Vested Interest

by Bethany Jadin

  Her back stiffens at the mention of her long labored-over project, and her grip on my arm loosens. “It’s not quite ready yet,” she says, her voice strained. “Probably too soon to be sharing sneak peeks.”

  I see my mistake immediately. If it’s one thing coders are rightfully paranoid of, it’s stolen intellectual rights. “Of course. I was very impressed by your presentation and just wondering if you had any additional material you might not have had time to share at the Panel, that’s all. An update, per se?”

  She relaxes, and her fingers curl back into a firm hold on my bicep. “I do have some new material, yes. And I’ve gained ground since then, too.”

  “Excellent. I’d love to hear all about it, if you’re willing to indulge me. Have you met your tablemates yet?”

  She falters in her steps as we near the exit and tilts her head questioningly. “Tablemates?”

  “The assigned seating. You should have been given a card when you came in. It has your table number for dinner.”

  “Oh.” She pats at her dress as though it’s a pair of jeans with pockets. “I put it in my jacket, and it’s in the coat room. I should go retrieve it, shouldn’t I?”

  “Not unless you want to share a meal with a bunch of strangers. Might I offer an alternative? How about you join me at my table and we get to know one another a little better. The other board members of Pentabyte are here as well, and we’ll all be eating together. You can give us a progress report on your software.”

  Emma’s eyes light up, though she tries to contain the excitement with a calm reply. “That would be an honor, Mr. Kent.”

  I exaggerate a wince. “Please, do call me Daniel.”

  “Daniel,” she responds with a nod.

  We are nearly at the doors, but from the movements of the BHC team, it’s clear they’re triangulating to cut us off. Davidson is locked onto Emma like a heat-seeking missile. Screw that guy. Not this time.

  Our CEO, Jude, is busy on the far side of the room, surrounded by a group of corporate honchos, but his twin Jax is waiting for me at the double set of French doors leading into the hallway, right where he said he would be. I make eye contact with him and motion him over subtly. He quickly maneuvers toward us, working his way through the crowded entryway with grace.

  “Ah, Jax,” I greet him. “Just in time.” I turn to Emma and wave a hand at my friend and business partner. “Ms. Collins, this is Jax Turner. Jax, this is Emma Collins, you probably remember her from some of the conferences we’ve attended?”

  Jax gives Emma a long nod of appreciation. “Yes, of course. Who could forget?”

  I see the hint of color on Emma’s cheeks, and I know it’s partly Jax’s flattering words, but also that hungry way he’s looking at her. I’m more of the reserved gentleman type, it’s just my nature, but damn if Jax doesn’t melt women’s panties with a simple look.

  “I was about to take Ms. Collins up to the roof, but I just saw someone I absolutely must have a word with.” I motion with my eyes to the right, and Jax glances over my shoulder, spotting Davidson and the rest of the BHC contingent. “Would you mind escorting Emma up there and offering her a cocktail? I’ll join you as soon as possible.”

  Jax gives Emma a slow smile, like he’s sizing up something delicious. “It would be my pleasure.”

  4

  Emma

  As handsome as he is, and despite how well he fills out his tuxedo in all the right places, Daniel doesn’t completely blend in with the usual tech crowd. He’s much more dashing and sophisticated than most of the programmers and software developers I’ve encountered in the time since my passion for coding took hold of me as a geeky teenager years ago.

  But this new guy? He stands out by a mile. Jax is stunning with a rugged build, and I’m intrigued by the wisps of a black ink I see emerging at the wrist from under his expensive, cuff-linked tuxedo shirt. A tattoo that far down on the arm usually means it extends all the way up to the shoulder — and maybe onto that muscular chest that pushes out against his dinner jacket. I bite into my lip and direct my eyes toward the exit, trying to banish the image of a shirtless, heavily tattooed, gorgeously muscled man from my thoughts. Jax waves an arm in front of him, inviting me to proceed with him toward the elevators.

  We walk in silence, but his solid form is a comforting presence as we shuffle into the front of the elevator. Everyone takes one look at him and makes sure to step back so he and I have enough room to pass.

