by KD Jones
Jinx looked up and caught his eyes. An electric current shot between them. She must have felt it as well; she blushed before quickly turning away. Isaac looked up at him and they had a silent battle, one male ego versus another, fighting for the same female.
“Is there a problem with the new girl?” Asia asked as Drake walked past her.
“No problem.”
“Do you want me to take over the training and assessment?”
This was where Drake should say yes. He hesitated, glancing at Jinx again; she was biting her bottom lip. The words that came out of his mouth surprised him. “No, I’ve got this.”
He walked into Isaac’s office. “What did you show her, Isaac?”
Isaac took a step away from her as he turned to face Drake. “Not much, she already knows the basics. She’s had good training beforehand. I’ve set her up with the usual; gun holsters, blade sheaths and bullet proof body gear. I’ll have to custom fit her hip holster because she’s smaller than what I have for Shy. She has her own blade sheath on her boots and her own blade.”
That surprised him. He had no idea she had a weapon on her this whole time. He eyed her up and down his eyes lingering on her cleavage and hips. “Really? Does she have a gun hidden on her as well?”
Jinx crossed her arms over her chest. “She is standing right here. If you want to know if I have a gun on me, the answer is no. My weapons are being shipped down separately, so I didn’t have to travel with an arsenal.”
She was smart. Sending her weapons would also keep her from being held up by security. “Go over the communication links and the bugging devices. When you’re done, Jinx, I need you to do some more paperwork before you leave.”
“No problem coach,” Jinx said with a too-bright smile. The glare in her eyes belied the cheerful outer appearance.
He turned too quickly, not looking where he was going and knocked into the glass wall. The sound of him hitting it had everyone in the place looking over at him. Drake exited the office to a chorus of wisecracks and snickers.
“Shut it fuckers!” He growled out as he plopped down at his desk. Could he not walk without running into things when she was around? Drake was starting to see how she earned the name Jinx.
*****
Jinx fought the giggle that was threatening to erupt. Isaac had no problem laughing. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen Drake so uncoordinated before.”
For some reason, she didn’t like others laughing at Drake. She was mad at him, but she still felt protective of him for some reason. “It could happen to anyone. I’ve walked into many glass doors in my lifetime.”
“Is that why you’re named Jinx?”
“No. My full name is Jane Jean Alexander. My grandfather nicknamed my Jinx.” She felt like she should to make a small admission. “As I got a little older, accidents did seem to happen around me, so the nickname stuck.”
Isaac showed her the different communications earpieces and listening devices that they used in the field. There were even mini cameras small enough to fit on contact lenses.
“This is incredible,” Jinx said, holding up the case containing the contacts. “I haven’t seen these before.”
“So, what about us going out after work and grabbing some dinner? I know a great Decaros restaurant with amazing steaks.”
Jinx set the case down on the table and turned to look at Isaac. He was very attractive. But Jinx didn’t have the same instant heat flame up with Isaac as she did whenever Drake was around. Jinx needed to find a way to turn him down without offending him. Using her rule about not dating coworkers was starting to seem like a pretty stupid rule.
“I heard that you were not available.”
He looked away from her and went to his computer. “What exactly have you heard?”
“That you were married and that your wife went missing years ago. That you have been searching for her ever since.” She noted that he hadn’t denied any of it. “If you have a wife, why would you want to go out with me?”
He sighed with weariness that she could suddenly see in his eyes. He hid his true feelings with easy going attitude and quick smiles. “I will not give up my search, but there are times that I get lonely and want to share a dance or a meal with a pretty woman.”
“That’s understandable. What happened with your wife?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
He shut her out just like that. Isaac went from warm and funny, to cold and removed. She prayed he found what he was looking for, but what you found isn’t always what you had been looking for. She worried Isaac would get more than what he had bargained for. Jinx knew this from experience. She had once searched for her birth father. The more stuff she dug up, the more questions she had. The places and people she turned to for answers were as shady as they came. After a few years of pointless wasted summers, she gave up the search. Her life was in the here and now and the past should remain in the past.
“Isaac, I’m here if you want to talk about it.”
“We’re done here,” was Isaac’s only response.
“Okay, thanks for the IT education. I appreciate it.” She left his office noticing that he was already into whatever he was doing on the computer. Jinx felt a little guilty. Maybe she should have had dinner with him. He might have opened up to her about his wife. Talking to someone about it might help him work it out of his system. But clearly Isaac wasn’t ready to talk to anyone.
She walked over to her desk and frowned at the huge stack of paperwork waiting for her. At least she was able to get the desk cleaned. Her cell phone vibrated, letting her know she had a message. It was probably her mom, wanting to see when she could come down for a visit. Pulling it out, Jinx frowned at the name that popped up on caller ID—Steve. She wasn’t going to call him while she was working. He would have to wait.
She got lost in the sorting and completing of the documentation. It was kind of soothing in a way. Before she knew it, Shy was standing at her desk.
“Ready for lunch?”
“Sure, just let me finish this up.” She glanced over and noted that Drake wasn’t at his desk. Where had he gone? She must have asked the question out loud because Shy answered her.
“He’s working with Asia to bring in one of her perps.”
