She’d only had a second to look at it before he’d started typing, which obscured the view. But one second had been enough to give her total recall. The odd combination of letters in black ink had been momentarily visible in the glow of a security light outside her bedroom window as she’d watched Spiderman peel off his suit.
It was a wonder she hadn’t gasped out loud just now. But she was so glad she hadn’t. He’d chosen to hide his identity even though his evasive behavior indicated he knew who she was. Anger and shock pumped adrenaline through her system.
She figured he’d known who she was since the morning after their encounter. Any guy who’d planned and executed a Spiderman kiss would have done a computer search the next day. Between the sorority affiliation and her bright red hair, she would have been easy to locate.
Him? Not so much. The weather had turned cold so everyone had started wearing long sleeves. Finding a guy with a tattoo would have been almost impossible. That had left the ball squarely in his court and he’d never tried to make contact.
At first she’d felt relieved because her behavior that night had been so atypical. The anonymity of it had brought out a side she’d never acknowledged and she’d been embarrassed about her lack of restraint. But when her embarrassment had faded, she’d been left with a feeling of unfinished business.
Since logically he’d researched who she was, why had he made no attempt to get in touch? If nothing else, he could have sent an anonymous bouquet. Was he embarrassed, too? Or was she that forgettable? Had she been part of some initiation ritual and therefore of no use to him after the fact? He’d left her with a bunch of questions that had plagued her for weeks. Months, actually.
So now it was payback time. Eventually she’d get some answers, but she didn’t plan to grill him just yet. First she’d play a little cat and mouse. Game on.
Chapter Three
Something had changed between them. Garrett wasn’t sure what had caused it, but Jocelyn’s behavior was subtly different. He couldn’t say whether the shift was good or bad, just different. In the short time they had left he had no chance to analyze it. Keying her address into his phone, he promised to pick her up at quarter to six.
Then he spent the afternoon setting up a server for a new client, which didn’t give him an opportunity to think about Jocelyn until he came home for a quick shower and change of clothes. His offer to drive her to dinner had been the gentlemanly thing to do but that hadn’t been his motivation. He simply liked being with her.
His inner debate about whether to tell her about Halloween was ongoing, but meanwhile they were getting along really well. He was sorely tempted to leave that memory stashed in the closet where it belonged. He didn’t regret that night, not for a minute, but their relationship could progress more naturally for her without throwing that episode into the mix.
Oh, right, he was keeping the secret for her sake. Honesty made him admit that wasn’t the only reason, and probably not the main reason. Her view of him would definitely change once she knew, and he was nervous about that. At twenty-one he’d been enough of a goofball to barge into a sorority house uninvited and hang upside down from a railing in hopes of a kiss. He’d matured since then and she seemed to like the person he was now. Why mess with that?
Well, because it wasn’t fair that he knew and she didn’t. So he’d have to tell her, but maybe not until after they’d made it through this caper. Revealing his identity now might throw her off and she wouldn’t be as effective in her dealings with Pearson. The fate of BMUS was the priority.
And a damned fine excuse that was, too. He’d perfected his ability to rationalize until it was nearly an art form.
But he couldn’t very well blurt it out on the short drive from her apartment to Charlotte’s townhouse because they’d have no time to discuss it. He wasn’t going to announce it in front of Tony and Charlotte, either. Maybe on the drive home. Or not.
After parking in a visitor space, he located her building and climbed the outside stairs to the second floor. He was glad she’d chosen a second-floor unit. Only one way in and out was a far safer bet than a ground floor with window access.
She answered the door right away and his brain stalled. She didn’t look the least bit lawyerly now. Maybe she really did like him because she’d certainly dressed as if she wanted to get his attention. And that perfume . . . damn. The spicy scent triggered potent memories that could get him into trouble.
There was no way she could know it, but her light blue transparent blouse reminded him of the harem outfit she’d worn on Halloween night. The stretchy tank top underneath emphasized the swell of her breasts and saliva pooled in his mouth. She’d left the blouse unbuttoned and tied at her waist, which seemed like a subtle invitation to untie it.
She’d taken her hair down, too, and it was loose around her shoulders the way it had been that night. He shoved his hands in the pockets of his slacks so he wouldn’t reach out and run his fingers through it. She also must have popped in contacts because she wasn’t wearing her frameless glasses.
She wore jeans, or what he guessed were jeans, although they didn’t seem to have any button or zipper. They were skintight and short, only going past her knees. Her shoes were the kind with straps and high, skinny heels. He’d heard someone call them do-me shoes and he’d have to agree with that label.
From her cherry red lips to her red-painted toenails she looked like a woman who wanted to be seduced. And he was just the guy to do it. He remembered the taste of her, the feel of her. He’d loved the way her breasts had fit perfectly in his cupped hands. She was so sensitive that he’d been able to make her come just by –
“Garrett?” She peered up at him. “Are you okay?”
He snapped out of it, and fast. “Yeah, sorry. I was thinking about something.”
“Apparently. You looked catatonic. Anyway, I’m ready.” She grabbed a shoulder purse from a table next to the door. “Let’s go.”
