Kidnapped Hearts

by Cait Jarrod

  “No. I saw Nicholas at the beach house.”

  Jake’s eyebrows furrowed. “When?”

  “After leaving the beach, I thought it was you coming up behind me, but it was Nicholas.”

  Steve leaned forward, looked past Pamela, and scowled at Jake.

  “Shut up, Steve.” Jake transformed his glower to kindness as he refocused on Pamela. “I saw a figure near you. I tried to get to you when a Scorpion decided to use me for a football dummy.”

  “What did he want?” Steve asked.

  “Bearer bonds.” She wrung her hands together.

  “Nicholas has gotten himself into a hairy ordeal. Agents have been watching him and a man named Peter Jameson,” Steve supplied.

  “Nicholas’ business partner?” Pamela interrupted.

  “That’s the one. Until recently, we didn’t understand their tiff with each other. Since they were small fry compared to the sharks we wanted, the decision was made to put them under surveillance and hope that they’d lead us to the mastermind. We waited for the right moment to move in. Now that we have a clear picture of the situation, both men have disappeared.”

  “Which is?”

  Steve lifted his gaze from the twig he’d been breaking apart and glanced at Pamela. “What?”

  “What is the clear picture? What is Nicholas involved in?”

  “He and Jameson have been stealing bearer bonds, the older version bonds that can’t be traced. They’ve been doing this for years. Although, it just came to the FBI’s attention within the last six months. Jameson’s already a wealthy man, but he wanted to be in the limelight, so he made contact with America’s number one enemy, Sanjar. He’s using the money from the bonds to help Sanjar fund his projects.”

  “I don’t understand. How does that involve Nicholas?”

  “Nicholas didn’t give Jameson his share of the bonds from the last few heists.”

  A wave of dizziness hit Pamela. She slumped forward, holding her head in her hands and staring at the ground. “The bearer bonds were in the books he gave me.”

  “Yes,” Steve affirmed. The stick he just picked up snapped in two.

  “He has a terrorist after me?” Pamela’s voice shook as she spoke.

  She felt Steve move slightly, as if nodding. Though she couldn’t see his answer, she knew it was yes. Her hand flew to her mouth as tears spilled. “What about the Black Scorpions? Why are they after me?”

  “The answer is kind of tricky.”

  Steve pulled a handful of power bars out of his duffel bag and handed one to Pamela, the other to Jake before biting into the last. “It seems the gang has divided, half joined Wine, while the other half allied with Jameson.”

  “Why?”

  “Heck, Pamela, you should be an investigator with all these questions.” Steve bumped her again. “I’m kidding.”

  She bit into her bar with more force than necessary. “I’m not in the mood.”

  “I know. Again, I’m sorry. I was hoping I’d get you to laugh.”

  Jake balled up his wrapper and stuck it in the corner of Steve’s bag, then slid his hand behind Pamela’s back, resting it on the side of her waist. “Steve, why the division?”

  “You’ll like this. At least half of the Scorpion gang blames Sanjar for their boss’s death. They want nothing to do with him.” Steve grabbed Pamela’s wrapper and stuffed it into his bag.

  Jake groaned. “Moving away from the subject of the Black Scorpions, we need to talk about the leak within the Bureau. I believe it’s in our office.”

  Steve nodded. “Larry told me his concerns.” He zipped and adjusted his bag. “What do you know?”

  “During the assault tonight, I came across an agent who told me in so many words that he had another job to do in addition to surveillance. When it came down to it, the agent remained an agent and couldn’t finish the job.”

  Forehead wrinkling, Pamela asked, “You mean he was corrupt?”

  Jake nodded. “He started to tell me who gave him the orders when he stopped breathing.”

  “Any other information?” Steve asked.

  Jake cut his eye to Pamela and crossed his arms. “In private.”

  Pamela’s back straightened. “You’d think as much as I’ve seen there would be no secrets.”

  “Not secrets. Work.” Steve chucked her under her chin, and then motioned for Jake to follow him.

  Pamela twisted her hands and watched them walk away, her surroundings making her nervous.

  Sirens blared. With every sound, she jumped. The firefighters were probably trying to save the house. The thought of the house being destroyed gnawed at her. Yet again, this was her fault.

