Chapter Six

Holy hell, could he read her mind? Holly’s nerves were already stretched to the limit thanks to the R-rated dream she’d had starring her and Jake. His words knotted her insides, but she kept what she was feeling hidden, forcing herself not to squirm in the seat. This was why her policy was to avoid men the same way she avoided poison ivy. Scratch that itch, and there was trouble.

“Right this second you’re lying to yourself about how you can resist me,” Jake said, interrupting her thoughts.

“If you’re assuming a repeat of that night is inevitable, you don’t know me.”

Dear God, the way that sexy smile scrambled her brain was so not good.

“I know me, Holly, and I always get what I want.”

Holly pressed herself against her side of the plane and pretended to struggle to breathe. She gasped in air noisily.

“What is it?” Jake thumped her on the back.

“Your ego is squishing me.”

Jake blinked, then lowered his hand. “I thought you were ill.”

“And pounding my lungs through my chest was your answer?” She didn’t understand why he’d paled.

“My— Someone I knew died because he couldn’t breathe.”

“Oh.” Holly felt like a skunk in the water at a pool party. “Sorry. I didn’t know.”

He shook his head as if to clear it, and murmured, “It’s one of my skeletons.” His lips pressed together in a tight line as if he regretted admitting that.

“You want to talk about—”

“No. Especially not with someone who’d find a way to use it against me.”

“I wouldn’t,” Holly said, but knew her words fell on deaf ears. He was as trapped by his past as she was by hers. She’d thought she’d seen pain lurking in his eyes when they’d first met. In another lifetime maybe they could have helped each other heal, but the die was cast, and all Holly could do was finish playing the hand she’d been dealt.

She dug her fingernails into the palms of her hands as the jet began its descent. When the wheels touched down, she reassured herself this would be soon be over. The edginess she felt was because she was stuck in Chicago for the time being.

As soon as the pilot gave the all clear, Holly removed her seatbelt and rose, wiggling her bare feet on the floor. While the floor of the plane was warm, the temperature outside had to be in the teens. Not a good day to be without shoes.

When she’d done a job in the past, she’d always planned better, but after finding out about Jake, she’d been so rattled, she’d made mistakes. Leaving behind her backpack containing a change of clothes and other supplies had only been her first one.

Off the plane, Jake pointed to a waiting limousine. “That’s us.”

The driver greeted them and swung open the door. Holly dove in and aimed the heater vent toward her cold toes. Letting out a sigh of appreciation, she rested her head against the seat. Some days, it felt as if the chill went all the way to her soul.

When Jake slid in beside her, she straightened up, but didn’t bother to move over as his leg brushed the side of hers.

“Address?”

She gave it to him, and he relayed it to the driver, then said quietly, “You haven’t complained once about being barefoot and cold.”

She shrugged. “There are worse things in life.”

He swung the full force of his gaze on her, and Holly was reminded again how gorgeous he was, and how his presence affected her more than she liked. “Is that one of your skeletons speaking?”

“Stop trying to dissect me.”

“I want to know who the real Holly Campbell is. I think there’s more to you than what you’re pretending to be.”

The gentle, conflicted tone of his voice was unsettling. “Nope. Nothing more. You’re looking at the real me. Thief…wanderer…what more could there be?”

He reached out his hand and touched a strand of her hair, and Holly had to look away when awareness rocketed through her stomach. The strong line of his jaw, the tautness of his stomach, the power in his thighs. She’d explored his body in ways that gave her the sudden need to fan herself.

“Are you running away from something or someone?”

She laughed like she didn’t have a care in the world. “Don’t look for hidden depth when there isn’t any. I got caught and made a deal to keep myself out of more trouble. I might not look the part, but I am a thief.” She silently cursed when her voice cracked on the last word.

He leaned closer, and her breath hitched. “I get the feeling that you’re lying.”

Don’t look at his lips. Don’t think about that night.

“Lying about what?”

“Being a thief.”

“Why? Don’t I look like a thief? What does one look like? Ski mask? Bag of tools? Dark clothing? Do you know any thieves other than me?”

The limousine turned onto her street, and Holly hoped arriving at her place would be enough to deter Jake’s too-close-for-comfort conversation. The second it stopped, she fumbled for the door handle and sprang from the car, drawing in a deep breath of the frigid night air. She hurried up the set of stairs hugging the outside of the bakery, then stopped. “My keys are probably at the bottom of the Atlantic.” She rubbed her forehead.

