by Kell, Sheila
She glared at Josh until he realized it was time to stop talking.
After several sets of the band, Kate glanced at her watch and noticed the early morning hour. After telling her friends good night, she left, avoiding a glance toward Jesse.
She rubbed the chills from her arms. Even in early fall when it remained warm, a cool, crisp breeze blew off the Bay.
Her phone beeped. She removed it from her handbag, entered her password for messages and heard her sister Ariana’s voice. “Hi, Kate. Give me a call tomorrow. We’ve got a lot to catch up on. By the way, I booked our spa trip, and you are not getting out of it this time.”
She smiled. Before she could delete the message, a knife wielding bum, whose stench should have forewarned her to his presence, confronted her.
“Give me your purse, bitch,” he hissed, pointing a knife at her stomach.
She shrugged and kicked the bum in the crotch. His knife fell with a clatter. He grabbed himself as he fell to his knees, a high pitched sound emanating from his throat.
She reached down to pick up the knife with her left hand, and the bum lunged at her. She tightened her right hand into a fist and came up with an uppercut to the bum’s chin. He staggered back. She tossed the knife behind her, out of the bum’s reach and ignoring the pain in her right hand grabbed his arm, twisted it behind his back then slammed his body against the wall.
The bar door opened. A hand came from behind, clutched her arm and tossed her aside.
What the fuck? When did bums start having backup?
She moved toward the new threat only to stop short at the sight of Jesse, now holding the bum’s arm.
“What is wrong with you? I didn’t need your interference.”
“Well, hell. Here I thought I was being of service protecting a lady,” he drawled.
“As you saw, I had everything under control.”
Jesse looked at the bum. “What the hell, Lucas?” He released him.
Lucas turned and looked at Jesse. His eyes widened, his shoulders dropped in a sign of defeat. “Shit, Jesse. I just wanted her purse. You know I wouldn’t hurt her.”
“Get the hell out of here, and, I don’t want to hear of you bothering her or any other lady again.”
He nodded, then ran down the street, not looking back.
Even in her heels, she knew she could catch him. She stepped around Jesse to chase Lucas but only took two steps before he halted her with a strong hand clamped firmly on her bare arm.
“No, sweetheart. Let him go.”
She rounded on him. After a long pause, during which she fought for self-control, she demanded, “Let go. That dirt-bag held me at knifepoint.”
“I’ll let go, if you don’t run after him. He’s harmless.”
Too far away for her to catch, she saw no reason to prolong her time with Jesse.
She raised her hands, palms out, in an ‘I-give-up’ gesture. “Okay. I won’t chase him, but you’d best hope he doesn’t hurt anyone, or I’ll put your ass in jail. I don’t care who you know.”
He chuckled and released her arm. The cool breeze couldn’t compare to the cold she felt from the loss of the warmth of the personal contact of his hand.
“What the hell are you doing walking by yourself?” He crossed his arms over his chest. The muscles rippling under his shirt quickened her pulse.
Taking a deep, unsteady breath, she backed away, turned on her heels and the back of her head was the next thing he saw. Her feet propelled her in long, purposeful strides down the sidewalk away from him. He caught up to her. His powerful body moved beside her with an easy grace.
“You didn’t answer me.”
She stopped and faced him, fighting something she couldn’t explain. “Look, Mr. Hamilton, you’ve done your chivalrous act of the day, so you can leave me alone.” Why was he bothering her?
He chuckled. The smile in his eyes contained a sensuous flame. “Let’s start over. It’s good to see you again, Kate.” He held his hand out for a handshake.
She looked down at his large hand and wondered what it would feel like on her body. What the hell was wrong with her? She spun and walked away.
Again, he caught up to her.
She stopped in mid-stride and swiveled. “Okay. Hello, Jesse. I walk alone because I can take care of myself. Good night.” With that she left him behind, again.
He caught up to her. The warmth of his full and masculine laugh sent shivers down her spine. He’d never laughed when they’d worked the case. He’d always growled and grunted at her.
