Slow Burn (45 page)

She needed to know why Vince wanted to see
her mother, especially since Estelle’s behavior before she left for
her trip was so peculiar.

“No. Just a second.” She stood up to give
Shaun the photocopied revision notes. “Distribute these in class
for me. Let them know I’m on my way.” As the grad student took off,
Jade turned to find Vince on his feet. Didn’t the man ever smile?
He didn’t say much and used movements economically, but he had a
presence that was tangible. “I really need to know what’s going
on.”

Vince studied her for a few seconds as though
pondering his options, before nodding. “An important artifact is
missing and your mother might know something about it.”

“What do you mean by ‘might know something
about it’?”

“It could be in her possession.”

Could he be any vaguer? “My mother is an avid
antique collector. If she has it, it was given to her.”

“Not when the owner has reported it
missing.”

Jade blinked in confusion, then her jaw
dropped as the implication sunk in. “If you’re implying my mother
took it,” a sarcastic titter escaped her, “then you’re
mistaken.”

“I don’t make mistakes.”

Her eyes widened. “That’s so arrogant.”

“Just stating a fact. About your
mother’s—”

“Slow down, Vince. Do you know who my mother
is?” That sounded pompous and she was never one to flaunt her
family’s wealth or connections, but something about Vince’s
attitude rubbed her the wrong way. “Do you know
anything
about my family?”

“Actually, I do.”
But I’m not
impressed,
his voice seemed to say.

“Then you’d better get your facts straight,
because our lawyers will drag you to court and sue you for slander
so fast you’d wish you never walked through that door. Accusing my
mother of stealing?” A snicker escaped her. “Please, leave.” She
reached for her laptop and notes.

“I haven’t made any accusations…yet.” Jade’s
head jerked up at his calm voice. He hadn’t moved an inch and
something hot flashed in his eyes. “And who said they were
groundless?”

Eyes narrowed, Jade gripped her laptop across
her chest and started around the desk. She wanted to toss him out.
After a few steps, she paused, her heart hammering, her breathing
rapid.
What now?
Vince Knight’s tough guy attitude might be
irritating but the man was too huge and rock-hard to be tossed
anywhere.

“I want you to leave,” she said firmly.

“I can’t. Not without getting what I came
for.”

“I don’t care.” She took a deep breath,
wanting to curse him out. “If you’re not out of my office in five
seconds, I’m calling the campus security.” It would take them at
least five minutes to get here, if she was lucky. Knowing how
helpless she was only added to her ire. “And if I were you, I’d
watch what I say and who—”

“But you’re not me, are you, professor?”
Vince interrupted, ticked off with himself for letting her get to
him. It wasn’t that bit about her family and lawyers or campus
security that rankled. It was her. What happened to the sweet, shy
girl from high school? This tigress knocked his world-weary ass off
balance.

Everything about the woman was designed to
shock a man’s system. Her voice, low and husky, had the power to
make his hair prickle and his gut clench. Her siren scent, subtle
but sensual, was a blend of something exotic and flowery. Every
time he inhaled, it punched through his defenses with the precision
of a sniper.

He shot her a look and caught her smoldering
eyes. He thought he had the whole situation figured out.
Meet
Jade, get the info on her mother, leave.
Stating that her
mother had the missing artifact was a stupid mistake. In his line
of business he couldn’t afford stupid mistakes.

No, wrong. He couldn’t afford them when he
used to be an investigative journalist. He’d slammed the door on
that life. No more interviewing reluctant witnesses, rummaging
through garbage and chasing scumbags, or so he’d thought. A call
from his aunt and a plea for help changed all that. For her, the
only blood relative to ever care about what became of him, he
dropped everything and took the first flight out of Seattle for Los
Angeles. Dealing with Jade Fitzgerald wasn’t part of the plan. It
was a distraction he didn’t need.

But he knew the drill. Deal with it. Stay
uninvolved. Move on.

“What’s it going to be, Vince?” she asked,
interrupting his thoughts, daring him with her eyes.

