Tangled Hearts

by Barbara McMahon

  “I don’t.” She glanced at the mess again before peering thoughtfully at her computer. Unlike the one at home, this one had not been damaged. “But someone might think I do, I guess,” she said slowly.

  “Like what?”

  She hesitated. She knew she could trust Jake with her life, if necessary. But she wasn’t sure how much she should tell anyone until she’d spoken with her boss.

  “Actually, I need to talk to someone else.”

  “What the hell do you mean you need to talk to someone else? You called me the minute you ran into trouble. Now you want to talk to someone else? Who?”

  “I can’t say.” She swallowed hard.

  Tension grew as he stared down at her. She could feel the sparks. She should have anticipated this and, as a precaution, should have called to get clearance. At the very least, she should have notified them what had happened.

  Only she’d never considered that anyone would think she had classified materials with her.

  “Isn’t it a little late to be thinking about the boyfriend?” Jake snarled.

  “Boyfriend?” She blinked. Was that a joke? She hadn’t had a date in over two years, and he thought she had a boyfriend?

  Why would he care if she did? He’d made it abundantly clear he no longer wanted to be considered in that role. What about Diane?

  He reached across and grabbed her arms, drawing her up close. His dark eyes were hard and narrowed as he leaned over until his nose almost touched hers. “I’m the one you called first, sweetheart. I’m the one who can help you, not some boyfriend you only just remember now.”

  She blinked, feeling the soft kiss of his breath fan across her cheeks. Her gaze took in the deep depths of his eyes accented with the faint lines that radiated from the corners, the high bones of his cheeks, the tight control he held on his mouth.

  She licked her lips, wishing he’d kiss her once more as he had long ago. If she reached up a scant four inches, she could brush her lips against his, taste him again, absorb the searing heat he generated against her skin for another second of eternity.

  “It’s classified,” she squeaked, drawing on all her reserves to keep from moving that short distance.

  Shimmering waves of desire swept through her. Blood heated through her veins and the roar in her ears almost deafened her. For years her brothers had tried to give her everything she wanted, but she’d never wanted anything as much as a single kiss from this one man.

  Time hung suspended as the world narrowed to only Brianna and Jake, blue eyes staring deep into black ones. Their hearts pounded in sync, their breaths mingling, uniting as one.

  He moved first, straightening and setting her back. Waiting only long enough to make sure she hadn’t lost her balance before releasing her, he stepped away, arching one eyebrow.

  “Classified?”

  She nodded. “About a year and a half ago, I was hired by the Strategic Air Command to do contract work in cryptography at Barksdale Air Force Base,” she said, referring to the air base in nearby Louisiana.

  “You crack codes?”

  She smiled at that. “More along the lines of encrypting than deciphering. It, uh, goes hand in hand with math.”

  “And you think someone might be looking for these codes in your possession?”

  “Which is really stupid. I wouldn’t take anything from the site, much less leave it carelessly around my house or office.”

  “Maybe whoever is behind this doesn’t necessarily know that.”

  “Then they can’t be too smart. I think it’s more likely to be your student theory. I should check in and let my boss know what’s happened.”

  “How often do you work there?”

  “It’s on an as-needed basis. I finished my last assignment just before Thanksgiving. They haven’t called me for the next one yet.”

  “How did you find out about working for them?” he asked, leaning back against the wall and crossing his arms as he stared across her office out the window.

  “How? There was an invitation to alums of UT, an ad sort of. I applied and they ran a background check and then hired me.”

  “When?” His gaze pierced her, his concentration formidable.

  “Eighteen months ago.” Suddenly she felt as if she were being interrogated. Why? She had done nothing wrong.

  “Isn’t that when you said you got your new place?”

  “It was the extra money that enabled me to afford it.”

  She pulled her cell from her pocket and tapped on her boss's number. Turning slightly for an illusion of privacy, Brianna went through the officer on duty and reached Colonel Shaefer. She quickly explained what had happened and offered Jake’s theory of a disgruntled student as a possible explanation.

