by Kell, Sheila
“We can’t keep them under lock and key forever.” Matt looked up as Emily returned to the room.
“Amen.” She put her hands on her hips. “I want to take Amber to the park.”
“Em…” The guilt weighed on Jesse. Some psycho had possibly targeted her or Amber because of him. For something he’d inadvertently done. He’d keep them protected, even if it meant a temporary change in their world.
Emily cut him off, “I know. It’s okay. I just want it to be over.”
Devon looked at Jesse then nervously looked at Kate.
“Spit it out, Dev.”
Devon cleared his throat. “We’re still working on the other list.”
Kate sat straighter. “What other list?”
Jesse turned to her and picked up her hand, happy she didn’t pull away. “We’re, um, checking out women I dated, to see if one of their significant others blames me for anything.”
She snatched her hand back and that hurt him, not physically. “You mean you sleep with married women.”
“Of course not. Not knowingly, anyway.” The only way he’d ended up in bed with a married woman was if she’d lied to him. He strongly believed in fidelity.
She studied him her gaze softened. “You’re right. It makes sense to check them out, too.” She sounded like the FBI agent he’d worked beside.
He breathed a sigh of relief. He looked at her full lips and wanted to kiss them, to thank her for believing in him.
“We also checked out your ex, Kate. He says he was with you when most of the murders occurred,” Devon added.
She nodded. “That’s true. I got the call on more than one occasion when we were out.”
“What about other men?” Did he really want to know about her past sex life?
Kate thought for a moment then shook her head. “No. There’s no one I dated long enough to fit the profile. Besides, if it was, they wouldn’t have waited until I was with you. They’d have come after Mark since we dated so long. But, I’ll think back through them.”
For the next hour they discussed Jesse’s cases. Five overlapped with Kate and AJ’s investigation.
Jesse looked at her. “What do you think about these men?”
“Every one of them had an alibi, but I didn’t trust any of them to be true. I didn’t have time to investigate them, and I’m not sure AJ will either. Especially now.”
Joe nodded. “Steve and I have them on the top of our list. We’ll dig deep into their alibis. If they’re false, we’ll find out.”
Jesse had faith in the FBI, but he knew H.I.S. would get to the truth faster because their family’s lives were at risk, plus they had no constraints. He reached over and covered Kate’s hand with his. “Keep Kate and I updated. We’re in this together.”
The way her face lit up told him he’d finally said the right thing.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
“Daddy, why can’t I go with you?” Reagan fought to keep her eyes open.
Jesse sat on the edge of the bed. She’d insisted that her uncles and Kate come in to tuck her in and say good night.
When she’d hugged Kate, she’d whispered, loud enough for everyone to hear, to remember girls’ night. She told the men that boys weren’t allowed on girls’ night.
Yep. She had them wrapped around her little finger.
“Oh, pumpkin. I need you to stay here so I can do my job and protect Miss Kate.” Jesse spoke in a soft, almost apologetic voice. The difficulty of the situation, his leaving his daughter’s safety to someone else to protect her, left knots in Kate’s stomach.
“How come Uncle Brad and Uncle Matt are protecting me and not you?”
Jesse looked sharply at Brad who shrugged. He brushed a dark curl from her face. “Don’t you like staying with Aunt Em and Amber?”
She sighed. “Of course, I do, Daddy. It’s not the same. I miss you.”
“I miss you too, pumpkin. But we get to see each other on Skype every day, and you know you can call me if you want to talk. How about I come over one day soon, and we’ll do a daddy-daughter night?”
She perked up. “Can I paint your toes again?”
The twins burst out laughing. Jesse threw an evil glare their way. “Sure, pumpkin.”
She giggled. “Remember when I painted up your leg.”
“I do.” He kissed her forehead.
That made everything better. “Okay. Night, Daddy.” She turned over, hugged a worn teddy bear and closed her eyes.
Jesse stood, looked at his daughter and smiled. “Are you ready to go, Kate?”
