Losing Control (A Babysitting a Billionaire Novel) (Entangled Brazen)

by Nina Croft

  “Well, you know me, I don’t normally like to stereotype anyone—not even your girlfriends—but for Nadia I have to make an exception. I get that she’s a model, but does that mean she has to be a complete airhead? Not to mention a little on the wacky side.”

  “Wacky?”

  His eyes glinted with amusement. But really, Nadia wasn’t funny.

  “Yeah, wacky. She actually came up to me last week and asked what you wore in bed.” Kim rolled her eyes. “Wouldn’t she be more likely to know that than me?”

  Jake didn’t answer, and Kim dropped the subject. Nadia didn’t matter—Jake’s girlfriends never lasted long.

  She cast him a sideways glance. He’d obviously showered and changed since he’d gotten back from the office. His hair was still damp, he was dressed in his usual relaxing gear of black sweats and a black T-shirt, and his feet were bare.

  In some ways, it was a pity about the whole sex-with-Jake-not-an-option thing. On the surface, he was an ideal contender for her itch-scratching position, ticking nearly all the boxes on her list.

  For a start, he was way beyond attractive. With his thick, dark hair that always looked sexily ruffled like some woman had just run her fingers through it, his high cheekbones, strong, straight nose, and beautifully stern mouth. He was six feet three inches of lean, mean, drool-worthy man.

  Secondly, he was convenient. They not only worked together, but lived in the same apartment building. Jake up here in the penthouse, while she had a more modest one-bedroom apartment way below him.

  Thirdly, he’d never want more than sex—Jake didn’t do commitment. He was her role model.

  Ultimately, though, he failed the biggest requirement because saying good-bye to Jake afterward would not be an option. He was her best friend. And even if he’d shown interest in her in a sexual way, Kim wouldn’t risk losing his friendship over something that could only be temporary.

  He was far too important to her.

  She glanced up and found him watching her intently. “What?” she asked.

  “Just wondering what was going through that brain of yours.”

  She tossed him a bright smile. “I was trying to decide when you’re going to admit I’m as good at the job as any of the guys, and it’s not fair to keep me off the interesting cases.”

  “The interesting cases are also the most dangerous ones.”

  “That’s what makes them interesting,” she answered, annoyed that she should have to explain this to a man whose hobbies included skydiving and mountain climbing.

  “Let’s see how you perform on Saturday.”

  When Kim opened her mouth, he continued, “Don’t argue. I’m being patient here. But I’m not a nice man, and you’d be wise not to forget that.”

  A shiver of unease ran through her. Why would he tell her he wasn’t nice? Though he didn’t look nice; in fact, dressed all in black and with a reckless glint in his hooded eyes, he looked like a thoroughly bad character. But Kim knew that deep down, Jake was a total marshmallow—he just preferred that the rest of the world saw his crispy, burned edges. It helped in his line of business.

  She scoffed, “You’ve always been nice to me.”

  “Perhaps where you’re concerned, I have my motives.”

  “She had an idea what those motives were. He still felt sorry for her. Kim started to speak, but Jake waved her off. “Movie time.” He flicked a switch at his side and part of the wall opposite slid open to reveal a huge widescreen TV.

  Kim heaved a sigh just to show she wasn’t happy, but then reached for the bowl of popcorn at her side. For the next ninety minutes, she did her best to concentrate on the film, but there was a horrible uneasy niggling in her stomach.

  As the closing credits appeared, she turned to Jake. “About these motives. You want to give me a hint?”

  “Not yet. But soon.”

  Was he ever going to see her as a strong, independent woman and not the pathetic divorcée he’d first hired? Well, she’d just make it her mission to show him she had more than a little badass in her as well…

  …

  Jake followed Kim through the department store, admiring her long, leggy figure and the sway of her khaki-clad ass as she sauntered along in front of him. How in the hell had he ended up in love with a woman who thought—and he quoted her here—“love was for dickheads”?