  “Well?” Jake asked when she hung up.

  “He said to keep him apprised. For the time being, he’s willing to let it stay in civilian hands. Especially since he knows nothing’s been taken from the base.”

  “What happened eighteen months ago that caused you to change your life, get a new home, take on additional work? Love affair gone bad?” Jake asked softly.

  She glanced up, then shook her head in defense. There was no way she would give him the satisfaction of knowing how much he’d hurt her when he left. No way would she give him a clue.

  “Just time to change things. I need to get some order out of this mess. I probably shouldn’t have called you. I think the security guard was correct. The campus police—”

  His fingers covered her lips, stopping the flow of words. Brianna shivered, stepping back to break contact.

  “I’ll see you home. The building is practically deserted and I’m not leaving you here alone. Get what you need and we’ll go. You can come back when the staff returns.”

  “I remember how bossy you could be,” she mumbled, kneeling down to stack papers together, piling them in such a way she could carry them home. She’d spend the evening sorting and trying to restore order. And there were still the lessons to plan.

  “Bossy? This coming from the prima donna herself, who expected every man she knew to jump through hoops pleasing her?”

  “That’s not true.” She flashed him a sassy grin. “If the man in question wanted to jump, who was I to stop him?”

  Jake’s smile hit her like a lightning bolt. Slow and sexy, it spun her senses until she was reeling. She reacted as if he’d touched her. She found herself smiling back at him as she felt the strong pull of physical attraction between them. He practically oozed masculine appeal. He was too potent to just spring on someone. She needed time and space to work up a resistance strong enough to withstand that blatant virility.

  “Yeah, well, maybe your breathing makes men want to jump.”

  “Right.” Dragging her gaze away, she stacked more papers. That’s why you left two years ago.

  “What are you planning to do with all those?” he asked, stooping down to her level.

  “Take them home to sort. I can’t start work next week with this mess. I need to get it all in some kind of order before school starts again.”

  “Wait until the staff gets back.”

  “No, I can get a lot done over the next few days.”

  “Tomorrow’s New Year’s Eve.”

  “So?” she said. Remembering Diane and the date she’d heard confirmed, Brianna wished he hadn’t mentioned it.

  “So what are you doing? A hot date?”

  She shook her head, keeping her gaze firmly on the pages she was sorting. Her face grew stiff trying to hold a neutral expression. She should not have called him.

  His fingers reached for her chin and tilted her head to face him. “No hot date?”

  “No date, hot or otherwise,” she said in a whisper.

  If he said one disparaging thing, she’d dump the stack of papers on him and storm out. It was no longer any of his business what she did with her nights.

  His thumb gently caressed her lower lip, brushing back and forth slowly as his eyes tracked its journey
. “Brie honey, he isn’t worth it.”

  She could scarcely think. His touch drove her crazy—crazy with longings, yearnings that evolved from deep within and clamored to be assuaged.

  “Who?” she whispered, mesmerized by the soft touch of his thumb, the heat from his body, the scent filling her nostrils. She wanted nothing more than to spend the rest of her life with this man.

  “The bastard who hurt you. Don’t hide away from things because of him.”

  She blinked and sat back on her heels, pulling away from his hand. He watched her warily. He hadn’t a clue that he was the man who had hurt her! She couldn’t believe it. He sat there and advised her against himself. She almost wanted to laugh. If she hadn’t wanted to cry so much she might have.

  Scrambling to her feet, she picked up the papers she’d already gathered. “You don’t need to worry about me, Jake. I’m managing just fine. I like my life the way it is,” she lied. She dumped the stack on her desk, then frantically gathered up another pile.

  “Brianna--”

  “Really, Jake. I’m fine. Go on and have fun tomorrow with Diane.” She closed her eyes in anguish. She hadn’t said that, had she? Someone please tell her she hadn’t said that. Oh, lord, couldn’t the floor swallow her up?

