Best Man with Benefits
Page 14
“You made me a grilled cheese once. The best grilled cheese I’ve ever had in fact,” Jacob said. “And that lasagna. Oh, and remember Thanksgiving?”
“You know what I mean. We don’t talk. And when we do, it’s so limited. I think I had a crush on you because of all the mystery of who you were. And the fact that you were good to Charlie, and to me in a way.”
“And because of my devilish good looks?” He grinned at me.
It eased the tension between us, somewhat. I wanted to figure this out so that we could move on after this was over. Move in our separate directions. My heart squeezed at the thought.
“Whatever. I’m trying to be real here. You never let anyone close. Except for Charlie.”
“Because Charlie is a friend,” he said.
“And I’m not?”
“Chloe.”
“I’m not your friend?”
“You hated me at the start of this little vacation,” he said. “You don’t anymore?”
“I’ve slept with you twice, dude. Unfortunately, my hating-you ship has sailed.” I palmed my face.
“OK,” he said. “I did mention I consider you a friend.”
“But no, we’re not.”
“You trying to confuse me or some shit?” Jacob asked.
“No, I’m saying that we can’t possibly be friends because we don’t know each other. I don’t know what your favorite color is or your favorite food or even much about what you do for a living.”
“You’re kidding. That shit doesn’t matter.”
“Then what does?” I asked.
“Knowing who the person is inside. What they’re capable of.”
“I think it’s safe to say I know what you’re capable of.” Couldn’t help the bitterness in my tone.
“That’s sweet of you, Chloe.”
“Sorry. Force of habit.”
A silence fell between us. He touched my hand with his. That was all. No grabbing for me, or trying to make a move. He’d read the situation right. I wasn’t about to fall into bed with him.
Uh, you are in bed with him? I wasn’t about to fuck him again. That was the point.
“OK, so my favorite color,” Jacob said, the sound of him raising hairs on my arms, “is probably orange.”
“Orange? That’s…interesting. Not what I expected.”
“Orange is an awesome color, and it converts well in online advertising, too.”
I laughed. “That’s your criteria for a favorite color?”
“No, I just like it.” He tapped fingers on the back of my hand. “Your turn. Go.”
It was surreal, talking to Jacob, knowing what was to come, but it helped me breathe after a horrible, life-changing day. “Purple.”
“Together we make a passion fruit.”
“Aren’t passion fruit yellow inside?” I asked.
“Orange,” he replied firmly. “Favorite food, next.”
“Uh, everyone always says they love pizza, but my all-time favorite is definitely lasagna. You?”
“The croissant you made me when I was what, sixteen?”
I laughed. “I can’t believe you still remember that.”
“Are you kidding? It was the first time we met. Of course, I remember,” he replied. “You were awesome, and at the time, I remember hating the fact that you were Charlie’s girlfriend. And then his sister.”
“Oh yeah, that’s right. You thought I was his girlfriend.” My mirth faded. Charlie was in the hospital, and the years between that meeting and now yawned. We hadn’t known each other for all that time, Jacob and I.
“I like chicken burgers. And pizza with pineapple.”
“You know, that’s illegal in some states,” I said.
“Oh, don’t tell me you’re on the pineapple-on-pizza hate bandwagon.” Jacob ran his fingers up to my forearm, then down to my hand again. “Because that would be disappointing.”
“No, I’m not. I don’t care either away.”
“Indifference, even better.”
The conversation passed easily between us. Talk about the old days, about everything that had separated us from the start, and about Charlie. How we wanted him to be happy. That only brought on thoughts of Addy.
“We’ve been talking for an hour,” Jacob said, lifting himself slightly to spy the alarm clock. “We should probably get some sleep.” A pause. “Come here.” He opened his muscular arms.
I scooched back into his grip. It felt right, but I kept my guard up. I wouldn’t let him into my heart. He’s already in there, girl. “I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep,” I said, as a yawn cracked my jaw.
