Snow White Espionage (Barely a Fairy Tale Book 2)

by Maggie Dallen

  “I take it you know why I’m here,” Hunter said.

  Spencer never took his eyes off Jenna and Hunter bit back a growl.

  “I know why you’re here,” he said to Hunter. “But who’s the dame?”

  He nodded toward Jenna who rolled her eyes. “The dame? What is this, a black-and-white movie?”

  Hunter stepped in. “You’ll have to excuse Spencer. He doesn’t get out much.”

  Spencer’s smile was the same smartass, shit-eating grin he remembered from years ago, back when he was a punk up to no good. Now he must be nearly thirty—God, he was getting old. And it looked like the former punk had pulled himself together a nice little life, if the expensive gadgets were any indicator.

  Jenna seemed to take that as an apology, or at least a valid excuse, and she wandered away to take a turn around the office, perusing all the gadgets as she did. Meanwhile, he was left to face off with one of his oldest friends. It seemed like a metaphor for the way his life had been unfolding lately. Job, wife, and now friend. All gone in some form or another.

  As if Spencer could read his mind, the younger man held up his hands in surrender. “Look, I admit that I lied to you on the phone the other day. But it’s not what you think.”

  Hunter’s brows lowered as he fixed his friend with a glare. “And just what is it I’m supposed to think?”

  Spencer sighed. “The hack attempt traced back to a computer at the firm.”

  “Tell us something we don’t know,” Jenna chimed in from the other side of the room.

  “Like why you lied,” Hunter finished. At that moment he cared far less who the culprit was than why his friend would betray his trust. “You must have been covering for someone, but why?”

  Spencer ran a hand over his face, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Because I know why this person…did what they did. I just needed to talk to them first.”

  “So you know the suspect,” he said. “What, was it some old hacker buddy of yours or something? Someone you wanted to keep out of trouble? After all this time, I can’t believe you’d be stupid enough to get caught up in something like this. You could be charged in connection with corporate espionage, you know that don’t you?”

  “It’s not corporate espionage,” Spencer said. “That’s what I’m trying to tell you. This person had a different motive, one that was clear to me as soon as I saw the name of the firm.”

  Hunter was mentally going through every one of the employee files he’d reviewed. “We went through all the records, we didn’t find—”

  “Not all of them,” Jenna interrupted. Something in her tone had him turning to face her where she stood near a bookshelf that was cluttered with textbooks and a few mementos. Jenna was holding up a framed photograph of a young Spencer with his arm around a pretty girl. Her hair was different—it was dyed pink, not blonde—but that easy smile was instantly familiar.

  Jenna gave him a rueful smile. “We didn’t investigate the receptionist.”

  Chapter Ten

  After another half hour in that crazy apartment, Jenna found herself impressed with the so-called tech whiz. He was loyal, that much was certain. She wasn’t sure if she could have held out with Hunter’s line of questioning, but Spencer squarely refused to tell them what he knew about Andrea. Not why she’d tried to access Margaret’s information or how he even knew her.

  Finally Jenna intervened. She placed a hand on Hunter’s arm and gently tugged him toward the door. “It doesn’t matter,” she said softly.

  He turned to her with surprise. “What do you mean? Of course it matters.”

  She shook her head. “That’s the detective in you talking. You’re not getting paid to find out the motives, just who was behind it. Your job is done.”

  “That’s right, it’s only about getting the paycheck, right?”

  The bitterness in his voice and the insinuation were a slap in the face. He’d made comments like that before and she’d let it slide. But now? “Fuck you.”

  She headed toward the door without him but he caught up to her. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that. You’re right. I know you’re right.”

  She stopped and looked up at him, taking in the hangdog look of the guilty that gave his gruff manly features a hint of boyishness that made it impossible to stay angry. She let out a sigh. “Fine. Let’s just get out of here, all right?”

  On the way out the door Jenna called her father and told him to meet her and Hunter at the office in the morning. It was a Saturday so they’d have their privacy. She cast a quick look in Hunter’s direction. “Tell Margaret she needs to come too.”

  There. That was the mature way to handle the issue of who gets credit—they’d tell them at the same time. Hunter didn’t comment but she knew he heard.

  It wasn’t until they were back in the car that he picked up the conversation again. “I am sorry, you know. I’ve spent the past few years wallowing… I guess sometimes my bitterness gets the best of me.”

  His candor caught her off guard. She’d been getting used to their games—hiding behind the investigation and the roles they’d assumed at the firm. Hearing him admit that he had his baggage was disconcerting. Any remaining anger faded away in the face of his honesty. After all, she hadn’t exactly gone out of her way to disprove his ideas that she was a mercenary. She’d hardly shown him a softer side of herself, so could she blame him for thinking she was cold and unfeeling?

  She shifted in her seat, uncomfortable with the idea that she wanted him to see more of her than met the eye. If she could let down her guard for someone it would be this man…but she had no idea how.

  Clearing her throat, she forced out words that sounded stilted even to her own ears. “I’ve made a career out of being ruthless. I can’t just…shut it off.” It was the best she could do to explain herself to him and thankfully he seemed to understand what she was trying to say.