  “How do you know about Diane?” His voice was cool.

  “I heard it somewhere. I’m ready. If you’ll just give me a hand to my car, I can manage from there. I’m sure I’ll be all right at home. I have the new lock and the bad guys won’t be coming back. There’s nothing there they would be interested in and—”

  His finger stopped the words again.

  “I’ll see you home.”

  Brianna remained silent as they walked down the deserted halls, conscious of her footsteps echoing loudly while she could scarcely hear Jake’s silent tread. She thanked him politely as he delivered the stacks of papers to the passenger side, then held her car door open. She slammed it shut and started the engine right away. She wanted to get home, close her door and be alone.

  He stayed right behind her during the short drive home. He was out of his car and over to hers before she could gather up all her papers. He accompanied her up the walkway, never touching, yet seeming to surround her completely. In other circumstances, she'd have welcomed his attentiveness. Now she wanted him to leave.

  “Thanks for seeing me home,” she said, refusing to look at him lest her feelings showed.

  “Call me if anything else happens,” he ordered.

  She shrugged. “What else could?”

  “Call me!”

  She took a deep breath, nodded for the sake of expediency in getting rid of him, her eyes firmly on the knot of his tie.

  But when he captured her face in the warm palms of his hands, she was lost. He raised her up for his kiss, his lips warm and firm, moving in a long-remembered caress that excited and soothed, that inflamed and enticed. Brianna responded instantly, like gasoline to a match. Heat flared and consumed her. She wanted more, wanted to step into his embrace, encircle his neck with her arms and press herself against him in a mating as old as time. She ached with wanting him to open her mouth with his and plunge into the welcome she’d so gladly offer. She yearned for him to touch her with hot hands that would learn her secrets and teach her new ones. She wished he wanted her as desperately as she wanted him.

  But he pulled back after a brief kiss, his eyes flickering, his expression giving nothing away.

  “Happy New Year, Brie,” he said.

  She watched as he walked away, her heart pounding, her cheeks flushed and hot. She wished she had nerve enough to call him back. Yet she knew he wouldn’t come. He’d left two years ago after all. Nothing had changed. Slowly she entered her house.

  Brianna spent the next two days sorting papers. She found notes for classes, grading sheets for students, drafts for journal articles all mixed together in the piles she’d collected. Sorting everything kept her occupied, kept her from thinking about Jake.

  New Year’s Eve she went to bed just after ten. Trying desperately not to imagine Jake and his date at some party, trying to pretend she didn’t mind being home alone on another New Year’s Eve, she climbed into bed with a mystery she’d been wanting to read. It couldn’t hold her attention. Finally she dozed off, murder mixing with dancing and Jake pursuing the killer and then her.

  The phone rang. Blinking, Brianna awakened and reached for it. She frowned. It was after midnight. She’d fallen asleep with the lights on.

  “Hello?”

  “Happy New Year, Brie.” The deep, familiar voice warmed her to her toes.

  “Happy New Year, Jake,” she said softly, closing her eyes to better savor the happiness that bubbled up at his call. “Where are you?”

  “I’m at the policeman's ball. Where are you?”

  “In bed.”

  “Alone?” he asked sharply.

  She giggled a little, then caught her bottom lip with her teeth to keep from crying. “Yes, not that it’s any business of yours. And you’re with Diane.”

  “I’d asked her a while ago. She’s just a friend, Brie.”

  She started, suddenly wide-awake. Jake was not one to give explanations. Why explain this? She would much rather have had an explanation two years ago. How did he expect her to respond?

  “Is it a nice party?”

  “As these things go. They start off fine, then the guys get down to talking shop.”

  “Is Diane with the police department?”

  “You don’t want to know about Diane, Brie. Were you asleep?”

  “I was reading.”

  “A mystery?”

