Lockdown (2 page)

She didn’t want to forget about Jake, that was her problem. “I don’t want to talk about him anymore.” She re-packed her half-eaten sandwich and put it back in the paper bag. She’d eat it later, when her mid-afternoon hunger pangs had her rummaging through her desk for her stash of chocolate.

Ava wiped her hands on a paper napkin. “Okay, let’s talk about what you’re going to do to spice things up, then. You mentioned online dating a while back. Were you serious about that?”

Jessica threw her head back, laughing. “Online dating? Come on, you can’t possibly think it’s come to that.”

Ava narrowed her eyes. “Name one man who interests you in this town, aside from Jake.”

“Um, there’s, well…” True, their town only boasted a few thousand people, but there had to be someone, anyone. She snapped her fingers. “I know. How about Billy Cavanagh?”

Ava wrinkled her nose. “Is that the sweaty gym teacher you went out with last month?” She covered her mouth with her hand, trying, unsuccessfully, to mask her laughter. “The same one who showed up with a bunch of wildflowers that still had roots attached to the stems?” She laughed harder, bending at the waist. “Yeah, he’s a real class act.”

The bell above the door rang, indicating Ava had a customer.

Jessica turned ten shades of red when Ava’s customer, who’d obviously overheard their conversation, shared in her laughter. “What the hell is so funny, Jake?”

His laughter reduced to a smirk, but the twinkle in his dark eyes told her he was still amused. “That’s what you get for datin’ all these losers, Jess. I keep tellin’ you that.”

Ava opened her computer with a wink and a smile at Jessica.

Jake kept telling her she was dating the wrong men, but he didn’t seem willing to recommend the right one, so he could just keep his unsolicited opinions to himself, as far as Jessica was concerned. “I saw old man Farley wandering around on Church Street again. Do your good deed for the day; track him down and take him back to the home.”

“See, Jess, this guy would be perfect for you,” Ava said.

Jake scowled. “What guy? What the hell are you doing over there, Ava?”

Jessica slipped in behind the counter, looking over her friend’s shoulder. “Wow, are you serious? You can meet guys who look like that on dating sites? Where does he live?”

Jake folded his arms across his massive chest. “It doesn’t matter where he lives. You’ll go out with him over my dead body.”

Jessica set her hands on her hips and glared at Jake. “What gives you the right to tell me who I can and can’t go out with? I’m a grown woman, and I’ll go out with anyone I damned well please, thank you very much.”

He stalked over to the counter and braced his hands on the glass top. “Is that so? I think your brother and your daddy might have something to say about that.”

He had a pair; she had to give him that. “I don’t care what they think, or you either for that matter.” She tapped Ava on the shoulder. “Step aside; I want to contact this guy.”

Jake pointed a finger at her. “Don’t even think about it.” He ran a hand through his short dark hair and released a gusty sigh. “What in the hell is the matter with you, girl? Don’t you watch the news? Don’t you know you can meet all kinds of psychopaths and predators online?”

Ava bit her bottom lip, looking concerned. “Maybe he’s right, Jess. This may not be the best way to go about meeting someone.”

“You’re damn right it’s not,” he muttered. He gestured his hand toward Jessica. “She’s going to get herself raped or killed or…” A visible shudder moved through him. “For Christ’s sake, Jess, please, don’t do this.”

Wow. He almost sounded like he cared about what happened to her and not just because she was his best friend’s little sister or he was an honorary member of the Carlton clan, but because he didn’t want to see her get hurt. She mocked her romanticized fantasies. Of course he cared, he was a cop sworn to uphold law and order. How would it look if he let her fall victim to a predator when he could have prevented it?

“Thanks for your concern, Jake, but I can take care of myself.” Jessica claimed the swivel chair her friend had vacated.

“Uh, I think I’ll leave you two alone to sort this out,” Ava said, taking a step back. “I’ll be in the back room unpacking boxes if you need me, Jess. Call me if any customers come in.”

Jessica glared at Jake. “Why did you come in here? Was it to buy a book, or did you see me sitting here and thought you’d come in and harass me on your lunch break?”

“I came in to get a book for my son, but it can wait.” He pointed at the computer screen. “This can’t.”

“You’re right,” Jessica said, turning toward the computer. “It can’t wait. A guy that hot will get snapped up in no time. I’d better not waste any more time talking to you.”

Chapter Two

Jake was a fraction of a second away from wringing her pretty little neck. “Turn that goddamn computer off now.” He crowded in behind her, bracing his hands on the back of her swivel chair.

She nodded her head, causing her high blonde ponytail to shift with the movement. “Not gonna happen.” She motioned toward the door. “Go on back to work; keep the good citizens of Brant safe for another day.”

“What the hell do you think I’m trying to do?” he said, barely forcing the words past his clenched teeth. He knew his response had nothing to do with his job or his best friend or even his loyalty to the Carlton family. The idea of something horrible happening to Jess when he could have prevented it made him feel sick.

She laughed. “Last time I checked, online dating wasn’t a crime, McCoy.”

“Maybe it should be.” He watched her enter personal information on a profile page. He hated feeling so damned helpless. This was like watching a runaway train heading straight for him knowing he’d never be able to get out of the way in time. “Fuck, what do I have to say to get you to forget about this shit?” This little lady had always been able to push his buttons, but this latest ploy to get his attention was extreme, even for her.

“There’s nothing you can say.” She glanced at him over her shoulder. “I’m getting tired of waiting for my life to begin, Jake. I’m ready to take action.”

