Jardin’s Gamble

by Roberts, Laylah

  These last two days there had been something off about her. She’d been jittery. On edge. And her work had suffered. Irritation filled him.

  But, surprisingly, not because her preoccupation was affecting her work.

  It was because something was wrong. And he had no clue what it was.

  And he wanted to know.

  These feelings he had toward his assistant really had to stop. He listed all the reasons it was a bad idea: she worked for him, if things didn’t work out, he’d be down an assistant, she was way too young, she’d likely run a mile if she knew how truly dominant and controlling he could be—both in and out of the bedroom.

  He’d made a complete mess of a relationship once; he couldn’t do that again.

  And yet he couldn’t stop thinking about her. Dreaming of her. Wanting her.

  Striding over to where she sat at her desk, he cleared his throat. Still nothing. He placed a hand on her shoulder, and she jumped out of her seat, turning toward him with her arms up over her face.

  As though defending herself. From him?

  What the fuck was going on?

  “Thea,” he said in a low, calming voice. “It’s all right. It’s just me.”

  She heaved in a breath, looking around the room. “Sorry. Um, sorry. You just startled me.”

  Startled her? Terrified her was more like.

  “I called your name several times,” he pointed out as she composed herself. She was pale and drawn with dark smudges under her eyes that even makeup couldn’t hide. Wasn’t she sleeping? Why not?

  “I’m really sorry. What did you need?”

  Oh, no. She’s not getting away with that.

  “What’s the matter?”

  “Nothing.”

  Lie.

  “Nothing, huh? Then why do you look like you haven’t slept in days? Why did you jump when I touched you? Why have you been walking around here like a ghost?”

  She stiffened, her face becoming a mask, free of emotion. “I’m sorry if my work has been suffering. It won’t happen anymore.”

  He deserved that. He’d focused on work and only work with her in order to keep some distance between them. Until the day he’d gone to her brothers’ school. He’d stepped into her private life. Something he tried not to do with employees.

  “Is it your brothers? Is something wrong with them? Is it the school?” He’d have thought James would have brought the principal to heel. But maybe he needed to place another call.

  Perhaps the school needed a new principal.

  Thea gave him a surprised look. “No, the boys are fine. Thanks for asking.”

  “I’m not an ogre, Thea.”

  Her mouth dropped open slightly. “I never thought you were.”

  “I’m not all about work either.”

  “You . . . you’re not?” she asked.

  “You can tell me if something’s wrong.”

  “I can?”

  She looked so befuddled. As though everything he said was a complete shock to her. Well, why wouldn’t it be? You’ve been only about work with her.

  “Come on. We’re going to lunch.”

  “Lunch?”

  “Yes, lunch.”

  “You never go out for lunch unless it’s for business,” she pointed out.

  He sighed. “Thea, do you have to argue with everything I say?”

  “I . . . I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t say sorry. Say, yes, sir.”

  Shit, man. Why did you say that?

  “Yes, sir.”

  Fuck. Those words went straight to his dick. Stupid move.

  Had she fallen asleep? That was the only explanation for what was happening, right?

  Because there was no other reason why she’d be walking along the street with Jardin Malone, on their way to lunch.

  He stopped outside a small, quaint restaurant she couldn’t imagine him patronizing in a million years. She’d figured he’d head for one of the flashier restaurants where all she’d be able to afford was water.

  She shouldn’t be going out for lunch. She couldn’t afford lunch. She had to find fifty freaking thousand dollars or shack up with a crime boss.

  It was all so surreal.

  It was not real life.

  Right?

  A female server rushed over. “Mr. Malone! How are you today? Usual table?”

  “Thanks Rae,” Jardin replied warmly, surprising her even more. Had she ever heard him sound so friendly?

  Nope. She wasn’t sure she had. She was in a bit of a daze as the server led them to their table and told them the specials of the day.

  What the hell was she going to do? Should she even be coming to work? Maybe she should be working on an escape plan. But what if Silvers caught her? She had no doubts things would not go well for her.

