Careless Rapture (18 page)

Kevin Jackson
was a wealthy man who’d once been Drake’s romantic rival for
Cassie’s affections. A playboy by nature and a rogue by choice, he
spent his spring and summers on his Maryland estate just an hour
drive out of D.C. On ten acres of land, his magnificent home
boasted a private lake and landscaped row of trees. Jackie and Clay
waited for their host in the sitting room under a large, vaulted
ceiling, trying to get comfortable on furniture more suited for
form than function. A few moments later, Kevin entered the room, an
attractive man of easy confidence and excellent dress. He flashed a
big smile.

“I see you brought an escort,” he said to
Jackie with mock dismay.

“I’m just the driver,” Clay said. “Pretend
I’m not here.”

“That won’t be hard. I’m used to ignoring
drivers.” He gave Jackie his full attention. “So what do you need?”
Jackie explained the situation. Kevin asked her pointed questions
that hinted of a fine business mind behind his quick smile and
handsome face, and finally said, “I’ll think it over.”

Her enthusiasm died. She’d hoped to get an
easy yes. “Okay.”

“You’re disappointed,” he said, catching the
passing expression. “I know what you wanted to hear, however—”

“I understand,” she said, trying to appear
professional though she wanted to stomp her foot in frustration.
“But consider this. We could name something after you for longevity
purposes.”

“How about a venereal disease?” Clay
muttered.

Jackie pinched him.

“Thank you. I’ll tell you my decision in
about a week or two. But enough about business. How is your brother
Drake doing?”

“Oh, he’s great.”

He frowned with regret. “I was hoping for
some good news.” He rested back and grinned at them. “So what’s
going on between you two?”

Jackie’s eyes widened; Clay stiffened.

His grin broadened. “Oh, I see I’ve hit a
nerve.” He rubbed his hands together with pleasure. “Does anybody
else know?”

Jackie opened her mouth then closed it. Clay
merely stared.

Kevin raised a knowing brow. “I won’t tell
anyone.” He released a dramatic sigh. “Seems I’m always a step too
late. I was hoping to get to Jackie myself. But you wouldn’t like
that.”

“Neither would Drake,” Clay said.

“And you think he’ll approve of you?” he
scoffed. “He may not like me, but I’ve got the background to shut
him up. I like to use that advantage on occasion. You, on the other
hand, have nothing.”

Clay’s tone hardened. “I make a decent
living.”

“What’s a decent living nowadays? A hundred
fifty thousand?”

Clay didn’t respond.

“The truth is, you’re good enough for a pal,
but not for his sister.” He shrugged. “But you don’t have to face
that because this isn’t serious, right?”

Clay blinked lazily. “What do you think?”

Kevin glanced at Jackie then back at Clay. “I
think you’re in over your head.”

Jackie spoke up. “We’re just having fun.”

“Fun? So which McDonald’s has he taken you
to?”

“You’re not being fair.”

He shrugged, then took Jackie’s hand and
kissed it. “When you want some caviar and champagne, come by.”

Clay leaned forward. “Listen—”

Kevin shot, him a glance. “I thought you were
just the driver.”

“I’m also a part-time bodyguard.”

Kevin let Jackie’s hand go. “And a full-time
something else.”

Jackie spoke before Clay could. “Thank you
for seeing me. I hope to hear from you soon.”

“Don’t worry. You will.” He stood. “Clay, I
want to show you something.” He left the sitting room and told his
assistant to keep Jackie occupied, then led Clay into the garden.
They were greeted by the sound of rushing water from a fountain of
a lion roaring.

Clay shoved his hands into his pockets. “What
do you want to show me?”

“Some common sense. You seem to have lost
yours.”

“Are you trying to sound clever, or do you
have a point?”

“I’m a jerk. I know that. My escapades with
women are legendary. But I understand them.”

Clay flashed a cold smile. “Are you warning
me off? Drake would be proud.”

“I’m advising you. You’re going to hurt
her.”

“And you wouldn’t?”

“No, because she wouldn’t fall in love with
me.”

“Flash enough cash and she might.”

Kevin stared at him a moment, then said, “You
don’t understand women at all.”

“I understand them enough.”

“Then let her go.” His eyes gleamed. “Unless
you can’t.”

He shrugged. “I like having her around.”