“You will.” His nose rested against the back of my head, and his breath warmed me. “Just relax.”
The quiet returned, even the streets outside somewhat empty of traffic. There was the ticking of a clock and our breaths, and nothing else.
“Tell me a secret,” I said.
Jacob tensed up, then relaxed. “Shit, I was almost asleep.”
“Sorry.”
“A secret?” He nuzzled my hair. “Which one?”
“Any one.”
“I was arrested once. Charlie bailed me out.”
I gasped, turned my head. “What? What for?”
“Boosting cars,” he replied. “I had a rebellious streak after high school. Charlie was the one that pulled me out of it. Kicked my ass and told me to appreciate the privilege I had, and use it to do something good.”
“Wow.”
“So, I did. I’ve set up an initiative in skid row—rec centers for kids to keep them off the street and doing something after school. Hell, to help them stay in school too. We’re going to have tutors and everything.”
“Jacob, I had no idea. That’s awesome.”
“I wanted kids who didn’t have my privilege to have a head start. Fuck, that sounds cheesy,” he said. “Forget I mentioned it. I only brought it up because of the secret question.”
“I know,” I said, “but it’s still awesome. Honestly, the last thing I expected from you.”
“Thanks for the vote of faith.”
“Ha, sorry. That didn’t come out how I intended it to. I just meant it was unexpected, that’s all. But then it would be because we didn’t have that much time to talk.”
“For a reason, Chloe. Being friends is more dangerous than being acquaintances. I told you I always wanted you.” Jacob kissed the back of my head. “Now, sleep. Before we both wind up doing something we’ll regret.”
I shut my eyes and drifted off, comforted by his smell and his warmth, and the fact that I’d be safe in his arms, at least until the morning came. And then it would be over.
Twenty-Four
Jacob
It had taken over two hours to get from Paris to the coast of France. We were somewhere outside of Dieppe, parked near a seaside villa in a rental car.
“You ready for this?” I asked.
Chloe was gorgeous this morning. Shit, she was always gorgeous, but today even more so. Her hair was loose around her shoulders, curling gently, and she’d thrown on some mascara and a touch of lip gloss. She wore a pair of shorts and a T-shirt paired with sneakers. I assumed it was for mobility.
Chloe was focused on the villa and the stairs that led up to it, along a dirt path between overhanging branches.
“Chloe.”
“I don’t know. I have to be.” She shifted the ring on her finger. “Yeah, I’m ready. Let’s do it.”
Smith had already wired us both, and as far as we knew, the authorities, Interpol, FBI, likely DEA, had moved into place around the villa. Except Pritchard had to know that would happen. He would be prepared for it.
“Let’s go,” I said and got out of the car. I circled around to her side of the car and opened the door for her. I offered my hand and she took it, got out. “No matter what happens in there, stay by my side. Unless I tell you to get behind me. Do you understand?”
“Yeah, got it.”
“Chloe,” I said, and took her by
the hands. “No matter what happens in there, do exactly as I say.”
“I heard you the first time.”
“But I know you. I know you’ll try to be a hero if you get the chance, and that is not what this is about. It’s about getting Addy out of there safely.”
“I want everyone out of there safely,” she said.
“Good.” I swallowed, cupped one of her cheeks in my hand. “Good. Because that’s what’s going to happen. Safe. Steady. We’ll make it out.” The urge to kiss her overwhelmed me. I brought my lips closer to hers.
She lifted her face to meet mine. “We’ll make it out,” she whispered.
My lips were an inch away. Our breaths mingled. I studied her, taking her in. If this was the last time, would I want to walk away without kissing her? Would it help the situation if I did?
Chloe blinked up at me then stepped out of my grasp. “We’re going to be late.” She choked it out.
The moment was gone. And because I hadn’t taken it, for once. “Right.” I took her hand and led her down the path toward the front steps of the place. “Follow my lead.”
“I know, Jacob. We’ve already been over this.”
