I didn’t meet his gaze. “Yes, sir.”
He loomed over me. “Is everything okay?”
I blinked, hoping my eyes were dry and my makeup was intact. Then I lifted my head. “Yes.”
He studied me, his blue eyes penetrating me as though I were a witness on the stand in a high-profile criminal case.
I sat up straighter. “I’m fine.”
His deadpan expression was unnerving. “Very well. Call me if something comes up.” He started to walk away.
“Kelton,” I called. “Thank you.”
“For?”
“Hiring me.” I still had a ton to learn, but he’d been open, nice, and patient with me so far.
He angled his head. “No need to thank me. Just keep up the good work.”
I puffed out my chest as a smile broke free. “I will. I promise, I’m fine.” I needed to reassure him, or maybe I needed to reassure myself.
He inclined his head. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
As I stabbed a key on my computer, I made a promise. I wouldn’t take Savannah’s calls while I was at work from then on. My concentration, efforts, and energy needed to be on my job during the workday.
I dove into Mr. Cahill’s file, and within the hour, I had everything done. After I deposited the file in Kelton’s office, I closed down my computer and tidied up my desk.
Mallory came over. “I need to take a rain check. I just found out I have to type up a deposition for my boss before he leaves tonight.” She frowned. “Sorry.”
“No worries.” I could use some alone time. In fact, I probably had time to check out a new apartment building. When I’d called the apartment manager the other day, she’d told me the office didn’t close until six. That gave me an hour. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
She tucked her auburn hair behind her ear and darted off.
Five minutes later, I was in a packed elevator, smashed up against a tall man who smelled like suntan lotion.
“Sorry,” he said in my ear, his hot breath breezing over my neck.
I shivered. “No problem.” I wanted to give the guy pressed up against my back a passing glance, but I was sandwiched between him and a woman who had a backpack full of bricks pressing against my boobs. That time of day, it was hard not to rub arms with people. Everyone seemed to leave at the exact same moment.
Finally, the elevator doors opened to the lobby. People hurried out as though the elevator were filled with spiders. I managed to move out of the way of one gal who was in a rush, holding the guy behind me hostage in a way.
Once we were finally out, I was able to get a look at him. He was tall, wore a nice tailored suit, and stood about six feet tall. His thick brown hair was parted on the side, and the hint of a five o’clock shadow graced his round jaw. When he smiled at me, he had one tooth that overlapped the other.
We walked side by side toward the exit. “Everyone is anxious to go home,” he said, his voice deep and smooth. “By the way, I’m Todd Bennett. I see you work for Davenport.”
I curled a lock of my black hair around my ear. “I’m Jade Kelly. What about you? Where do you work?” He’d been in the elevator when I got in, which meant he worked on a floor above me.
“I work for Carter and Associates. It’s a financial firm on the twentieth.” His voice was deep and smooth.
Dark-haired men weren’t my first choice, but looks weren’t everything. I liked a man who had a great personality, was funny, confident, and didn’t play games. The few men I’d dated over the years had one or two of those qualities, but none of them had passed with flying colors, although I was probably reaching for straws. Denim had never been perfect. Maybe I was being picky, but I didn’t want to just settle.
Todd and I followed the hordes of people toward the exit.
“Would it be presumptuous to ask if you would like to get a coffee sometime?” he asked.
“Not at all, but time is usually not my friend with late hours at work.”
Todd loosened his tie. “Cool. I tend to work long hours too. Can I call you tomorrow?”
I didn’t see why not. He had a disarming smile and seemed sweet. Coffee didn’t mean anything, and I could use a new friend, especially one who was a distraction from the man who seemed to take up a large part of my brain. “Sure.”
He slid out of traffic and into an open area of the lobby. “I’ll call you now. That way, you have my number.”
I followed him, rattling off my number. When my phone rang, I hit the accept button then proceeded to plug his name into my phone.
He nudged me. “Some guy is staring at us. Do you know him?”
