by Taylor Lee
Viviana stared at him and tried to keep from screaming, but she was undone by her frustration. “Dammit, Jax, how many times do I have to tell you? I’m not a team player, and I refuse to be on your stupid team.”
Jax leaned back in his chair and crossed his legs at his ankles. The banked anger gleaming in his slate-hard eyes belied his seemingly relaxed pose and quiet tone. “Ah yes, Sergeant Moreau, and therein lies the rub.” When she frowned at him, not understanding, he added, “The problem, Sergeant, is that you will be a part of the team as I have ordered, or as we agreed, your days at the SJPD are over.”
When she reared back and started to speak, he raised his hand. “It’s your decision, Sergeant. But do know this is your last warning. I want you on our team. We need your insight and expertise. But more than that, I want you alive, unhurt. If I have to take away your badge to keep you safe, so be it. It would be a great loss to this police force to lose you, Sergeant Moreau, but if that is the choice you make, we’ll survive. And so will you.”
He rose to his feet and walked over to his well-stocked bar. Taking down a bottle of Maker’s Mark and two glasses, he returned to the table. Sitting down in the chair beside her, he poured a healthy amount in each glass and handed her one. His voice was cool, his posture relaxed. Holding her gaze, he said, “It’s your choice, Sergeant Moreau. But please know this is your last chance to stay on this police force.”
He lifted his glass to her and nodded to hers on the table. “Your decision, Sergeant?”
Viviana struggled to keep from shrieking and attacking him verbally as well as physically. Her frustration flared. She didn’t have to see the cool resolve in Jax’s eyes to know that this truly was their Armageddon. He’d warned her what would happen if she went out on her own—off the reservation, as he called it. Swallowing the gorge in her throat that was threatening to choke her, she reached for the glass on the table.
Jax caught her hand and shook his head. “Your decision first, Sergeant. Then whatever you decide—we will seal it with a toast.”
Fighting the tears blurring her vision, Viviana choked back a sob. Not able to keep her voice from shaking, she glared at him and spit out, “Fine, I’ll join your fucking team.”
Jax’s lips quirked up at the corner, but he managed to suppress the incipient smile. He clicked his glass against hers. “Thank you, Sergeant. It would have been a huge loss to this police force if you chose to leave.” Raising his glass, he took a hearty swallow and nodded to her, indicating she should do the same.
Viviana didn’t know if it were possible to swallow past the grapefruit-sized lump in her throat but did know she might collapse if she didn’t get a massive shot of the Maker’s Mark soon. Taking as large a swallow as she dared, she fought to keep from choking on the potent alcohol. Strong tremors shook her as she tried to contain her angst. When Jax reached out and took her hand, she tried to jerk it away, but his grip was too strong. His voice was calm, as if they hadn’t just been through a donnybrook of her making.
“I’ll let the team know that we will meet tomorrow morning at nine a.m. At that time, we will create a plan to take advantage of the remarkable progress you made today and figure out how best to capitalize on it.”
Viviana stopped trying to free her hand when it became clear that he wouldn’t let her go. Instead, she found a spot on the table and stared at it, daring it to disappear. She knew if she looked at Jax she would burst into tears. Keeping her head down, she took small sips of the invigorating alcohol until she was reasonably certain she could face him. Glancing up at him, she shouldn’t have been surprised at the concern she saw in his expressive eyes or the deepened crease on his forehead. She even allowed herself to acknowledge that this conversation may have been as challenging for him as it had been for her.
Meeting her gaze, he gave a short laugh. “Given that this has been a difficult day, I hate to load this on you.”
At her questioning frown, he said, “We have a dinner invitation for tonight, Viviana. One I’m afraid we can’t refuse.” Before she could reply, he said, “My parents unexpectedly arrived in town today. It appears they are determined to meet the woman I’ve told them I’m crazy about.” When she didn’t answer—because she couldn’t if she’d tried—Jax continued. “They wanted to see my condominium, but since it’s your home as well as mine, I suggested we meet at Delmonico’s. Can you be ready by six p.m., tiger?”
Chapter 9
Over here, Jaxton. Over here, darling!”
