But he’d shown up on her doorstep with red velvet cheesecake his chef had made.
“Tell me about your meeting.”
He shook his head. “Later. I want to know what happened with you today.”
“Not much,” she admitted, then held up a hand to stop him when he opened his mouth. “But I overheard Laney and Braden talking. They said the FBI hadn’t contacted them in a few days, but they were keeping their guard up. Braden told Laney not to erase any records and that he had nothing to hide in regards to the Parkers.”
Jack’s eyes held hers, but he said nothing. She wasn’t delivering case-breaking news, but she had to tell him everything she’d heard, learned...except for the the piece of evidence that was burning a hole in her conscience.
“Something else happen?” he asked.
Viv pulled herself from her thoughts. Those midnight eyes still penetrated her, as if he were trying to read her thoughts...as if he could read her thoughts.
“Not today, but Braden said Mac was flying in on Monday and he’d be in the office all next week.”
“Why?”
Viv shrugged. “They didn’t say, but I’m working three full days next week and I’ll find out then.”
Jack raked a hand down his face and blew out a breath. “This is so damn frustrating. For years they flaunted their lifestyle in the face of law enforcement. Luckily, I work for myself and I don’t have to stick so close to the rules.”
Viv didn’t want to see him struggle, didn’t like that she’d found so little for him to go on. “I tried to engage Laney in conversation about the babies, but a client called and she was pulled away. Then I had to leave for Katie’s doctor’s appointment.”
Jack shoved his hands in his pockets and glanced at the ceiling. Watching him battle with this frustration was more difficult than Viv had thought it would be. But she had to keep the journal to herself for now. Everything—absolutely everything, from his life to this case—would change in the matter of seconds as soon as he learned about it.
“You’re in my office tomorrow.” He regrouped and focused his attention back on her. “I want both of us to go over every bit of intel we have on this family. Maybe there’s some tiny nugget of information we’re missing. Something that can put us on the right track. I want you ready for next week, when everyone is here.”
He was getting desperate, yet she understood his need to protect his reputation as being the best. Unfortunately, the journal she’d discovered wasn’t the master key to solving this equation, and she had nothing else.
“Tell the Feds that all the players will be available next week,” she went on, hoping to give him something useful, to buy them a bit more time. “With everyone at the office, something must be going on, or else they’re worried about this investigation.”
Jack leaned a shoulder against the wall and pinned her with his stare. “Maybe they have an idea who’s been leaking the information.”
The thought sent a shiver up her spine. Taking this job had been risky, but she’d agreed to let Jack create a solid cover for her. She’d put her life in his hands...literally, if all those rumors surrounding the O’Sheas were true. But Viv hadn’t been afraid. Jack wouldn’t let anything happen to her.
“I’m not getting that vibe,” she replied as she moved into the kitchen. “Do you want a piece of this cheesecake or not, because if I eat the entire thing, I won’t fit into my pencil skirts.”
His eyes traveled the length of her body. How in the world did that man evoke more emotions and glorious sensations with one look than some men did with foreplay? Seriously. How did Jack make her want him so much, so deeply, when he wasn’t even trying?
“Your figure is just fine, with or without the cheesecake.”
Viv turned away, because that sultry tone of his sent a combination of shivers and thrills darting through her. Add in the way he’d assessed her body—such as it was, clad in yoga pants and a sweatshirt—and she wondered if maybe she’d pegged him wrong for not showing any interest and keeping his emotions all closed off.
Katie let out a squeal, breaking the tension. She seemed quite content to sit and play with her toys for a bit. Thankfully, her pain reliever had kicked in fast after the shots.
Once Viv had generous pieces of the decadent dessert on a couple saucers, she crossed to her two-seater table in the breakfast nook. Well, technically it was her breakfast nook, dining room and home office, depending on the time of day. Her apartment wasn’t big, but it suited her needs. She rarely had guests unless it was foster children, so she didn’t require a grand table. Besides, the place was close to Jack’s office and the rent was perfect.
Though right now she did feel a little inadequate, remembering how amazing Jack’s patio had been. He most likely had an exquisite dining room and an eat-in kitchen, yet he’d still set up dinner on his screened-in sunroom. Just the little bit she’d seen of his house had left her in awe. The rich wood, the clean lines of the furniture, that grand entryway with a masculine yet impressive chandelier suspended from the second floor were worthy of a magazine. Her entire apartment could fit into that foyer alone.
Jack either had a perfect eye for detail and decor or he’d hired someone to tastefully, expensively decorate his mansion. He took a seat across from her, but her round table proved to be smaller than she’d thought when his knees bumped hers. Why did his every single action get her body all tingly and jittery? This was Jack. Her boss. Her very sexy, very single, very mysterious boss. Other than the fact that he was a widower, never dated and had served in the military, she didn’t know much else about his personal life...but oh, how she wanted to.
He scooped up a bite. “Tilly will be thrilled we’re getting to this.”