“I can help you beat Drake. I could set you
up with an income twice his salary.”

“How often would I have to kiss your
ass?”

“I have plenty of people who do that so you
wouldn’t have to.”

“No, thanks.”

“Of course you don’t need my help.”

Clay stilled. “What?”

“I did a little investigating on you. You’ve
made some very profitable investments. So why the pretense? Because
it doesn’t fit the image? Don’t worry, I understand the importance
of image.” He folded his arms. “But I can’t figure yours out. Is it
easier to be an outsider than to belong?”

Clay turned to the house.

“The image will rule you if you’re not
careful.”

He spun around. “Has yours?”

“No, I created my image, yours created you.”
He walked past him. “Let’s go inside. Jackie’s waiting and this is
about as deep as I get.”

“Do you want Jackie?”

Kevin grinned over his shoulder. “Not as much
as you do.”

***

Jackie and Clay drove back in silence, the
Maryland hillside soon making way for city buildings. Jackie rolled
down the window. “There’s no reason to be upset. You know Kevin
likes to flirt.”

He changed lanes. “I’m not upset and he
wasn’t flirting.”

“It doesn’t matter anyway.”

“Stay away from him.”

Jackie checked her wrists and ankles.

He looked at her curiously. “What are you
doing?”

“Trying to find my chains. For a moment there
you sounded like a jailer.”

Clay glanced at his rearview mirror,
embarrassed. He wasn’t a jealous man and he certainly wasn’t a
possessive one.

“I’ve lived life this far,” she informed him
in a curt tone. “I don’t need instructions.”

“You’re right.”

She saw his jaw twitch. “You’re still
upset.”

“I’m not upset.” He tapped the steering
wheel. “He was right about Drake. I’m good enough for a mate, but
not for you.”

“Drake isn’t important. Besides, he can’t
look down on you. You both ended up on the streets at sixteen and
worked your way up.”

Yes, but he escaped. I’m still there
.
He stopped in front of her building.

Jackie smiled. “Oh, by the way, I’m wearing
black.”

“What?”

“I’m wearing black.”

He looked at her, confused. “Your top is
blue.”

“Underneath.”

He caught on and grinned. “Really?”

“You won’t know until we reach my place.”

“I don’t get a sneak peek?”

She stepped out of the car. “Why settle for a
sneak peek when you can see the whole thing?”

***

He had her on the bed and naked before he
even noticed the color. “Where are your—”

“In the side table.”

Clay opened the drawer, grabbed a condom, and
began to rip it open. He stopped. “Hang on. I didn’t know they made
this brand anymore.” He flipped it over. “It’s expired.” He shifted
through the drawer, amazed. “All your condoms have expired.”

She sat up and searched through with him.
“Are you sure?”

He lifted another one. “I think this one’s
made out of sheepskin.”

“I guess it’s been a while since a man’s been
here.” She fell back on the bed. “Great. No condoms.”

“Is there a drugstore nearby?”

Jackie jumped out of bed and grabbed a shirt.
“Yes.”

“You don’t need to come with me.”

She threw his shirt at him. “I want to make
sure you’ll come right back.”

“Stay here. Don’t worry. I’ll be right
back.”

***

He didn’t come right back. He would have—with
a box of condoms and a spring in his step—if he hadn’t seen Tanya
and her boyfriend through a bar window. He halted and peered closer
just to make sure it was them. It was. He swore fiercely, then
considered his options. He could walk past, pretend he didn’t see
them, and have a fantastic evening with Jackie, or get Tanya safely
home in her father’s arms and close the case.

He pictured Jackie waiting for him and
started walking. He actually had a woman waiting for him. The last
time that had happened he’d been in his late teens and accidentally
lost the keys after handcuffing his date to the bed. That was an
accident, this was on purpose. Jackie was in her bedroom, naked,
waiting for him. His body responded to just the thought of it. Yes,
he would pretend he hadn’t seen Tanya. He knew she was in the
general area, that was enough. He stopped, his sense of duty taking
hold. He couldn’t do it, he couldn’t leave her. He kicked the side
of a building. “Damn it!”

“Brother, you okay?”

Clay spun around and saw a wino grasping a
brown bag in the shape of a bottle. He took a deep breath. “I’m
fine.”

“You need to just chill.” He held out his
crumpled bag. “Want some?”

