After spending the remainder of her day trying to stay focused on her task, Kathryn found herself alone as the day came to a close.
Again? Seriously?
The team had wrapped up and left hours ago. Since then, she’d passed the time puttering about, staying busy, tidying up and organizing things. Filling every minute trying not to obsess about some woman named Chelsea Anders.
Determined, she opened her laptop and googled the sophisticated-sounding name.
The good news? There was only one Chelsea Anders within driving distance. The bad news? She looked like a supermodel and was a top local real estate agent. The differences between them would make a lesser woman worry.
Good thing I’m so secure.
With my man.
Who’s been gone for hours without a word.
Suddenly, Kathryn needed her friends.
She glanced down at her ensemble for the day. Leggings and a black tee, topped with a denim shirt. Rodeo chic. Meanwhile, the woman in a spokesmodel pose smiling gleefully from the laptop was decked out like she’d just shopped on Rodeo Drive.
When Kathryn made the mistake of looking further, the news article she found smacked her right in her ego. It was an old engagement announcement, slating Chelsea as the bride-to-be. The future Mrs. Jake Russo.
So, they were engaged? Big deal. It explains her being his beneficiary.
Kathryn squinted at the screen. He couldn’t possibly be falling for a woman who might have tried to have him killed.
Definitely not. They’ve probably spent the past several hours doing . . . other things.
The little clock on her monitor yanked her attention.
Where the hell is he?
Her agitation ticked higher.
Fine. He lost track of time.
With his ex.
Who looks like a real-life Barbie.
Her fingers strummed the desk.
Fuck it.
She shut the laptop.
I’ve got to get out of here.
Swapping her leggings for her favorite pair of boot-cut jeans, and ditching the flannel for a lined leather jacket, she made herself comfortable in the shiny black Range Rover. She’d already called the dynamic trio. Apparently, they were rocking a long extension of happy hour without her, assuming she’d be preoccupied.
Sadly, she was. But not in the fun way they’d alluded to.
She met them for Mexican and margaritas, ordering her standard substitute of Tito’s vodka for tequila. “Tequila and I broke up years ago,” she explained to the waitress, “and it was a bad breakup.”
“Girl, everyone breaks up with tequila,” the waitress joked.
“Not me,” Julian slurred. “I’m on again with that devil until she does me wrong.” He sipped from his impractical fishbowl margarita that had just been delivered, stuffed with an upside-down bottle of Corona.
“Damn, boy. Tough day?” Laurie said with a giggle.
“Tough fucking week, girl. But it’s about to get oh-so-much better.” His lips tightened around the three straws in his drink, as if sucking it down was his God-given gift.
“Mind if I join you?” came an all-too-familiar voice from behind Kathryn.
They all looked up. She turned as well, then returned to her drink. She gave a subtle shake of her head to her friends before taking a sip.
Dana jumped in. “Sorry. It’s a private party.”
The man rested his hand on Kathryn’s shoulder, and she stiffened. “Kathryn, I really think you should let me take you out of here.”
Loud and demanding, she said, “Look, Artie, I’m sorry, but I’m just not interested.”
She didn’t bother looking back, already fuming that this grade-A asshole was stupid enough to put his hands on her.
“But,” his hand squeezed harder, “I insist.”
Oh, count me in. It’s been a hot minute since my hand-to-hand combat training, and I’ve got a lot of pent-up steam.
Taking another sip, she was giving the son of a bitch until the count of three to remove his hand. Just the right amount of time to finish her drink.
One.
Two.
Then his hand was gone.
“Hey!” he shouted.
Jake had the guy’s hand, specifically his thumb, contorted and hiked up behind his back, forcing the guy to his tippy toes before Jake released him with a shove. “I believe the lady gave you her answer.”
The guy stumbled off, leaving the restaurant.
As Jake straightened his shirt, Kathryn noticed her friends staring at the sexy hunk like they’d just ordered him off the naughty hottie menu.
Julian waggled his brows. “Well, well, well, aren’t you just the smoking-hot knight in shining armor.”
“Hardly.” Jake smiled at Kathryn. “I didn’t mean to interrupt, but I noticed your expression, and didn’t want you busting out a can of whoop-ass in the middle of your meal. You’re still recovering.”