  “Come here often?”

  I look over at Jax, and I see the humor in his eyes. “First time. How about you?”

  “This is only my third year. The other guys have been coming to the Gala since we formed Pentabyte. And Daniel is one of the founding members of the Selsford Institute.”

  “I didn’t think I recognized you.”

  “You wouldn’t. I don’t even like coming to these things, to be honest. Not exactly a tuxedo guy, you know what I mean?”

  His sardonic tone is calm and laidback, and it has me feeling at ease, so I confess, “Me, either. Now, if this were a blue jean and baseball hat type of affair instead of a black-tie one, I’d be a lot more at home. I can really rock a ponytail and some scuffed-up tennis shoes.”

  As we wait for the elevator to come to a stop, his eyes sweep over me from head to toe in a lingering look that makes my pulse race. He raises an eyebrow. “Well, you’re beautiful tonight, but I bet you look even better in blue jeans.”

  The elevator dings, and Jax waves his hand in front of himself, once again gesturing me to enter ahead of him.

  We move to the back of the elevator, allowing it to fill before ascending. Jax leans easily against the wall, keeping his eyes forward, but there’s a sly smile on his lips. Once everyone enters, the doors close, and the temperature rises noticeably from all the bodies in a confined space. I also notice something else — how good the man next to me smells, but I can’t put a finger on what it is. I adjust my footing to disguise my sway toward him. He somehow smells of expensive cologne, leather, and diesel at the same time — and it’s pretty fucking hot.

  A flush has crept up my neck, but the elevator doors swoosh open, and I hurry out before Jax can notice the redness on my skin. Thankfully, I’m saved by the cooling breeze of night air on top of the building as I step out onto the large rooftop patio.

  It’s absolutely glorious up here. Not only does the high rise have a commanding view of the city skyline as the sun begins to set, but there is soft jazz music playing and thousands of lights wrapping around the railings and strung overhead to create a luminescent canopy. It’s less crowded up here than in the main conference room, and as I look around I see smiles, laughter, and relaxed body language. The mingling crowd seems to be much more lighthearted than the serious mood the gathering downstairs has. The open bar everyone is making a beeline for as they exit the elevators could be a contributing factor.

  Instead of heading for the bar, Jax steers me toward a vacant area at the railing on the west side of the building. I rest my right hip against the concrete half-wall below the railing and turn to look out over the city. Beautiful. The tall buildings are awash in an amber glow, and low-slung streaks of sunrays penetrate the clouds, which are slowly turning shades of pink and orange.

  “What would you like to drink? I’m sure they have just about everything over there.” He makes eye contact with someone behind my left shoulder and lifts his chin in a beckoning motion.

  “Do they have a Pinot Noir?”

  “I’m sure they do.” Jax smiles at a stately young man in the standard caterers’ uniform of black pants and a white button-up shirt. “Pinot Noir for the lady, and I’ll have a whiskey on the rocks. Thanks.”

  “I wouldn’t take a board member of the illustrious Pentabyte Corporation as a straight whiskey drinker.”

  He leans an elbow on the railing, relaxing. “I’m new at this. Give me another couple of years, and I’m sure I’ll be drinking champagne with the rest of them.”

  I’m
far from an expert on the company, but I’ve read an article here and there. “New? I thought the team at Pentabyte has been together for years. Pentabyte, you know, five of you.”

  He lets out a little laughter before responding. “Caught that clever name, did you? Well, we formed the company together, but the other four had worked together before, and they have a lot in common. They were a pretty tight unit already. I guess I still feel like the new kid. But, if you’re talking about the CEO, Jude, then I’ve been with him longer than any of the others put together.”

  A little disappointment sinks into my chest. “Oh, you’re with him.”

  There’s that wonderful laughter of his again. “No. Not like that, not with Jude. He’s my brother. My twin, actually, so we go back to the womb, us two.”