She wondered if Drake ever dated any of the female bounty hunters. They were all gorgeous and smart. Shy was built like a sex bomb. Her hips should be classified as lethal weapons.
Jinx closed the file she just finished and grabbed her purse. “Okay, I’m ready to go.”
Shy linked their arms together and almost skipped to the door. She couldn’t help but laugh at the woman’s antics. “So, what should we get for lunch?”
“Do you like pasta?”
“I love pasta.”
“There’s this great pasta place, you can pick the pasta, toppings and sauce.”
“Mmm...sounds delicious.”
Jinx noted that on the way to the waiting taxi shuttle, many of the men they passed almost hurt themselves trying to get a glance of her ass in the tight leather pants Shy was wearing. Jinx wanted to be like Shy.
When they got outside, she noticed a hover taxi was waiting on them. “That’s quick.”
Shy shrugged, “This is a prime spot for taxi pick ups. You’ll be able to catch one every hour. There’s also a taxi pick up and drop off where we got one this morning in front of our building. It makes it easy to get around town without having to get your own vehicle.”
“That’s convenient. Personally, I don’t like driving myself if I can help it.”
“Can you drive? Do you know how?” Shy asked.
“Yes. I took lessons from my grandfather. He used to drive race shuttles, taught me everything I know.”
“Then why wouldn’t you drive yourself if you could?”
“I get distracted. I’ve had five accidents in that last two years. They revoked my license temporarily. I just got it back a few months ago. I gave my vehicle to my mother so that
she could use it for her work. It’s worked out for me—I’ve found I save money on not having to buy fuel. It’s all good.”
Shy gave her a strange look. “Don’t tell Drake about that. You’re going to have to show your tracking and pursuit skills soon. I want it to be a surprise for him.”
Jinx just shrugged her shoulders, not seeing what the big deal was. “Okay, no problem.”
“I heard that you took him down at the shooting range with a sonic gun.”
“He was being an asshole,” Jinx defended herself.
“Hey, I understand completely. The guys at the office acted like I was a stupid blonde when I first got hired. I knocked a few of them on their asses and corrected their impression.”
Jinx smiled at Shy and gave her a high five. “I knew I liked you.”
Shy smiled back, “I think we’re going to be great friends. Can I tell you something?”
“Sure.”
“I think Drake is really into you.”
“Why would you say that?”
“Normally, Drake and I have this flirting commentary that we do. Neither of us really mean the things we tease each other with. Since you’ve been here, he barely even looks my way.”
Jinx felt a tinge of jealousy toward Drake flirting with her new friend. She tried to play off her interest. “I don’t think I’m his type. He’s a player, and I like to have a connection with a guy before I sleep with him.”
“Look, Drake gives off that player vibe. He’s attractive and has great sex appeal, but he’s a real softie at heart. He acts like he’s cool with no strings women, but I think he really does want something more, if it was with the right woman.”
Jinx just nodded as she turned her attention out the window of the taxi. She didn’t know what to think it. A part of her wanted to be the right woman for Drake, but was she ready for that?
Chapter 11
The next morning
Drake was in a foul mood. He’d gone home after helping Asia with her perp and found that he missed having Jinx in his home. Her scent was fading like she hadn’t been there at all.
He worried that she had gone out with Isaac, but pushed that thought aside. Drake saw the look in her eyes when he told her about Isaac’s wife. He felt pretty sure that he ended any possible budding romance. Jinx didn’t seem like the type of person that would want to date a married man. Drake liked Isaac, but he didn’t want Jinx to be the one he used to slake his loneliness with. It shouldn’t bother him at all what they did together, but it did for some reason. His mixed feelings for Jinx made him realize more and more that he should not be her trainer.
When he walked inside the building some of the bounty hunters he passed looked at his expression and turned to walk the other way. They knew better than to mess with Drake while he was in a bad mood. Too bad Jinx didn’t know his moods yet.
She was sitting on the edge of his desk, her short legs swinging back and forth. Today she was wearing yoga pants and a black muscle shirt. Her breasts were as perky as her expression. He halted a moment to look at her hair. “It’s more pink today.”
Jinx shrugged. “I felt like being more girlie today.”
Drake shook his head and moved to sit down at his desk. He motioned at the file she was sitting on, and she took the hint and hopped off his desk. Drake opened the folder and riffled through it, not really looking for anything. He was trying to distract himself from staring at Jinx.
“So, what are we doing today coach?”
“We’re doing hand to hand first, then we’ll test your tracking abilities.”
“Sure sure, whenever you’re ready coach.”
“Stop calling me that!” he growled out.
“So when will I get to the hand to hand? Am I pairing off with Shy or Asia or one of the other bounty hunters?”
Drake should have said yes, but he didn’t. “You’re pairing off with me.”
She frowned at him. “Really? Me versus you?”
“Is there a problem?”
Hesitating just a moment, Jinx shrugged, “Nope. I’m ready whenever you are big guy.”
“Go down to the gym and do some warm up stretches; I’ll be down in about five minutes.”
