The person who knocked at the ladies’ room door didn’t wait for Kathryn’s come in before entering.
In anticipation of Jake, she was in the man’s arms a minute too late, throwing herself right at the guy she’d been stalling to avoid.
“Well, hello again, Ms. Chase.” Her purposeful wiggle to get away was no use. Rather than release her, Paco held on, squeezing her until any remaining resistance and tension evaporated. “Would it help if I said I didn’t hear a thing?”
Kathryn could only smile. Pulling away, she squared up to her dear friend who had the kindest eyes and a deceptively innocent grin. “You’d do that for me?” she joked, almost ashamed for feeling uncomfortable.
“Straight-out lie to your face?” Paco gave her a reassuring kiss on her forehead. “In a New York second. But only if you get your ass out there and stop making me wait to eat. I’m withering away from hunger. And my appetite hasn’t even been worked up by Master Jake.”
It was her turn to play all meek and innocent. “I have no idea what you mean,” Kathryn said, giggling now that she was less embarrassed, and staving off a stomach growl.
Having spent most of her nervous energy wiping down the counters and taking a snapshot or two of the large bouquet of flowers gracing the scene of the crime, she was more than ready to depart the luxurious ladies’ room. Though if anyone left the hot water running a little too long, they would quickly discover a finger drawing on the mirror. One of a heart surrounding a cryptic message.
kc + jr
4
ever
Paco didn’t remove his arm from Kathryn’s shoulders until he delivered her front and center to Jake, who stood ready with her chair pulled out. Scooping her into an embrace that threatened more debauchery to come, Jake pressed his lips to hers with the right amount of pressure. She couldn’t hold back a small moan.
After Jake seated her, she let out a giddy squeal of glee, finding a glass of her favorite bourbon waiting front and center on her plate.
“Oh, thank God,” she said, not meaning to hurt Paco’s feelings. Wasting a drop of his fancy red on her admittedly unsophisticated palate seemed wrong on every level. But bourbon?
These boys better back up.
Both men laughed, and Paco held his wineglass high for a quick toast.
“Happy anniversary, you two.”
His announcement sent a small surge of panic through Kathryn. She didn’t recall a calendar reminder, and hadn’t gotten Jake a gift. But her awkward glance at Jake was met with a cocked head and an equal amount of confusion.
Paco explained. “I believe it was four years ago to the day that a perfect angel tore a certain someone from the dark grip of death. An act that served to let him to strip and whip another day.”
“Nice,” Jake said before lifting his water glass, and they all brought their drinks in for a clink.
“And I’m neither perfect nor an angel,” Kathryn said firmly, her insistence spurred by her latest dive into gratifying hedonism.
“You are to me.”
Jake’s voice carried enough of a low grumble that she shivered, barely registering his hand snagging hers or his lips pressing firmly against her knuckles. A physical response to an orgasm drought followed by the sexual equivalent of a torrential downpour.
“How about I get down to business while we eat,” Paco said, “so the two of you can get down to business? Again.”
Kathryn had gotten an eyeful of the steaming-hot bread, but before she could take the tiniest piece, Jake grabbed a slice and slathered it with a heaping helping of roasted garlic butter. Taunting her, he held it to her lips.
It’s bread. I love bread, almost half as much as I love butter. But bread and butter? Together? The man has no shame.
Her shy hesitation was shoved aside by his playful growl, an insistent glare, and the not-so-subtle glance at his watch.
Flushed and wide-eyed, she took a healthy bite. Not healthy like it’s good for me. But healthy like if I’m going down, I’m going down satisfied. The moan that followed, one of pure pleasure, had no chance of being held back.
“Mmm.” She chewed, watching Jake take his own large bite while holding her stare.
Jeez. Is there anything this man can’t seduce me with?
After teasing her with the smallest lick of his lips, he fed her another bite and set the rest of the slice onto her plate.
Definitely not.
“I enjoy a good floor show as much as the next guy,” Paco said with an exaggerated eye roll, “but let’s get down to the reason I really brought you here today.”
Frowning, Kathryn wiped a smear of butter from the corner of her mouth. The thought of turning Paco down twisted her gut. “I’m not sure how far our talk will go.”
She could feel Jake watching her, his gaze moving over her body and back up to her lips. The heat rising up her cheeks would be red-hot soon if she didn’t find a distraction to cool herself down. Like work. Or pushing off Paco.
“So, this is the Troy Brooks case,” she said.
“See? It’s like you’re already on it.”
“Scott Delaney told me about it and asked me for my input. You’re a long way from New York City. Why the interest?”
Paco’s usual jovial smile tightened. “I can’t tell you.” He gave Jake a good hard stare, silently sending some message before he continued. “What’s important is that we solve it first. Ahead of the police.”
“Hold on. I thought I’d be working with Detective Delaney.”
“And he’ll think that too.” Paco seemed to push past Kathryn’s obvious resistance. “The stalker is good. Always a step ahead. Blending in. We need someone who blends in just as well.” Setting his glass aside, he clasped his hands and leaned in. “Someone she won’t see coming. An edge.”