  Relief floods through me, but I immediately rebuke myself, because what the hell do I have to be relieved about? It’s not like some tattooed hotness is going to be picking me up tonight. Besides, I want the investors at this Gala to take me seriously, and here I am, evaluating how likely it is for me to sample a little morsel of man candy.

  The roving waiter comes back with our drinks, and I get right to sipping. It gives my lips something to do other than taking my libido up on its willingness to flirt fast and furiously. It doesn’t help that my mind is lingering on how he phrased his response, ‘not like that, not with him’ and that I’m now wondering if he swings both ways — and oh my God, how hot would that be? I try to focus on my drink and think of smart, insightful questions to ask, but all I can picture is this sexy, tattooed Adonis of a man getting it on with another equally hot guy.

  I feel like heat must be coming off me in waves. I glance around the rooftop guiltily, as though anyone would be able to see straight through my facade to the naughty and deviant thoughts beneath.

  Fortunately, Jax doesn’t notice my sudden bashfulness, and thank God he can’t see the images running through my mind. He seems content to just stand with me quietly as we stare out at the setting sun and sip our drinks.

  He’s leaning on the railing with both arms, and from my angle, I can sneak a peek at his backside, which is better than the view of the city skyline. Another sip, another peek. Mmmm. Those dress slacks are hugging his ass just right.

  Dammit.

  I really need to pull it together, but it’s quickly becoming clear that I’ve broken a cardinal rule — kind of like how I should never go grocery shopping while I’m hungry. Well, I’m practically starving, and holy mother, there is a buffet of hotness here.

  Finally, I manage to ask, “How did all you guys come together?”

  He turns his back to the horizon and sets the ice in his glass to spinning in a circular motion. “Well, we’ve all worked with programming and tech, but Daniel is the truly brilliant one among us, so he helped guide our vision. Jude was instrumental in getting us organized and rallying everyone into a business focus.”

  “Oh, I meant, how did you all first meet?”

  “They all met in the service. Daniel wasn’t enlisted; he was on assignment with a military contractor, but he worked with Gunner, Trigg, and Jude. Those three were in the same special ops unit.”

  He pauses to take a sip of his whiskey, and I’m pretty sure he’s intentionally trying to skip over himself, so I ask, “And what about you? Were you in the service as well?”

  His laugh is louder this time, but it’s the most genuine laugh I’ve heard in a long time.

  “No,” he says, shaking his head with amusement. “I did some contract work, but definitely not for the military — although Jude did eventually wear me down when we were younger and convince me to enlist, but I got kicked out of boot camp in record time. However, that’s a story for another time, one for after I’ve had a few more of these.” He raises his whiskey and takes a big chug.

  “I’d love to hear it sometime,” I tell him, and I really mean it. There’s something about Jax I can’t quite put my finger on, and it might just be my lack of male companionship ever since Jeremy skipped out, but he intrigues the shit out of me.

  “As for the guys, well, Jude had served with Gunner and Trigg for years, so I’d met them. One year while on leave, Gunner came with him to our family’s Christmas gathering, and it’s become a tradition now; he’s never missed a year since. Now, Trigg? I probably knew him the least of all the guys before we started Pentabyte, but he’s easy to be friends with — just a genuinely good guy.”

  “And Daniel?”

  Jax swallows and purses his lips before speaking, and I can see the hesitation in his eyes. “I’d known Daniel in passing for a long time, but not in the best of ways.”

  “Oh, like competing firms?” I ask.

  He looks away before he nods a little. “Something like that. We were just working on different sides most of the time. Didn’t keep us from admiring one another’s work from afar.”

  I can tell he’s got his guard up and is giving me just enough information to satisfy my questions while holding back the real answers. It has me curious, and I’d like to know more, especially since Jax doesn’t strike me as the corporate yes-man type, but I can tell from his body language that he’s only entertaining the topic to be polite and that it’s best not to push the matter. Jax is keeping his cards close to his vest, and as someone who is playing an intense game of poker tonight, myself, I can appreciate that.

  The last thing I want to do is make this gorgeous man want to leave my side, so I steer the conversation in a different direction. “I’ve always been intrigued by twins.”