“Go away, Jesse.”
He stuffed his hands in the front pockets of his jeans. “It’s not safe for a beautiful woman to walk home alone.”
She glanced at him, ready to object, when she stumbled over a cobblestone. He reached out and caught her.
He raised an eyebrow. “How much did you have to drink tonight?”
Embarrassed, she steadied herself, her face feeling impossibly hot. “We’re not going to have sex,” she blurted out, scarcely aware of her own voice. Where had that come from?
“Sweetheart, I don’t recall asking. But now that you mention it.” He chuckled heartily, an easy smile played at the corners of his mouth.
It took her a minute to regain her senses. She couldn’t believe she’d just said that. “Let me go.”
His thumb caressed her arm sensually before releasing it.
She had to get to her apartment. Something was obviously wrong with her. Maybe she had too much to drink tonight. She quickened her pace down the sidewalk, and he appeared beside her again. Did he really think she needed him to protect her on her walk home? Did he think she couldn’t handle herself? If he did, he would be wrong, so wrong. He might not think her a strong investigator, but she excelled at kicking ass.
“Do you walk home by yourself often?”
She refused to get into a conversation with him.
They arrived at her doorstep. She pulled her keys from her purse and turned to him. She kept all expression from her voice, “Jesse, thank you. Good night.”
His fingers curved under her chin, turning her face up to his, and his lips brushed against hers. “Good night, Kate.”
She dropped her keys on her doorstep.
He smiled and released her.
She picked up her keys and fumbled with them as she inserted the key in the lock. After locking the door behind her, she leaned against it, and her fingers reached up to touch her lips, still warm and moist from his kiss. She closed her eyes and found herself filled with a strange inner excitement. Something about him stirred her. Something that started by looking into those gorgeous golden-brown eyes a month ago.
* * * * *
A large sinister smile slowly spread across the Facilitator’s face while observing the interaction from a darkened doorway across the street. The purpose for tonight’s trip had been to quietly take out the target, but this unexpected change of events screamed for a more inventive plan.
He slid from his hiding place and moved silently down the street, keeping to the shadows, pulling out his cell phone. “I need you to drive in the morning.”
Yes, tomorrow his revenge would finally begin.
CHAPTER TWO
Jesse stood outside Kate’s door until the click of the deadbolt sounded. What had just happened? He’d kissed her, just a light peck, but a kiss nonetheless. He’d been damn lucky she hadn’t hit him.
He wanted to bust down her door, throw her over his shoulder and take her to bed for days. He doubted the caveman thing would work on her.
He adjusted the growing bulge in his jeans. How could she get him this excited so quickly?
His interest had stirred at their introduction, but he had a rule against mixing business with pleasure. She’d been his only challenge to that rule. He’d thought if he kept her angry, kept the venom in her eyes, that it would diminish his desire for her and keep him from wanting to throw her to the ground, pushing himself deep inside her, riding out waves of ecstasy.<
br />
It had backfired. He wanted her even more when her cheeks flushed and her temper flared. Arguing with her turned into an aphrodisiac.
A shiver of wanting ran through him as he imagined his hands and lips all over her tight body. Those thoughts made his erection painful, straining against his zipper. He considered knocking, then shook his head and started walking. No, she wouldn’t answer the door. She might shoot him.
He knew he’d pissed her off again tonight. Yeah, she could’ve handled Lucas, but he couldn’t help himself. He wouldn’t let another woman get hurt around him, FBI agent or not.
Jesse walked the few blocks to AJ’s house where he’d crash for the night. Hopefully, since his brother knew he’d be there, he wouldn’t find a naked woman partially covered in whipped cream on the kitchen table watching AJ open a jar of cherries again.
When he finally made it to AJ’s guest room, he still sported a hard-on. A cold shower and his hand hadn’t kept thoughts of Kate naked and under him out of his mind. Maybe he should call someone to help take care of it. No, he wanted Kate.