Jinx stood up and walked around his desk heading toward the stairs leading to the lower level. Her ass in those skin-tight pants was...distracting. He couldn’t afford these types of distractions. Drake really needed to get a handle on his emotions. Damn it! He wasn’t going to let one slip of a female knock him off his game. He was a professional; he could handle being around her. Her training would be over in just a couple more days. Jinx would either pass or fail. Drake would give an honest assessment, but it would be Vic’s final decision. Determined to do his job, he stood to follow her downstairs.
As Drake entered the gym, he froze in place. Jinx was standing, legs parted, bent over stretching down from one foot to the next. She was flexible—extremely flexible. His thoughts couldn’t help but turn carnal and his cock responded.
*****
Jinx was doing her stand up stretches while waiting for Drake. The sooner she could do these assessment tests, the sooner she could get to working as a real bounty hunter. Her dream was just within reach. Jinx was so close.
Bending down, she held onto one leg then the other. Hearing a sound at the door, she looked between her legs and caught Drake staring at her with heat in his eyes. She smiled at him and surprised him by speaking. “Ready coach?”
“Uh...yeah,” he stuttered.
Jinx stood up, rolling her shoulders and twisting her waist left and right. She faced him and watched as Drake pulled his t-shirt off and tossed it to the nearest bench. Then he kicked off his boots. She too was barefoot; she curled her toes against the mat.
Drake stretched his arms over his head and the muscles rippled. He was built like a beautiful stallion, all powerful muscles and sleek skin. She wanted to run her hands over him and see if he tasted as good as he looked. Jinx licked her lips at the thought.
“So, how do we do this?”
“I’m going to be the perp. We’ll do different positions. First I’ll attack you, face-to-face. Then I’ll come at you from behind, and lastly we’ll take it to the mat.”
Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath to calm herself. If she slowed down a bit and stayed calm, her little accidents didn’t show up. It was a trick her grandmother had taught her. That and the more sex she had, the more relaxed she would be. That was a trick her grandfather had shared. But having sex was not in the cards right at that moment.
Opening her eyes, Jinx looked at him. “I’m ready.”
They circled each other. She kept her eyes on Drake the whole time, refusing to let anything distract her. He made a move toward her; she turned to the right and evaded his grasp. While she had the momentum, Jinx shoved at his back and pushing him away from her. Even though she shoved hard, Drake moved back only a little. Years of training had taught Jinx that her strength wasn’t going to help her against someone as big and strong as Drake. She would have to be smart about her moves.
They moved again, like magnets with opposing ends. He would swing, she would avoid. She would take jabs, he received those jabs as if they were nothing. The whole while Jinx was watching and learning how he moved; his technique, if he had any tells—he did. Drake would turn his head slightly in the direction he planned to move right before moving. It was only for a split second, but she noted he did it every time. She could use it to her advantage.
When he recovered, his head turned right then Drake lunged. Jinx quickly moved left, but she was ready for him. She turned and jumped on his back, wrapping her arms and legs around him. Jinx put her finger on his neck.
“Gotcha!”
Drake frowned. How did she do that? “Let’s move on to me attacking from behind.”
After Jinx hopped off of him and watched as Drake walked over to a panel on the wall and slowly dimmed the lighting.
“What are you doing?”
“I thin
k we’ll up the stakes, make it a little harder for you. Turn your back to me.” He turned the lights completely off.
She took a deep breath and listened. The steps approaching were so soft, she almost didn’t hear them. Then they just stopped, but she couldn’t tell how far away he was. It wasn’t until she felt his breath on her neck that she knew he had her.
Drake’s warm, strong arms wrapped around her body. He whispered, “Gotcha.”
Jinx struggled, even though she knew it would be fruitless. Or was it? Jinx had a few moves of her own. Dropping down to the floor, Jinx went limp, making herself dead weight. Drake was so surprised by the sudden move he grunted, gasping for air.
Quick as a flash, Jinx rolled toward his legs and knocked him down while she jumped up. He was on his stomach, so she took her finger and stabbed his fine ass. “No baby, I got you.”
A chuckle rang out toward the entrance of the gym. A few seconds later, the lights flickered on. Standing there was an attractive man in prime physique, dressed in a cowboy outfit. He whistled. “Hey Drake, that little lady sure did get you good in the ass.”
“Shut up Jackson and get out. I’m training the newbie.” Drake motioned for the male to leave.
Jinx turned from checking out the sexy cowboy to glaring at Drake. She had done self-defense classes since she was sixteen. “I overcame you twice.”
Drake shrugged, “Lucky break.”
“Lucky my ass,” Jinx snapped.
Drake didn’t stand up but instead got up on his knees. “The mat exercise won’t be as easy.”
Jinx followed him down to the mat feeling that she was at an extreme disadvantage. Even on his knees, Drake towered over her. This was not always her best exercise—the mat. Basically they would wrestle until the other person gave in. The men she had practiced with back home were a lot smaller than Drake.
Drake reached for her arms, but she rolled on her side to the left then sprang back up. When he lunged toward her, Jinx tried rolling to the right, but Drake was prepared for that. Catching her foot, he pulled her to him and flipped her to her back. He quickly covered her body with his. He grabbed her wrists when she tried to punch him and pulled her hands up over her head, pinning them to the mat.