I followed his line of sight, but my brain didn’t connect yet. “Guy?” When my mind finally kicked into gear, I faltered back a step.
Denim was sitting on one of the five benches against the windows, staring intently in my direction with a creased brow. If I knew him, he was wanting to kick Todd to the curb. I would like to see him try. It was none of his business who I talked to or went out with.
I swallowed as my heart went pitter-patter. “I do.”
“I don’t get in the middle of relationships,” Todd was quick to say.
I let out a nervous laugh. “He’s actually a client of ours.” That wasn’t a lie.
Todd raised a dark eyebrow. “Only a client?”
I couldn’t blame him for being wary. Denim was exuding a jealous, hardcore vibe, which didn’t surprise me. Denim had always hated when guys looked my way or flirted with me, but we weren’t in high school anymore, and I wasn’t his.
“I promise. Only a client.” No way was I walking into Denim’s arms or starting up a relationship with him again only to have my heart stomped on.
“Good,” Todd said. “We’ll talk tomorrow, then.”
I barely registered Todd leaving or felt my legs moving toward the ex-con, the man who had my body warming and my panties wet. I should’ve ignored him and left, but somehow my body wasn’t in sync with my brain.
Denim stared at me, his blue eyes drenched in hunger so potent, I was afraid he would leap off the bench and attack me.
I shivered, secretly hoping he would do just that.
He smirked, watching every step I took, raking his gaze up and down my body.
Another shiver zipped through me. I mentally slapped myself, hoping to shake off memories of him naked. But the closer I got, nothing was working. So I homed in on the sound of my high heels clicking on the tiled floor, hoping to distract myself or slow my thrashing pulse. But after a second of locking eyes with Denim, I was screwed.
He was starving and not for food.
I settled ten feet from him, not daring to get close. The man was a hugger, and one hug from him would undo me. Then the heartache and hurt I’d felt for years after our breakup would vanish, and I would be a pile of mush in his arms.
He wiped his large hands on his stressed jeans as he pushed to his full six-foot height. “Beautiful.” His voice was raspy and sweet.
Damn him.
I gripped the strap of my purse for dear life. Otherwise, I might run my hand through his blond locks or my fingers over his thick lips.
Oh my! Just looking at his lips was prompting memories of him kissing my body from head to toe.
“What are you doing here?” I was surprised my voice didn’t fail me.
“I need some advice.”
My lips parted. “From me? I’m not your lawyer.”
His smile paralyzed me. “I don’t need legal advice. I just need a friend. You always gave it to me straight.”
And you broke my heart.
A war raged in my head over whether to give in or tell him to leave. My resolve always shattered when it came to Denim. But I couldn’t let him play with my feelings, even though he sounded sincere. I’d locked them up tight long ago.
What am I saying? It was too late. My heart was beating so hard and had been the moment he’d ambled into that visitors’ room at the prison. Still, I wanted to belie
ve I was becoming a stronger person and not allowing people like Denim and Savannah to pull my strings as if I were a puppet.
I folded my lips between my teeth. “I have somewhere to be.” Liar.
His gaze traced my face. His eyelids were heavy, and his breathing was not quite steady. “Should I make an appointment, then?”
A laugh broke free. “Who are you?” When Denim wanted something, he would take first then ask later.
He chuckled, a sound that took me back to the past and the good times we’d shared. “I’m sorry. Maybe another time.” He gave me one last long look then swaggered out.
I stood there, astonished, watching him fade into the crowd.
11
Denim
I had to walk away. Otherwise, I would’ve pulled Jade in for a long and slow kiss. As much as I was desperate to taste her, I didn’t want to make the first move. I had no right to. I had no right to think she would walk back into my arms. I didn’t deserve her either.
She was good. I was bad.
She was pure. I was anything but.
We could never be. Yet there I was. I’d almost fallen to my knees and begged her to talk to me, to stay so I could get lost in her stunning green eyes. I wanted to run my hands through her long black hair and run my lips over every inch of her.
