of watching YouTube videos. I know that we moved out here to be independent, but there’s no way I’m going to stop him.”
Sage laughed. “Okay, so if he’s doing that, then–”
“Hello?”
Both sisters heard the familiar voice, their eyes meeting as they tensed with surprise.
“NO!” Jade whispered, eyes wide with sudden dread.
All amusement vanished as they hurried out of the bedroom.
Sure enough, Henry, their father’s personal assistant, was standing in the doorway.
The fussy man immediately spotted both sisters, his lips curling with disdain as he eyed the small house filled with boxes. “Ah, ladies, there you are,” Henry said, stiffly as he delicately minced through the dusty house, trying not to touch anything.
“Henry…what are you doing here?” Sage asked, looping her arm through Jade’s as they tensed, prepared for the inquest.
Henry lifted his hands in the air as he stepped carefully around Simon who was bent low, fixing the front door lock.
“Your father is about to arrive, dearies,” Henry explained breezily. He checked his ever-present tablet and tapped on the screen. “Now, obviously he’ll need down filled pillows and a king sized bed. For breakfast lately, he’s been on a kimchi kick.” Henry glanced up at the sisters, his eyebrows low as if amused. “Apparently, the stuff is wonderful for the body! Lots of health benefits.” He returned to his list. “As you know, he wakes at ten o’clock sharp, so please, no noise prior to that hour.” Henry squinched up his nose. “You know how cranky he is when he gets off his schedule.”
Jade released a nervous laugh, and slapped a hand over her mouth. At Henry’s inquiring glance, Jade explained. “The movers just dropped off my boxes yesterday,” she told him. “I have my personal mattress, but there are no other beds.” She didn’t bother to mention that her father hadn’t been invited to stay. “And feather pillows?” She shook her head, crossing her arms over her chest. “Sorry, but I hate them. So, I don’t have any.” She lifted her chin when Henry’s mouth fell open. “If my father wants to stay here in Wyoming, he’s going to have to find other accommodations. And there’s no way that I’m keeping quiet until ten o’clock in the morning, Henry. If my father insists on staying then he can pick a spot on the floor to sleep, and he will be up early enough to help me unpack and get my house in order.”
Henry blinked at Jade, too stunned to react. Despite the nerves jangling inside of her, Jade stood firm.
A booming voice rang out from the driveway.
“Why the hell is there a pickup truck in front of my daughter’s house?!”
Jade tensed, but before she could speak, her father stomped into the house.
Alexander DeSantis was a man of average height, but his powerful presence and intimidating demeanor made him seem taller than five foot, nine. Most people assumed he was closer to six feet tall, simply because of the formidable way that he carried himself.
Jade felt Sage’s hand slide into hers. The sisters had formed an alliance against this man when they were very young. Neither wanted to anger him, because his fury could be painful. They’d moved thousands of miles away in order to get distance from him. So, why was he here now? He’d been livid when Sage and Jade announced they were moving away from New York City! It was the only place that the great Alexander DeSantis deemed “appropriate” for artists.
“Jade, there is a pickup truck in front of your house!” he snapped, his lip curling in disgust. “Tell the miscreant to move it around to the rear so that your neighbors don’t have to look at it.” With that command issued, he stepped deeper into the house. “This place is filthy!”
Jade felt Sage’s hand tighten in hers.
“The boxes and furniture were only delivered yesterday, Father,” Jade began, defending her wonderful new home. “It will take me a while to–”
“Why the hell didn’t you have someone here to unpack everything?” he interrupted. “If you had, then this place would at least be habitable!”
Jade squeezed Sage’s hand, then released it and stepped forward. “Father, as we explained several weeks ago, we’re doing this move on our own. We don’t want your help.”
He flicked a dismissive hand. “This is unacceptable, Jade. I’ll arrange for someone to move everything back to New York.” His eyes sharpened. “This is just another of your petty defiance plays and I won’t have it!”
Jade stood firm, furious with her father.
“You’re right, Dad. This is another act of defiance. Against you. We don’t want–”
His hand sliced imperious through the air, stopping her midsentence. “You’re wasting your talent!” he bellowed. “Your stupid little murals are nothing compared to what you could be doing if you just focused your energy on something more…profound!” He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, the dramatic silence that always preceded one of his haughty dictates. “You will move back to New York and you will apply yourself to proper painting. That’s final!” He turned on Sage. “And you!” he sneered. “You will also stop your ridiculous…whatever you call your pathetic attempts at infuriating me and will also apply your God given talents to something more appropriate.”