He had to stop and think where they were going. Oh, yeah. Dinner with Tony and Charlotte. “After you.” He followed her down the stairs and did his best not to ogle the fit of her stretch jeans. He failed. “It’s the black SUV.”
“Figures.”
“It does?” Helping her into the passenger seat was also the gentlemanly thing to do, but breathing in her perfume and touching the warm silkiness of her hand made him long to get this evening over so they could come back here and let nature take its course.
“You’re a man of mystery, so black suits you.”
“I’m not all that mysterious. Pretty much WYSIWYG.”
“I’ve heard that before but I’ve forgotten what it stands for.”
“What You See Is What You Get.”
“Ah.” Her blue gaze traveled over him and her voice was uncharacteristically husky. “And what would I get with you?”
He swallowed. “Anything you want.”
“Nice to hear.”
He debated whether to ask if she wanted to bail on the dinner and go back inside. They could call Tony and Charlotte and say something had come up. If she continued to look at him like that, something would.
She smiled. “We should get going or we’ll be late.”
“Right. Buckle up.” He closed her door and walked around to the driver’s side. He had both a personal and professional obligation to keep the dinner date with Tony and Charlotte. But once he climbed behind the wheel and got another whiff of her tempting perfume, he didn’t give a damn about being professional.
He inserted the key but didn’t start the engine. Instead he glanced at her. “We could cancel.”
She laughed softly. “And do what, Garrett?”
“Spend a little time together.” His groin tightened. “Get to know each other better.”
“Hm.” Her eyes sparkled. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
“God, I hope so. I’d really –”
“Let’s go to this dinner, okay? After that . . . “ She ran her tongue over h
er lips. “We’ll see what happens.”
He blew out a breath. “All right.” He started the engine and concentrated on backing out of the spot without hitting something. “We probably do need to go.”
“We do. A run-through will make us all more confident about tomorrow.”
“I know. Tomorrow’s important. Extremely important. I don’t want to lose sight of that, but I got off track because you look so . . . different.” He pulled out onto the street.
“That was on purpose.”
“Yeah?” Although his heart was racing, he forced himself to pay attention to traffic. It was heavy and they didn’t need to get into a fender bender.
“I wanted to turn you on.”
“You sure as hell did.” He gripped the steering wheel and tried to breathe normally. “One look at that outfit and my tongue was hanging out.”
“I’ve heard that men like the idea of a woman who’s cool and professional in public and a tiger in the bedroom.”
He choked back a moan.
“Would that be true of you?”
He gulped. “Yeah, yeah it would. That’s an arousing combo.”
“I had a feeling.” She took a deep breath. “By the way, what’s that symphony?”
“Oh, sorry.” He switched it off. He’d been so engrossed in the conversation he hadn’t heard it.
“Sounded like Wagner.”
“It is.”
“Intense.”
“I know. My friends hate it.”
“But you love it?”
“I do.” He appreciated the fact that she’d refrained from criticizing his choice of music. She hadn’t said that she liked it, but she hadn’t told him it sounded like a funeral dirge, which was the kind of comment his buddies tended to make.
“I’ve sensed all along that you’re a passionate guy and that music confirms it. Considering what may be happening later on tonight, we should get to know more about each other, don’t you think?”
“Like what?”
“Got a girlfriend?”
“No. I wouldn’t be talking to you like this if I did. You don’t have a boyfriend, do you?”
“What do you think?”
“I think you don’t. You don’t strike me as the kind of woman who would come onto a guy if there’s someone else.”
“You’re right, I wouldn’t. If fact, I’m not usually so bold with a man I’ve just met.”
“Oh?”
“I usually take my time getting to know someone first. But there’s something about you that really gets to me.”
“You get to me, too.”
She leaned back in her seat. “I guess I feel the need to explain my behavior because I don’t want you to think I’m a one-night-stand kind of girl.”
“I don’t think that.” He never had, even after their episode in the sorority house, which could almost be considered a one-night stand. Her initial hesitation before their kiss had told him that she wouldn’t normally have become involved with a stranger.
He wondered if she was being guided by instinct now because her body knew who he was even if she didn’t. That would be kind of cool. Maybe this could work out so that they reconnected sexually before he had to tell her about Halloween night. He imagined both of them feeling mellow and satisfied after really great orgasms. He’d say I have something funny to tell you. And they’d laugh about it together.
“So tell me about yourself, Garrett. What made you decide to become a cyber cop? Does it have anything to do with your taste in music?”
He’d never thought of it that way. “It’s possible. I love a battle between good and evil. Outwitting hackers is like handcuffing the bad guys. And I’m good at it.” Where had that boast come from? He didn’t usually say such things out loud.
“That’s what Charlotte says. According to her, BMUS has four of the smartest tech guys around. She loves working there.”
“Let’s face it. She loves Tony.”
“She does. But she also enjoys hanging out with you and the Krause brothers. She says it’s a stimulating environment. She feels lucky to be part of it.”
“That’s great to hear.” He pulled in front of the townhouse Charlotte now shared with Tony. “For the record, I’m very glad she recommended you for this job.”