Jake leaned against the railing and crossed his arms. “Don’t tell me a locked door is a problem.”

She gave him an oh please look. “No, but I need your credit card. ”

Opening his wallet, Jake removed a credit card and passed it over. Holly took it and squeezed the card between the door and the frame, pressing hard toward the knob until she worked it between the latch and the plate. Once she had the latch pressed backward, Holly pushed open the door and handed the card back to Jake. It was a trick she’d learned to master after Liam started locking himself in the bathroom to get away from their uncle’s constant threats.

The minute the door was open, the scent of freshly baked bread and sweet treats from the bakery below wafted toward her. Switching on a light, Holly didn’t feel nervous or ashamed of the meager apartment. She’d never been one to need or even want a well-to-do life. The only thing she did want—to stop running—didn’t appear to be in the cards for her. But that was life, and there were people in worse conditions.

“If you want to have a seat, I’ll pack some things.” She wanted to call New Hope and check in on Liam again but hated the thought of calling in so late. The old teapot clock the bakery owner had left on the wall showed it was already past one in the morning. She could speak to the night shift, but she was leery about talking to anyone except Mia about Liam.

Jake took in the surroundings, and Holly waited for his censure, but all he said was, “Those sketches on the table, are they yours?”

“Yes, they’re mine.”

Picking up a couple of them, he studied them. “You’re talented.”

“Thank you.”

“With this kind of skill, why don’t you do something with it instead of stealing?”

She’d sold a couple of her sketches to greeting card companies and was trying to break into other areas, but she could only do jobs that would let her telecommute, since she never knew when she’d have to leave.

“Let me guess. Stealing is more lucrative, right?”

“Especially stealing from rich guys like you,” she said flippantly, needing him to back off and keep his distance, to believe she was bad news.

He dropped the sketches like they were on fire and sent her a look sharp enough to split firewood. “Where’s the bathroom?”

“Other side of the kitchen.” The layout of the apartment was strange, but when she’d rented it, Holly hadn’t cared. She’d been glad to have a roof over her head. As soon as Jake was out of sight, unable to contain her worry over Liam, she picked up the phone and dialed the home, thrilled when Mia answered.

“Liam’s fine,” she responded before Holly could ask. “He’s enjoying spending time with my brothers.”

“I’m going to be gone a little longer than I thought. If you need to reach me, call the office number for Jake Lawson’s company.” She wished she could afford a cell phone, but that was a luxury that wasn’t in her budget.

“Oh,” Mia teased. “Are you going back for seconds?”

“No. I’m trying to fix what Burt made Liam do. I’ll explain when I have more time.”

“As long as you don’t leave out any of the juicy details,” Mia said.

When she heard water running in the bathroom sink, Holly bid Mia a hasty good-bye and hung up, spinning around as Jake entered the room. His gaze met hers, and she hated the memories his dark gaze stirred within her.

Wanting to distract her thoughts, she pointed to the miniscule closet by the door and said, “There’s a suitcase on the top shelf. If you’ll drag that down for me, I’ll get my clothes.” Holly moved to another closet and removed the four outfits she owned. She’d learned how to take basic wardrobe choices and make them work as several outfits. Having to travel light meant she couldn’t haul around a lot of possessions, including clothes.

Jake passed her the suitcase, and she stuck the clothes into it, then grabbed her sneakers and socks. She’d lost the only pair of heels she had on the yacht. Perching on the edge of the sofa, she pulled the socks on, then stuck her feet in the sneakers. To her irritation, Jake began searching the closets. “Where are the rest of your clothes?”

“I keep them at my McMansion to give my maids something to do.”

He frowned at her sarcasm. “You have nothing.”

Holly thought of Liam and her freedom from the life she’d once had to live and smiled. “I have everything I could ever need. But at the moment, I would kiss you for something to eat. Can we go?”

Looking rattled, Jake crossed to the door and held it open, then took the suitcase from her as she neared. “You forgot a jacket.”

“I’m fine.” Holly walked back down the stairs and got in to the limousine. Getting another winter coat was on her list once she picked up her final paycheck from the catering company.

Jake didn’t say anything on the drive to his house, and Holly was too tired to make small talk, but forty minutes later once his home came into view, she couldn’t help the soft, “Wow,” that escaped her lips. The gates swung inward to allow the car to enter and they traveled the winding driveway leading up to a sprawling brick English country home. Ivy grew along one side of the home. Landscape lights shone over a manicured lawn and soft, inviting lights from the windows spilled across the yard.

