His Ex's Well-Kept Secret(11)

Piper thanked him and disconnected the call. Jaeger, sitting on his  massive bed in his stupidly expensive apartment, looked at his  top-of-the-line phone. Nobody should have to rely on a book and two kids  to help her with her baby. It was in complete contrast to what was  happening at the Ballantyne family home. Linc was a single dad raising  four-year-old Shaw with Linc's mother's help. Their sister, Sage, still  lived at home, and she helped out with Shaw, too. Beck pitched in when  they needed him to. It took a village of Ballantynes to raise Shaw.

Because being with Shaw, being with babies, made Jaeger break out in  hives, or unshed tears, he was the village idiot. Linc understood how  hard it was for him to be around Shaw... At least, Jaeger hoped he  understood. It wasn't like they'd had a heart-to-heart on the subject.

His siblings knew about Jess and Andrea but since Jess's funeral, he never discussed her, or Andrea, with anyone. Ever.

Piper, despite her book and babysitters, was raising Ty on her own. That  was incredibly brave. His bachelor uncle often said that raising three  Ballantyne boys, and Sage, was one long, epic party. There was  screaming, vomiting, drinking straight from the bottle and the odd brush  with blood.                       
       
           



       

No wonder Connor absconded to his gentlemen's club every Wednesday and  Saturday night, leaving them with Jo, Linc's mom and their  nanny-cum-housekeeper.

Did Piper ever get to take a break, to step out of the madness of  raising a baby on her own? Maybe he could earn some karmic points by  inviting her to see Amelia Grant-Childs's art collection. She'd enjoy  the art, and the break, and he'd enjoy her...

Was he really using karma as an excuse to see a woman?

Crap.

Brain-eating bugs. It was the only logical explanation.

* * *

If it wasn't for the fact that Amelia Grant-Childs used her fingerprint  to unlock the door, Piper would've thought the large, windowless room  was just another immaculately decorated space in the enormous mansion  owned by the timber heiress.

Piper, trying to look secretarial, held Jaeger's tablet to her chest,  her eyes growing wider and wider as she took in the treasures in the  glass-front cabinets and hanging on the wall.

Dear God, was that a Manet? And a Warhol?

"I am really not happy you failed to inform me you were bringing your  assistant, Jaeger," Amelia said, frowning. "I'd hoped to show you my  collection in private."

Amelia was somewhere in her seventies, looked fifty, and had a  reputation for inventing the concept cougar. Her fondness for young men  was legendary. Piper looked at the large red chaise longue in the middle  of the room and knew her presence severely compromised Amelia's plans  to do wicked things to Jaeger on that piece of furniture.

"I thought I did inform you, Ms. Grant-Childs. I apologize, but Piper's presence makes this process so much more efficient."

And it keeps your clothes on, Piper thought. Jaeger's text message, sent  shortly before eight that morning, now made complete sense.

Amelia Grant-Childs has a collection of jewelry she wants me to value.  In her younger days-as my uncle once warned me-she had a thing for  younger men and I'm scared nothing has changed. Would you like to  accompany me to protect my virtue? Oh, she also, apparently, has a  helluva art collection.

Another text came through ten seconds later.

And it will keep you awake.

After a hellish night with Ty, she deserved a little treat, and Jaeger  plus wonderful art was a near-perfect combination. Ceri offered to sit  with the sleeping Ty, and after a long internal debate-she really did  want to see Amelia's art-Piper agreed to act as his assistant.

As for why Jaeger really had invited her, who knew?

Pulling her focus back to their host, Piper watched Amelia lift a hand  to touch the massive diamond in her earlobe. "This safe room was  specially commissioned by my recently deceased to house his treasures.  It's bombproof, theft-proof, sound-and fireproof. I need to get the  contents appraised. The coins and the art have been valued. I just need  you to look at the jewelry."

"If you don't mind me asking, who did the valuation for the art?" Piper asked, darting a look at the Manet.

"None of your business," Amelia snapped.