She gave him a sultry smile. “So am I. You can’t imagine how glad I am.”
As he absorbed the suggestive gleam in her eyes, he fought the urge to drive away again. Instead he cut the engine. “Maybe later you can show me.”
“Oh, I plan to.” She unbuckled her seat belt.
For one wild second he thought she might lean over and kiss him. He would have been fine with that.
Instead she opened her door. “Let’s go in.”
Because he had to grab his laptop, he didn’t make it around to her side until she was already out. After their heated conversation during the drive he wasn’t sure how to act. Should he take her hand? Put his arm around her?
She hoisted her purse over her shoulder and paused to glance up at him. “Obviously we have chemistry.”
“Yep.”
“But I’d prefer to keep our interaction professional while we’re with Charlotte and Tony.”
“Okay.” So no touching, after all. “I understand.” He walked beside her up to the door. “After all, we’re supposed to be role playing that we hate each other.”
“Exactly.” She rang the doorbell.
He composed his thoughts and vowed not to let them stray toward what might happen once they left here tonight. Time for dinner and a show.
They ate first because the food was ready and Garrett admitted he was starving. Charlotte had made no pretense of having slaved over a hot stove. She announced immediately that she’d bought a pan of frozen lasagna, bakery rolls, a pre-mixed salad and a dozen brownies, also from the bakery.
“I love the way you pulled this together at the last minute,” Jocelyn said. “When you work full time it’s tough to also be queen of the kitchen.”
“I wouldn’t want to be, anyway. Tony and I have the resources to hire a cook, but then you sacrifice a certain amount of privacy. I like this solution just fine.”
“It’s great.” Garrett drank the last of his wine, which had helped take the edge off the sexual buzz he’d had going on when he’d walked in. Jocelyn had maintained the professional attitude she’d suggested, and that had helped, too.
Tony stood. “But it’s time to get this show on the road. You can leave the dishes. One luxury we’ve allowed ourselves is having someone come in the morning after a gathering to clean up.”
Garrett walked into the living room and picked up his laptop from the coffee table where he’d left it. He sat on the sofa to go over the saved file while Jocelyn gave them a quick explanation of the plan.
“Sounds good,” Tony said. “How should we block it out?”
Garrett shut down his laptop and stood. “The more I think about it, the more I see it all unfolding in your office. What if you call us all in to meet Jocelyn? Wouldn’t that make the most sense?”
“Maybe we should have invited Rylan and Fraser,” Charlotte said.
Tony shook his head. “Unnecessary. Their job is to stand there and look puzzled. I’ll text them tonight. That’s good enough. The four of us should be the only ones talking.”
“I’d like us to have some object representing Pearson, though,” Jocelyn said. “Psychologically I think we need to remember that he’ll be there listening. How about a dining room chair?”
“Hang on. I have just the thing.” Charlotte ran upstairs and came back with a wilted potted plant. “This has some kind of fungus and I’ve been meaning to throw it out but I keep thinking it might be salvageable.”
“It’s not,” Jocelyn said. “I had a plant that did that and you need to cut your losses.”
“Duly noted. But for now, it represents Pearson.” Charlotte set it on a table next to the sofa.
Jocelyn laughed. “A fungus infested plant is
perfect. So let’s say the living room is Tony’s office.”
“Garrett and I can come in from the kitchen and find you two in here,” Charlotte said. “Tony, sit on the sofa and pretend the coffee table is your desk.”
“I’ll take an armchair,” Jocelyn said.
Charlotte led the way into the kitchen. “You two seem to be getting along,” she murmured.
“We are.” He hoped that sounded pleasantly neutral, but from the way Charlotte glanced at him he doubted it.
“That’s good. I –”
“Action!” Jocelyn called from the living room.
Garrett walked in behind Charlotte and mentally rehearsed his role as Tony made the introductions. But when the moment arrived when he was supposed to start being critical of Jocelyn, he couldn’t do it. She was wonderful. How could he pretend otherwise?
Leaving her chair, she faced him squarely, her color high. “You’re not saying much, Garrett Upton, but I can tell you don’t like me.”
“I don’t like your methods.” He noticed Tony rolling his eyes.
“You’re weasel-wording it! We don’t get along and we never have. You might as well admit that you don’t respect me!”
And he’d thought this would be easy. “No, I don’t!” He made himself say it. “You don’t care whether what you do is right or wrong. You’re only worried about getting paid!” That’s when he saw the redhead fury she’d described to him.
She got right in his face, her blue eyes twin points of flame. “You holier-than-thou bastard. You dare hold me to some pure standard of honesty? Are you saying you’ve never bent the rules? If not, then you’re some kind of saint, but if you have, you’re a hypocrite, mister!”
He told himself she was acting, but it felt real and her accusation was justified. He was a hypocrite for not telling her immediately about the episode seven years ago. He should have. The minute they’d been alone in that conference room he should have spilled his guts instead of evading the issue.
A Nerd to Remember (Nerds & Geeks Book 4) Page 3