  “I don’t need you to.”

  Some of the tension eased out of her shoulders. His words let her off the hook and proved what she had known all along. That he saw more than most when he looked at her. He saw through the bullshit facade she’d donned years ago—probably as far back as high school. Even then she’d known that the only way to stay safe was to keep her distance.

  Everyone respected that. Well, everyone except for Mack, who’d always seen through her bravado. Some admired it, even.

  He gave her directions to his place and they drove in silence for a while, each apparently lost in thought. It wasn’t until she parked in front of his apartment building that he spoke.

  “I meant what I said. I don’t need you to change who you are. You’re ballsy and confident and sexy as hell. I know it’s not easy for you to show a softer side and I can respect that.”

  She stared at him, a sickening feeling starting to make her stomach churn. She could sense the “but” that was coming.

  “But I need…something.” He tipped his head back and stared at the car’s roof as if searching for words. “I’m not a worldly guy. I don’t know how to play games. I like you, Jenna. For the first time in a long time, I feel something…I feel alive.”

  Her heart leaped into double time as emotions warred in her chest. Excitement, hope…terror.

  “I’d like to take the time to get to know you. Earn your trust. But for now, I need you to give me something. Open up to me. Let me in. It doesn’t have to be everything, just one thing.”

  It was the quiet pleading in his tone that got to her. It was so at odds with his typical strength. How could she refuse when he was laying himself out there? Him, the guy who’d been rejected and cheated on. If he could make himself vulnerable, shouldn’t she be able to give something in return?

  She stared at him in silence for way too long. So long her throat grew dry and the fear grew out of proportion. Turned out giving something of herself was much easier said than done.

  Her mind grew blank when she tried to think of something to say. Finally she said the phrase that had been
repeating itself on a loop since she’d met this man.

  “I like you.”

  There. Three simple words. Still, she’d broken out in a cold sweat with that tiny admission. But it was out there and his reaction was gratifying. After an initial look of surprise, he gave her that slow, sexy grin that made her core turn to liquid heat. That heat seemed to cut through some of the frigid terror and the next words came out a little easier.

  “I like you…and that scares the hell out of me.”

  His response was swift and brutal. In one quick move he pulled her up against him and crushed her lips beneath his in a kiss that spoke more than any words. It was a kiss that said thank you. For giving him something of herself. For being honest.

  For overcoming her fear and letting him in…at least just a little.

  “Come inside,” he growled. It was a command, the sort of thing that would typically make her spine stiffen with outrage. She hated being told what to do. But at this particular moment, his command was exactly what she needed to hear. She didn’t want to think about it. If left to her own devices, she would overanalyze and debate the pros and cons of sleeping with a man she had a crush on—surely this was one giant step toward getting hurt. But his command meant she didn’t have to think about any of that.

  “Yes,” she whispered.

  That was all he needed, apparently, because he rushed into action. Leaping out of the car to her side, opening the door for her. Of course he opened the car like a gentleman—this man had been born in the wrong decade. Who would have thought she’d fall for such an old-fashioned man?

  No, not fall for. That sounded way too serious.

  Just as she went to get out of the car, he leaned down and scooped her up in his arms. She gasped and then let out a breathless laugh as he kicked the driver’s side door shut behind her and strode toward his apartment building, ignoring the curious looks they received from passersby.

  “There’s old-fashioned and then there’s melodramatic,” she murmured more to herself than to him but she could feel his low chuckle vibrate against her rib cage where it pressed against his chest.

  “Sorry,” he said. “I guess I’m new to this whole dating thing.”

  Dating…was that what it was? She couldn’t distinguish between fear and excitement, all she knew was her heart was threatening to burst out of her chest. His warm male scent surrounded her, his hard muscles making it impossible to think straight. She struggled to remember what they were talking about.

  “You’re not doing so bad. But I take it you learned all your dating tips from fifties movies?”

  He grinned down at her, an honest-to-God smile that made her heart do a backflip in her chest.

  “Wrong era. Thirties films are more my thing. I love the old film noire detective movies.” He tilted his head down so his low voice was speaking directly into her ear. “Has anyone ever told you you’d make a remarkable femme fatale?”

  She didn’t know whether to laugh at the image or moan with desire as his voice sent shivers down her spine. Something in between came out of her mouth—a sort of gasping groan.

  Luckily they’d reached his apartment door and he threw it open while still holding her.

  “Thank God,” she whispered as he strode toward his bedroom blindly. He’d already dipped his head so he could kiss her and she wrapped her arms around his neck and tipped her head back giving him full access.

  Moments later he set her down gently on his bed. It was too dark to see her surroundings and quite frankly she didn’t care what his bedroom looked like. She didn’t care about anything other than satisfying the aching throb between her legs that had her biting back a moan.

  God, it had been too long. No, that wasn’t true. She’d had longer dry spells; she couldn’t blame this overpowering need on lack of sex. This reaction was specific to this man.

  A sudden fear took hold, dark and temporarily blinding. This man had too much power. He could hurt her. This could end in disaster. What if it intensified her infatuation? Surely she’d be a hopeless cause if that happened.