Short of keeping her in her office until he
got what he wanted, he had no choice but to give in. Clenching his
teeth, Vince stepped out of her office and turned to watch her. Her
seductive, hip-swaying gait sent heat straight to his groin. He
shifted his gaze away from her body.

“I’m not going anywhere without knowing your
mother’s whereabouts, Jade.”

“Really?” She tossed her abundant mahogany
hair and shot him a disdainful look, eyes flashing. “How do you
propose to get that information? What are you anyway? A cop? P.I.?”
Without waiting for an answer, she turned her back to him and
locked her office door. When she started down the hall, he fell in
step with her.

It rankled she’d challenged him. Surprised
him how she ignored him with such ease too. Women never ignored
him. He slid a sideway glance her way. Her hazel eyes were fixed
ahead, her lush lips set in an uncompromising pout, pert nose and
determined chin stuck in the air.

The changes in her were amazing. The extra
weight in high school had melted away in just the right places. Now
the generous hips and rounded ass, tiny waist and well-sized
breasts demanded a man’s attention. Her creamy skin still glowed
with vitality and invited one’s touch.

Unfortunately, they weren’t in high school
anymore and this sexy and aloof woman wasn’t the girl he felt he
had something in common with. Not that it did him any good then.
After their first meeting, she made a point of staying out of his
way and snubbing him the few times their paths crossed. That had
bugged him, an amazing feat for a kid already hauling a bucket load
of hurt. Vince shoved his hands into his back pants pockets and
scolded himself for deviating from his agenda.

“We need to talk, Jade.” Frustration made his
voice harsh.

She didn’t respond. He took a swift breath of
irritation and the scent of whatever else she smeared on her
delectable body hit his lungs, causing him to swallow with
difficulty. “I’ll still be here after your class ends.”

“You’ll be wasting your time. I’ve a busy
schedule.”

“Then meet me tonight,” he heard himself
say.

She sucked in a breath and turned to face
him. “We have nothing to discuss, Vince. The person you need to
speak with is my mother. You need to look her in the eye and tell
her what you just told me. I’ll call her assistant at Fitz-Valdes
to find a slot for you as soon as she comes back.” She turned and
lifted her hand to push the door open.

Before he could question his intention, Vince
shifted and slapped his hand on the doorframe, blocking her
entrance.

“Excuse me?” she snapped, gaze flying to his
face.

Her blistering stare could have scotched a
lesser man, but after his upbringing and living in the trenches in
war-torn countries to cover stories, he could handle anything she
sent his way. He glared right back.

Four seconds later, he dropped his arm and
stepped back. He was in trouble. His defenses meant jack when it
came to her. She shifted as though to enter the room. He reached a
decision.

“What do you say we start over? I’m Vince
Knight.”

“I don’t have time for—”

“I’m not a cop or a private detective. But I
was a career investigative journalist, did a stint as a P.I. but
didn’t like it, and now I write fiction. I’m doing a family member
a favor by finding a missing statue. I believe you can help me.
Please, have dinner with me so we can discuss the details.”

She released a sigh. “I don’t think that’s a
good idea.”

“I think it’s the right thing to do. I’ll
explain what happened and you can decide whether you still want to
sue me for defamation.” His attempt at humor failed when her full
lips tightened and creases furrowed her smooth brow. Frustration
knitted his gut.

“I’m sorry, Vince. I already have dinner
plans.”

He gave her curvaceous frame a quick once
over. Yeah, she probably had L.A.’s most eligible bachelors beating
down her door. “How about a pre-dinner drink?”

Jade opened her mouth to speak but he didn’t
give her a chance to speak. “I’m staying at the Palace, West
Hollywood. There’s a restaurant on the first floor. Let’s meet
there at six o’clock. Just a few minutes of your time. Thirty
minutes tops.”

“I’ll think about it.”

Not what he’d hoped for, but it was better
than nothing. He reached inside his back pocket for a business
card, and in his haste, dropped his wallet. Several condoms slipped
from the black leather holder and skidded across the cemented
floor. One landed near her feet.

Just his luck. He debated between scooping
his personals and giving her his card. He hung on to his dignity,
gripped the card and shoved it at her. When the corners of her
mouth turned up with amusement, heat crawled up his neck.

