Chapter 18

 

It was kind of funny how people came into your life. One minute you were going along just fine and then bam, you met a gorgeous hunk of a man. Next, you couldn’t stop thinking about him. At times I couldn’t stop thinking of the kiss from Jake, and other times thinking about him just made me furious. Those were the times when I wanted nothing to do with him. Yes, that was how I felt about Jake.

Mostly, he made me angry. Well, the only reason why I was angry with him was because he felt I wasn’t a good private investigator. Okay, he hadn’t said as much, but I just got that feeling. It could be my own insecurities making me think that way, and he really didn’t feel bad at all. After all, he had kissed me. Now I didn’t know what to think. I was so confused about my emotions. I had better figure out something though because he was on his way into my office. 

Jake stepped into the room and before either of us said a word Dorothy got up and walked right toward the door. Now Jake and I were alone. Maybe it was wishful thinking, but I thought Jake was looking at me with longing in his eyes. However, he could possibly just hungry for lunch. His blue eyes practically had me mesmerized. I thought I was doing a good job of playing it cool though.  

“I’ll leave you two alone,” she said with a wink.

She was just trying to embarrass me even more. Jake walked over to my desk and took a seat right in front of me.

“What can I do for you?” I asked.

This was so awkward. I didn’t know what to say. Should I just reach over the desk and kiss him right then and there? Was it getting hotter in here or was it just me? That sexy smile of his drove me crazy and his body… don’t even get me started with his body. I wanted to rip his clothes off…

“Maggie, are you listening to me?” he said. “So what do you think?”

I got carried away and now I had no idea what he’d asked.

“Absolutely, I’m going to continue this case. I was hired to solve the case and that’s what I’m going to do,” I said.

He quirked an eyebrow. “Actually, I was just asking if you’d like to go out to dinner with me tonight.” He looked at his watch. “I’m kind of getting hungry. Are you finished soon?”

I knew my face was red. That was what I got for daydreaming and not listening. Now I had to make a decision quickly. Should I say yes and go out to dinner with him and most likely end up in a situation that I’d regret because I’d be too occupied thinking about his gorgeous body? Or say no and focus on my work like I should? It was too early on in this agency for me to get distracted. But with the way he was staring at me I would have to give him an answer soon.

“There’s a new restaurant down the street I’ve been wanting to check out,” he said with a sexy curve of his lips.

That was it. I couldn’t say no to that. All he had to do was flash a smile.

Just as I was about to open my mouth to answer, my cell phone rang. Mere seconds later, his phone rang. We looked at each other and picked up our phones.

“Maggie, P.I.,” I said.

“Detective Jake Jackson.” His stare remained on me.

We watched each other as we listened to the other person on the other line.

“Yeah, I’ll be right there,” I said.

“I’ll see you soon,” he said.

Jake had almost said the same sentence.

We both hung up the phone, staring at each other.

“Something came up,” I said. “Actually, I have to go.”

“Yeah, something came up for me too,” he said.

Was this something that came up related to the case like it was for me? And if so, what was it? I really wanted to know if he had information that I didn’t. Solving this case was my top priority so that I could get paid for the job. They weren’t going to let me live in that apartment for free. I had bills to pay. Plus, I had my eye on a new handbag. It had a matching gun case for it as well, but I digress.

“Can I get a rain check?” he asked.

“Yes, that sounds like a good idea.” I wrapped my hands around my car keys.

He glanced back at the door. I looked at it too. I was in a hurry to get out of here. He wanted to say something else.

“You want to tell me what that phone call was about? You get a call and now you have to leave?” he asked.

He wanted the details of my call? I wouldn’t tell him if he wasn’t going to tell me about his call. We stared at each other in a showdown. Jake was really stubborn, but not as stubborn as me.

I got up from behind my desk and grabbed my bag. “Yes, I suppose I should be taking off now. I will take that rain check. Just give me a call, okay?”

He stood and walked to the door. As he brushed by me I smelled his wonderful scent and my knees went weak. I stepped out into the warm sunshine with the breeze coming off the ocean, drifting across my skin. The next thing I knew, without saying a word, Jake grabbed me up. He planted his lips on mine.  My eyelids fluttered shut as I melted into his arms. Instead of moving away, I pressed my body closer. A blaze of desire erupted through me. I really was about to collapse now. He was such a great kisser. Just when I thought my legs might give out on me he released me from the kiss and turned around. Acting completely cool and confident, he walked toward his car.

Momentarily a daze took over. Thank goodness after a second I snapped out of it. A simple kiss. That was all it was and nothing more. I guess I showed him. At least now Jake knew that I had ways of finding info about this case too. I wasn’t totally clueless. Seagulls swooped down toward my head. I shooed them away. Thank goodness Jake didn’t ask where I was going. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to make up something believable. Dorothy was standing right there with her mouth hung open.

“Wow, now that was one hell of a kiss. Where do you think you’re going? Go after him.” She motioned.

“I have more important things to do right now.”

“Like what?” she asked, placing her hands on her hips.

I didn’t want to let Jake get out of there faster than me so I dashed for my car.

“Where are you going?” she asked. “That’s not the right way.”

“I have somewhere to go. Watch the office for me. I’ll be back soon,” I said, tossing my hand up in a wave.

I practically jumped into my car and cranked the engine. Jake was pulling out at the same time and we almost ran into each other. I managed to steer my little car around his big one and over to the exit. He hadn’t even pulled out onto the highway yet. When I glanced in the rearview mirror he was there. Dammit. Why was he right behind me? Was he following me? I thought he’d said he had somewhere to go? This wasn’t nice. When I made the right turn onto the highway, he followed along too. I should pull over and ask what he was doing.

I tried to speed up, but there was too much traffic—it made it difficult. When I switched a lane, he got into that same lane. I was so going to give him a piece of my mind when I got out of this car. If it wasn’t unsafe while driving I would text him right now and tell him to back off. When I looked back he wasn’t there anymore. Where had he gone? No matter how much I tried to look around I didn’t see him. He must have gotten off. Well, good for him, because it was a bad idea to continue following me. I could go on with my business and not have to worry about him. Though I was still thinking about that kiss.