She hated the thought of leaving the comfort of this house, this family. But, this wasn’t her family. It would never be her family. However, she could see herself loving them all, especially Jesse and Reagan. “Sure, if you are.”
After they exited the bedroom, Jesse stopped Brad. “Did you tell her she was being protected?”
“Hell no! She overheard us talking with Em. You know how she is. She quickly put it together. She’s too smart for her own damn good.”
Jesse nodded and grinned. “Yeah, she is. I’d rather she hadn’t known.”
“So, painted toes? Any preferential color? Pink, maybe?” Matt joked.
“Probably that sissy pink,” Brad joined in, grinning.
“Fuck you, both.”
The twins burst out laughing, but immediately quieted when Emily chided them for being too loud with the girls sleeping. Watching these big, strong men being ruled by a five-year old and a young, petite woman struck Kate as humorous.
Kate and Ariana had been close growing up, but there hadn’t been the playfulness she observed amongst the Hamilton family. Things had been a little more formal growing up with the Rosses. She’d expected they would have also been at the Hamilton’s since their father was a senator. Their relationships surprised her and made her envious.
“Take care of them.” Jesse turned and led Kate to the front porch where Ken and Danny waited.
“Did our little Rea-Rea finally drop off?” Danny didn’t have his mirrored shades on, but it was too dark to make out his eye color.
Jesse nodded. “By now she has. She had a big afternoon.” He looked around. “Aren’t you changing out for the night?”
“The guys are waiting at Miss Ross’ apartment.”
“Ken, how many times must I tell you? Please call me Kate.” He may have left the military, but the military hadn’t left him. She’d never been called ma’am so much in her life.
Danny chuckled and stepped off the porch. “Good luck with that.”
* * * * *
During the drive to Kate’s apartment, Jesse ached to reach over and take her hand, but something told him that she wouldn’t accept it. She’d withdrawn after they’d left Emily’s. He’d tried a few topics of conversation but had only received short answers from her. He had no idea what had happened. She’d seemed to enjoy herself. His family liked her. Emily gave him her approval on a relationship with Kate.
The thought of a relationship made him shudder, but he’d seen how Reagan responded to her. It made him realize what he’d denied his daughter. A mother. A good mother. He’d have to get married to give her one. He swore he’d never do it again, but he needed to consider it for her sake. Emily had been a positive influence in Reagan’s life, but he knew she would probably move away once she graduated. She wanted to work for a big firm in New York and nothing he’d said so far had changed her mind.
Was Emily leaving putting an invisible pressure on him to find Reagan a mother? Where did Kate fit into everything? He had no idea why she’d never married and had kids of her own. AJ had told him about an ex-boyfriend he thought she might marry. He’d never heard why the relationship ended, but Jesse didn’t think it ended well since she held back part of herself. No doubt to keep from getting hurt again. But no sane man would walk away from Kate.
“You don’t have to do girls’ night if you don’t want to.” He prayed she’d want to do it because it would break Reagan’s heart if
she didn’t. But, if he allowed them to get close, it would break Reagan’s heart when they parted. Hell, he knew they weren’t parting. Not anytime soon, not even after the threat on her life ended. He was already in too deep.
She smiled at him. “If it’s okay with you, I’d like to go. But if you think it’s better that I not so she doesn’t misinterpret our relationship, I understand.”
He planned to work on her understanding of their relationship. Once he figured it out. “I’d like it if you went to her little party.”
Kate turned to him. “If you’d rather be with her, protecting her, I understand.”
“Kate.”
“No. I said I wouldn’t argue about having H.I.S. protect me. And I won’t. You could send one of your brothers in your place. Just not Brad. I’m not sure how serious he was.”
He refused to send Brad. He knew his brother had tried to rile him up, but he wouldn’t take any chances. “I want to be with my daughter, Kate, but I truly believe you are the real target. It’s my fault that you’re in this mess, and it’s my responsibility to ensure you survive it. Besides, I trust my brothers with her life.”