  When he’d first met her, she’d been slightly plump and so sweet he’d wanted to rip that bastard of a husband of hers into pieces. Four years later, she had the lean lines of a catwalk model with absolutely none of the self-awareness. She had no clue what she did to him. Did she honestly think he made a habit of taking his operatives dress shopping?

  He smiled grimly as he remembered her expression when he’d mentioned the dress thing. She could hardly have looked more incredulous if he’d suggested she strip naked, bend herself over the back of the sofa, and allow him to screw her brains out. One of his more frequent recurring fantasies during movie night.

  Occasionally, he picked up a dress and handed it to the sales assistant who trailed behind him. He spotted a pink one and added it to the pile just to piss Kim off.

  “You’d better go with her,” he said to the assistant when they reached the dressing rooms. “Left to herself, she’ll probably put them on backward.” He took a seat opposite the cubicle, crossed one leg over his knee, and prepared to be entertained.

  “He’s a bit forceful, your boyfriend, isn’t he?” The assistant commented as they disappeared into the room.

  “He’s a bit of a patronizing ass,” Kim muttered. “And he’s not my boyfriend, he’s my boss.”

  Then the curtains closed behind them, muffling the sound of their voices.

  Jake ran a hand through his hair. He’d wanted Kim from the first moment they’d met. But back then she’d been too young and too damaged. She’d needed a friend, not a lover. So he’d pushed those feelings to the back of his mind, and he’d kept her safe and kept her close, and he’d bided his time.

  He could remember the exact moment he realized his friendship had turned to love. They’d been at his place, taking in a movie. Kim usually picked action films—lots of blood and guts—but somehow a romantic comedy had slipped through the net.

  Watching the film with Kim sprawled on the sofa at his side, the sweet smell of toffee popcorn in the air, he’d had some sort of epiphany.

  He’d be quite happy to spend the rest of his life beside her. Even watching chick flicks.

  He’d always been restless—ready to move on, easily bored—but with Kim, he felt at peace. He loved her. Really loved her. Her bravery and her honesty, the way she stood up to him, the way she was willing to try to kick his ass when she thought he deserved it, even though she knew she couldn’t win.

  He’d turned as the closing credits rolled over the screen, ready to pour out his heart. He’d opened his mouth to spill tender words of love—

  “What a total load of bollocks,” she’d muttered with complete contempt. “If I ever show any signs of going all mushy like that, you have my permission to put a bullet in my brain. Not,” she added, taking a last mouthful of popcorn, “that it’s ever going to happen.”

  That was four months ago. In the time since, he’d searched for a way to break through the protective armor she wrapped around herself. So far, he’d failed dismally. It was clear she saw him as nothing more than a friend. But when she started to show some interest in Steve, his new hire, he realized it was time to step up his game before he lost her altogether.

  He hadn’t been able to think about sleeping with another woman since he’d realized he loved Kim. Nadia was nothing but camouflage to keep him from looking like a complete miserable bastard.

  So no sex in over four months. Fucking hell.

  Finally, the curtains opened, and Kim stood there as he’d never seen her before, glaring at him and looking breathtaking.

  He didn’t take much of the dress in, just that it was black and that Jake could clearly make
out the shape of her breasts beneath the material, small and perky.

  She tugged at her long, dark ponytail—a sure sign she was nervous.

  Ignoring him, she stalked out of the cubicle to stand in front of the full-length mirror opposite. The dress skimmed her narrow waist, her flat belly, and the slight curve of her ass. A stab of lust shot to his groin, and he shifted in his chair.

  Smoothing the material over her hips, she flashed an unexpected grin over her shoulder. “Hey, I clean up okay.” She turned to one side, then the other. The dress was slit to the thigh and one long, slender leg peeked out. Her feet were bare. Jake stared, willing his desire to subside so his brain could function again.

  “You know,” she murmured not quite to herself, “I bet Steve would love me in this dress.”

  Over my dead body. The thought flashed through Jake’s mind, followed by a much more acceptable alternative. Or Steve’s. He’d had just about enough of this “Steve” shit.