“Right.” I squeezed her hand as we ascended. I knocked on the door once.
It opened and Pritchard appeared, that gray-haired son of a bitch wearing a suit and a sharkish smile. “There you are. You’re almost late.” His smile waned the minute he laid eyes on Chloe. “And you brought someone with you. Get inside. Both of you.” He stepped back and revealed two burly men in suits. They were unremarkable and beefy.
We entered. The door was shut behind us. We were flanked, escorted into a large living area. It was classy, decorated with antique armchairs and a chaise lounge, but the curtains were drawn over the windows to block the view of the ocean.
Carolina sat in one of the chairs, wearing a wedding dress.
Jesus. What the fuck?
She looked up, and the goofy smile she wore vanished. “What’s she doing here?” Carolina asked. “She’s the one from the hotel. The homewrecker.”
“This will be fun,” Chloe murmured.
I squeezed her hand, in part to give her support, in part to tell her to let me handle this.
“I think we’d all like to know that,” Pritchard said, walking to the window. He shifted the curtain to one side, then let it fall back into place. “I was expecting trickery from the cops, not this. You came here today on the instruction that you’d marry my daughter.”
“I’m not going to marry your daughter,” I said, the words tasting as crazy as they sounded.
“You’ve already insulted this family once.” Pritchard stood behind his daughter’s chair and placed his hand on her shoulder. “Twice if I count your refusal to cooperate with me in business. I won’t allow this to happen again.”
“That can’t be what this is about. Marriage? Not the drones?”
“We can talk business after you two are engaged and married,” Pritchard said, squeezing his daughter’s shoulder. She reached up and patted her father’s hand. “Now, get this hussy out of here.”
Men appeared and made for Chloe.
I turned on them, teeth gritted. “If you touch her, I’ll kill you.”
“Stop,” Pritchard said, gesturing to his goons. “Kill them? That’s ambitious, King. How would you kill them?”
“I can’t marry your daughter,” I said, putting myself between Chloe and the mean-faced thugs. I held her in front of me and met Pritchard’s gaze over Chloe’s head. “I’m already married. To Chloe.” I raised my left hand to present the wedding band.
“No!” Carolina said. “No, no, no. That can’t be true. You two fought the other night in the hallway. I saw it with my own eyes.”
Chloe’s shoulders tensed beneath my hands. “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she said.
We’d agreed that we’d deny any account of that fight to avoid complications. “We’re married,” I said. “This is over.”
“No.” Carolina shrugged off her father’s hand and struggled to her feet. “No, I don’t believe it.”
Chloe waggled the ring on her finger at Carolina. “Believe it. That’s why I’m here today. To tell you both to back off and leave my man alone.”
We’d practiced this, the things we would say, and how we would say them. Things that would anger the two of them the most and how we would use that to our advantage, but it sounded real to my ears. Chloe was protective over me.
Not real. Don’t get your emotions involved in this shit.
“So, that’s it. We’re leaving,” I said.
“No.” Pritchard drew a gun from his pocket. “You’re not going anywhere.” He ground his teeth audibly. “Carolina, leave the room. Take the girl with you.”
“You won’t touch her,” I said, tightening my grip on Chloe. “She stays here with me.” And Addy? Where the fuck was Addy? Jesus, what would happen if I couldn’t get information out of him? If they didn’t come crashing in to save us without the proof? Surely, the fact that he had men with guns in here, that he had someone captive, was evidence enough?
I didn’t understand how it worked, but I didn’t have time to fathom it.
“She’ll go with Carolina, or I’ll kill her right now,” Pritchard said and pointed the gun at Chloe’s forehead.
“I don’t want to take her,” Carolina said. “She’s lying. They can’t be married. I heard her say that she didn’t want to be with him anymore. It’s a trick.”
Each sentence was a blow to our cover, but I kept my face impassive. “Chloe and I got married two nights ago,” I said. “We didn’t want to steal my best friend’s thunder.”