  He came to lie beside her and one of his large hands cupped her cheek as his gaze met hers. “Where did that beautiful brain of yours just go?”

  Those dark eyes she was coming to know so well steadied her. When had this gaze become not only all-seeing but powerful? Since when had these warm brown eyes been able to ground her even as they sized her up and read her deepest fears?

  Shit, this man would be the end of her.

  But all thoughts and fears were dashed as he gave her that small smile—her smile, as she was starting to think of it. One that was just for her. Leaning down he closed the distance between them. “There’s nothing to worry about,” he said quietly, his lips achingly close to hers. “There’s no need to think or worry.” He pulled back just enough to meet her gaze once more. “I’ve got you. I promise.”

  She let the words wash over her as his lips claimed hers, softly but with an urgency she couldn’t deny.

  I’ve got you. God, those words held so many meanings. But she knew what he’d meant by it—he would take care of her. He would cherish her and make love to her…and he wouldn’t hurt her. That was the inherent promise in those words.

  As her lips met his, she let herself accept that promise. For tonight, she told herself. Just for tonight, she’d trust this man to keep his word…and keep her safe.

  With that concession, she parted for him—her lips and her legs. He met her surrender with a growl that was so purely masculine, it made her muscles melt. His tongue took instant advantage, thrusting between her parted lips and staking his claim. Her tongue tangled with his, the physical equivalent of their daily dialogue. A give and take of power and desire. Teasing and sweet, dangerous and daring.

  His hips settled between her open thighs and she gasped against his mouth at the feel of his long, hard erection pressing against her core. This. This was everything she’d wanted from the moment he’d entered her life.

  Her arms twined around his back, urging him closer. She couldn’t get enough of the feel of his hard chest pressing against her breasts or his firm thighs chafing against her legs. The friction between them as he rubbed the length of his body against hers was nearly her undoing.

  She tugged at his suit jacket until he came up on his knees to whip it off, along with the button-down shirt.

  Her breath hitched in her throat at the sight of his bare chest. Smooth muscles were covered with a smattering of chest hair. His broad shoulders blocked out the light from the hallway, casting his face in shadows. But his eyes…those she could see clearly and the smoldering look made her gasp for air.

  Never in her life had she seen such intensity of emotion—at least not directed at her. It made her heart clench and her pulse race. The sincerity and intensity she saw there was humbling.

  His hands reached for the hem of her dress which was cinched up around her upper thighs. She lifted her bottom so he could pull it up to her waist. His gaze never wavered. He was giving her every chance to back out, to walk away before this went too far.

  Hell no. There was no force on earth that could drag her away from this man at that moment. This was everything she wanted in the world. At least for right then.

  His hands stilled when the dress reached her waist, but she sat up on her elbows so he could pull it up and over her head. When she was lying there clad in nothing but her black bra and panties, he let out a string of oaths under his breath. Or rather vows. From what she could hear, he was making a hell of a lot of promises to God and the devil.

  His appreciation was gratifying but did nothing to alleviate her impatience. Reaching up, she gripped his shoulders and tugged him back down. “No more waiting,” she said.

  He held out for a moment longer, looking down at her with an unreadable expression but eyes that were filled with emotion. “I like you too.”

  She blinked up at him for a moment. That was not what she’d expected to hear.

  His lips
tilted up in a smile. “You said it before and I failed to say it then. But I’m saying it now. I like you. And it scares the hell out of me too.”

  It took the length of a heartbeat for the words to fully register, but once they did a warmth spread through her that had nothing to do with raging hormones and aching desire and everything to do with the organ in her chest that was beating so rapidly she could hear the blood pumping in her ears.

  Luckily he didn’t expect her to respond because words were no longer an option. When he leaned down to kiss her again, she tried to show him just how much those words meant to her with the passion of her kiss and the urgent demands of her hands.

  Things escalated quickly after that and Jenna wouldn’t have had it any other way. His hips rocked against hers and she swore at the barriers still between them. His lips nuzzled the sensitive skin of her neck making her moan and she wrapped her legs around his hips, holding him close but not close enough.

  “I want you,” she whispered. But that wasn’t enough. The words felt empty. “I need you.”

  His response was a growl that vibrated through her before he pulled back to tear away the last barriers between them and fumble in his nightstand drawer for protection.

  When he came back to her she was more than ready—she was about to combust. Pure lust had driven away the last of her fears and defenses and she found herself murmuring words of want and need. Dear God, she was begging. Pleading for him to finish what he’d started and give her what she’d been craving since the moment she’d spotted him in the courtroom.

  He didn’t disappoint.

  Parting her legs wider, he gazed down at her for a second that felt like an eternity. “You’re so beautiful.” It sounded like a prayer or an homage just before he came down and thrust inside her with a force that rocked her body and her world.

  She cried out at the intense pleasure of being filled…complete. Had she ever felt so whole? Then was not the time to think about it and she couldn’t give it another thought if she’d tried. Her mind had gone blissfully blank, replaced by pure sensation.