Viviana’s eyes followed the sound of the eager voice echoing across Delmonico’s posh dining room to the eager woman waving at them. Feeling Jax’s hand tighten on her arm, she could only assume that the attractive, middle-aged woman with the bright smile wreathing her face was his mother. As they approached the table, a stately gentleman beside the woman rose and held out his hand to Jax. Viviana didn’t have to guess who the bespectacled man was. If Jax were lucky, he would look like his father when he aged. With hair as dark as Jax’s but graying at the temples, his father’s sea-green eyes were as stunning as Jax’s dark emerald eyes. Viviana noted with some surprise that Jax’s father was the more remarkable-looking of the distinguished couple, clearly one of the blessed, so-called “black Irish.”
Jax’s mother rounded the table and kissed his cheek. The tears in her eyes weren’t surprising, given her greeting. “Oh, Jaxton, how I have missed you!”
Leaning down to kiss the plump woman’s rosy cheek, Jax smiled. “As I have missed you, Mother.”
Stepping back, he put his arm around Viviana’s shoulders and pulled her next to him. “Mother, Dad, I’d like you to meet a very special woman, Viviana Moreau. Viviana, as I’m sure you have surmised, these impressive people happen to be my parents, Mary Ellen and Connor Hughes.”
Summing up Mary Ellen’s sophisticated attire befitting an accomplished obstetrician, Viviana acknowledged that she didn’t have an outfit in her closet that could have competed with the understated elegance of Jax’s mother’s expensive suit. Hit with Jax’s surprise announcement that his parents were in town to meet her, she’d struggled with what to wear. She’d finally chosen a pair of white silk slacks and a white cashmere sweater streaked with shiny silver threads. Far from her usual eye-popping outfits, Viviana knew that even pants and a sweater couldn’t mask her curvy show girl figure. That Jax had whistled appreciatively when she’d finally come out of their dressing room confirmed that even her understated clothes were showstopping.
As Jax pulled out a chair and seated his mother, Mary Ellen stared at Viviana, then shook her head in disbelief. “My dear, I’m sure you’ve heard this many times, but you may be the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.” Turning to her husband, she gushed, “Don’t you agree, Connor?”
Jax’s father’s face split in an appreciative grin and he nodded, winking at Jax. “I most certainly do, Mary Ellen.” He reached for Viviana’s hand and squeezed it. “Your fame preceded you, Viviana. Please know that it is a pleasure to finally meet you.”
“Oh yes, now I see why you have that nickname,” his wife babbled. “What is it they call you? Wonder Woman or something like that.”
Feeling the heat creeping up her cheeks, Viviana was grateful when Jax answered. “Close, Mother. At least you are in the correct universe. Not that Viviana isn’t the epitome of a wonder woman. However, the name the media gave her is the Enchantress, the Marvel goddess known for her renowned beauty. According to legend, the Enchantress devoted her immortal life to the pursuit of power and pleasure, using sorcery and sexuality as her tools.” Jax’s brow quirked up and he added with a slight smile, “Some legends declare that the Enchantress was ultimately expelled for being too undisciplined.” Leaning down, he brushed his lips across Viviana’s cheek. “All of which I can testify describe this extraordinary woman I’m deeply in love with.”
Startled at Jax’s surprising declaration, Viviana did her best to try to relax. She reminded herself that she was an accomplished conversationalist
when she chose to be. She’d held her own and then some in tête-à-têtes that would have challenged the most adroit raconteur. But sitting with these two accomplished people, listening to his mother’s excited prattle, Viviana was struck by how different her life had been from Jax’s privileged upbringing. Already feeling compromised by the afternoon showdown with Jax, she fought to shrug off her self-doubt. She might have pulled it off if Jax’s mother hadn’t inadvertently struck at the core of her insecurities with a series of on-target rifle shots that shattered her self-confidence.
“Jaxton, I would be remiss not to tell you how proud your father and I are of you. With all of your other accomplishments, you are now the chief of police. My darling, what will you do next?” She turned to Viviana and cooed, “I know you are aware of how modest Jaxton is—how unwilling he is to brag about his achievements.”
Squeezing Viviana’s hand under the table, Jax said with a soft snort, “Uh, Mother, I’m confident that neither Viviana nor any of our colleagues would describe me as modest. In fact I believe that ‘arrogant’ would be the consistent adjective they’d use.”
