Jake got his looks from his mother, who'd been a successful model. She was tall and willowy with Jake's midnight-black hair.
He'd once told her that his mother had been a trophy wife, but they'd fallen madly in love after they married. It sounded a little far-fetched to Kim, but they seemed genuinely fond of each other.
Kim jumped when someone tapped her on the arm. It was Jake's sister Abby. She grinned. "Love your outfit," she murmured. "So much better than a towel."
"Thank you," Kim said. "I did consider the towel, but Jake asked for it back. I thought he wanted to wear it himself."
"Nah, Jake's way too conscious of being cool." Abby took a sip of champagne. "Did you know Nadia was here?" she asked Jake.
"She told me she was coming."
"And she's been making it very clear that as far as she's concerned, the two of you are still an item." She glanced from Kim to Jake. "So what's going on?"
"None of your business."
"Aw, come on, Jake."
He shrugged. "Nadia is deluded."
"Well, I was surprised when you started seeing her. Though you never seemed to have much taste in women." She glanced at Kim, and then widened her eyes as she realized she'd been less than diplomatic. "Present company aside, of course."
"Of course," Kim replied drily.
"Come on," Jake said. "I'll get you a drink."
They collected a couple of glasses of champagne and then made a circuit of the room. Kim kept her eyes peeled but only spotted Nadia after the circuit was complete. She stood beside one of the tall pillars, a glass in her hand, her eyes narrowed to slits.
"If looks could kill," Kim murmured.
"Time to act," Jake replied.
Before she could ask what he meant, he reached out and took her hand, raising it to his lips. He dropped a kiss into her palm, and a tingle ran along her nerve endings.
Pulling her against him, he whispered in her ear, "Come on, Kim, make like you love me."
She could do this. Think undercover operative. She stared up into Jake's face, his beautiful eyes, his stern mouth that had kissed her, given her pleasure. She was so close she could breathe in the unique scent of him, warm man and exotic aftershave, sharp and clean and familiar.
What would it be like to allow herself to love a man like Jake? Of course, she had no intention of doing that. And it would be pointless; Jake wasn't the kind of man to fall in love-he was way too cool.
But what would it be like?
How would she behave? What would it take to convince Nadia that they were in love?
"You're thinking awfully hard," Jake said.
"Well, I don't know how to pretend I'm in love with you. It's not something I've ever thought about, and I'm a bit lost."
"For a start, you could look at me as though every second until you get me alone and naked is wasted time." His voice was low and husky and sent shivers running down her spine. Boy, he was a good actor.
Jake laid a hand on the bare skin of her waist. She jumped. A small smile curved his lips, and then he gently urged her toward the wall, where they were still in full view of the rest of the room.
He took her glass of champagne from her fingers and placed it on a small table. "So … ?"
Out of the corner of her eye, she could still see Nadia. Though she didn't have to see her, she could feel the intensity of the other woman's evil eye.
Kim took a deep breath, then a step back so she could take him all in. Closing her eyes, she imagined what was beneath his clothes. She didn't need much imagination because she'd seen him in all his naked glory. All those muscles, the long, sleek lines of him, the silky dark hair that bisected his belly. His shaft, long and hard, and …
Since he'd said that thing about her mouth around his dick, she hadn't been able to get the vivid picture out of her head. She'd never tasted a man there, and now the thought of it sent moisture flooding her core. She licked her lips and heard him mutter something.
Her lids flew open, and she stared at him wide-eyed. "So what next?" she asked a little breathlessly.
"Touch me."
"Touch you … where?" Her mouth went dry, and her gaze darted down the length of his body to settle on his groin. She couldn't seem to keep her mind above his waist. What was wrong with her?
He groaned. "Not there. At least not in front of all these people."
"So where?"
"Just little touches as though you can't keep your hands off me." He wrapped his fingers around hers and drew her hand toward his body, then flattened her palm against his chest. Even through the silk of his shirt, his skin felt warm. She slid her hand over him until she reached the front of his shirt and then delved inside to touch his bare skin. She watched his face as her fingers encountered his nipple. His eyes closed briefly as she scraped her nail over the flat nub.