  He doesn’t laugh this time, but there’s a sexy twinkle in his eyes. “Most women are.”

  The flush creeps back up my neck. “I don’t mean like that.” At least, I’m not about to admit I’m a little bit curious what that would be like, not here in public, and definitely not to a potential investor. “I mean, is it true what they say about all the near psychic stuff?”

  Jax gives me an exaggerated shrug. “Ah, who knows? Is there a connection there that others don’t seem to have? Yeah, I’d say so. It’s not due to us being inseparable over the years, because Jude and I took very different paths in life. I don’t think I’d call it psychic, but I have to admit we’ve always had a deep bond, more than just a sibling thing, I think.”

  I cock my head to the side as he talks, admiring his openness. No bullshit, no pretension. It’s refreshing. “And are you guys twin twins? Like, identical?”

  I could swim around in that smile of his for days. “Yes, we’re twin twins.” He reaches into his inner breast pocket and pulls out his phone, thumbing through it. “Well, the years have aged us differently, so it’s not like you can’t tell us apart.”

  He turns the phone to me, and a picture of a just as gorgeous man stares up from the screen. He’s a little broader in the shoulders, his chin is slightly squarer, and his hair is a shade lighter but otherwise, Jax and Jude are two identically steamy hunks, right down to that edgy look in their eyes and that take-no-shit posture. I turn to lean my chest against the railing so Jax and I are shoulder to shoulder, though facing opposite directions, and I can get a better view as he swipes the screen with his thumb to flip through some pictures.

  “Let’s see, you’ve already met Daniel.” He rapidly skips past several photos. “Ah, here. This is Trigg.”

  I lean toward Jax, my head almost touching his shoulder. A man with thick, wavy brown hair and a long, toned build — swimmer or runner? I wonder — he’s flipping off the camera, but there’s a mischievous smile on his face and laughter in his warm gray eyes. After a second, Jax slides his thumb, and a photo of a different guy appears.

  “Oh,” I say, lifting a finger to point at his phone. “I think I recognize him.”

  “Do you?” Jax hands his phone to me, and I peer at the photo closer.

  It takes me a minute, but then my memory catches up with my recognition, and instantly I’m sorry I said anything. I recognize him, alright. It’s all coming back to me in flashes — those wid
e shoulders and green eyes, how easily he maneuvered me around the coat room with his impressively strong arms. He was at the Innovation Panel last year, too. When I bumped into him on my way out, I’d assumed that a guy who looked like he could be a linebacker in the NFL wouldn’t be there to attend a technology conference with the rest of us dweebs and geeks. So, I didn’t mind — to say the least — when our flirtations in the coat room turned into more than just sexy banter… But I can’t think about that now, especially not about how it was one of the hottest experiences I’ve ever had — the only tryst I’ve had since Jeremy — and with a stranger at that. I shake my head and take a deep breath.

  No, I definitely can’t think about that, or Jax’s nice ass, or how good being on the arm of a handsome man like Daniel felt, or anything else but business tonight. I need my underwear to last me through the entire evening, and I don’t plan to stroll around with a wet spot between my legs the rest of the Gala while I mingle with top executives.

  I hand the phone back to Jax with a tight smile. Please tell me he’s just some guy you know from college or something. Just an old frat buddy. Not who I think it is...

  “That’s Gunner,” Jax says.

  His words confirm my suspicions, and I have to swallow back an explicative. I keep the pleasant smile plastered on my face, but inside I’m panicking. Did I really make out with one of Pentabyte’s chief officers in a fucking coat room last year? Really?

  “Gunner’s a real character. He’s the closest to your age, and he’s—”

  A voice over the loudspeakers cuts him off. “Attention, guests. Dinner service and our evening presentations will begin in fifteen minutes. Please find your way to your seats.”

  “Well, never mind,” Jax says, turning the screen off and tucking his phone away. “Gunner’s here, anyway, and I’m sure he’d be more than happy to tell you all about himself in person. Ready to head down?”

  5

  Jax