He’d been drawn to her like no other woman. He had to have her and get her out of his system before he went nuts. She’d never just jump in bed with him, so he had his work cut out for him.
The beginning of a smile tipped the corners of his mouth. Challenge accepted.
* * * * *
Kate had a dire need of caffeine. Her sleep had been interrupted by sensual thoughts of Jesse and that kiss.
She stepped into the short line at Morning Grind, her favorite coffee house, and briefly spoke with her friend Nolan who’d just finished his regular morning run. When Kate reached the front of the line she ordered a cappuccino with an extra shot of espresso. She considered a third shot, but decided she wanted to be awake not wired.
As she waited, she took a deep breath and inhaled the heavenly scent of coffee beans. She loved the atmosphere of the café. She wished she could take the time to settle down in a cozy corner with a book and coffee for the day, but she had a hit-man to catch.
At least she wouldn’t have to deal with Jesse Hamilton any longer. Their case was closed, and now she knew to never accept an invitation from AJ to any of his family affairs.
She accepted her coffee from the barista. “Thank you.”
She turned, her exit blocked by a striking woman with long, silky, platinum blonde hair. The look she received from the woman sent chills down her spine. The beauty looked vaguely familiar to her, but she couldn’t place her.
Before they could speak, Kate’s cell phone rang.
“Excuse me.” She scooted around the woman.
Once on the sidewalk she removed her cell phone from her purse and saw her sister’s phone number.
Her sister put the word beautiful to shame. Ariana had long, silky black hair and ocean blue eyes. She didn’t notice that she turned males’ heads when she walked into a room. Kate could imagine her now. Her tall, lean frame in a power suit, probably red, hair pulled back in a French knot, perfect, no loose strands, exuding strength and power.
“How was your night out?” Ariana asked before Kate could speak.
Kate took a cautious sip of her coffee. Her thoughts drifted to Jesse. She really had to get a grip. She didn’t even like the man. Maybe Josh was right. She needed to get laid.
“As usual, we had a good time.” Kate took another sip of coffee waiting for the caffeine to kick in. “I got your message. Is something wrong?”
“No. I just have some paperwork for you to sign.”
At the age of four, Kate survived a bullet wound meant to kill her along with her parents. The Rosses fostered her while she recovered. When she turned six, they officially adopted her and raised her as their own daughter. She couldn’t have asked for better parents.
Kate had decided she would be an FBI agent early in life. Jay and Kelly Ross, her adoptive parents, never pushed her to work at Ross Communication as they understood her need to join the bureau. They respected her decision and supported her in it.
Jay and Kelly died in a car crash the past year. Much to Kate’s dismay, they split their fortune evenly between Ariana and Kate. Both of them were now millionaires. Their inheritance included co-ownership of Ross Communication, a multi-million dollar radio conglomerate that Ariana managed for them.
“You really should be more involved in this, Kate. This is your legacy now, too. Leave the FBI. You’ve caught your parents’ murderer.”
“Ariana,” she turned to walk toward her car, “you know the company’s important to me, and I have been thinking about it. When I decide anything, I’ll let you know.”
The long pause worried her.
“How did your interview with that Richard guy go?”
Kate drew her brows in. “Ariana, I’m sorry, but I can’t talk about it. I shouldn’t have said anything to begin with.” She’d made a mistake telling Ariana where she’d had to go when she’d cancelled their lunch.
Richard Freeman was one of many men she and AJ had questioned as a suspect on the Facilitator case. A little over two years ago, he’d been charged with the murder of three men, but the charges were later dropped. She’d reviewed his case and found that Jesse had been the lead FBI agent. It had been his last case.
She had to admit that at the interview last week he’d given her the creeps the way he’d stared at her with his beady eyes but he’d alibied out for the murders. He couldn’t be the Facilitator.
“I understand. Are we still set for the spa?”
Jesse strolled around the corner, and she felt her treacherous heart skip a beat.
