…
Jake followed Kim through the department store, admiring her long, leggy figure and the sway of her khaki-clad ass as she sauntered along in front of him. How in the hell had he ended up in love with a woman who thought-and he quoted her here-"love was for dickheads"?
When he'd first met her, she'd been slightly plump and so sweet he'd wanted to rip that bastard of a husband of hers into pieces. Four years later, she had the lean lines of a catwalk model with absolutely none of the self-awareness. She had no clue what she did to him. Did she honestly think he made a habit of taking his operatives dress shopping?
He smiled grimly as he remembered her expression when he'd mentioned the dress thing. She could hardly have looked more incredulous if he'd suggested she strip naked, bend herself over the back of the sofa, and allow him to screw her brains out. One of his more frequent recurring fantasies during movie night.
Occasionally, he picked up a dress and handed it to the sales assistant who trailed behind him. He spotted a pink one and added it to the pile just to piss Kim off.
"You'd better go with her," he said to the assistant when they reached the dressing rooms. "Left to herself, she'll probably put them on backward." He took a seat opposite the cubicle, crossed one leg over his knee, and prepared to be entertained.
"He's a bit forceful, your boyfriend, isn't he?" The assistant commented as they disappeared into the room.
"He's a bit of a patronizing ass," Kim muttered. "And he's not my boyfriend, he's my boss."
Then the curtains closed behind them, muffling the sound of their voices.
Jake ran a hand through his hair. He'd wanted Kim from the first moment they'd met. But back then she'd been too young and too damaged. She'd needed a friend, not a lover. So he'd pushed those feelings to the back of his mind, and he'd kept her safe and kept her close, and he'd bided his time.
He could remember the exact moment he realized his friendship had turned to love. They'd been at his place, taking in a movie. Kim usually picked action films-lots of blood and guts-but somehow a romantic comedy had slipped through the net.
Watching the film with Kim sprawled on the sofa at his side, the sweet smell of toffee popcorn in the air, he'd had some sort of epiphany.
He'd be quite happy to spend the rest of his life beside her. Even watching chick flicks.
He'd always been restless-ready to move on, easily bored-but with Kim, he felt at peace. He loved her. Really loved her. Her bravery and her honesty, the way she stood up to him, the way she was willing to try to kick his ass when she thought he deserved it, even though she knew she couldn't win.
He'd turned as the closing credits rolled over the screen, ready to pour out his heart. He'd opened his mouth to spill tender words of love-
"What a total load of bollocks," she'd muttered with complete contempt. "If I ever show any signs of going all mushy like that, you have my permission to put a bullet in my brain. Not," she added, taking a last mouthful of popcorn, "that it's ever going to happen."
That was four months ago. In the time since, he'd searched for a way to break through the protective armor she wrapped around herself. So far, he'd failed dismally. It was clear she saw him as nothing more than a friend. But when she started to show some interest in Steve, his new hire, he realized it was time to step up his game before he lost her altogether.
He hadn't been able to think about sleeping with another woman since he'd realized he loved Kim. Nadia was nothing but camouflage to keep him from looking like a complete miserable bastard.
So no sex in over four months. Fucking hell.
Finally, the curtains opened, and Kim stood there as he'd never seen her before, glaring at him and looking breathtaking.
He didn't take much of the dress in, just that it was black and that Jake could clearly make out the shape of her breasts beneath the material, small and perky.
She tugged at her long, dark ponytail-a sure sign she was nervous.
Ignoring him, she stalked out of the cubicle to stand in front of the full-length mirror opposite. The dress skimmed her narrow waist, her flat belly, and the slight curve of her ass. A stab of lust shot to his groin, and he shifted in his chair.
Smoothing the material over her hips, she flashed an unexpected grin over her shoulder. "Hey, I clean up okay." She turned to one side, then the other. The dress was slit to the thigh and one long, slender leg peeked out. Her feet were bare. Jake stared, willing his desire to subside so his brain could function again.
"You know," she murmured not quite to herself, "I bet Steve would love me in this dress."