I was starving for her to tell me she would give me another chance. I was hungry for her to say she forgave me, especially after seeing that she’d grown and matured into a beautiful woman. She had been gorgeous in high school, but now she seemed to have a glow about her, one she hadn’t had in high school.
I scanned up and down the street, taking in the city air, which was laden with a mixture of diesel exhaust and a hint of cooking oil from the fast-food burger joint on the corner. My stomach growled, but my taste buds wanted Italian. I plowed through the group of hurried businesspeople and found an out-of-the-way spot against Jade’s building to get my bearings.
Secretly, I was hoping she would chase me. A laugh broke out in my head. I’d been the one to chase her in high school. Now the tables were turned.
Then again, if she was dating that dude she’d been talking to, I had no chance. I’d wanted to tell him to take a hike, but I wasn’t the type to steal another man’s girl, although I wasn’t sure how long I could stay away from Jade. I’d always been good at walking away and not looking back. But after seeing her, my self-control was teetering on the edge.
Horns honked, people talked on their cell phones, and a delivery truck beeped as the driver backed up into an alley across the street.
I gave the entrance to Jade’s office building one last glance. When I didn’t see her in the group who’d exited, I sighed heavily.
She doesn’t want anything to do with you. Maybe it was for the best.
I spotted an Irish pub a block up. It wasn’t Italian, but they probably had good beer. I was about to kick my legs into gear when a man leaning against an electronics store caught my attention. The short guy was watching me. My radar went up, as did the hairs on the back of my neck. Costa’s words blared in my head. “Tito Alvarez wants you dead.”
Or maybe the Feds were following me. But the dude staring at me didn’t scream federal agent. He was casually dressed in jeans, a leather jacket, and a red ball cap. I couldn’t quite make out his features. The bill of the cap shadowed his face, and with dusk setting in, the lighting wasn’t great.
My mind raced to figure out how anyone other than Dillon knew where I was. Maybe we’d had a tail when we left the prison.
Gulping in air, I stiffened. What if Tito is watching Jade? He knew I had a hard-on for her. He probably knew I was out too and that she would be my first stop.
Well, there was only one way to find out if the ball cap guy was on my tail. I started walking, keeping my head down as I dodged people. On the next block, I stopped at a men’s store and checked out the mannequins, hoping I could see behind me from the reflection in the window.
Before I could orient my vision, someone grabbed my arm. I fisted my hand, ready to attack when warm breath tickled my ear. “Shopping for men’s suits? You would look good in one,” Jade said excitedly.
Her touch was electric, sending charges of heat straight to my groin, but that quickly fizzled out. If I was being followed, I needed to get her off the streets, or at least away from me. I was an idiot for showing up at her place of employment. I wanted to scratch out my eyes. I’d always kept my distance from her because of my enemies. Yet I’d just fucked up.
“Why are you tense?” she asked innocently.
Fuck. I didn’t want to frighten her. I spun on my heel and plastered on a fake smile. “I’m not. I’m surprised.” I feverishly searched for the man with the red ball cap.
She tapped my face. “What’s wrong?”
Coming up empty, I rounded my attention back to her. “Nothing.” My tone was flat and didn’t sound like the Denim who had been sweet and kind to her several minutes ago.
She jerked her head in all directions, her black hair flying around her pretty face. “Who are you looking for?”
Smart girl.
I strapped on my charm. “No one. Want to get a drink?” We were too exposed.
She pursed her plump lips. “You’re not fooling me, Denim Hart. Something is wrong.”
I’d never lied to her, and I wasn’t about to start. “I think someone is following me.”
“It’s probably the FBI agents,” she said flippantly. “Kelton told you they would be in touch. Or maybe they’re watching you to see if you pay a visit to Duke.”
“FBI or not, I would feel better if we weren’t standing here like sitting ducks.”