He frowned. What the hell was that supposed to mean? Was that her way of telling him she was over him? The thought hit him like a drop kick to the gut. Jess had been in love with him ever since he could remember. Everyone in town knew it. He thought it was cute for a while, when she was starting high school and he was finishing college, but as the years went on, Jessica blossomed into one of the most beautiful women in the county and her childish crush on him got harder to ignore.

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

She spun her chair around so she faced him. “I want a man, a real man. Someone who knows how to kiss me…” Her eyes drifted to his lips. “Who knows how to touch me…” She ran a hand up her smooth, bronze thigh as she licked her lips. “Who knows how to fuck me, hard and fast…”

He staggered backwards, shocked speechless. Jess had never been so blunt with him before. Hell, he’d never even heard her use profanity. She was a good girl, a sweet girl; at least, he thought she was. Maybe Jess had a side he’d never seen. Was that even possible after all these years? He knew she didn’t have a reputation for being promiscuous. Of course, if any of her dates had ever bragged to him about sleeping with her, he wouldn’t have hesitated to shove the foul words back down his throat. Anyone who knew Jake understood he was protective of Jess, and he didn’t know a man with enough courage to suffer his wrath if they crossed that unseen line.

She braced her hands on the counter behind her, thrusting her lush breasts out. “What’s wrong, Jake? Shocked, appalled…” Her eyes fell to the front of his pants and she smiled. “Or maybe you’re aroused?”

Jesus, he couldn’t hide it. The thought of fucking Jess was turning him on, big time. He cleared his throat as he tried to rein in his raging libido. This was crazy. Jess was his best friend’s little sister. She was too damn young, too damn innocent for the likes of him. “I…” Shit, he couldn’t even form a coherent thought when she looked at him that way. She was actually undressing him with her eyes, and God help him, it was hot.

She looked up from his crotch with a mischievous grin on her face. “It turns you on, doesn’t it?” she whispered. She licked her lips as she popped the top two buttons on her royal blue, sleeveless blouse.

He glanced nervously at the door. What the hell was she doing? They were in the middle of a retail store on Main Street in the middle of the day. Anyone could walk in or pass by and see them. Surely she wasn’t planning on seducing him right here, was she? Would he have the intestinal fortitude to stop her if she did?

She hiked her short white skirt further up her thigh as she looked up at him through the veil of her long eyelashes. “I’m so turned on,” she moaned, closing her eyes.

Fuck, he was in trouble here. He raked his hands through his hair. He knew he should tell her to stop. He had to tell her to stop. Damn, if she didn’t stop, he’d have to arrest her for indecent exposure in a public place. Would she really go that far? Did he want her to?

“I need…”

Ava cleared her throat from behind them and Jake closed his eyes, relief mixed with frustration warring inside him. Finally, someone interceded and saved him from himself. Only he wasn’t feeling grateful for the reprieve. He felt irritated and dissatisfied. “I gotta get the hell out of here,” he muttered, making his way toward the door.

“Don’t forget about the pool party at my house on Sunday for Daddy’s sixty-fifth birthday,” Jessica called after him.

He waved his hand to acknowledge the statement but couldn’t bring himself to turn around. By the time he made it outside, he was breathless and confused. What the hell just happened?

Jessica looked at the closed door, grinning. “I think I’ve got a plan.”

“Uh oh, I don’t like the sound of that,” Ava said, coming up behind her. “You want to tell me what the hell I walked in on here? Poor Jake looked like he was about ready to pass out.”

Jessica laughed. “I was just having a little fun with him.” She put her fingertip to her lip. “You know, a thought occurred to me while Jake was here.”

Ava groaned. “Do I want to know?”

“I realized that I don’t have to settle for this mundane existence. I can shake things up if I want to, right?”

“Um, that depends. What did you have in mind?”

Jessica hooked her thumb over her shoulder. “For starters, I’m going to invite Noah, the hottie, to Daddy’s party.”

Ava frowned. “You mean the guy from online? Jess, you can’t be serious. Do you want to give your father a coronary for his birthday?”

She rolled her eyes. “I won’t tell my parents that’s how we met. The only one who’ll know is Jake, and you, of course, but I know I can trust you with my secret, right?”

“Sure, but how do you know Jake won’t tell them the truth?”

“He wouldn’t want to spoil the party by laying that on them.”

“You’re probably right, but how do you know this Noah guy will even be available?”

“No time like the present to find out, right?” Jessica turned toward the keyboard, barely able to contain her excitement. This was the most outlandish thing she’d done in… maybe ever.

“I don’t know, Jess.” Ava bit her lip. “What if Jake’s right? This guy could be dangerous.”

“I’ll arrange to meet him in a public place. There will be dozens of people at the party; we’ll never be alone. Besides, Jake, the watchdog, and my brother, the police chief, are going to be there. Do you really think he’s going to step out of line when I have my own personal security team?”

Ava laughed. “I guess not. Hey, if he’s as hot as he looks in his picture, he might even be able to help you forget all about Jake.”

If only.
“Can you believe he lives less than an hour away? How great is that?”

“I know. I chose a local site so it would be feasible for you to actually hook up with a guy if you saw someone who interested you. I have to admit, I didn’t expect you to like the first guy I found for you.”

Jessica shrugged. “I’m sure other hot guys are on the site, but this is the one Jake saw. He never forgets a face. Trust me; he’ll know exactly who this guy is as soon as he sees him.” She giggled. “It’ll make him crazy knowing that I actually followed through with it after he told me not to.”