“Trust me, I’m more thrilled.” Viv wasn’t going to even think about calories right now. Turning down red velvet cheesecake would be a sin. “She’s going to be happier to know you came to my apartment.”
His eyes caught hers. “For business.”
Right. Business. What else would he want from her?
“Still, she seems ready to make sure you have a woman in your life.”
When he remained silent, Viv kept going. She would crack his shell at some point. Over the past couple years she’d worked for him, he’d not volunteered any information unless it pertained to a case. And the only reason Viv knew about his mother was that he always referred to her in the past tense. His father was never mentioned.
And Viv would’ve assumed Jack was a regular single guy had Tilly not slipped and said something about his “late wife.” That had been at the office. One sharp look from Jack and the woman’s lips were still sealed to this day.
“I don’t know how your dating life has been—”
“Nonexistent.”
Viv swallowed. She’d assumed as much...but why? He was, well, hot. He had money, not that a bank account made a man, but it wasn’t like he couldn’t get a woman. Maybe he just didn’t want to. Maybe he had some other reason for being married to his work and ignoring the world around him.
“I really should consider going that route, because I’ve had some doozies.”
Doozies? Way to sound classy, Viv.
Jack took another bite, obviously not feeling so chatty about his own personal life. Whatever. She was chatty enough for both of them, especially when she was a bit nervous. And between the attraction and the journal only a couple rooms away, she had plenty of unease spiraling through her.
“One time, I had a guy who offered me dinner and a movie.”
“Predictable,” Jack muttered.
“I can handle predictable,” she added with a laugh. “It was the expectations he had for the evening. Cooking me a frozen pizza and binge-watching old movies wasn’t my idea of a night out. He was shocked when I made an excuse to leave. He seriously thought...”
>
Jack laid his fork down and narrowed his eyes. “You’re kidding? Tell me you didn’t.”
Viv tipped her head. “I do have standards, Jack. It takes more than a frozen pizza to get me into bed.”
Those bright eyes held hers, then dipped to her mouth before traveling back up. “What does it take?”
Four
Where the hell had that question come from?
This was why Jack had always refused to get personally involved with anyone. Yet here he was, asking his assistant what it took to get her into bed.
Clearly the case, and working so closely with this breathtaking woman, was making him delirious.
“Well—”
“No.” Jack held up his hand. “Don’t answer that.”
Viv quirked a brow, taunting him with a teasing smile. “You’re sure?”
There could be no flirting, no unwanted attraction. Too much was at stake—the case, his sanity.
When he remained silent, she laughed. “We’ll just say that it takes more than a lame dinner and a black-and-white movie.”
Jack laughed with her. He couldn’t help himself. “Any man who doesn’t pull out all the stops for you is an idiot.”
She tipped her head again, pursing her lips. “You never do that.”
Easing back in his seat, Jack met Viv’s eyes across the small table. “Laugh? No, I don’t.”
She crossed her arms and rested her elbows on the table. “Why not? What do you do for fun?”
“Stakeouts.”
She rolled her eyes just as Katie let out a cry. “I’m serious,” she stated as she rose to her feet.
Jack watched as she maneuvered through the living room to Katie. The little girl instantly extended her arms to reach for Viv. Jack turned away. All this...familial life was digging into that past wound, threatening to tear it wide open.
Some might say he was hard, uncaring, detached. Whatever it took to stay sane, to stay on top of his game, to help bring criminals down—to find justice... Jack didn’t care what label he was given.
He concentrated on taking the empty plates to the kitchen and placing them in the sink. Resting his hands on the edge of the counter, he pulled in a breath. He shouldn’t have come by. Venturing into Viv’s world, into her damn apartment, was not smart.
In his defense, he’d been close and she hadn’t texted, and he wanted to bring the dessert, so he’d broken his own rule of not getting into someone else’s personal space. Time to head back home, where he could hide in his office, drink his bourbon and contemplate his next move. He was done waiting around for the O’Sheas to slip up.
When he turned, he found Viv standing close to him...too close. So near he could see the dark flecks in her eyes.
“Something wrong?” she asked, her brows drawn in.
Katie pulled on Viv’s still-damp hair. All that gorgeous, silky, midnight-black hair. He’d be lying to himself if he pretended he hadn’t envisioned that mass spread out over his navy sheets. When had this woman gone from assistant to starring in his fantasies? Lately, the line between professional and personal was becoming more and more blurry.
Even from the start, when he’d interviewed her, he hadn’t denied her beauty. But after a few years of working together closely, and especially this past year, the dreams were becoming more frequent. Forget the fact that he vowed never to open himself up again; he was a professional having extremely unprofessional thoughts.
“I’ll let you get on with your evening,” he told her, ignoring the worried look on her face. She need not be concerned about him. His emotions had been murdered along with his wife, years ago. “I’ll be sure to tell Tilly you enjoyed her dessert.”