“If you can’t make it, call me,” he
explained.

“Like I said, I’ll think about it…Vinny.” She
accepted the card, pushed the door with her shoulder and
disappeared inside the classroom.

Vince waited until the door closed behind her
before he picked up his belongings. Using his high school nickname
was a sure sign she still thought he was still the over-sexed,
unruly teen who’d terrorized her high school years ago. His
rebel-without-a-clue days were long gone. So was the hope that she
would call him.

Scowling, Vince left the building and headed
to his rented car. He wanted this investigation over and done with
so he could go home. His aunt’s insistence that the theft be kept a
secret from the police and FBI made no sense. But he knew her well
enough to have his suspicions—she was protecting her younger
brother, his father.

Pain blindsided Vince, making him clench his
hand. The thought that he could be helping his father ate at him.
He didn’t owe the old man a thing after what he did. No love. No
loyalty. No obligation. Given a choice, he wouldn’t spend a second
thinking about the bastard. Unfortunately, this investigation was
stirring things up, taking him back to sixteen years ago, a time
he’d rather forget.

Smothering a curse, he pulled out his cell
phone and speed-dialed a number.

“Aunt Della?” he said when he brought the
phone to his ear. “What kind of relationship did the judge have
with Estelle Fitzgerald?”

***

Jade smiled at the students. “If anyone has a
question before next week’s exam, you know my office hours. I’ll be
leaving on Friday, so any last minute consults will have to be done
electronically or handled by Shaun Holton.” A low murmur greeted
her words, but no one offered a comment. “Good luck with the
finals, people.”

She dismissed the class, waited for the
students to file out of the lecture theater before she picked up
her laptop and headed toward her office. When her office door came
into view, she sighed with relief.
He’s gone.
Although why
she’d expected Vince Knight to be still hanging around beat the
heck out of her. The man accused her mother of thievery. Of all the
craziest things she’d heard, that topped them. If it weren’t so
infuriating, she would have found it funny.

She entered her office, flopped on her chair,
and threw his card on her desk. For a moment, she glowered at it as
though the act could make it disappear. Erase his words from her
head.

Oh, how she’s been looking forward to
today—her last class of the semester. A few more days to the
beginning of her much needed two-week vacation. That was before Mr.
I-don’t-make-mistakes Knight and his accusations.

“Thanks a lot, pal.”

She scowled, replaying their conversation in
her head. Actually, the man didn’t come outright and accuse her
mother of stealing. She, in her bitchy mood, jumped to that
conclusion as soon as he mentioned her mother and the missing
artifact in the same breath. All because the man said she hadn’t
changed since high school.

High school. After skipping two grades, she’d
been much younger than most of her classmates and too timid and
inhibited, except when with her family. To top it, she’d been on
meds to control her arrhythmia, which had sucked her energy and
left her listless. As to be expected, too many hours spent with her
nose buried in books and less on sports had led to chubbiness.

“Just baby fat, sweetheart,” her mother would
say.

Yeah, right. Between her sheltered upbringing
and her illness, it was a wonder she left an impression on anyone,
let alone Vince Knight.

So what did he mean by she hadn’t changed?
She may not be skinny, but she wasn’t fat, either. Her crazy heart
still had an occasional premature heartbeat shooting an electrical
impulse through a repeated loop and her heart to two-hundred beats
a minute, but she could control it. And she worked too hard this
past year to overcome her shyness, thanks to Ms. M.M. Evan’s
bestselling manual,
Get Some Kick-ass Attitude.
Even her
manipulative ex-husband would have a hard time reconciling the new,
self-assured, take-charge Jade from the one he’d controlled.

As for high school, the ridicule she’d
endured when her brothers and cousins weren’t around to buffer her
from the ‘pig’ jokes flashed in her head. Her first meeting with
Vince followed. A popular boy she was so into had asked her to a
school dance—the spring school dance was big at their school.
Little had she known it was a prank. Vince had walked in on the
humiliating moment and caught her crying while a bunch of kids
laughed at her.