  “Thea? Thea?”

  Oh, shit. She’d spaced out again.

  “I’m sorry. What was that?”

  She braced herself for him to give her an irritated look. Instead, he just looked thoughtful. Then he turned to Rae with a smile. “She’ll take an unsweetened iced tea. I’ll have my usual. And sparkling water for the table.”

  “Sure thing.”

  “You know what I drink?”

  Really, Thea. That’s what you wanted to say? But it was such a shock. She’d felt sure he’d never noticed anything about her that didn’t pertain to work.

  He tapped a finger against the table as he leaned back. They were in a round booth. It was a big table for the two of them, and this was his usual place to sit?

  “What’s going on, Thea? And before you say nothing again you should know that lying to me is just going to annoy me.”

  “And what happens when you’re annoyed?”

  He smiled. It wasn’t a reassuring smile. “Are you sure you want to find out?”

  She stiffened. “You’ll fire me?”

  He sighed. “No, of course not. Why would I fire you for that?”

  “You fired me twice last week,” she pointed out. “You’ve fired at least ten assistants in the last two years.”

  “Their work performance was sub-par. Yours hasn’t been.”

  Big praise indeed. “Is that what’s going on my work performance review? Her work isn’t sub-par.”

  Ah, crap, Thea. Why did you go and say that? He’s your boss.

  But to her shock, his lips twitched. Before he could say anything though, the server returned with their drinks. “Ready to order?”

  Crap. She hadn’t even looked yet. She glanced over the menu for the cheapest, healthiest option. “I’ll have a Cobb salad, thanks.” Even though shrimp and grits were very, very tempting.

  “I’ll have my usual,” Jardin told Rae.

  She left and Thea shifted around uneasily on the seat.

  “Are you going to tell me what’s going on?” he asked.

  No. Nope. Uh-uh. She wasn’t even sure she should be there with him. Maybe she was putting him in danger. Over the past few days, it had felt like she’d had eyes on her, but she wasn’t sure if she was just being paranoid. Would Silvers send someone to watch her?

  Would Jardin be at risk if he had? Damned if she knew. She’d forced herself to cut things off with Carrick. Tonight, after work she was going to drop some money in his mailbox, hopefully she could do it without him seeing her. She felt bad for ignoring his texts and voicemails. Although, they’d stopped now. She guessed he’d gotten the message.

  Her stomach dropped. She hoped he wasn’t too pissed off with her. It seemed to be something going around if the way her boss was clenching his jaw was any indication.

  “I take it your silence means you’re not.”

  “It’s better if you don’t know.”

  “You’re in trouble,” he stated.

  She shook her head. “My life . . . it’s complicated.”

  “Whose life isn’t?”

  Yeah, well, there was complicated and then there was having some raging psycho fixated on you.

  “Over
the past two years, my ability to be patient and understanding has almost eroded. So has my tolerance for bullshit.”

  Had he just said bullshit?

  “You don’t need to tell me about your private life, Thea. However, I would appreciate you not bringing it to work with you.”

  She felt like she’d been slapped. Gone was the man who’d helped her with the boys with school. This wasn’t Jardin the man. It was Mr. Malone, the lawyer and her boss.

  “Fuck,” he muttered.

  Rae brought out their food, and she looked down at the salad, trying desperately not to cry.

  “Thea, look at me. Look at me.” The command in his voice was unmistakable and impossible to ignore. She glanced up and he winced.

  “I can be an asshole.”

  He wasn’t going to get any objections from her.

  Leaning toward her, he placed his hand just a few inches from hers. She wished he’d touch her. It would be nice to have someone touch her who wasn’t out to hurt her.

  Carrick touched you. She couldn’t think about him right now. Had to forget him.

  “A few years ago, a relationship I was in ended with a lot of bitterness and regret. Since then, I’ve kept myself from getting involved with anyone else on anything but a superficial level. I’ve been told more than once I’ve turned into an uptight prick.”