Pritchard narrowed his eyes at me. “Carolina, take the girl into the next room.”
“I won’t take her,” Carolina whined, and I was reminded of that side of her. The one she’d only shown later into our relationship. The one that had put me off and helped me realize what shit I’d landed myself in.
“I won’t go. I belong here, with my husband.” Chloe stroked my arm.
“Liar!” Carolina squealed. “You’re a dirty little liar.” She dove for Chloe, fingers grasping thin air. “I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you!”
I lifted an arm and shielded Chloe’s throat.
Carolina’s fingers scrabbled against the back of it.
A gunshot popped in the space, and both women screamed. Chloe pressed her body against mine, shielded her face. Carolina dropped to the floor and covered her head with her arms.
Pritchard stood with his gun pointed upward. He’d shot a neat hole in the ceiling, and the shoulders of his suit were powdered with plaster dust.
“Carolina,” he snapped. “Get up and take this woman out of here.”
“You won’t take her.”
“It’s fine,” Chloe said, and looked up at me. “It’s fine.”
“Chloe.” This wasn’t part of the plan. We hadn’t gotten anything out of him yet, and god knew what the hell was going on out there. Smith should’ve been here by now, after that gunshot and the threats.
“No. It’s fine. Do what you have to do,” she whispered.
“Chloe, I won’t let you—”
“Not your decision to make,” she hissed and stepped out of my grip.
Carolina grabbed hold of Chloe’s arm and escorted her from the room. The two thugs circled, in case I got any funny ideas. I glared at Pritchard, my eyes narrowed. This man had caused me far too much trouble.
“I made it clear from the start that I wasn’t interested in being a part of your world,” I said. “I will never help you.”
“Don’t be so hasty, Jacob. I just want to talk.” Pritchard gestured with his gun to one of the armchairs.
I checked the curtains, cursing the fact they were closed. If I could at least see out, I could assess what was coming—a SWAT team. Someone to back us up in here.
“Looking for your friends?” Pritchard asked.
My gaze snapped back to his f
ace.
“Like I said, Jacob—take a seat. Now.”
I didn’t do well with commands, but this man hadn’t given me much of a choice. If I didn’t sit, he blew my brains out. I did as he’d asked.
“Good, that’s very good.” Pritchard took his place in chair across from mine. The room was lit only by the sunlight against the backs of the curtains. He rested the gun against his knee, holding it loosely, but directing it at me. “Now, we can talk.”
“I won’t work with you.”
“You won’t? That’s a pity. If you don’t, I will kill the people you love. I’m not sure if this marriage of yours is a ploy or not, but I don’t believe it. You will marry my daughter, and you will do as I say.”
“No.” I shifted my head toward the door.
“They’re not coming. They can’t hear a word of our conversation,” Pritchard said, and leaned forward, catching my eye. “Look at me, Jacob. I wouldn’t lie to you. I am a drug smuggler. I am the head of a crime business, a ‘family’ if you will, and Carolina will be my heir. I want her set up with good contacts, not pathetic ones, and you are the only good one I’ve come across. You are going to be a part of my legacy whether you like it or not. If you’re truly married to that other woman, the problem is easily solved.”
My pulse raced. I clenched my fists against the upholstery on the chair.
“I mentioned I’m into human trafficking, didn’t I? She’s a pretty woman, bit old, but some men are into that. I can get her sold to a prince somewhere. A sheikh, even.” Pritchard flashed his teeth.
They had to have heard that. It was an outright confession. I waited for the walls to blow inward, the windows to shatter, fucking anything, but nothing happened.
“No one’s coming,” Pritchard said and raised a finger. “I am the one who’s responsible for the upswing in heroin addiction on the east coast of the United States.” The finger stayed up, and he swirled it around in a circle. “See? Nothing. Do you want to know why? I have a jammer in this room. An audio jammer. Simple as that.”
My stomach dropped hard, but I didn’t let it show on my face. “No idea what you’re talking about,” I said.