The simple beauty of it surprised Holly. She’d guessed Jake’s tastes would lean toward something ultra modern, more museum than home. The limousine circled a three-tier stone water fountain, then came to a stop. “I expected something that flaunted your wealth,” she admitted.

“My apartment downtown Chicago does that. It’s where I entertain.”

“The face you show the world,” Holly murmured.

“Exactly. This home is for me. I don’t bring people here.”

When Holly raised her eyebrows, he amended, “Usually, but this is an unusual circumstance.”

“Not afraid I’ll make off with your valuables?”

“I think you’re smart enough not to take the risk.”

“You live here alone?”

“My housekeeper and cook, Bessie, lives with me.” He smiled. “She’s about five feet tall and a powerhouse of a woman. Doesn’t take any nonsense from anyone including me. She’ll be asleep by now, but you’ll meet her tomorrow.” He exited the car and waited while the driver removed Holly’s suitcase.

Following him inside, Holly fought the longing that hit her when she stepped into the warmth of the living room. The oversized furniture arranged by the fireplace looked comfortable and the space it was in, lived in.

She stuck to her original thought that she did have everything she needed, but the small spot in her heart that yearned for a welcoming and safe place to call home stirred. To be able to plant a flower garden, sleep in the same bed knowing Liam was safe, and to never have to run away in the middle of the night would be an amazing gift. She shook off the thought, and faced Jake.

“If it’s okay, I can make us a snack if you want to shower or anything?”

He set her suitcase down. “Feel free to eat something, but I’m not hungry.”

It was closing in on three in the morning, and he looked bone-tired. Holly felt bad for him. She’d caused the stress he must be feeling. He turned to go, and she called his name. “Thank you for not turning me in.”

“I didn’t save you, Holly, if that’s what you’re thinking. You saved yourself with your threat to burn my company’s reputation.”

“You could have pushed it, though, and you didn’t.” She wished he would say something to reveal what was going on behind his gorgeous eyes. With a nod, he headed out of the living room, and she watched him stroll away. Every movement hinted at the muscled body beneath the clothes. The night they’d shared was coming back to bite her in the ass, making her wish for things so far out of her reach they might as well be in a different galaxy.

Holly exhaled, feeling as if she’d held her breath from the moment she’d jumped from the yacht. Anger stirred in her when she thought of what would have happened to both Liam and Jake if her brother hadn’t kept the drive. She was going to try to make sure neither of them suffered because of her uncle. No doubt he had instructed Liam to steal the thumb drive because he’d planned to sell the information to Jake’s competitors. Though she’d prevented that for the time being, Burt didn’t give up easily. She’d fight him the only way she could for now. She’d march into the business tomorrow and teach Jake and his friends every trick she’d learned to make them as thief-proof as possible, then she’d disappear into the sunset like always.

…

Jake stepped from the shower, and toweled off, then dressed in dark sweat pants and a T-shirt. His plan to keep Holly close wasn’t going to be as drama-free as he liked. She was deceptive, cunning, and poised to run. Yet, he was torn between expecting the worst from her and the nagging feeling that she’d been ripped to shreds emotionally and had done her best to put the pieces back together.

Don’t be a sucker. She’s only out to use you.

Exiting the bathroom, he walked toward the kitchen and before he was in view, he heard her. Pausing in the doorway, he enjoyed the picture as Holly danced and sang her way across the floor. Her curves were enticing as hell. She did a spin, abruptly stopping when she saw him.

“I didn’t hear you or I wouldn’t have subjected you to my singing.”

“You’re not that bad.”

They stared at each other. Awkwardness blanketed the room until Holly looked away first and lifted a plate from beside the stove. “I made an extra egg and avocado sandwich in case you changed your mind about eating.”

Jake’s stomach growled, so he took the plate she offered and settled on one of the stools at the kitchen island. He took a tentative bite. “This is good.”

Holly took a few bites of her sandwich, and as the silence lengthened, Jake wondered if she was as uncomfortable as he was. Finally, with a sigh, she put down her half eaten sandwich. “My being here is making you uncomfortable.”

If she expected him to deny it, then she was in for a rude awakening. He didn’t see the point in not being honest about it. “We know each other as intimately as a man and woman can and yet I know nothing about you. This is new territory for me.”

“And for me,” she said quietly.

“You don’t usually stick around a mark after you’ve taken what you need, right?”

