Beneath the Silk (26 page)

Sunni studied his rigid stance and heavy scowl. Studied all six feet three inches of his iron will and rock-solid strength. He was possibly the strongest, most durable man she had ever met. Certainly the most unforgettable—with just one kiss, Jack Ward had forever changed her life. “What’s that look for, Jack? Stub your toe on the way over here?”

“Do you want to explain what you were doing damn near giving Crammer Ferguson a heart attack?”

“He was smiling, Jack, not gasping and clutching his heart.” On hearing Mac bark out on the terrace, Sunni headed for the slider. As he entered the living room wagging his tail, she bent down and kissed his head, then said, “I bought some entertainment for you today, sweetheart. Three hours of Westminster. The complete, unedited version.”

While Mac curled up on the sofa, Sunni popped the tape in the video recorder and turned on the TV.
When she came back around, Jack was still scowling. She scowled back. “You’ve been living at the Wilchard for two days without saying a word, Jack. Why?”

“It’s only temporary. Until me and Mac find something more permanent.”

“That’s not the point, Jack. You’re back in Chicago. Why?”

“Hank offered me a position in special investigations. Promised me my own office.”

“And that’s important?”

He shrugged, his gaze settling on the twins. Yes, she’d finally accepted the name he’d given them and actually missed hearing him call her breasts by that silly name. Which meant she was utterly and helplessly in love with this man and was no longer willing to deny it.

She should have told him that, and more, the night he’d rescued her from the toolshed. It would have been the perfect time to let go of her fears and just curl up in his very capable arms and confess everything she was feeling. Only he’d started in on how vulnerable she was and she’d gotten so angry that she had continued on with the lie.

“You shouldn’t be out on the terrace dressed like that. This city is full of—”

“Snakes,” Sunni finished for him. “If you don’t like the view maybe you should stay away from your window.”

“I never said I didn’t like it. What I don’t like is you giving some old guy like Crammer a turn-on.”

Her gaze traveled to Jack’s crotch.

He swore. “All right, right now I’m as hard as a steel pipe. Torturing me like this—”

“Torturing you? And what have you been doing to me for the past two nights. Last night your jeans were unzipped and—” Sunni snapped her mouth shut.

“And what? Come on. Say it. Admit you were watching me.”

“Okay, Jack. I was watching you.”

He started toward her.

Sunni backed up in the
direction of the hall. “I told
you, Jack, I don’t need a nursemaid. Or someone to brush my teeth.”

He stopped. “When
I told you I loved you I wasn’t
offering you pity, or maid service.
I was offering hot
sex every night. Egg soufflé
and orange juice in
the morning. And company in the shower.”

“And is that offer still on the table, Jack?”

One dark brow hiked up. “What exactly are you asking, Sis?”

Sunni angled her head, took a minute to study his brilliant green eyes. He really didn’t know, she decided. She’d told her lie too well. He had no idea how desperately she loved him. His mother was right.

“Jack, first you need to know that I’ve never seduced a man in my life, in or out of the shower. And then you need to know that I went to see your mother. I like her a lot. Thirdly, you need to know that I lied.”

“Lied? Again…”

Sunni smiled. “I figured you’d say that.”

“Well, if I think it, I—”

“Say it. Yes, I know.”

“What did you lie about?”

“I was afraid, Jack. That’s why I told the lie, but now—”

“Afraid of what, Sis?”

“Afraid that someday you’d regret loving me if I told you how I really felt. I love you so much, and the thought of saddling you with a sick woman who would someday become a royal pain in your amazingly tight incredible ass… Well I—”

“Say that again?”

Hands on her hips, Sunni scowled at him. “You know you have an incredible ass, Jack. I’m not going to stroke your ego about something we both know is fact.”

“Not that part. There was a real nice couple of words somewhere in the middle.”

Sunni smiled. “Oh… The part where I said, I love you.”

“Yeah, that’s it.”

“I do love you, Jack. I have for days. Actually, I think I fell in love with you the minute you vampired my lip.”

“So you’ve had me dangling on a hook for days. Is that what you’re saying?”

He started to advance on her. “Jack, don’t be angry.” Sunni scurried down the hall and into the bedroom. Backing up, she felt the bed behind her. “You’re upset. And I guess you have a right to be.”

He didn’t stop until he was inches from her, and his chest was brushing against hers. “As the old saying goes, Sis. With that little confession you’re … screwed.”

“Oh… Then I’m in big trouble.”

“Yeah … you could say that.” He leaned into her and brushed his lower body against her. “It looks like you’ve made your bed … with me in it.” That said, he tumbled her onto the bed and wedged his knee between her legs. Forcing them wide, he fit himself against her.

“Jack…”

“Before things get any hotter, you have to know something, Sis. I was coming back. Whether I got the job or not. I was coming back.”

“Because you love me,” she whispered.

“Yes. Because I love you. And because I’m the man.”

* * *

Hours later Jackson stood on the terrace with Sunni wrapped in a blanket curled against him. The sky was clear and there was a slight breeze. Chicago was lit up all the way to Lake Shore Drive and beyond, and from the Crown Plaza the view was spectacular.

“Ask me again, Jack.”

He gazed down at her, unable to believe that she was in his arms. “Ask you what?”

“You know, what you asked me when I was—”

“Soaring, or diving?”

“Moaning. I think I was moaning when you popped the question.”

He angled his head and looked down at her. “A man’s ego is a delicate thing. If the answer is no, I don’t think—”

Sunni reached down and squeezed him through his jeans.

He jumped. “Be careful! Wreck me, and then where will you be?”

“Out shopping for Super Glue, I suppose? I’m certain that’s a one-of-a-kind.” She sobered. “Maybe you didn’t really mean it.”