She stared at him, coy and calculating.
I can’t stay mad at him. He’s my crack-laced Kryptonite, deep-fried and covered in butter.
“What on earth makes you think I’d do that?” Her grin turned sly.
He grabbed a nearby chair, flipping it around to straddle it beside her. When a waitress came up to request his drink order, he said, “Just water.”
She nodded and strolled off while he continued.
“Oh, I know. You look sweet as apple pie, but you’ve got a mean right hook, and I’ve got the medical record to prove it.”
“What?” Kathryn glared at him, incredulous at his nerve. And amused.
The rest of the table egged Jake on to continue.
“Seven years ago,” he said to Kathryn. “You were in a hand-to-hand combat course. Bright eyed. Bushy, um, tailed.”
She giggled, stopping him there. “If I recall correctly, this was a woman-only course, and my instructor was definitely not you.”
Laurie asked, “Because your instructor was a she?” She swung her head toward Jake. “Uh, if you’ve transitioned, you look a-maz-ing!”
Jake laughed, and Kathryn joined him.
“No,” she said. “Captain Alfonso Roberts was a tower of power, beautiful inside and out, and distinctly black.”
Julian’s eyes lit, intrigued as he asked, “Do you keep in touch? Is he single?”
They all laughed as the waitress handed Jake a tall glass of water. He sipped at it, still grinning.
Captivated, Kathryn asked him, “How do you know about the class?”
“I was . . . well, your crash-test dummy.”
Her face froze in amused shock. Her double-take was long and pronounced, hitting almost every part of his body. “Hang on. You? That’s not possible. The guy I sparred with was, like, twelve years old and a beanpole. I even told him to—”
“Eat something,” he said, finishing her sentence.
“Oh my gosh,” Julian blurted. “She’s always telling me the exact same thing.”
Kathryn’s hands flew to her face, covering her flaming cheeks. “It was you. Oh my God. I broke your nose.” She winced at the recollection, reaching out to slide her finger over that very same nose.
“To your credit, you reset it on the spot.” He wiggled it, proving its resilience. “Which hurt like hell. But it taught me a lesson. Keep my guard up, no matter how deceptively cute my opponent is. Though none of them were ever as gorgeous as you.” As he took a last sip, her friends let out a collective aww around the table. “Listen, I just dropped by for a second. Walk me out?”
Kathryn walked out with him, his arm wrapping around the small of her back. “So, I scared you away the first time,” she teased as they strolled into the parking lot.
“Well, I was scared off, all right, but it wasn’t because of your right hook. More like your left ring finger. You were married at the time to a certain military surgeon we both know.”
Nodding, she rubbed the band-free finger. “Fair enough.”
“And if that hadn’t stopped me, you were an officer. Fraternization would have stopped me cold.” He stopped to reconsider. “Eh, maybe.”
“Hmm, I think what might have stopped me is that I’m pretty sure back then you were technically a minor.”
Jake chuckled loudly. “I wasn’t that young. Last I checked, we’re the exact same age.”
“Au contraire,” she said, taking the opportunity to rub his arm. “I’m positive I’m older. Even if only by a few months.”
“Fine. You’re robbing the cradle,” he said, tenderly pressing her back against his truck and sliding his finger from her collar bone to between her breasts. His lips were a breath from hers.
“To be clear,” he said softly, “you might be older, and I’m well aware you can pack a wicked punch. But if I’m around, I’m protecting you. And everyone will know you’re mine.”
His lips captured hers, and when he slipped his tongue inside, she sucked hard on it and pressed her body against his. He pulled away, and she shuddered.
“I didn’t mean to stalk you, kitten. I got a ping on my phone as soon as the SUV left the property, and this was on my way back. I know you have questions, about Chelsea, as well as other things. And I’ve got some of my own. So, when you’re ready, come home, and let’s get to know each other better.” His hands cradled her ass as he gave her one last kiss. “My way.”
Breathless, she nodded.
Slipping a credit card in the back pocket of her jeans, he kissed her again. “Girls’ night is on me. I owe everyone this and more.” He stepped up into his truck, and rolled down the window after starting it up. “I’ll watch you get safely inside. Make sure your friends walk you out. See you in a bit.”
Her fingers trailed off his truck, and she headed back in.