  She shoved the guilt away and put her soggy shoes on. The material didn’t feel good, but judging from the terrain they were about to walk, covering her feet would be best. With that done, Pamela sat in silence, hoping Jake and Steve’s conversation would finish shortly.

  “Sanjar has to be taken out, or you’ll never be able to live in peace.” The night was clear, and the sound drifted. Pamela could hear Steve’s voice as clear as if she stood beside them. She leaned closer, waiting for Jake’s reply.

  “I know. Are you with me?”

  Pamela gasped.

  Chapter Seventeen

  The three-mile hike to town took almost two hours. Pamela’s feet were burning when they arrived at the front door of the bed and breakfast. If they hadn’t taken so many pit stops to give her poor feet a reprieve, they would have shaved at least half an hour from their trek. Not that resting helped. Her shoes were too wet. She looked at the guys’ feet. They also had washed their boots off in the water and had no problem wearing them. “I’m sorry I had to stop so much.”

  Jake rang the bell. “Not a problem. Convincing Mrs. Wadsworth to let us have a room might be a problem this late at night.”

  After a few seconds, Jake pushed the doorbell again. The door creaked opened. Mrs. Wadsworth wore a plaid flannel nightgown, covered with a terry cloth robe, and curlers in her hair. Confusion wrinkled her face before recognition shined in her eyes. “Betty and Ed.” She clapped her hands together as her eyes shifted back and forth between them. “I’ve been so worried.” She hugged Pamela, then Jake. “I heard the loud noise, saw the sky catch fire, and I woke Alfred. He doesn’t like being disturbed, but I got him up anyway,” Sylvia rambled. “I left Alfred in the main house and came to the bed and breakfast, hoping I might catch the news on the TV. As big as my house is, you wouldn’t think the TV would keep him awake, but it does.”

  Jake cleared his throat. “Mrs. Wadsworth.”

  “Sylvia, dear, please.” She grasped Jake’s arm and Pamela’s wrist. “Where are my manners?” Together, she yanked them over the threshold. “Now you two will want a room. I have the perfect one for you.” She shut the door, and it opened.

  Her eyes bulged as if she had seen a ghost. Steve walked inside and stretched out his hand. “Hi, I’m a friend of Pa…”

  Jake elbowed him as Pamela said, “This is Todd. He’s a friend.” She smiled, proud of herself for producing a fake name.

  Sylvia clapped her hands again. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Todd. Any friend of Betty’s and Ed’s is a friend of mine. Were you at the house, too? What on earth could have happened to cause such a glow in the sky?” She held up a finger. “I’ll be right back.”

  “Wow, she’s exhausting,” Pamela murmured as her eyes landed on a glass figurine in the shape of a ship, “but very sweet.”

  “Here we are.” Sylvia held up a tray, carrying the room keys and coffees. “Breakfast will be ready in the morning.”

  “That’s a beautiful figurine.” Pamela pointed to the delicate glass piece in the center of a small table in the foyer.

  “Yes, it’s a replica of the ship we have filling the third floor of the main house.” Sylvia pointed at Jake and Pamela, ignoring their confused expression. “You two will be upstairs in the room on the right. It has a private bath, so no one can bother you
two lovebirds.”

  Pamela’s eyes popped. She would be sharing a bed with Jake. The surge of warmth that spread through her body sent mixed signals. She grasped the finials on the banister and rubbed the ball. To the north, her brain told her to take it slow. To the south, her body urged to bring it on. A shudder ran through her.

  “You okay, Betty?” Jake kissed her cheek, his eyes twinkling.

  “Now, you two get upstairs and get in that shower. You’re a mess, and you smell. I’m so glad you weren’t in the house when it went up in flames. Do you know what happened?”

  “No,” Jake answered while each of them shook their heads.

  Sylvia patted her throat. “For the life of me, I think a bomb went off in it. I’m going to have to call the owners. You know, they live in Key West. They won’t be happy.” She sighed. “Oh, my. I hope they don’t hold me accountable.”

  Pamela coughed. “I don’t mean to interrupt, but I need to use—”

  “You have to pee. I get it.” Sylvia grasped Jake and Pamela’s hands and leaned forward. “You were having a little rendezvous, weren’t you? That’s why you weren’t in the house.”