“I mean everything I say, Sis. You should know that by now.”

“Then ask me again.”

“Okay.” He turned her to face him. “Sis, will you marry me … and Mac?”

“Maybe you should read my medical file first and then—”

Jackson shook his head. “I don’t need to read anything. Say yes, so we can start celebrating … again.” He opened the blanket and gazed inside. “The twins look anxious.”

She went up on tiptoes and kissed him. “Oh yes, Jack. Yes, I would love to marry you.”

“Thank you, God,” he sighed, then scooped her up into his arms and started back inside.

“I can’t wait to call Mom and Dad in the morning.”

Jackson headed for the shower. “Let’s hold off on that for a few days, sweet thing. Just until we’re sure your father’s ulcer is really on the mend.”

“He’s going to be so surprised.”

“He’s going to be more than that, honey.” He set her down in the bathroom and tugged the blanket off her.

“A midnight shower, Jack?”

He grinned. “About this shower, Sis. You never did say what that’s all about. What’s going on in there?”

She opened the etched-glass door and turned on the water. Beautifully naked, she glanced over her satin-smooth shoulder. “A tip for the future, Jack. If you ever have questions about what’s going on in our shower, all you need to do is look up. Sometimes, a picture truly is worth a thousand words.”

Epilogue

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T
wo days later Jackson found himself in Joe’s office staring out the window waiting on the rain and Lucky. He’d called an hour ago and had asked Jackson to meet him in Joe’s office.

“So when’s the wedding?” Joey asked.

“We haven’t pinned down the date. We still haven’t called Clide.”

“Sweating what Daddy’s going to say?”

Jackson rubbed his jaw. “You don’t know the half of it.”

Joey chuckled. “You’re still one lucky bastard, Jacky. Sunni’s a beautiful lady.”

“That she is, Joe. I feel like the luckiest man in the world.” He turned from the window, grinning. In fact, he’d been grinning nonstop since Sis had told him she loved him.

“Where’s Mac this morning?”

“Downstairs with Sunni. He likes tagging along behind her these days. I think he’s a little jealous.”

When the phone rang, Joey picked it up. “Yeah? Okay. We’re both here.” When he disconnected, he said, “Lucky’s on his way up. He sounded strange.”

“Strange, how?”

“Sober” was Joey’s answer. “I’ll be glad to find out where the hell he’s been. Gates didn’t even have a number where he could be reached. Frank’s been all over me for days for letting him run off without knowing where or why. Hell, it’s been six days.”

When the door opened and closed, Lucky strolled into the office whistling.

“Where the hell have you been?” Joey began. “Frank’s been—”

“Worried?” Lucky spied Jackson. “Hey, bro, heard you got your case solved while I was away. Heard you put Williams behind bars, and got an extra bonus for your trouble. Congratulations on the new job. I hear there’s going to be a wedding, too.”

“I suppose you were as surprised as the rest of us to learn it was Stud Williams?” Jackson asked.

“Not really. Never trust a two-faced cop.” Lucky took the chair facing Joey. “Speaking of Williams—” he reached into his pocket and tossed a picture on the shiny desk “—picked something up for you, bro.”

For several seconds the room was quiet, then all at once Joey was on his feet. “Where did you get this picture?”

“I took it.”

“Where.”

“Key West, Florida.”

“She’s there?”

“That’s right.”

When Joe released a string of Italian that left a trail of blue smoke, Jackson sauntered to the desk to eye the picture. Holy hell, he thought. Lucky had located Rhea Williams.

“How did you find her?” Joey snapped. “Or did you know where she was all along?”

Lucky got to his feet. “Don’t be crazy, Joey. I only learned where she was a few days ago. I had a hunch and I played it. It took me a few more days to put all the facts together for you, but in the end, you got your answer to that nagging question you’ve been living with for three years.”

Suddenly the fight went out of Joe. “I need a drink.”

“I’ll pour,” Jackson offered.

As Lucky and Joe straddled bar stools, Jackson poured Macallan Scotch for all three of them from behind the bar. Lucky said, “Rhea’s been living there since she left Chicago. She lives on a private estate.”

“How did you find her?” Jackson asked.

“I’ll get into that later. The important thing is I found her and…”

“And?” Joe had already downed his glass of Scotch. He motioned to Jackson to pour him another.

Lucky slid his hand into his leather jacket pocket and pulled out another picture and laid it on the bar. The picture was of Rhea walking along a sandy beach holding onto the hand of a little dark-haired boy no older that three.

The minute Joe’s eyes fastened on the picture, he said, “Whose kid, Lucky?”

The question hung in the silence for a full minute. Then finally, Lucky said, “Who does he look like, bro?”

Jackson angled his head to look at the kid and nearly choked on his Scotch. The boy looked like he could be Joe’s twin.

“Are you saying he’s mine? That she was pregnant when she left town? That I have a son I didn’t know about?”

His gaze dropped to the picture and he examined it more closely. Jackson watched as Joey’s fingers brushed over the little boy’s face several times. “How could she do that?” he whispered. “How could she keep him from me?”

His voice was low, laced with a dangerous quality that hinted of the fury raging inside him.

“Take it easy, Joe,” Jackson said. “First you have to make sure he’s yours before you get—”

“He is,” Lucky confirmed. “That’s why I was gone a few extra days. I wanted to make sure I didn’t come back bearing false gifts.”

Jackson poured Joey another Scotch. “Here, bro. Down another one of these. I’ll keep ‘em coming.” He glanced at Lucky. “You want another one?”

“No. I figure I’ll be flying a plane out of here before morning, headed for the Atlantic. At least one of us ought to have a clear head.”