the night. While I was in the shower.”
“Er…” Her face stayed impassive, but she had the grace to blush, anyway.
“First of all, I was terrified something had happened to you.”
She shook her head, drawing his attention to the way she’d rolled her hair under at the nape of her neck. “What do you mean?”
“I mean that you were out walking in the middle of the night!”
“It wasn’t the middle of the night. It was nine-thirty. In Aspen.” When he opened his mouth to cut her off, she raised a hand to stop him. “I only walked the two blocks to Main Street, and I had a can of mace with me. I grabbed a cab as soon as I reached The Lodge.”
He crossed his arms. “And how was I supposed to know that?”
A flicker of confusion crossed her face, and Jane dropped her hand. “I’m sorry.”
“Secondly,” he growled, uncrossing his arms and moving forward until his thighs hit her desk, “that was really fucking rude, Jane.”
“I… I suppose it—”
“Kind of cruel, as a matter of fact.”
“Cruel?” she whispered.
“I was okay with being your little birthday gift to yourself. Use me. Fine. But I don’t appreciate being treated like a worthless piece of garbage afterward.”
“I’m sorry. I… I thought you’d be glad I was gone.”
“Now, that’s just a lie, Jane. If you thought I’d be glad, you would’ve stuck your head in my bathroom and said, ‘Thanks for the ride, stud. I’ll call you sometime.’ Instead you waited until I’d turned my back and then snuck away so that you wouldn’t have to speak to me after you fucked me.”
That brought more color to her cheeks. He felt a moment’s happiness that he’d gotten to her, and then the unthinkable happened. Jane Morgan began to cry.
Not really crying, Chase scrambled to assure himself. Her eyes just got a little…wet. She sniffed.
“Oh, shit,” he muttered. “I’m sorry.”
“No, you’re right.” She sniffed again and swiped at her eyes. “I was beyond rude.”
“Okay, but I shouldn’t have said that.”
“You have every right to be mad. I was… I told myself it was okay because you were a man, but it wasn’t okay. It was unkind. I’m sorry. I’m really sorry.”
“All right, apology accepted. I didn’t mean to make you cry.”
She put her shoulders back and took a deep breath, seemingly calming herself, but a tear still escaped and slipped down her cheek before she swiped it impatiently away. “I had a tough weekend. It’s not your fault.”
“Bad birthday?”
“Oh, boy,” she said on a laugh, but the laugh turned into a little hiccup.
“Aw, Jane,” he murmured, edging around the desk to pull her into his arms. He half expected her to resist, but she stepped into him and pressed her forehead to his shoulder.
“I’m okay. Really.” She actually sounded a little better. He’d expected her to break down, but she took a few breaths and relaxed. “All right,” she whispered, but she didn’t push away.
“Tell me nothing bad happened to you.”
“No, nothing. I’m just stressed out and tired. I had trouble sleeping last night.”
Good. Now he could enjoy the chance to touch her. He recognized the scent of her shampoo already. It had been imprinted permanently on his brain on Friday night. “I’m glad you’re okay.”
“Thank you. I’m really sorry, Chase.”
Chase was busy with thoughts of the last time he’d touched her, so it took a moment for the noise behind him to register. He was just lifting his head when Quinn walked past.
“Hey, Chase,” Quinn muttered. “Morning, Jane.”
Jane jumped back, jerking violently away before Chase could drop his arms. Inhaling sharply, she slapped a hand over her mouth as if to stifle the sound, her eyes flying to her boss’s back. But Quinn walked on, head down, totally absorbed in the papers in his hand. A few seconds later he disappeared into his office and closed the door.
“Oh, my God,” Jane whispered. “Chase, you’ve got to get out of here. Oh, God.”
“All right, all right. I’ll go.” He held up his hands to appease her, but she backed away. “But you owe me another date.”
“I certainly do not—”
Quinn’s door opened. He stuck his head out, brow furrowed with harsh suspicion when his eye fell on Chase. He glared at Chase for a moment, then his eyes slid to Jane.
“Jane? Is everything okay here?” He sent Chase another dark glance, as if she needed a hint.
“Yes, sir. I’m sorry. Everything’s fine.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes, Mr. Jennings.”
Quinn took a moment to look between them again, eyes narrowed. “All right. If you’re sure you’re okay…”
As soon as his door closed again, Jane snapped, “Get out!”
“Absolutely, as long as you agree to dinner.”
“I specifically said… Okay, fine! Just go.”
“I need your number.”
Jane snatched up a Post-it note and scribbled on it before shoving it into his hands. “Out. Now.”
He smiled. “I’ll call you.”
She was growling when he left, but Chase wasn’t the least bit worried. That girl was hot. And he wanted more time with her, despite the way she’d treated him. He’d enjoyed the hell out of being used…up until the part where she’d snuck out as if he was a gigolo she didn’t want to pay.
Next time he’d tie her up before he took a shower.
Grinning in anticipation, Chase slammed his truck door and headed out to the morning’s site. If only there’d been an explosion scheduled, he would’ve been in a perfect state of bliss.
“THE POLICE ARE OBVIOUSLY trying to draw this out. They’re looking for something bigger, but your brother claims to have no idea what it could be.”
Jane nodded at the grandmotherly woman behind the desk. She didn’t look like a defense attorney, and maybe that was a good thing. She certainly seemed sharp and aggressive.
“The