  Her eyes widened. “Someone actually said that to you?” To his face?

  “My cousins pretty much tell me that every time I see them.”

  “Maddox?” She could see him saying that. He didn’t seem to care much what anyone thought of him.

  “Yep. And Maddox has six brothers. He’s not even the worst of them. Wait until you meet Tanner. He has a penchant for taking pot-shots at people’s cars.”

  Yikes. She kind of hoped she didn’t meet him. Not that she was ever likely to.

  “Thing is, I don’t want you to think you can’t come to me about things. I know I’ve been acting like a cold asshole, but if you’re in trouble, Thea. I can help.”

  It was tempting. God, it was tempting. To lay all of it on someone else’s shoulders would be amazing. But she knew she couldn’t do that. And, anyway, he didn’t know what the problem was. And if he did . . . he’d probably run a mile.

  She licked her dry lips as she stared into those caramel-colored eyes. They were hypnotic. Jardin Malone was a potent man. One who would too easily pull her under his spell. He was the type of man who seemed capable of anything.

  But he wasn’t prepared to deal with Derrick Silvers. And even if he wanted to help, he wouldn’t get involved in this. He had a family, a career, a life. He wouldn’t risk any of that for her. Someone who worked for him, who he’d only known a few months.

  And then there was the threat to her brothers. No, she couldn’t tell him.

  She didn’t want to reject the offer outright, though. Maybe she could tell him just enough so that . . . so if she disappeared, he might understand why. Even if she couldn’t risk him coming after her.

  Reaching over, she took a sip of her iced tea. “It’s about my—”

  “Well, now, isn’t this cozy? My ex-best friend with the woman who just conveniently fell into my lap, used me, then ghosted me? Something tells me this isn’t just a coincidence.”

  11

  Fury rode Carrick like a bull let out of the pen. It was a red haze covering his eyes. His heart beat so loudly it was all he could hear.

  He glared down at Thea and Jardin. At first, he hadn’t believed his eyes when he’d walked into the restaurant that his accountant insisted had the best gumbo in the city. He’d been seated before he’d spotted them.

  This couldn’t be a coincidence. He didn’t know their angle. Why Jardin would send her to him. To hurt him? It didn’t make sense.

  But right then, he didn’t care about what made sense. He wasn’t thinking sensibly. He was acting on emotion.

  And his emotion was pure anger. Hurt-fueled anger.

  “Didn’t think you’d go this low, J,” he told his former best friend. The man he’d loved more than anyone. And not just platonically, although he’d never told Jardin that part. He wasn’t bi-sexual like Carrick. He hadn’t been interested in anything more. And Carrick had loved him enough to just be happy to be around him.

  What an idiot he’d been. A naïve fool.

  “Carrick? What are you doing here?” Jardin stared up at him in shock.

  “Wait,” Thea said. “The two of you know each other?”

  She looked genuinely surprised, but there was no way this could be a coincidence.

  “Don’t pretend you didn’t know that, babe,” he said harshly. “What did he do? Recruit you to get friendly with me? To make me think you wanted me? Then dump me? Use me? That’s low, even for you, J.”

  “What are you saying?” Jardin snapped, looking around the restaurant.

  “Like you don’t fucking know,” he replied. “Or was I never meant to find out you were behind our meetup.” He nodded over at Thea, who’d gone pasty white.

  “I have no idea what you’re insinuating,” Jardin said stiffly. “But perhaps we should go somewhere quiet and discuss this.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry, am I embarrassing you?” he asked, raising his voice. “Am I making a scene? How inappropriate of me. I’ll just go back to my little box, suitably chastised for acting out. My lack of breeding is showing, huh?”

  “For fucks sake, Carrick, what the fuck are you talking about?”

  “Oh, about to lose that great Jardin Malone temper? Heads up, babe, it happens rarely but when it does, you’ll usually want to duck and cover.”