Jade felt her sister’s anger wash over her like a hot wind. Knowing Sage was more timid, Jade stepped forward, ready to defend both her and her sister. But Sage didn’t back down. She stepped up next to Jade, glaring daggers at her father. “That’s not going to happen, Al
exander. I’m not leaving and I’m not giving up my career.”
The father scoffed. “Career!” he scoffed. “You can’t call what you do a career! It’s a pointless hobby! What value are you providing this world? What personal insights are you sharing with the masses? What political statements are you revealing?” He lifted a hand to stop any arguments. “It’s done!” He turned. “Henry, arrange for my daughters to move back to New York. They will stay with me until I’ve ensured that their talents are appropriately focused.”
Jade’s eyes flared with fury. “Henry, if you, or any of your minions, touch anything in this house, I will call the police and have you all arrested.”
“For what?” the assistant gasped, horrified that anyone would defy the great Alexander DeSantis’ dictates.
“For theft,” another male voice announced. “And trespassing, for starters.”
Jade watched as Simon rose to his full height and moved to stand behind Jade and Sage. In that moment, she felt a warmth spread through her body. Jade wanted to turn around and lay a big kiss the man! She didn’t, of course. That would be completely inappropriate and would ruin the whole point of her move here to Wyoming. But she wanted to!
“Who the hell are you?” her father demanded. Then waved his hand again. “Never mind. I don’t care. You’re interfering in family issues and I won’t allow it.”’ He turned to Henry. “Call the police and have this man escorted off the property.”
Jade laughed, feeling powerful for the moment. “Dad, he is the police.” She turned so that her father had full view of the oh-so-powerful-and-yummy Detective Simon. “This is Detective…” she paused, and glanced up at him. “I’m sorry, I don’t remember your last name.”
Simon looked down at her, his eyes revealing that he knew she could only remember “Detective Grumpy”.
Thankfully, he didn’t reveal her ignorance. “Detective Simon Kershaw, at your service,” he supplied, extending his hand.
Henry stepped in to shake his hand. Jade knew that her father rarely shook hands. It wasn’t a germ thing. Her father simply considered his hands to be his “instruments to save the world” and didn’t touch anything he didn’t have to.
“So, if there’s nothing else,” Simon said pointedly, “perhaps it’s time for you to leave.”
Alexander puffed up a bit more, which wasn’t significant since the man was always puffed up. “I will leave when I’m good and ready, you ruffian!”
Simon chuckled. “If you’re trying to insult me, you’re going to have to work harder than that, mister. But seriously, she asked you to leave. You’re on private property and, as a law officer, I’ll have to enforce her rights.”
Jade watched as Simon glared down at her father. Simon’s height and wonderful brawn clearly illustrating there would be no competition if it came down to a battle. Simon clearly didn’t grasp that her father would never engage in any sort of activity that might harm his hands.
Her father’s eyes hardened as his jaw tightened. Yep, her father was insulted. Jade held her breath, not sure what form her father’s vengeance might take.
Fortunately, her father issues his normal threat. “You’re nothing to me!” he spat. His gaze moved to Sage. “Are you with her? Or with me?”
Without hesitation, Sage shifted closer to her sister. “I’m with her,” she announced, and the sisters again locked arms, glaring in concert at their father.
Alexander inhaled deeply, his eyes flashing with rage. “You are nothing to me!”
With that, he turned on his heel and stormed out of Jade’s house, Henry right on his heels like a obedient dog. They didn’t bother to close the door as they left, but Jade didn’t care. She was just relieved to have this confrontation over with.
Simon watched as Jade’s shoulders sagged with relief. He wanted to go after the man and arrest him for…something. Anything! But he also wanted to take Jade into his arms and comfort her.
What a ridiculous thought! Other than this morning, when he’d held Jade after she’d seen the dead body, Simon didn’t comfort women. He joked with them, had sex with them, teased them and, when necessary, arrested them. But he’d never comforted a woman before!
So, when Jade disappeared into the front parlor area, he breathed a sigh of relief. His arms still ached to pull her in close, but…!
Jade returned with a tall stack of books in her arms. Confused, he watched as she carefully set them down right in front of him. He had no idea what he expected, so he was shocked when she stepped up on top of the books and…!
Kissed him!
Oh hell yes!
Her soft hands cupped his jaw, then her lips brushed briefly against his lips. Simon couldn’t stop the impulse to wrap his arms around her slender waist and pull her against him. Almost immediately, his body hardened as he deepened the kiss, his tongue teasing her lips until she opened for him, kissing him back as her hands moved from his jawline to his neck, finally wrapping her arms around his neck as he pulled her closer still.