  Kim finally turned to face him, hands on hips. “Will it do?”

  He motioned with his fingers for her to do a twirl.

  She scowled and spun. “Well?”

  “Maybe. I’ll let you know when I’ve seen the others.”

  Kim swirled and marched back to the dressing room. He could almost hear her teeth grinding, but he needed her out of here so he had a moment to pull himself back together from that little bombshell. And she thought she was going to go after another guy under his nose, did she? Abso-fucking-lutely not.

  A minute later, an outraged squawk came from behind the curtain. “No freaking way!”

  Jake grinned. The sales assistant must have given Kim the pink dress. Five minutes later, she ripped the curtain aside.

  Jake bit back a whistle. The material was skintight and hugged every line and curve of her body, leaving nothing to the imagination.

  “I’ll warn you now,” Kim said, poking a finger in his direction. “If you choose this one, I won’t be taking my coat off. So if you want me to blend in, I suggest you think again.”

  Jake dragged his gaze from her nipples, clearly visible and pointing straight at him. “Come here.”

  “Why?”

  He sighed impatiently. “Can you never do anything without questioning it?”

  “No.”

  “Please come here, Kimberly.”

  She approached until she stood only inches from his seat and glowered down at him, her golden eyes flashing.

  “Actually,” he said, “I like you in pink. Very pretty.”

  “Hah hah. Finished?”

  “For now.”

  Kim turned and sashayed back to the changing room.

  The back view was as good as the front. Jake watched her go, unable to pull his eyes from the sway of her ass clearly defined under the tight, clingy material and powerless to prevent his body’s response.

  He sat a moment longer waiting for the fierce burn of desire to subside, then rose from his seat and approached the changing room.

  “The black will do, Kim,” he called out.

  Kim’s head appeared around the curtain. “You don’t want to see the other three?”

  “No. The first one was fine.”

  “Oh dear, and I was having so much fun,” she mocked. “Sure I can’t tempt you into one more? The red perhaps? I’ve always considered red to be my color.”

  He ignored the sarcasm. “Another day.”

  Jake reckoned he was one sexy outfit away from letting everyone know his intentions. And that probably wouldn’t go down too well in a busy department store.

  But yeah, it was time to reveal his motives, and he was guessing that his not-so-little Kimberly was in for a shock with what was about to come next.

  Chapter Two

  Music played in the ballroom, mingling with the clink of glasses and the murmur of voices as Kim circulated the periphery of the room, forcing herself to relax, to stop feeling so self-conscious in her new dress and three-inch heels. It didn’t help that she could feel Jake’s eyes boring into her wherever she went, as if, after all this time, he still didn’t trust her skills. Or was there some other reason? Whatever—he was making her twitch.

  She needed to make a good impression tonight. Prove to Jake she was up to the more dangerous work. Though sadly, she didn’t think there’d be anything more hazardous to this assignment than tripping over her heels. Probably why Jake had assigned her the job.

  The fashion designer hosting the party had received threats from an animal-rights group who reckoned he’d used too much fur in this year’s collection. He’d panicked and called Jake. But Kim had read the files on the group and to date, they’d never done anything more violent than hand out fliers, which likely meant she was in for an exciting evening of blisters and boredom.

  She completed her first circuit and headed over to report in to Dave. Like many of Jake’s employees, Dave was ex-army and looked it. He was big and bulky, but all muscle.

  “Everything okay?” he asked.

  “Yeah. Nothing to report.”

  He grinned. “You sound disappointed.”

  “A little. It would be nice to justify my existence.” She half smiled at the half joke and glanced across the crowded dance floor only to make eye contact with Jake again. He stood at the edge of the room, Nadia clinging possessively to his arm, and he was following Kim’s every move with hooded, dark eyes. A shiver ran through her.

  Jake was acting strange lately. She didn’t like it. He’d told her he had motives for being nice to her. What were they? Did he still feel sorry for her? Was that the only reason he employed her, and the real reason he wouldn’t give her that promotion?