“Jesse, I’m having second thoughts about my possibly being the target. I’m worried it might be Reagan he means.”
He didn’t hesitate. “No. It’s you.”
She surprised him by not arguing. “You’ve done a great job raising her, Jesse. She’s incredible.”
Pleasure exploded in his chest at her praise. Her approval mattered more than he’d imagined it would, more than he’d wanted it to. He’d never cared what the women he’d dated thought of him. He’d never kept them around long enough for it to matter. But with Kate, all things changed. Her opinion was important to him.
“She’s in that talking all of the time phase and driving me crazy with the why question.”
Kate laughed. “I caught that. It’s adorable, especially when she asks you to explain something uncomfortable.”
He’d squirmed when Reagan asked him where babies came from. He’d decide soon on how to pay back his brothers for putting her up to the question. Thankfully, Emily had rescued him, asking her to help make cookies. The idea of being a big girl and cooking overrode her curiosity. Knowing she wouldn’t forget he hadn’t answered, had him squirming again.
There were so many questions she would have growing up that a woman should be the one to answer. He’d robbed her of that, still robbed her of it. He’d never had these thoughts before Kate. He didn’t know what she’d done to him.
“Jesse,” she picked at a piece of imaginary lint on her jeans, “what happened to her mother?”
His grip on the steering wheel tightened until his knuckles turned white. He should tell her the entire story. No. He didn’t want her censure. Wouldn’t be able to stand it. “It was a gas station robbery gone bad. Some crack-head shot and killed her.” He couldn’t do it, couldn’t tell her the rest.
Kate sat quietly, looking at him as if searching for something. “I’m sorry.” Her voice had an infinitely compassionate tone that made him feel things he didn’t want to feel.
He swallowed around the lump in his throat. He’d be there for Kate.
He parked in front of her apartment, checked it and beelined to the guest room. He had a lot to think about, and it all revolved around the two females in his life.
* * * * *
Kate cooked breakfast while Jesse showered. He’d been distant since she’d asked about his wife’s death. Stupid. She should’ve forced AJ to tell her. His body language had told her there was more to the story. Would he ever trust her enough to tell her what he’d left out? Had he been there? Had he witnessed his wife die? Her heart plummeted to her stomach just thinking he’d endured that kind of pain.
He’d been a different man around his family. She’d enjoyed meeting them and watching Jesse relax and have fun with his daughter. She wished meeting them had been under better circumstances. Like maybe a date. Of course, with the exception of his trying to kiss her the previous morning, he hadn’t made a move on her since their date. Had he changed his mind since she hadn’t leapt into his bed? It shouldn’t matter. Should it?
When they were around each other the air seemed electrified. She had to fight her overwhelming need to be close to him. But she didn’t know why she fought it. Yes she did. Her feelings for him were intensifying, and it scared the hell out of her.
The knock on the door startled her. With the fire under the pan of bacon, her hands wiped on her apron she rushed to answer the door. Jesse could get angry all he wanted. She could handle opening the door. Besides, his men wouldn’t let anyone up that shouldn’t be here.
The man she saw through the peephole started her heart pounding. Dan stood on the threshold. Grabbing for her absent weapon came naturally. Wanting Jesse here came next. Dammit. She could take care of herself. She’d proven adept at handling herself as an agent.
The solution was simple. Don’t open the door to him. If he tried to break it down like he had Mary’s, she’d shoot him. Plain and simple. Playing games with him was over.
“Miss Ross, it’s Ken. You can safely open the door. I have him under control.”
She felt a strange numbed comfort, thankful for Jesse’s team. She opened the door to Ken holding Dan’s right arm behind his back.
“Kate, I need your help. Would you call him off so we can talk?” Dan’s pleasantness shocked Kate. What was he after? He usually called her bitch, not pleaded to her.
“What are you doing here, Dan?” How did he know where she lived? Had he followed her before? Mary wouldn’t have told him.