“Ariana, I’ve gotta go.”
He looked at her. Panic set in. What should she do? Why was she acting this way? It was just a little kiss. It didn’t mean anything.
“No, Kate. You aren’t going to back out of our spa day again.”
A brief shiver rippled through her. Her pulse skittered alarmingly as Jesse’s lips curved into that sexy smile she remembered from the night before.
Even though she told herself she didn’t want to impress him, she became self-conscious about her appearance. Wanting to get an early start, she’d rushed to get ready. Now she wished she’d taken more time with her appearance. At least put on makeup.
Jesse looked her up and down, looking as if he were photographing her with his eyes. A rush of desire that felt like lightning shooting through her veins struck Kate. This was not happening. Not with him.
She made a quick, involuntary appraisal of his features. She didn’t want to tear her attention away from this impressive man. He carried himself with a commanding air of self-confidence. His massive chest perfectly filled the charcoal suit, white shirt and crimson striped tie.
Locked in his gaze, she forgot about her phone call with her sister.
Jesse finished up his phone call with, “I love you, too,” and Kate saw red. How dare he? The thrilling current moving through her irritated her. He’d kissed her last night. He was in a relationship. She silently called him a few inappropriate names and raised her chin with a cool stare in his direction.
* * * * *
Jesse couldn’t stop staring into her blue-green eyes. The need to taste her still had him on edge. Imagining what she hid under her plain black suit made him want to step forward, clasp her body tightly to his and find the closest place to strip her down.
He felt the invisible web of attraction building between them. Her flushed skin and parted lips, damp from her tongue darting out to moisten them, were positive signs she was as affected by him as he was with her.
Jesse disconnected his call and stopped in front of her, his fingers itching to reach up and push back the hair that escaped her ponytail then use it to pull her head back while he devoured her mouth, but he thought she might slap him if he tried.
He watched her expression of desire change to heated anger. He would not be deterred from having her, even though the mission was trouble with a capital T.
“Good morning, Kate
.”
“Good morning, Mr. Hamilton.” She forced a bleak, tight-lipped smile.
“So, we’re back to Mr. Hamilton.” He hadn’t missed her obvious examination and approval. She couldn’t completely hide it, even with her anger. There was definitely something between them. Something that had to be resolved. In the bedroom.
He knew she was a relationship kind of girl, so he would be upfront with her. There would be only sex, could be no relationship. His heart and soul had been ripped apart when he’d lost his wife. He refused to let himself get close to anyone because he wouldn’t go through that again. Even Kate couldn’t change that.
“On your way to the office?” He kept his voice calm, and his gaze steady. He had to break through the invisible barrier she’d erected between them.
Kate nodded. “Yes.” She surprised him by asking, “You?”
“Me? I’m meeting with someone at the coffee shop.”
She nodded and sipped her coffee.
A glint over her shoulder caught his eye. His smile faltered. Fuck.
Tires screeched in the distance, and Jesse’s heart clenched. He grabbed Kate’s arms and pulled her to the ground just as the car neared and gunfire erupted.
* * * * *
“Are you all right?” Jesse knelt beside Kate, weapon in hand.
She untangled herself from him and automatically reached for her weapon. A searing pain shot through her hand. “Damn it, Jesse! Get off of me.”
“It’s too late, sweetheart. They’re long gone.” He replaced his weapon in its holster under his suit jacket. “I would’ve thought you’d be grateful for my pulling you out of harm’s way. A drive-by shooting isn’t a great way to start the day.” He looked at her hand. “You’re bleeding.”
Drive-by shootings didn’t happen in Fells Point. Not in this safe neighborhood. No gangs. No problems except beggars from time to time.
Since the car came from behind her, she wouldn’t have seen it until it was too late. Although she’d never tell him, this time she was grateful Jesse took charge. Great. Now she owed the two-timing asshole her life.
Nolan jogged up to them. “I’ve got 911 on the phone. Do you need an ambulance?”