Viv seemed as if she wanted to say something else, but finally nodded and stepped aside to let him through. “If she wants to bake anything else and send it my way, she’s more than welcome. I have a sweet tooth.”
“I’m aware.” Jack nodded toward the bowl of chocolate candy on the counter. “Your desk at work has a matching bowl.”
Viv shrugged as Katie continued to pull on her hair. “I won’t apologize for my snacks.”
If those snacks were what kept that body all curvy and mesmerizing in skirts, then he’d buy her a full year’s supply.
No, damn it, he wouldn’t. Admiring her body wasn’t his job as her boss. He had to get the hell out of here before he made an absolute fool of himself. Sitting at her little table, watching her with Katie...it was all too much. She smelled too damn good and had that rumpled, sexy look down pat. The rain she’d been caught in hadn’t done a thing to diminish her beauty.
If circumstances were different—if he wasn’t a jaded widower, her boss and her protector on this job—then maybe he’d seduce her. Maybe then he’d exorcise her right out of his system.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked.
He still hadn’t moved, even though she’d made an opening for him to pass. Jack stepped forward, his eyes on hers.
“I’ve never seen you out of your professional element. I just...”
“What?”
Hell, he didn’t know. Wanted to touch her? Kiss her? To know if either of those would compare to his detailed thoughts of having her in his bed?
Viv shifted Katie in her arms, reached out and placed her hand on his shoulder. Jack stilled. Such a simple touch shouldn’t evoke instant bedroom fantasies.
“Everything will work out with this case,” she assured him. “We’re getting closer. I just know it.”
Yes. Let her think his moment of becoming a mute, staring fool had to do with stress from the case. The last thing he needed was for her to believe he was attracted to her. Hell, if she thought that, who knew what would happen?
Wait. He knew exactly what would happen...which was why he had to get out of here before he turned his thoughts into actions.
“I’ll see you in the morning.”
With that, he got the hell out. Maybe the chilly rain would cool him off and draw his thoughts back to the job—and not his assistant splayed across his bed.
* * *
The rain had stopped, but had quickly turned to snow. As if in tune with the crappy, depressing weather, Viv’s morning had gone downhill fast.
First her blow-dryer had gone kaput after about one minute of drying her hair. Then Katie had a blowout in her diaper, so that called for a change of every single item of clothing, from her onesie to her shoes. How did babies have that much in them that they could ruin an entire outfit?
To top everything off, Martha was sick and unable to babysit. Lovely. But nothing Viv couldn’t manage.
She had thrown her wet hair in a side braid and changed Katie into something fresh. Unfortunately, there was no backup sitter. So here she was, wrestling the diaper bag, a sack of toys and Katie into the office. At least she was with Jack today and not at O’Shea’s.
After Jack left her apartment last night, she couldn’t help but reflect on their conversation...or the way he’d looked at her. The dynamics had silently shifted between them. She wasn’t sure what had changed, what he’d been thinking or why he’d been staring at her like he wanted...well, her.
The shiver racing through her body had nothing to do with the February arctic breeze and everything to do with the possibilities swirling through her mind.
Maybe it was the fact that Valentine’s Day was next week. Perhaps all the hearts and cupids in the storefronts were messing with her mind. When was the last time she’d actually had a valentine?
If Jack was having thoughts of her, would he ever act on them? Would he make a move, or was he that removed from the emotional world that he’d keep everything professional between them?
What if she weren’t his assistant? Would that change the game?
So many questions. T
hankfully, Viv had Katie to think about, and her first birthday was next week, which could cancel out any Valentine’s Day celebration. Not that Viv had dates lined up, but now she had an excuse to ignore the day not created for single women.
Warmth enveloped her as she stepped inside the office. The inviting brownstone had once been Jack’s apartment, before he turned it into a permanent office. The place was cozy, yet professional, with neutral colors and leather sofas. It felt more like a home than a workplace. Viv didn’t mind bringing Katie here because she could easily section her off from the front area, where clients might be.
Once the door closed behind them, she breathed a sigh of relief and dropped her bags to the floor. If nothing else, by the end of her time with Katie, Viv would have toned arms.
She didn’t want to think about giving Katie up to her adoptive family. Letting go of any child was always a bittersweet moment, but Katie was special.
Viv had never met the parents of any of her other foster kids. But she’d met with the Parkers on more than one occasion. She and Katie shared a unique bond Viv couldn’t deny, but she would have to continue to guard her heart or she’d be crushed in the end. Not being able to have children of her own was a bitter pill to swallow, so getting too attached to Katie would only cause her more heartache.
Jack came out of his office and glanced at the mess at Viv’s feet. “What’s wrong?”
Holding a bundled-up Katie, Viv merely shrugged. “It’s been a crazy morning of trying to get ready and learning Martha wasn’t able to watch Katie. That snow is coming down pretty fast and I have no sitter.”
He wasted no time in crossing to her and bending to retrieve her bags. “You could’ve taken the day off.”
The Heir's Unexpected Baby Page 4