  “Of course, what else?”

  In the background, Brianna could hear someone call Jake. The woman’s voice sounded full of laughter.

  “I’ve got to go.”

  “Happy New Year, Jake. Thanks for calling.”

  Brianna hung up in total confusion.

  Why had he called? If he hadn’t happened to respond to her call about the break-in, she wouldn’t have seen him again. He hadn’t said anything about seeing her socially.

  Yet it seemed a very personal thing, calling to wish her a happy New Year so soon after midnight. Especially when he was on a date with another woman.

  She knew she'd never understand him in a thousand years. Giving up, she snuggled down and soon fell back to sleep.

  Two days later, the classes resumed. Brianna went to work early, anxious to get her office cleaned up now that the rest of the staff was back to work. The building resounded with the calls of students, the click of high heels, the stomp of boots.

  The bustle was common and comforting. She plunged into the mess, determined to get it all under control as quickly as she could.

  Brianna glanced at the clock from time to time. She wiped her hands on her wool slacks and stared out her small window. It had been repaired. The sun shone in. It made the room feel warmer.

  She planned to invite Jake to dinner, to thank him for coming to her rescue, so to speak. As soon as she gathered enough courage to call him.

  The idea had come to her when she awoke New Year’s Day. She'd wanted to call right away, then decided she'd better think the invitation through first. She didn’t want to make it seem more than it was, merely a thank-you for his help.

  Right. If that was all she wanted, she could send him a card. How long had she been staring out the window? She darted another look at the clock. He'd be at work by now if he wasn’t already out in the field somewhere. No time like the present to call.

  In a minute.

  Finally, chiding herself for her foolishness and cowardice, she tapped in the number. Taking a deep breath, she pinned a bright smile on her face, hoping it would help her sound carefree and casual when she issued the invitation.

  “Morgan,” he growled.

  “Jake, it’s Brianna.”

  There was a moment’s silence on the other end. “Another break-in?” he asked.

  “No. Everything’s fine. Act
ually, I was calling to invite you to dinner Friday night.” She said it in a rush. She grimaced. She'd meant to be calm and casual. Too late now. She held her breath, awaiting his answer.

  The silence ticked by slowly. Brianna could hear her heart beat, slow, nervous, heavy. The bright smile faded. He was going to refuse.

  “I don’t think so, Brie, but thanks,” he said at last.

  “Okay. It was just a thought. I meant it as a thank-you for coming over when my office was broken into. No big deal.” Her throat ached with disappointment.

  “It’s part of the service, ma’am.” He was all cop.

  “Right. Nice to know Texarkana's finest are so prompt when called for help. Thanks again.” She tapped end before she made even a bigger fool of herself.

  She looked up at the ceiling, blinking furiously. She would not cry over the rejection. Going into the call, she’d known he probably wouldn’t want to see her again, unless she needed a policeman, of course.

  Slowly she rubbed the ache in her chest. She was used to it now. She’d had it in one form or another for two years. But sometimes it still hurt fiercely. And after his attention the past few days, she might have been excused for thinking he might come for a simple thank-you dinner.

  The phone on her desk rang. She jumped at the unexpected sound and looked at it resentfully. Gathering up her notebook and purse, she let it ring as she headed out to her first class. She’d be early, but the walk would calm her down and she could get started putting some of the problems on the blackboard before the students drifted in. She had work to do. She couldn’t be fretting over a tall, dark man who had already left her once before.

  Where was she? She'd just called. Wasn't she at work? Jake slammed down the receiver.

  It was just as well. He had no business seeing her for dinner. It would remind him too much of other dinners they had shared, of other evenings spent together. Yet he’d heard the disappointment in her voice.

  He wouldn’t have deliberately hurt her for the world.

  Chapter Three

  Brianna recognized his car as soon as she turned onto her street. What was Jake doing here? He’d made his feelings very clear on the phone earlier. Now what?