Jake held up a warning hand. “Word to the wise. Now might not be the best time trying to entice my girl with the word edge. And I’m a fan of Troy’s too, but it’s up to Kathryn. Between you and me, I’m not crazy about her going up against a psychopath. Again. But if she’s in, it means I’m in too.” His dark gaze found hers. “Not optional.”
His kiss stopped her mild protest.
Paco beamed a smug smile. “Good. I get the two of you, as long as you know Kathryn gets top billing because she’s the best.”
“I know,” Jake said, not taking his eyes off her for a moment, but acknowledging the persistent weight of Paco’s stare. “Save the jedi mind tricks for Kathryn.”
“I would, but she seems to be under your mind control at the moment.”
To which Jake replied with nothing more than a cocked brow and a damn straight grin.
Turning serious again, Jake asked, “Was Troy moved again?”
Kathryn shot him a glance. So, Jake knows about the case too.
Paco’s slight nod was pained and unsettled. “Fourth time in two days. Undercover guards at major entries. Triple-vetted all the staff. It’s frustrating because we’re not moving him to protect him. We’re trying to catch the nut job. If we leave him in one place too long and too heavily guarded, she goes away.”
“Isn’t going away a good thing?” Kathryn asked.
“Not in this case. It’s taken her nearly two years of building up to this level of stalking with Troy. He calls the cops, and it’ll be months between contact. Which means he’s on high alert, watching his back for months. This one is a little too unpredictable for my taste. But every time we move him, she resurfaces. It’s more than a fleeting interest. She’s in it for the long game.”
“It sounds like you need a private investigator,” Kathryn said after she downed a swallow of ice water. “I’m not really that type of investigator. I do insurance fraud.”
“There’s a difference?” Paco was casual. He pulled the bread basket closer, examining it as if the man with two-percent body fat ever indulged in a slice of bread. “If anything, you’re more thorough than a garden-variety PI. With your medical background and hospital access, you can give us insights we might not readily find. Blend in better than anyone else. Using your skilled observations to sniff out the culprit without confronting them. It pays more than you make in a year, even though for you I don’t think you’d consider it a job. Just a natural extension of who you are, just as much as nursing, bourbon, and bondage.”
Paco’s words drew a huffed chuckle from Jake.
“Plus,” Paco said, “this one needs a trusted agent. And you’re someone we trust.”
Kathryn shrugged, schooling the smile that threatened, eyeing his pristinely tailored suit and teeing up what was sure to be an impossible challenge. “Maybe I’d do it if you actually ate a piece of bread.”
“Let me get this straight,” he said, cinching his lips tight. “If I eat a piece of bread, you’ll take the case?”
Her eyes lit up. “Damn straight, city boy. One piece of bread and I’m all yours. And not a pansy little broken-off piece. The big, thick middle one. Right there.” She pointed to the drool-worthy center slice.
Frowning, Paco peered again at the basket in question. “With butter?” he asked, not masking his disdain.
Kathryn wasn’t picky. With a wide, toothy grin, she giggled. “Dealer’s choice.”
Removing his jacket and rolling up his sleeves, Paco seemed to be making a ceremony of eating a single sliver of bread. He buttered it lavishly. “This little morsel has to be worth my temporary ownership of one Ms. Kathryn Chase.” He glanced at Jake. “No disrespect.”
“None taken,” Jake said, granting him permission to continue with the wave of his hand.
In one bite, Paco devoured the slice with a few moan-filled chews, then swallowed before moving on to another slice. Instead of sticking with the sourdough, this time he opted for the sweet dark rye.
“Oh my gosh.” Kathryn gasped and her hand flew to her chest. “Did I convert Paco Robles to the unbridled sins of bread?”
“Hardly.” He scoffed, swallowing another bite. “Manduo, ergo curro.”
“Is that Latin for sign me up for the bread-of-the-month club?”
“I eat, therefore I run. Kathryn, I work out three hours a day for a reason. Pastries are my bitch. I practically devour my weight in desserts, and in many circles have the code name Cookie Monster. Seriously, I’m surprised you’ve never noticed.”
“I knew that,” she said. “I just thought the nickname had something to do with browser history. Tracking people on the web.”
Paco popped another buttered piece in his mouth, chewing happily. “Nope.” With that, he leaned back against his chair, enjoying his mouthful with an adorable smile. He took another sip of his outrageously expensive wine, lifted a brow, and waited.
Kathryn knew what he wanted. He was the same as any Dom. And if there was one thing this Dom knew how to do, it was how to get an answer to a question.
Paco needed a verbal acknowledgment. Something along the lines of you’ve got it or I agree. An indisputable understanding that his terms had been agreed to. In many ways, it was like the other side of Paco Robles—no different from any other transaction in corporate America. The offer is presented, the terms are negotiated, and with his knowing presence and the unfair advantage of a dimpled chin, an acceptance secured without question.
“Fine.” Kathryn blew out a breath. “Tell me where and when you want me to start, but it can’t interfere with my current work with Wolfe Investigations or with my new gig at the hospital.”