Over my dead body. The thought flashed through Jake's mind, followed by a much more acceptable alternative. Or Steve's. He'd had just about enough of this "Steve" shit.
Kim finally turned to face him, hands on hips. "Will it do?"
He motioned with his fingers for her to do a twirl.
She scowled and spun. "Well?"
"Maybe. I'll let you know when I've seen the others."
Kim swirled and marched back to the dressing room. He could almost hear her teeth grinding, but he needed her out of here so he had a moment to pull himself back together from that little bombshell. And she thought she was going to go after another guy under his nose, did she? Abso-fucking-lutely not.
A minute later, an outraged squawk came from behind the curtain. "No freaking way!"
Jake grinned. The sales assistant must have given Kim the pink dress. Five minutes later, she ripped the curtain aside.
Jake bit back a whistle. The material was skintight and hugged every line and curve of her body, leaving nothing to the imagination.
"I'll warn you now," Kim said, poking a finger in his direction. "If you choose this one, I won't be taking my coat off. So if you want me to blend in, I suggest you think again."
Jake dragged his gaze from her nipples, clearly visible and pointing straight at him. "Come here."
"Why?"
He sighed impatiently. "Can you never do anything without questioning it?"
"No."
"Please come here, Kimberly."
She approached until she stood only inches from his seat and glowered down at him, her golden eyes flashing.
"Actually," he said, "I like you in pink. Very pretty."
"Hah hah. Finished?"
"For now."
Kim turned and sashayed back to the changing room.
The back view was as good as the front. Jake watched her go, unable to pull his eyes from the sway of her ass clearly defined under the tight, clingy material and powerless to prevent his body's response.
He sat a moment longer waiting for the fierce burn of desire to subside, then rose from his seat and approached the changing room.
"The black will do, Kim," he called out.
Kim's head appeared around the curtain. "You don't want to see the other three?"
"No. The first one was fine."
"Oh dear, and I was having so much fun," she mocked. "Sure I can't tempt you into one more? The red perhaps? I've always considered red to be my color."
He ignored the sarcasm. "Another day."
Jake reckoned he was one sexy outfit away from letting everyone know his intentions. And that probably wouldn't go down too well in a busy department store.
But yeah, it was time to reveal his motives, and he was guessing that his not-so-little Kimberly was in for a shock with what was about to come next.
Chapter Two
Music played in the ballroom, mingling with the clink of glasses and the murmur of voices as Kim circulated the periphery of the room, forcing herself to relax, to stop feeling so self-conscious in her new dress and three-inch heels. It didn't help that she could feel Jake's eyes boring into her wherever she went, as if, after all this time, he still didn't trust her skills. Or was there some other reason? Whatever-he was making her twitch.
She needed to make a good impression tonight. Prove to Jake she was up to the more dangerous work. Though sadly, she didn't think there'd be anything more hazardous to this assignment than tripping over her heels. Probably why Jake had assigned her the job.
The fashion designer hosting the party had received threats from an animal-rights group who reckoned he'd used too much fur in this year's collection. He'd panicked and called Jake. But Kim had read the files on the group and to date, they'd never done anything more violent than hand out fliers, which likely meant she was in for an exciting evening of blisters and boredom.
She completed her first circuit and headed over to report in to Dave. Like many of Jake's employees, Dave was ex-army and looked it. He was big and bulky, but all muscle.
"Everything okay?" he asked.
"Yeah. Nothing to report."
He grinned. "You sound disappointed."
"A little. It would be nice to justify my existence." She half smiled at the half joke and glanced across the crowded dance floor only to make eye contact with Jake again. He stood at the edge of the room, Nadia clinging possessively to his arm, and he was following Kim's every move with hooded, dark eyes. A shiver ran through her.
Jake was acting strange lately. She didn't like it. He'd told her he had motives for being nice to her. What were they? Did he still feel sorry for her? Was that the only reason he employed her, and the real reason he wouldn't give her that promotion?
She turned back to Dave. "Dave?"
"Hmm?"
"Does Jake think I can do the job?" There. She'd asked it out loud. "Or is he just being nice? And is it only me he's nice to?"