Mary Ellen puffed up like a boreal mother toad. “That’s hard to believe, Jaxton. Clearly they don’t know the real you. Yes, you can be somewhat overpowering, but how could you not be, given your accomplishments? And, my goodness, you never brag about them.” Turning to Viviana, she said earnestly, “I’m sure you agree, my dear, that Jaxton can be quite secretive. Why, his father and I wouldn’t have known about you if it weren’t for his brother Glen.”
Apparently not knowing how that remark may have hurt her, Jax’s mother barreled on. “But then, Jaxton has always been secretive, especially about important things that are happening to him. Why, Connor and I had to hear from the Department of Defense and the state department that our beloved son was being awarded the Medal of Freedom for his work in Iraq. I doubt we would have ever known that if we had to hear it from him.”
Not wanting to confess that she didn’t know most of what Jax had done in his life, including receiving the Medal of Freedom, Viviana managed a strained smile and agreed. “Yes, Jax is good at keeping secrets.”
After Jax made several attempts to turn the conversation to what his parents had been doing, particularly all their achievements in their fields, his mother struck the most telling blow of the evening.
Turning a solicitous smile on Viviana, she said earnestly, “We’ve talked more than enough about us, Viviana. However, we barely know anything about you except that our son is in love with you and that you are a superstar in the law enforcement arena. Which is accomplishment enough. But I’m eager to know about you—the real you. Tell me, my dear, where are you from? Do your parents or any of your family live here in California? Goodness, they must be as proud of you as we are of our accomplished children.”
Struggling with the enormity of the disparity between Jax and herself, Viviana discovered she was incapable of pretense. Sucking in as big a breath as her constricted lungs would allow, she didn’t try to soften her response. Glancing from Jax’s mother to his father, she replied flatly, “I don’t have parents or family. As for where I’m from, here is as good a place as any.”
Ignoring their startled expressions, Viviana tried to recover. “I . . . I apologize for being so abrupt. I’ve had a particularly challenging day.” Brushing at Jax’s hand, she pushed back from the table and rose to her feet. “Jax, I don’t want to spoil your dinner with your parents. I know you have a lot of catching up to do. But I’m more tired than I realized.” Reaching for her purse, she said to him, “I’ll take a cab home.” She turned to his parents. “It was a pleasure meeting you both. I hope we can get together some other time when I haven’t had a day like I’ve had today.”
Jax was on his feet instantly. Pulling her next to him, he faced his parents. “Sorry, Mother and Dad. Viviana is right. Today has been a bitch. Unfortunately, tomorrow is likely to be as challenging.” Wrapping his arm tightly around her waist, he said over his shoulder as he led her toward the exit, “Please, enjoy the rest of your dinner. I’ll call you later.”
****
Jax pulled into the garage following their silent drive home. Viviana brushed away his hand when he reached for her. Shaking her head, she marched up the stairs and headed for the seclusion of the Jacuzzi tub in their luxurious bathroom. Stripping off her clothes and leaving them in a heap on the floor, she sank into the bubbling water with a heartfelt sigh. Slamming her eyes closed, she fought to erase the memory of the horrible dinner and her egregious behavior. Dear God, how could she ever face those storybook-perfect people again? Hell, a better question was how she could face Jax? The rattle at the doorway confirmed that she would soon have the opportunity. It also confirmed that a mere double bolt lock wouldn’t keep her intent lover at bay.
He approached the tub, holding a large bath towel. Motioning to her, he said crisply, “Out.”
Surprised at his temerity, although she shouldn’t have been, given the way she’d behaved with his parents, Viviana resisted. “Please, Jax. I’m not done. I’ll be out soon.”
He shook his head. “Actually, Viviana, you are done.”
Reaching for her, he lifted her out of the tub and swathed her in the fluffy towel. Picking her up in his arms, he carried her into the bedroom. Standing her upright, he dried off her shivering body, then pulled back the covers and deposited her in their bed. He quickly stripped off his clothes and climbed in naked beside her. Pulling her up next to him, he held her in his arms. For several long moments, neither of them spoke. Finally Jax tugged her closer and said softly, “I’m sorry, Viviana.”