  “Um…” Pamela stared.

  “Oh, I’m sorry. I’m keeping you.” She waved, shooing them. “Go. And here you go, young man.” She gave Steve his key. He raced up the stairs, taking them two at a time. “Your room is to the left, and your bathroom is down the hall,” Sylvia yelled after him. “Oh, me.”

  Jake unlocked their bedroom. The faint aroma of vanilla drifted from within. Blue Iris wallpaper adorned the walls like her Grand Ann’s bedroom. Pamela’s mouth dropped open.

  “Everything okay?” Jake closed the door and removed his boots.

  “Yes, I love the wallpaper.” Pamela perused the room. A fireplace was situated in the middle of one wall with a rocker and a loveseat in front of it. A washstand and a wardrobe were on the opposite side. A high queen size bed nestled in an alcove. She’d have to jump to get on it. A homemade quilt covered the sheets, making it more inviting.

  The tub turned on.

  She inched toward the hearth and peeked around the corner.

  She caught a glimpse of skin as Jake passed the open door. She moistened her lips, turned away, and sat in the rocker. Maybe the motion of the rocker would calm her nerves. She didn’t want a repeat of Jake’s dismissal—the be patient comment—or a pity kiss. She thought about his reaction after he freed her from that man. He didn’t seem to have any reservations about kissing her then. Maybe, he wouldn’t now.

  She sucked in a deep breath, and the image of fire in the sky came to mind. That beautiful house was gone. Exhausted, her head fell backwards, clunking on the wooden chair.

  The top of the chair tipped back. “Don’t beat yourself up.”

  She gasped and covered her face. “Jake, don’t do that.”

  He rubbed her arms, then drifted lower. “I didn’t mean to scare you, Betty.” A kiss followed by, “Boop.”

  She swung out of the chair and playfully hit his bare chest. His hand covered hers, stilling her. Slowly, her fingers came to life and started caressing the small patch of curly hair. This was the second time within twenty-four hours she’d seen him half dressed. She pinched her lips together, attempting to control her body’s reaction.

  “Ready for a bath?”

  Hell, yeah. Her lips curled into a slow smile.

  “Good, but I think you have too many clothes on.” His voice was laden with sex as the corners of his mouth lifted. With hooded eyes, he lifted his shirt from her body. His hands shook as they moved to her stomach, then slowly traveled higher. The tips of his fingers brushed the underside of her breasts and over their buds, sending waves of want through her body. She popped the button on her shorts and pushed them along with her underwear down, then snagged his towel. The boldness she experienced earlier in the evening had returned. Her breath paused as her eyes landed on his body’s glorious part. The one she’d been dying to meet.

  He chuckled. “I love a woman who knows what she wants.”

  Pamela slowed her rash movements. Did he mean what he said? Love? She closed her eyes and pulled her lips inward. Stop it. Her eyes opened. “Jake.”

  She saw the naked emotion in his eyes. He threaded his arms beneath her shoulders, pulling her tight against his body.

  “Jake, I have to say this.” Her hands dropped to her side and eased back, putting space between them. “Whatever you’re doing, don’t you dare do it out of pity.”

  It was as if her words deflated him. The expression that crossed his face looked stricken, yet his dark pools gave nothing away as he met her eyes. “I’m not,” he admitted, then lowered his head and nuzzled into her neck. His hands went to her waist, where they squeezed lightly before traveling to her buttocks, closing the gap between them.

  With him stroking her, she couldn’t think, and she needed to. She needed to be certain of his intentions. If she offered herself to him as she had tried to before, and he pushed her away, what then?

  He tugged on her arms, flattening her breasts against his chest. His manhood pressed against her stomach, and his eyes bored into hers. “I lied.”

  The comment made her dizzy. Millions of thoughts twirled around in her mind as to what he was referring to until it finally sunk in. He lied about why he had kissed her in the hospital.

  Instead of his admission calming her, annoyance bit at her consciousness. A mangled noise leaked. “What bullshit!”

  Holding her to him, so she couldn’t flee, he said, “I tried to stay away.”

