A Breath Away

“I can’t do that.”

“And I can’t fight blind.”

He had issues with being trapped—which was how he viewed holing up in a hotel room, luxurious or not. He knew this stemmed from his childhood days at the orphanage. While the nuns had been caring and gentle, his movements had been restricted to the convent; his choices had been limited. Had his foray into rebellion and eventual thievery been genetic or circumstantial? He’d likely never know for certain.

“I have to do something,” he said.

“I’ll put you to work.”

“I work better in the field. You must realize I can get in and out of here without anyone knowing.”

Her eyes flashed. “Not without me knowing.”

“Jade, Jade…” He cupped her elbows. “I’m trying here. I’m really trying to work with you. But you can’t put me in a box. You can’t honestly expect I’d agree to that.”

She pulled away, then paced in a circle before facing him again. “I’m asking you to stay put. Just a day or two. I need time to check with my network of contacts about your suspects. Two of them are all the way across the country in San Francisco and one is in south Florida.”

He could help by giving her more information. But he’d promised himself to let her roll with this case her way. After all these years, if he’d made a mistake or jumped to the wrong conclusions, he might never have the answers he sought. “Do you ever stop pushing?”

“No.”

He’d expected nothing less. Wasn’t that why he’d hired her in the first place? “You’re asking a lot.”

“I’m doing what’s necessary. You know I am.”

He knew.

“Do you really intend to tell me everything about your past?” she asked. “The parts that aren’t in your file?”

“Do you really intend to continue to deny our chemistry?”

She sighed and stepped back. “We’re not getting anywhere.”

They certainly weren’t. But as much as he needed her to do her job, to make sure his own investigation had indeed led him in the right direction, he needed her touch, her kiss, her sighs of pleasure even more.

His muscles twitched with the effort of holding back. He clenched his fists at his sides and fought to control his breathing.

“There are parts of my life that aren’t pretty,” he said finally.

“I’m not denying our chemistry,” she said at the same time.

She extended her hands. “You first.”

“Ladies first. Besides, mine will take longer to tell.”

She huffed out a breath. “Okay, look. We’ve got a personal issue with each other. I’m not completely immune, and obviously you’re not.”

Was that a compliment? He didn’t think so.

“It’s just something we’re going to have to work around,” she continued. “It’s a chemical thing that pops up from time to time when men and women work together. Close quarters, tense moments, etcetera.”

He loved her short, businesslike tone. He’d known her three hours, and yet he already realized it was so her. “Really? When was the last time it cropped up for you?”

“I don’t think we need to go into specifics.”

“Sure we do.”

She sighed. “Okay, so maybe one time I let myself get too close to a target. The results weren’t pretty, so you’d better—”

“He got killed?”

“Well, no, but—”

“He was injured?”

“Well, yes, but not because of anything I—”

“He just betrayed you by sneaking off with a terrorist—the one from whom he’d been accepting bribes for more than a year. Then he got shot, got scared and turned over evidence to your superior, who cut him a no-jail-time deal with the government.”

She went still, her eyes frosting over. “Somebody’s been doing some digging.”

“Naturally.” He reached out, trailing his finger along her cheek. “In fact, I know a great deal more about you than I imagine you’re comfortable with.”

“And yet you won’t grant me the same courtesy.”

“I’m getting around to it. I would just rather talk about the personal issue between us.” His tone deepened as desire rolled through his stomach. “Exploring chemistry can be a healthy release.”

“It can also be an unnecessary distraction.”

“We’ll set guidelines.”

“I won’t—”

“Consider it.”

She licked her lips, drawing his gaze and forcing him to suppress a moan. “Okay.”

He smiled, sliding his thumb across her bottom lip. “It’s a start.”

4

MAYBE IT WAS the probing, conflicted expression in Remy’s eyes. Maybe it was simply time to give in to someone’s opinions other than her own. Maybe she was just exhausted. But Jade was certainly tempted.

Foolish, definitely. But the lure was there, glimmering in front of her like an inviting respite from holding everything in, from doubting and fighting to stay in control. Even as he aggravated her, this man might equal her strength and challenge her as no one ever had before.

For now, though, she had to set it aside.

“We have a lot to talk about, but we don’t have to do it now,” she said, rolling her shoulders and stepping back. “I want to see what Mo comes up with. In the meantime, I’ll find a way to let you out, but you have to keep out of sight. You’re supposed to be a traumatized art dealer.”