"Good," he said, and his voice sounded hoarse. "Now my turn."
He studied her for a moment, his hot gaze gliding over her. After stroking her belly with his fingertips, he trailed over the ring in her navel then gave it a little tug. The skin was still tender from the piercing, but strangely, the pain felt more like pleasure, and heat flooded her sex.
"I like this," he said giving it another tug.
She shifted a little as another jolt of sensation shot along her nerves to settle between her thighs. But nothing could happen here. It felt good not to worry about the consequences-this was only acting, after all. "You like it? I thought you'd hate it. I was going to get a tattoo as well, but I ran out of time."
"Forget it." He grinned. "Unless it's stamped across your ass and says, 'property of Jake Knight.'"
"Never going to happen."
She glanced around the room. Nadia was talking to Jake's other sister, Tania, but kept darting glances their way.
Jake followed her gaze. "I reckon she needs a little more convincing."
"Well, there's not much we can do in the middle of a crowded party."
"Is that a challenge?"
She shot him a stern look. And he grinned. "It's amazing what you can do if you're discreet."
His words sent a thrill running through her. She ignored it. Almost. "Yes, but the whole point is that she sees. So that would be defeating the object, wouldn't it?"
"But it might be fun."
"We're not here for fun. We're here to save you from stalker madwoman."
"You're right."
Without giving her a chance to say anything else, he took her by the shoulders, spun her around, backed her against the wall, and kissed her.
It was official-he was an excellent actor.
He kissed her like he loved her, needed her, would never get enough of her.
He slanted his lips over hers and forced his hard tongue inside her mouth. For a second she fought her body's instinctive reactions, but it felt so good. She relaxed her defenses, and suddenly she was kissing him back. Her tongue sliding into his mouth, tasting him, stroking along the hard edges of his teeth. He didn't touch her anywhere besides her mouth, but her whole being ached with need, her skin prickly, a pulse throbbing between her thighs.
She lost all track of time. After an age, he pulled free. He bent closer and rested his forehead against hers. They both panted heavily. Finally, he straightened.
"You are such a good … actor," she said.
He twisted his lips into the semblance of a smile. "You, too. Come on. If that hasn't convinced the whole room that I want you, then nothing will."
Slowly the party came back into focus. She glanced around and found a number of people watching them. She fought the need to fan her face, but it was only a kiss. Not as though they'd stripped naked and had wild, hot sex in the middle of the dance floor.
"Who's the man over there watching us?" she asked. "The one with the big grin on his face."
"I'll introduce you."
She guessed who it must be as they drew closer. He had a look of Jake about him, except he appeared more relaxed.
"This is Damon," Jake said. "My brother."
Damon leaned across and kissed her on the cheek. "That was quite a performance."
"Simply trying to make a point," Jake replied.
"Ah-Nadia, I presume."
Jake nodded. "This is Kimberly." He turned to Kim. "You could say you and I met because of Damon."
"We did?"
"Yes. He was supposed to take over Dad's company but had a premature midlife crisis and decided he wanted to be a painter instead."
"An artist, please-a painter sounds like I decorate houses."
"Anyway, that's why I left the army and set up the security company, and the reason I was in your building back when you were married to that bastard."
"What were you doing there?" Kim frowned. "You never really said."
He looked a little shifty. "Just surveillance on one of the residents."
She wanted to ask more because she had a weird notion, but at that moment, Jake's mother approached them.
"Did you have to?" she muttered to Jake. "A parachute jump. What were you thinking?"
Jake grinned. "He'll enjoy it."
"That's what I'm worried about."
Kim allowed the conversation to flow over her. They were a nice family, and it was obvious they were close. She'd never had that and felt a faint glimmer of regret. Things hadn't been too bad while her mother was alive. But she'd died in a car crash when Kim was ten.