And then it was over! Damn it, he wanted to keep kissing her until neither of them could breathe!
She pulled away slightly, so he stepped back. Her fingers drifted to her lips. Were they tingling as much as his were? He hoped so! Hell, he hoped so.
“Thank you,” she whispered, then carefully stepped off the stack of books and went into the kitchen.
Simon looked around, suddenly furious. With her? With himself? All of the above! Damn it, he needed to get the hell away from her!
“I’ve got wine!” she announced, brandishing two bottles of wine pulled from the fridge.
He didn’t want wine. He wanted a beer. Maybe a glass of scotch! Hell, it was barely past noon and already he was craving a drink? He never craved alcohol! Yep, the woman was making him just as nuts as she was!
“I’m fine,” he snapped, then stalked over to the front door to finish installing the lock.
Jade beamed, wanting to spin around and dance. She wanted to fly! That kiss made her feel like she was floating! If Sage hadn’t started moving boxes in the spare bedroom, Jade might not have ever stopped! Her sister’s presence was a powerful reminder of why they’d moved halfway across the country.
No men! They’d agreed men were a bad influence in their lives. Having lived with their father for so many years, Jade and Sage knew that men tended to overwhelm and control. This move was their way of breaking free. It was the reason she’d bought a house way out in the middle of nowhere. No men.
She glanced over at Simon, smiling to herself as he muttered a curse as he worked on the door lock. She admired him. And enjoyed kissing him. But no. Not today, Satan!
“Pour me a glass!” Sage called out. “Let me just finish this box and I’ll be right there!”
Jade popped the cork and, instead of hunting for the glasses that she’d set own…somewhere, she drank straight from the bottle.
A moment later, Sage came into the kitchen and grabbed the other bottle of wine, doing the exact same thing. “Selfish of you to start without me.”
“You took too long,” Jade commented, peering around the corner. She felt the stab of disappointment when she noticed that the front door was closed, a shiny new lock shimmering in the sunshine coming in through the parlor window.
“He left while you were opening the wine,” Sage explained, taking another long sip from her bottle.
“I don’t care,” Jade said, curling up on the red velvet couch.
“You do too,” Sage argued, sitting down on the opposite end of the couch.
The back door opened, but neither of them noticed. They just kept drinking and laughing, relieved that their father was gone.
Simon finished the lock on the back door, testing it to make sure that it worked properly.
“Hey Jade, where are your keys?”
The woman turned blurry eyes in his direction and his heart did a little thud. He understood her better now. The alcohol had relaxed her ever present wariness, revealing the truth to him. O
f course, he probably would have figured out the truth after that confrontation with her father. But it was nice to understand what was going on.
“In my purse,” she said, waving the half-empty bottle of wine in the general direction of her bedroom.
Simon walked into the bedroom and, ignoring the cash that remained on the dresser, rummaged through her purse, locating her house keys at the bottom. He exchanged the house keys with the new ones, shoving the old one into his pocket so she wouldn’t mistake it.
With one last lingering glance at the box filled with lingerie, Simon walked around the house, checking the window locks. They all seemed solid. He slid them open, then closed and locked them again, ensuring that none had been painted shut over the years. The house was old, having been built in the early nineteenth century. So generations of families had lived in this space and most likely, several had painted the windows and trim. But they all worked perfectly, although some of them could use some weather stripping. He’d have to stop by the hardware store again and grab some.
For now, he had to get back to the station. There was still a mystery to solve and the coroner had probably finished her exam of the body by now.
Walking out, he looked over at the two sisters. The familial resemblance was striking, but Jade’s hair was darker, whereas Sage’s hair was a lovely, pale blond. Both had green eyes and stubborn chins. They both had knockout figures, but Jade was the one that drew his attention. It was Jade that ignited his senses.
They were laughing about something and Simon considered just walking out and leaving them to their recovery from their father’s visit. He should just leave. He should just walk out the door and get in his truck. But…he just wasn’t that much of a gentleman.
Walking over to Jade, he bent down and looked into her eyes. “Don’t drive anywhere,” he ordered, then kissed her before she could respond. It was just a quick, hard kiss. But the brief touch was enough to make his body tighten with anticipation all over again.
Turning, he glanced at Sage, then eyed the bottle she held pointedly. “You’re not going anywhere, are you?”
Spring Seduction (Wyoming Fever Book 1) Page 3