  She turned back to Dave. “Dave?”

  “Hmm?”

  “Does Jake think I can do the job?” There. She’d asked it out loud. “Or is he just being nice? And is it only me he’s nice to?”

  Dave made a sound like a snort. “He’s the man who pays my wages. That makes him nice to me, too.”

  “Seriously, you’ve known him longer than I have. You were in the army together. Is he ‘nice’ to other people?”

  “Jake’s nice when he wants to be nice. When he doesn’t…” He shrugged. “Come on. Quit scowling, Kim. You wouldn’t be here if Jake didn’t think you were capable.”

  She sighed. “Okay. You’re right. I’m off to mingle with the rich and famous and look for bad guys.”

  An hour later, she’d completed her second circuit and was about to call in an all clear when she spotted Nadia heading straight for her. Kim searched for an escape route but she was trapped.

  Nadia came to a halt in front of her. She looked wired, as though she’d had too much champagne or snorted something even stronger in one of the bathrooms. Jake wouldn’t like that, Kim reflected cheerfully. He hardly touched alcohol and was opposed to drugs of any kind.

  “He’s very good,” Nadia said.

  “Good? What and who are we talking about here?” Kim asked, a sense of unease coiling in her belly.

  “Jake, of course. He’s very…well-endowed.”

  “What?” Kim squeaked.

  “And he knows exactly what to do with it.”

  Definitely more information than she needed to know. Kim did not want to think about her boss’s attributes. Ever. Of course, now, thanks to Nadia’s ridiculous statement, that’s all she was going to think about.

  She glanced around to check that no one else was listening to this conversation. “Why are you telling me this, Nadia? I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’m absolutely fascinated.” She injected as much boredom into her voice as possible, stopping barely short of a yawn. “I’m just interested to know why you’re sharing.”

  Nadia smiled. Just the slightest tilt of her lips while her eyes remained cold; she’d obviously taken lessons from Jake. “I wanted to see if you would agree with me. I wanted to find out if you already knew how good he was.”

  “Why should I?” This whole conversation was surreal. She reckoned the crazy bus wa
s leaving the station and Kim was afraid she might have hopped a ride with Nadia.

  “I’ve seen the way he looks at you.”

  Nadia took a step closer, invading her personal space, and Kim poked a finger into the other woman’s bony chest.

  “Back off,” she growled. “And no you haven’t, because he doesn’t. Look at me, I mean.” She shook her head in confusion. “Well, he does sometimes, I suppose. I mean he looks at everybody sometimes.” She waved a hand as if to encompass “everybody” and almost backhanded Nadia in the face—would Jake believe it was an accident? “What’s odd about that?” She clasped her hands in front of her to keep from gesticulating further.

  “Normally, it’s not so noticeable,” Nadia continued. “But tonight you look different, and he can’t keep his eyes off you. He’s possessive. Why should he be possessive if he doesn’t already own you?”

  The woman had always been wacky, but tonight she was a raving lunatic—probably from the drugs—and in danger of causing a scene.

  Dave. She needed Dave.

  Kim was about to press her cell when she spied Dave approaching Jake and waved frantically at him. Dave spoke briefly with their boss and then walked over.

  “Jake would like a word, Kim,” he said smoothly. “Nadia, let me get you a drink.”

  Kim trudged across the room toward Jake as though she’d just gotten called to the principal’s office. She tried to keep her expression noncommittal but couldn’t prevent her wayward gaze from straying to the front of his pants. Totally not to check out the veracity of Nadia’s claims.

  Jake frowned. He glanced from her to Nadia, his eyes narrowing.

  As soon as Kim reached him, he slipped his arm around her waist and guided her to the door of the main room.

  “Where are you taking me?” she asked.

  “Somewhere we can talk alone for a moment.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I want to,” he replied with a finality that Kim knew from experience wasn’t worth questioning. She allowed him to lead her into the hall and behind one of the giant Grecian pillars.

  “What was Nadia talking to you about?” Jake asked. “It looked like she was upsetting you.”