  She blinked, keeping her tears at bay. “You tried to stay away from what?”

  He feather-touched the back of her neck, ducked his head, then breathed, “From this.” His lips met hers.

  A bolt of electricity rocketed through her bloodstream, rendering her motionless. Not knowing what to do, she stared at his face. His eyes were closed as his lips motivated hers to respond. When she didn’t, he opened his eyes. The pull from his gaze enticed at her insides. She felt a light squeeze around her waist, and he nibbled her lower lip. Her body stirred. The rush of want overtook her, and her fingers traveled up his body.

  He groaned. The sound of it was so sensually intriguing that her body hummed. She slanted into him, and when another sound low in his throat escaped him, it reverberated to her chest. Suddenly, touching him everywhere at once seemed urgent. Frantically, she continued her exploration.

  He raised her feet off the floor. Warm, firm lips found the hollow of her neck until he hit a door, stopping him. Vibrant blues stared down at her as her feet met the floor. “You’re gorgeous.”

  She blushed. They were moving too fast. Yesterday, he dismissed her. How could he change up so quickly?

  “Pamela.”

  “Jake, I didn’t think you—” She closed her eyes and let out a deep breath. “—wanted to be near me.”

  He cradled her to him and rested his chin against her hair. “You have to understand. It isn’t wise for me to get involved with you, not during a case.” He swallowed. “When it comes to you, I can’t shake the hold you have on me. My body and soul want to be with you.”

  Her eyes met his, and her body did an internal happy dance.

  Pamela grinned, slipping her leg between his. His rock hard erection pressed against her. She licked his bottom lip, then bit it gently. A second later, she glided away, enjoying the surprise on his face. She strolled into the bathroom to the half-full tub of water.

  He followed her there and slid into the water ahead of her. “Ready?”

  She sat in front of him, and his legs straddled her. Grasping her shoulder, he eased her back against his chest and his hard body. The tips of her breasts bobbed above the water.

  A gentle breeze touched her neck. She tucked her chin and studied him out of the corner of her eye. He blew again.

  “You’re cold,” he teased. His forefinger and thumb tweaked her nipple.

  She picked up his other hand and positioned it over h
er other breast. “I’m not cold.”

  “Hmm.” Jake kissed her temple as his fingers skimmed down the slope of her breast, down her stomach to the patch of hair between her legs.

  She nudged his arm aside. If he made contact there, she’d come unglued. She wanted that, craved it, but not yet.

  “Let’s go into the bedroom.” He squeezed her mound then stroked to the underside of her breast. “After I wash you.”

  Unable to speak, she moaned.

  Pooling shampoo into his palm, he massaged it into her hair.

  Her eyes fluttered closed, as she enjoyed his touch.

  A wet strand of hair covered her face. He replaced it with a kiss.

  She wanted him lower. He lathered soap into his hand, then used it as a washcloth along her body. Slowly, he moved to her breast, taking great care to clean every centimeter. “You feel wonderful.” The erotic touched traveled lower. “I can’t get enough of you,” he whispered in her ear as he nipped her earlobe.

  “My turn.” She reached for the shampoo.

  “Sweetie, I don’t think I could handle you washing me without exploding.” He snatched a nearby washcloth and quickly washed his body. With that done, he grasped her around the waist and skidded a hand under her legs. Water splashed over the sides of the tub as he rose, cradling her to his chest.

  “Wow,” she exhaled as his biceps flexed. Strong didn’t come close to describing the lack of effort required for him to pick her up.

  With her in his arms, he shut off the water, then moved onto the bathmat. Slowly, he released her, letting every inch of her body slide down him until her feet hit the floor.

  “Do you have protection?”

  He gazed down at her, his eyes twinkling. “I do.”

  He stole a towel from a pile on a shelf and pressed it against her. The roughness of the material combined with the pressure of his fingers raised goose bumps on her skin. Within seconds, her breathing was heavy and her body begged for more.

  “I want you,” she breathed, “in me.”

  A smile tugged the corners of his lips. “That’s where I want to be.” Bending, he sucked her rosy nipple into his mouth. Her body arched, and her fingers threaded through his hair, holding him to her. His touch felt like pure ecstasy.