“There’s a nice coffee shop a block that way.” She pointed toward the Irish pub I’d spotted earlier.
I grasped her arm. “Come on.” With mechanical precision, I scoured the stores, alcoves of buildings, and people up and down both sides of the street, but I didn’t find the perp. I turned back to Jade and blinked. Then a loud boom rang out before the window of the men’s store shattered.
Flying behind a parked car, I pulled Jade down with me. Screams peppered the air. Tires screeched. Jade’s eyes were nearly popping out of her skull. Maybe now she would believe me.
A gray-haired lady froze against the window of a shop next to the men’s store. She was fixated on something across the street.
“Stay down,” I said to Jade.
“Where are you going?” she asked horrified.
If I didn’t get that lady to cover, she might get shot. I briefly closed my eyes and counted to three. On three, I rushed over to the woman, staying low to the ground. When I did, another shot blasted. I grabbed the lady just as more glass shattered somewhere nearby.
The woman screamed in my ear.
Jade waved her hand at me. “Denim, get down!”
Sirens blared in the distance.
Once I got the lady next to Jade, I stood to my full height. If that day was the day I died, then so be it. At least I could go to my grave knowing I’d saved a life. By the time I zeroed in on the shooter, he was running, pushing people to the ground as he distanced himself from the scene.
I was tempted to chase him, but Jade’s voice stopped me. “Don’t you dare run after him,” she said as though she were in my head. She knew me well.
I heeded her advice. I really didn’t want to die on my first day out of prison. I also didn’t want to leave her alone in case the shooter had a partner lurking close by. I was certain the shooter was after me, which meant I needed to get the fuck out of there more than ever.
I held out my hand to Jade. “Come on.”
She surveyed the area as she took my hand. “Thank God no one is hurt.”
I double-checked to make sure before we left.
“Thank you,” the gray-haired lady said. “I was in shock and couldn’t move.”
“No problem. I’m just glad you’re okay,” I responded.
The cop cars were trying to muscle their way throug
h the stop-and-go traffic.
“We should get out of here,” I said in Jade’s ear. “It’s not a good idea for me to wait for the cops.” Despite wanting to be a model citizen and do the right thing, I didn’t want to hang around for the cops. They would have too many questions, and if they ran my name, they wouldn’t hesitate to throw me in a cell until they got answers. That wasn’t the place I wanted to be on my first day out of prison. Besides, I hadn’t done anything wrong.
More importantly, I had to get Jade somewhere safe. Then I had to walk away and never look back—a repeat of high school. It would gut me to do that to her again, but her safety came first.
“Let’s go,” she said. “I’m sure the police will have enough witnesses to tell them what happened. You don’t need the attention.”
No one knew who the shooter was targeting, so the cops wouldn’t get much.
Five minutes later, we entered a coffee shop. The aroma of coffee hit me like a Mack truck. The trill of a coffee grinder competed with the buzz of voices from the chatting patrons scattered around at tables.
I ushered Jade to one of four booths along the window that looked out at the busy street. We probably should’ve grabbed a table in a dark corner, but they were all taken.
Jade slid into the black leather seat as I sat across from her.
A waitress bounced over. She had bright brown eyes and hair to match. Giving us a big smile, she set down a one-page laminated menu and two waters. “I’ll be back to take your order.”
The place was more like a diner than a coffee shop, not that I cared. I just wanted to be off the streets.
Jade reached for the water. “I’m thirsty.”
I did the same. I needed something harder than water, but the cool liquid quenched the dryness in my throat.
After we drained half our glasses, the waitress returned. “What would you like?”
“A soy latte,” Jade said as though she had the menu memorized.
That seemed like a fancy drink to me. In prison, our choices had been coffee made from acid and grinds.
I skimmed the menu. Definitely no Italian. I found mostly sandwiches and sweets plus a list of different coffee drinks.
Hart of Vengeance: The Hart Series Page 8