“Not a problem,” Paco said. “I meant to ask. How’s the phlebotomy class going?”
Her eyes grew wide. “You heard about that?” When she turned a questioning glance at Jake, he simply shook his head.
Paco lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “I tend to hear about everything.”
I’m so dead. “I’ll bet you do.”
No doubt, if they kept going, Paco would start asking about everything. How I heard about the position. How I got the job.
Hiding facts was one thing, but outright lying about them was another. And that line was never to be crossed.
And what if Paco already knew? The man was pretty much psychic, and had his finger on the pulse of damn near everything.
Kathryn felt the unease of an uncomfortable conversation coming up. The one that steered straight toward her ex-husband. Who had insisted on dinner. It was bad enough to have Chelsea Anders in the mix. There was no way Kathryn was doubling down with an ex of her own.
That’s not happening, and neither is the awkward discussion about Carter Reeves.
It was time to take the bull by the horns. Yank a hard right and steer the discussion in a completely different direction.
Kathryn’s glass nearly finished, she downed the rest. Jake grabbed the waiter’s attention. Politely, he gestured to Kathryn’s empty glass before indicating how many. Holding up two fingers, he ordered one for himself as well.
“I’ll have to do some research.” She drew out the word for effect, knowing it would capture Jake’s attention.
It worked. There were severe penalties for topping a Dom. But desperate times called for desperate measures.
Paco took a suspicious glance around the room, looking to his left and then to his right. As if anyone could overhear them, considering the place was empty. “Don’t worry. It’s not the sort of research that requires you to bust into Club Lazarus under an alias.”
Instinctive and outright smart, Jake glanced at Kathryn and raised his hands in mock surrender. “I didn’t say a word.”
With little concern, Paco explained. “I was with Jake when he got the alert on his phone.”
“Of course you were.” How could I expect anything less? The man isn’t just omniscient, he’s fucking everywhere. “Then maybe you know the reason my fiancé is an infamous Dom?”
Paco let out a hearty laugh, patting Jake’s back as her fiancé choked on his bourbon. “Why, Master Jake. Exactly how infamous are you?” Scandal laced Paco’s suggestive tone.
Prideful, Jake responded. “I’m not exactly shy, but the last thing I need is publicity, and it’s not like I hired a PR firm. If Kathryn would just divulge her sources, maybe I could have some frame of reference.”
“I can be a vault too,” she said, shaking her head.
That and Julian would kill me. Or at the very least, he’d cut off my micro-dermabrasion treatments, and at this point I can’t live without them. The man’s touch is pure magic in the most clinical, nonsexual sense possible.
Speaking of sex . . .
“Why would you be famous as a Dom?” she asked Jake. “I’d pegged you as more of a private guy.”
“First of all, peg has a totally different connotation in this world, and trust me, there will be no pegging. And second, there are times in a club when, well . . .” Jake took an unusually long time choosing his words. “You might want to share what you know with others. Like, a teachable moment.”
Yeah, he’s not getting off the hook that easily.
Hands clasped, Kathryn leaned in, prepared to learn more. “The students you have for this teachable moment. Could they be called an audience?”
“I believe the term is scening,” Paco said, entirely for Kathryn’s benefit.
Just the term seemed to crank the wheels in Kathryn’s head. Hesitantly, she eased into her next question. “Scening. Like, a scene from a play? Performing?” Which raised yet another question. “As in . . . porn?”
When Jake’s eyes met hers, she had to add, “No judgment.”
It would certainly explain his moves.
“Sort of,” Paco said, helpful as ever. Grinning, he took another sip of his wine.
Reluctantly, she turned her big eyes to Paco. “But all judgment aside, I’d like to think I’m up for anything, but I really don’t think I could do porn.”
It was Paco’s turn to sputter out a laugh, and nearly snort a few hundred dollars’ worth of fine wine from his nose.
Jake dove in with a few helpful clarifications. “First of all, scening is not porn.”
“Are you having sex?” Kathryn asked.
“Sometimes,” Jake said, tugging at his already open collar.
“Are you doing it in front of others?”
Adamant, he held up a finger. “Not a camera crew, if that’s the question.”
Paco, with an obvious wealth of expertise, inserted his own interpretation. “It’s sort of an art form.”
“I’m sorry, how is this artistic expression and not porn?”
When Jake and Paco exchanged uncertain glances, Kathryn picked up her phone.
“Why don’t we ask Wikipedia. Hmm . . .” In a second, she began reading out loud. “Pornography. The portrayal of sexual subject matter for the exclusive purpose of sexual arousal. Am I warmer?”
“Fine,” Jake said loudly, holding up his hands in surrender. “I’m a famous porn star.”
The waiter, ready with another pour of bourbon, patted the bottle instead and set it on the table. “I’ll just leave this here,” he said before quickly backing away.
“If the sounds coming from the bathroom earlier are any indication, you certainly are,” Paco said to Jake with a wink.
Before Kathryn could actually die of embarrassment, Jake moved her body to his lap, letting her bury her red-faced embarrassment in his shoulder.
He chuckled. “I guess that makes you a porn star too.”