Alrighty then. Amelia drifted toward the door. "My butler is on the  premises. Push this button to call him. I'll be upstairs and I do not  wish to be disturbed." Amelia rested her hand on the door frame. "Send  the valuation and bill to my lawyer, Jaeger. God, you do look like your  uncle. He was such a handsome man." She glanced from Jaeger to Piper and  sniffed. "It's such a pity you brought her."

When Amelia closed the door behind them, Piper tried to look regretful.  "You missed out on a good time, Jaeger," she teased. "I'm so sorry."

Jaeger made a face. "Funny."

His eyes turned a deeper blue, and Piper felt heat bubble in her  stomach. He lifted his hand and swiped his thumb across her lower lip.  "There's only one woman I want in my bed, and she's standing in front of  me, as sexy as sin."

"Jaeger-" Piper closed her eyes, feeling his heat as his other hand  gripped her hip and pulled her into him. His chest brushed hers and he  slid a hard thigh between her legs.

"You look tired," he murmured.

"I am," Piper admitted.

"You need a shot of energy," Jaeger said, his lips brushing hers, once,  twice, so softly she wondered if she was imagining his kiss. "The other  night, after we kissed, I felt like I could hurdle mountains, swim  oceans. Want to see if it works for you?"                       
       
           



       

She had to think, to be sensible. "Here?"

"Where better?" Jaeger replied, his hand cradling her face. "Amelia is  upstairs, the door is closed, the place is soundproof. Because of the  couch, I doubt there are hidden cameras. It's just a kiss, Piper. We're  not going to get naked."

Damn, Piper thought. "One kiss?"

"One long, sexy, hot, deep, crazy kiss."

She didn't have enough willpower to say no; she didn't have any  willpower at all. Kissing Jaeger wasn't something any sane woman with a  pulse would walk away from. Not wanting to wait a half second longer,  she placed her hands flat against Jaeger's chest and tilted her head  back in a silent, powerful plea.

Jaeger heard her, answered, and Piper felt her knees buckle when his  mouth touched hers. He pulled her into a whirlwind that swiftly built  into a tornado. As she flew on its winds of sensation, she oriented  herself by clinging to him, by pushing her breasts into his hard chest,  her fingers gripping his belt to keep her from falling down.

Or flying away.

God, he was good at this, Piper thought as he nipped her bottom lip  before smoothing the sting with a slide of his tongue. One minute he was  all power and determination. Then he brought the kiss down to soft and  gentle before pulling her back up to hot and crazy. His hand didn't move  off her face, and the other stayed on her hip, yet Piper felt like he  was touching her most erogenous zones, bringing all her heat to the  surface.

She'd never thought she could get so hot, feel so wanton-like she was  about to burst out of her skin-from just a kiss. It was a kiss on crack  and she was addicted.

This, kissing Jaeger, was what she wanted to do for the rest of-

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Jaeger pulled his mouth off hers and eased back, turning his head to  look at the door. Piper followed her gaze. Her eyes widened as a young  man dressed in solid black stepped into the room. He held a silver tray  containing a carafe of coffee and thin china cups. He grinned and  dropped his hand from the door.

"'Sorry!" the butler called.

Piper tried to step away from Jaeger, but he quickly placed both hands  on her hips and kept her against him. When she felt his rock-hard  erection, she realized why, and heat climbed up her neck and into her  cheeks. She looked at Jaeger through lowered lids, lifting her eyebrows  as if to say, "Really?"

"Your fault," Jaeger muttered. "Just stay where you are, okay?"

The butler placed his tray on the credenza against the back wall. "Help  yourself. I'll bring you a light lunch if you are still here later."

Piper nodded and rested her forehead against Jaeger's collarbone. Ack! Could this be more embarrassing?

The butler grinned. "I'll leave you with the strong suggestion that you avoid the couch. It's seen a lot of action."

"Dear Lord," Piper murmured, feeling laughter running through Jaeger's  body. Hearing the door close, she lifted her bright pink face and saw  amusement dancing in his eyes.

"We'll avoid the couch," he said, his tone teasing.