She couldn’t help but respond and wasn’t surprised at her acerbic tone. “What are you sorry for, Jax? That I made a fool of myself in front of your perfect parents? Or that I embarrassed you in the process?”
“No, Viviana, because you did neither. I’m sorry that I dragged you to a challenging dinner. We had a hell of a day, and the last thing you needed was to ‘meet the parents.’ I knew we were pushing it, but . . . ”
Not able to put the way she felt into words, Viviana pulled away. “I . . . I don’t want to talk, Jax.”
He tugged her back up next to him. “Good, because I don’t either. I’d rather just hold you.”
Struggling to come to grips with her tormented feelings, Viviana couldn’t help adding caustically, “At least now I see why you are so arrogant.”
Jax stiffened and murmured mildly, “I don’t know how best to respond to that confrontational statement.”
Viviana shrugged and pulled away from him. “Let’s just say it would be hard not to be arrogant, given that you’ve been told all your life that you walk on water.”
Jax was quiet for a moment, then said carefully, “Yes, my mother can be a bit much. I think she was nervous. That she wanted to make a good impression. And you have to admit, Viviana, you can be a bit daunting yourself.”
Viviana snorted. “Yeah, right. I’m sure that was the issue, Jax. Your oh-so-perfect parents were intimidated by me—not.”
Apparently choosing not to respond to her hostility, Jax said, “I know we’ve had a tough day, sweetheart, and a difficult evening.” He added with a slight chuckle as he nuzzled her neck, “However, Viviana, do know if you continue trying to provoke me, I will have no choice but to take you in hand.”
The sob choking her made it impossible for her to respond. She was grateful when Jax tugged her closer to him. He began rubbing her back and murmuring soft, loving words in her ear. In minutes, Viviana did what should have been impossible. She gave in to his gentle ministrations and fell sound asleep.
Chapter 10
Viviana woke to see Jax’s note on the pillow indicating that he had an early morning meeting with Mac and had to leave early. Reading the rest of his sweet message, she should have been embarrassed at her relief. But knowing that driving to work with him was a non-starter, it cheered her immensely. At least her angels were somewhat back on duty. The last th
ing she wanted to do was discuss the dinner with his parents. She cringed just thinking about it. God, how could it have been any worse? Even though Jax denied it, he had to have been embarrassed at how she had acted. God, what was wrong with her? She knew how to put on an act. Jax was right when he called her the ultimate chameleon. Maybe, just maybe, she might have pulled it off if it hadn’t been for the earlier debacle.
Remembering the shock on Mick and Greg’s faces when Jax caustically referred to her potential meeting with Raphael Torres brought back the team meeting nightmare. It was bad enough that Jax had called her on the carpet in front of her partner and her commander, but that he included the three national agents in her dressing down was something she would never forget or, frankly, forgive. Jax had warned her repeatedly what would happen if she went into her go-it-alone MO, but never in a million years did she believe he would purposefully embarrass her the way he did. Not ready to face her colleagues and knowing there was no way that she could avoid the hellacious morning facing her, she made a beeline for the precinct gym. She spent a solid hour and a half beating her body into submission. Following her likely losing three pounds in sweat and then a blistering shower, she admitted she was no closer to coming to grips with the upcoming meeting than she had been.
Steeling herself, she entered Jax’s office. She was relieved to see Jax engaged in a serious conversation with Greg and Mick in the corner. Her attempt to make it to the conference table unnoticed was thwarted when Jax looked her way. Under other circumstances, she would have been heartened at how his expression brightened when he saw her. He grinned at her as if he’d been waiting for her and her alone. In a couple of strides, he was at her side. Reaching for her arm, he tugged her up next to him and said in an undertone, “Ah yes. Now my day can begin.” When she looked down, not answering him, he said, “Hmm, may I assume you haven’t had your morning sludge?” Glancing over at Mick, who had turned when she entered, Jax added, “Fortunately, your partner came prepared, Sergeant Moreau.” Grinning at Mick, he said, “You were correct, Detective O’Reilly. Our wayward sergeant not only hasn’t addressed her serious addiction to caffeine, but if I’m correct, which I’m confident I am, she just spent a couple hours in the gym.”