“What do you think?” Jake asked the only person he’d trust to help him on a mission like this. His confidant. A true vault.
“It’s hard to say,” Paco said honestly, which made Jake feel better.
Paco made multibillion-dollar decisions day in and day out, and he made them look damned easy. Clearly, this decision was harder than it looked.
“Let’s see that one.” With two pristinely manicured fingers, Paco caught the salesman’s attention and pointed to the item he had in mind.
Imagining Kathryn’s nails would look just as polished, though a shade pinker and to her liking, Jake asked, “How was spa day?”
“A total bust,” Paco said with breathy disappointment. “She knows where you were.”
“You told her?”
“I didn’t have to. She’s a kick-ass investigator, and you roped me into an atrocious attempt at deception. I had to come up with spa day on the fly. Oh, and word to the wise—phone finders work both ways.”
Jake rubbed his scruffy chin. “My little investigator tracked me back.”
“Well, you must be acting suspicious as hell. Extended trips ‘out of town,’” Paco said with air quotes. “Turning up at a club? You two share a connection. And curiosity about the lifestyle is sure to be on her mind.”
The salesclerk presented the delicate piece of fine jewelry. “Twenty carats of diamonds set in eighteen-karat gold. We can customize it any way you like,” he said before stepping away to give them some privacy.
Granted, money was no object. And it wasn’t gawdy in any respect. It was breathtaking.
The piece of jewelry was missing something, though. But what? What would make it say Kathryn?
Paco snapped it up and stepped over to the full-length mirror, fondling the sparkly masterpiece under the light before holding it against the skin of his neck just above his shirt. Chin high, he admired his reflection like the Armani-clad Miss America he was.
Gruffly, Jake cleared his throat. “You act as if I’m buying it for you.”
“You’re not? But it goes perfectly with my eyes.” Paco batted his eyes adoringly, quickly earning him an eye roll in return.
A small vibration hummed from Jake’s watch. An incoming alert. Squinting to read the miniscule print, he resolved to swallow his pride and order those reading glasses already.
Welcome, Master Jake
Check-in: 7:55 p.m.
He glared at the screen, undecided how to tackle this properly. With kid gloves, or a cat-o’-nine-tails? Despite Paco’s intense preoccupation with preening, Jake knew better.
“You can’t pretend with me, man. I know you read it.”
“And I have so many theories. But from the vein throbbing in your temple and who knows where else, this little shopping spree will have to wait.”
“Nope. Two birds, one stone.”
Paco sighed as he set down the mirror. “Okay, just to be clear, I don’t know who came up with that saying, but it’s seriously twisted.”
“Here.” Jake handed his black card to the salesclerk eager to accept it. “I’ll take it. I need it gift wrapped.”
“Thank you, sir.”
He glanced at the clerk’s nametag. “Anthony, I’m in a bit of a rush.”
“Of course, sir. Be right back.” Anthony snapped up the card and left to complete the transaction.
“And, uh, Paco—”
“I’ve got you. I’ll head to your place and put it in your safe.”
Jake shook his head in amazement. “I’ve come to terms with you having access to my home because it’s technically an alternate headquarters, but how do you have access to my safe? I’ve never shown you where it is, and it requires a palm print to open.”
“Oh, my dear friend.” Paco clucked his tongue. “In the event anything happens to you, the contents of that little safe have to be retrieved pronto. It’s stamped with the same tattoo I’ve got on my ass. D-G-I. I can access any of our assets. Me and two of my closest friends.”
One was Alex Drake himself, the CEO of DGI, and in the loosest context possible, Paco’s boss. The other man with an all-access pass was Alex’s most competitive rival, and oddly enough, his best friend, Mark Donovan. And Mark was in the most literal sense Jake’s boss.
“Just stay out of my underwear drawer.”
“Fine. I prefer Kathryn’s anyway.”
Rushed, Jake scrawled his electronic signature authorizing the expense worth more than a small island, then pocketed his credit card. He’d known battle and had nearly lost his life. Twice. But this—this was what caused his pulse to kick up and his palms to sweat?
“Receipt in the bag?” Anthony asked, beaming from ear to ear.
Paco nodded, taking way too much ownership of the extravagant item. As they headed out, he said, “Don’t worry. Receipt on your desk. Royal jewels in the safe. After a quick try-on.”
Resigned, Jake shook his head. “As long as her underwear drawer is spared.”
“No promises.”
He and Paco exchanged a quick bro hug before the first wave of doubt settled in.
Worried, he looked Paco in the eye. “No bullshit. Do you think she’ll like it?”
Paco placed a reassuring hand on Jake’s shoulder, giving it a confident squeeze. “If she doesn’t, I’ll do you the solid of taking it off your hands.” With a bright, beaming grin, Paco patted his arm and sent him on his way. “No buyer’s remorse. It’s perfect. Now get the fuck out of here, or I really will keep it.”
“Thanks,” Jake called after him, picking up the pace as he headed out.
After climbing into his F-150 Raptor, Jake started the engine and headed toward the freeway, ready to drive a route he knew by heart, no matter how many years it had been since he was last there.
Jake took an extra-long second rereading Kathryn’s last text. “Fuck.”
Kathryn: Girls’ night with Julian. Be home late. Love you.
His clever little kitten hadn’t lied. Well, not exactly. But it was close enough to earn more than the disappointment of her man. She’d just earned the wrath of her Dom, and with a half-cocked smile, Jake considered the punishment.
Swift, long, and hard. It was time his little kitten learned her boundaries as a sub.