She ducked her head and toyed with the crust she’d pulled off her sandwich. “Right.”

The longing in her voice caused a sympathetic pull in his heart, but he shut it down. Holly was a thief and a manipulator. He couldn’t forget that. He had to bite his tongue and play the game if he wanted to make sure the company was protected in the future from Holly and whoever her colleagues were. Looking at her, he was struck again by how difficult it was to think of her as a criminal.

“You don’t seem like the kind of person who could steal. What drives you to do what you do?”

“Maybe I’m like Robin Hood, robbing from the rich and giving to the poor.”

“Which would explain why you don’t seem to have much as far as earthly possessions go.” He studied her. “But that’s not what you do, is it?”

She bit her lip and it drew his attention there. How many times had he pressed his lips to hers and tasted the sweetness?

“No.”

“What were you planning to do with the thumb drive before you decided to ‘help me’?”

“Sell it, take the money, and run.”

Jake narrowed his eyes and she averted hers. “I see. How much were you planning to sell it for?”

“As much as I could get.” She shredded the crust into tiny pieces.

Slowly, deliberately, Jake lifted his hand and put it at the pulse jumping erratically at the base of her throat.

She sucked in a breath.

“You don’t know how much it was worth, do you?”

“Millions,” she said with a slight hitch to her voice.

“What was on it?”

She parted her lips and her breathing escalated. “You should move your hand.”

“You don’t know, do you?”

“I’ve already told you the truth, but I’ll be glad to make something up if you need to hear something new.” Her voice wavered.

She blinked. Her eyes were an ocean of varying emotions. She was lying, probably to cover for someone who was using her. That could be it. She’d gotten into trouble and had been forced to partner with someone was his guess. Maybe that’s why she’d been on his yacht. Some of his business competitors were pretty ruthless. It could be that she’d been threatened in some way.

Damn him for feeling the surge of protectiveness, but Jake couldn’t stand the thought that she might be running from someone who threatened to hurt her. Lowering his hand, he reached for hers. “I know what it’s like to face off against the world. To have no hope and nowhere to turn. If you tell me the truth, I can help you.”

Her expression blanked, and she twisted her lips in a half smile. “There’s nothing to tell. Now if you don’t mind, can we finish this not-so-subtle interrogation tomorrow before we go to your office? I’m beat.”

Disappointed that she wasn’t going to say more, Jake let her go when she tugged free from his hold. “We’re not going to the office until the day after tomorrow.”

She raised her eyebrows, then lowered them in a frown. “I don’t understand.”

“Everything was so hectic today, I thought we could take a day off and relax.”

Holly made a sound of disbelief and put her hands on her hips. “Something tells me that you don’t take days off.”

“Well, there’s a first time for everything, sweetheart.”

“Fine. A day off it is.” She yawned and stretched, arching her arms backward. He conjured up a mental image of another time she’d arched and cried out his name. She was gorgeous, with a hot-as-hell body and was mind-blowing in the bedroom. But it wasn’t just the sex that he’d enjoyed. They’d talked off and on throughout the night and she was intelligent and insightful. He rubbed his forehead. If he didn’t get a grip, he would fork over the keys to the kingdom and grin sappily while she and whatever partner she had robbed them all blind.

She put her hand on his shoulder and the contact shot through him, dragging him backward in time to the hotel room when her hands had gripped his shoulders as he’d held them both up against the wall. He scooted back fast enough to cause the stool to fall over with a loud clang. Bending down, he picked it up and set it on the legs again.

Her tongue darted out to touch the center of her bottom lip. “Are you okay with me being here?”

No. He was not okay. He was no stranger to wanting to get laid, but what spooked him was that he didn’t want sex with just any woman. He wanted sex with Holly. Again. If stupidity could be painted, he would be a Picasso work of art.

“Jake? I asked if you were okay with this.”

“Yeah. Come on, I’ll show you to your room. It’s the last one on the left.” Far, far away from his, and he would not lie in his bed and think about her. He led the way down the hallway to the first guest room and swung open the door. “I’ll grab your suitcase.”

“I’ll take care of it.” She brushed past him. “Good night,” she called out as her hips swung in a sexy walk toward the living room. Holy hell. His first mistake was sleeping with her. His second was thinking he could have her at his place and act like a monk.

Jake didn’t relish knowing the amount of time he’d have to spend taking cold showers as long as Holly was around. The sooner he found out her secrets and sent her on her way, the easier it would be to think with his brain again.