  “Carrick, I’m not sure what you think’s going on here, but—” Thea reached up to place her hand on his arm and he grabbed her wrist, shoving her away. He didn’t grab her harshly, but she sucked in a breath, paling even further, and bringing her arm to her chest.

  Shock filled him. Fuck! He’d hurt her. He was furious, but that didn’t mean he wanted to harm her. He’d never harm a woman.

  “What the fuck?” Jardin snapped, standing and glaring at him. “What do you think you’re doing?”

  “I didn’t mean to hurt her,” he said, his fury draining as he took Thea in. “Rocket, I didn’t—”

  “It’s okay,” she said hastily. “It wasn’t you. I . . . I hurt it the other day. I need to go to the bathroom. I just— ”

  “Thea, let me see your wrist,” Jardin demanded.

  She shook her head. “It’s fine.”

  Oh, she was going to learn that no one said no to Jardin when he used that voice. That usually ended up with someone getting their ass reddened. Not him. He’d never played with the other man. Even if he’d secretly dreamed about it.

  Thea attempted to slide to the end of the booth and Carrick moved, blocking her path. The look she gave him was filled with betrayal. He felt bad for a moment. So bad he almost shifted.

  But then he remembered that she had no right to look at him like that. That he was the one who had been deceived and betrayed.

  “Show me your wrist,” he ordered. Jardin wasn’t the only one who could be commanding when needed.

  Although, with Jardin, it was part of his personality.

  “Please,” she whispered. “Please get of the way.”

  “Not until you show me your wrist.” He was starting to wonder if it was a ploy. A way of getting his sympathy. Of getting him to leave. “Unless it’s not actually hurt and it’s just another lie.”

  She sucked in a breath, her eyes wide and filled with tears as she stared up at him. He had to harden his heart against softening toward her.

  She’d used him. She was somehow involved with his ex-best friend. The man who’d hurt him. Who’d thrown him away.

  So, yeah, he wasn’t giving her anything.

  “What do you mean? Another lie?” she whispered. “I never lied to you.”

  He snorted. “Right, sure you didn’t. Which is why you’re sitting here all cozy with the man who ruined my li
fe.”

  * * *

  Her heart stuttered in her chest. She had no idea what was going on. Carrick knew Jardin? And seemingly had some unpleasant past with him? And he seemed to be mad at her. She got that part. She’d totally reneged on her promise to help him. She’d been ignoring him.

  If only she could tell him she wished she didn’t have to. That she was doing it for his protection. But there was more to Carrick’s anger than that.

  Thea didn’t think she could take the pure anger in his eyes for much longer. She needed to get out of here. It was becoming hard to breathe, to think with the two of them so close.

  She’d never been as interested in another man as she was in the both of them. Jardin, stern, imposing, and demanding. Carrick, kind, caring and protective.

  They both stirred her.

  “Ruined your life?” Jardin stated.

  “You blamed me. You told me to get out. That you couldn’t look at me.”

  Jardin looked pained. “Carrick, I’m sorry for that. And I didn’t mean forever. You know how my temper can be. I tried to call you, but you wouldn’t listen—”

  “And I still don’t want to listen. Because it seemed you weren’t done fucking with my life, huh? What happened? You found out I was back in your precious city and decided to punish me some more by sending her?”

  The way he said that her made her wince. Like she was shit on his shoe. The lowest of the low. She couldn’t take any more. Her wrist was throbbing. Even though Carrick hadn’t touched her harshly, it had still hurt like hell. She needed out of there. She didn’t know why Carrick thought Jardin had anything to do with them meeting and she didn’t care. She just needed to leave.

  “Get out of my way, Carrick. Now.”

  “No.”

  “Please.”

  Both men stared down at her.

  “Thea,” Carrick said, looking conflicted.

  “Mr. Malone? Is there a problem here?” A man in a suit approached. He looked like the manager or owner.

  Jardin gave him a charming smile. “Sorry, Emmanuel, we’ll take our conversation somewhere else.”

  Carrick turned his body and she took the opportunity to ease past.