“No, thanks.”

He nodded and sauntered off.

Clay rested his forehead against the cool
brick building. This would definitely make Jackie reconsider
Kevin’s offer. He wouldn’t blame her. He gritted his teeth and
dialed Jackie’s number.

“Are you lost?” she asked.

“Umm. No.” He glanced at the bar, noticed how
the shadow of a tree reflected in the window, its budding leaves
blowing in the slight breeze. “You’re not going to like this.”

“Probably not. What is it?”

“I’ve just spotted someone I’ve been looking
for. It’s part of a case.”

She didn’t reply. He closed his eyes, waiting
for the blast. She finally said, “All right. I’ll wait for
you.”

He paused. She wasn’t supposed to say that.
“What?”

“I said I’ll wait for you.”

Perhaps she misunderstood. “This is a case.
It may take hours.”

“It’s a Saturday night. I’ll be up.”

He’d expected anger, maybe even tears. He
would have welcomed it. Not this quiet acceptance. He suddenly
realized he didn’t want her to wait for him. He didn’t like how it
was beginning to feel like a real relationship. “Jackie, I don’t
think you should—”

“Good-bye, Clay. I’ll see you later.” She
hung up.

He began to dial her number again, then
stopped. He couldn’t deal with her right now, he had to think about
Tanya. He dialed Mack’s number, then told him the situation and
location while watching the pair eat their appetizer. That was a
good sign—they didn’t look as though they would be leaving soon. If
all went well, it would be easy. He wasn’t optimistic. When Mack
came, they watched Tanya leave the table and head to the bar. With
the pair separated it was a good time to go into action.

Clay walked past the table and glanced at
Frank, Tanya’s date, a slender man of indeterminate height, a nose
too wide for his face, and a stubborn chin easily knocked out of
joint. Clay approached the bar and rested a foot on Tanya’s stool.
She looked a lot older than seventeen with her short black hair,
tight clothes, and heavy makeup, which was why the bartender had
fallen for her fake ID. “Tanya Patten?”

She turned around. “Yes?”

“It’s time to go home.”

She screamed.

Frank leaped to his feet and flashed a knife.
“What do you think you’re doing?”

Clay jerked his head at Tanya. “I’m taking
her home.”

“She doesn’t want to go home.”

“That’s too bad. I suggest you put that knife
away before you hurt yourself.”

“I’m not going back to jail.”

“If that knife touches me, you won’t make it
to jail.” Clay spun around when he heard a soft sound behind him.
He grabbed Tanya’s wrist before she struck him with a beer bottle.
His dark eyes pierced hers. “Don’t,” he said, his eyes as cold as
his voice. She dropped the bottle; it shattered on the ground. He
turned back to Frank. “She’s going home. Play your cards right and
her father may be lenient.”

Police sirens pierced the air. Tanya
screamed, “Run, Frank! Get away.”

He hesitated, then ran out the back door.

Clay held out his hand to help her down from
the stool. She ignored it and stared at him with disgust. “You’re a
bastard. You don’t know anything about love, just money.” She spat
in his face, then stormed out the front door.

A heavyset man with tired eyes came up to
her. “Tanya, you had us worried.”

“I’m sorry, Daddy, but I love him.” She saw
the police cuff Frank and screamed again. “No! It’s not fair. Dad,
do something. Frank!”

Clay frowned as Mr. Patten led her away
without looking at him or Mack. “You’re welcome,” he muttered.

Mack shrugged. “His thanks will come in the
form of a check. That’s good enough for me.”

They watched Patten’s gray Jaguar drive past.
Tanya flashed them a rude gesture.

Clay sighed. “So much for the damsel in
distress.”

Mack said, “Don’t try to play the white
knight and you won’t be disappointed.”

“Yeah. Want to hear a news flash?”

“Sure.”

“I postponed a great evening to return her
home to her family and I’m a bastard.”

Mack patted him on the back. “Welcome to the
club.” He looked at his watch. “There’s enough time to get back to
your date.”

Clay walked over to the police to give his
report.

***

I should just go home
, Clay thought as
he rode the elevator to Jackie’s place. That’s usually what he did
after a night like this—get a beer then crash on the couch. It was
exactly what he would do once he left. He stared at the door a few
moments before knocking.