“I want you to help me get Mary back. She’ll listen to you.”
Was he drunk already this morning? How could he think she’d help him? She’d been the one to threaten him to stay away from Mary.
“Shut up,” Ken growled in his ear. He turned to Kate. “I thought I’d bring him inside for Jesse to have a chat with him.”
She stepped aside and Ken pushed Dan through the doorway. The last encounter flashed through her mind. Fury almost choked her.
“She’ll marry me if you tell her to.” He grimaced as Ken twisted his arm a bit higher.
“I’m not going to help you, Dan. You hit her. I’ve had to take her to the hospital before.”
Jesse jogged down the stairs shirtless, with his weapon in his hand. “What the hell is going on?”
“You had an early morning visitor.” Ken pushed Dan forward.
Jesse touched her arm and searched her eyes. “Are you all right? Did he hurt you?”
She bit her lip, touched by the concern he’d shown. “I’m fine. Ken had him before he knocked on the door.”
A muscle in Jesse’s jaw twitched as he shifted his attention to their visitor. “Why are you here?” Jesse advanced on him, putting himself between her and Dan.
“I just wanted to talk with her. She’s Mary’s friend. She can help me get Mary back.”
“I’m going to tell you for the last time. Leave Kate and Mary alone. If I see you again, I’ll have you arrested. Or, I might let my men take care of you instead.”
Dan cringed at his threat. “Okay, okay. I’ll leave her alone. Just call your goon off.”
“This is your last warning, asshole. You’re lucky you didn’t touch her or this would’ve ended a lot differently, and I wouldn’t feel bad about it at all.”
He nodded to Ken who escorted Dan from the apartment.
“You bitch! You’re supposed to help me get her back. I won’t forget this.”
Jesse closed the door and turned to Kate. “Are you sure you’re all right?”
Her nod was the only response she could produce. Dan’s presence had shaken her more than she’d expected.
His eyes examined her, critically not sexually. “Now, what about that breakfast you promised me?”
She jumped. “Oh no, I forgot about the bacon.” She rushed into the kitchen. “I hope you like it extra crispy.”
He threw h
is head back and let out a great peal of laughter.
CHAPTER TWELVE
How did anyone use a computer mouse with their left hand? Kate locked her computer screen, frustrated at the difficulty of navigating without her dominant hand. A picture of her and Dottie in the park covered the screen. The fact that she couldn’t walk her dog had become a major source of chagrin for her. But it kept her safe. Did she really need it?
The more she thought about it, the more she worried about Reagan’s safety. The killer had to have meant the cute little girl who had Jesse’s heart.
Maybe they could bring her here, so they protected her together. Kate had to do something to help.
What happened if he tried to kiss her again and Reagan caught them?
Worrying about that would be a wasted emotion. He hadn’t made a move on her recently which told her he didn’t really want her. She must have successfully portrayed that he couldn’t just hop in her bed and hop out when this was over.
Again, Rylee’s advice resurfaced in her mind. She could have an affair with him. No. She didn’t think she could jump into bed with someone without a hope or expectation of sharing one’s life, one’s heart. She wasn’t cut out for sex without emotional attachment, especially if it was with Jesse. She’d never have his heart. It still belonged to his deceased wife.
The man driving crazy thoughts in her head walked down the stairs, stashing his weapon in a holster. His gray sports jacket slung over his shoulder. His black t-shirt hugged his firm abs the abs she remembered wet and glistening from the shower. He epitomized sexy.
“About ready?”
She’d won the argument over eating lunch out, but she’d compromised on sitting inside instead of out on the patio. It was the smart thing to do. Actually, if she was really being smart, she wouldn’t have fought to leave the apartment, but she couldn’t stay cooped up any longer. Especially alone with Jesse.
She glanced down at her pink blouse and white jeans. “I just need to put on my shoes.”
“Yeah?” His question confused her. “Okay.” He looked at her. “You’ve got company.”
Dammit, she needed an earpiece from them. She hated not being in the know.