Jacob(9)

Jacob’s eyes narrowed and he cocked his head as he regarded her. “I happen to run a large, powerful security company I believe could track one woman, particularly one as beautiful as you. It would be easy to do.”

“Hmmm…that would mean that you would want to track me for some reason.”

Jacob put his hand behind her neck and pulled her close to him, his breath caressing the lips he yearned to devour. “Tell me you don’t feel it. Tell me you don’t understand the reasons I would track you.” He brushed a feather-light kiss across her lips and felt her shiver. Tori’s face blushed a deep rose hue. She opened her eyes and stared into his.

“Oh, I feel it alright, but I’m right here. There’s no need to track me.” She drew away as the waiter approached to refill their water glasses.

The waiter somehow broke the mood and miraculously Jacob was able to force himself away from her. Jacob watched her while they ate and visited. He had heard some of his men complain about women they had dated who would pick at their food. Victoria did not have that issue.

“This is so good! I’m impressed that you own part of this place.”

Jacob reached for his wine glass. “I can’t take any credit for this. Justin is the mastermind behind the businesses. My brothers and I gave him some startup money and he has bankrolled it into four extremely profitable businesses. He has a way with people and money.”

Tori took the last bite of her steak and measured him carefully as she chewed. Lifting her finger she pointed at him. “You know, you have quite a way with people, too.”

Jacob chuffed air out of his lungs and shook his head. “Not true. I’m close to my family and my team. I almost never associate with anyone outside that realm.”

“Am I an exception?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“It is simple and complicated. When you should’ve been comatose or out of you mind with pain, you were cracking jokes and carrying a conversation. I don’t usually mix my business endeavors and my personal life, but you were unique and interesting. I thought I would enjoy knowing you as a friend.”

Tori cocked her head. “A friend? Really? That’s…interesting.”

“Why did you come back for the date? You must have had to travel to get here if home is Small Town, U.S.A.”

She picked up the wine glass and once again swirled the deep red liquid before she responded. “Oh, I guess I had several reasons.”

She up-ended the glass and drained the last of the vintage. After placing the crystal on the table with excessive care, she rested her chin on her hands. “I came back because you saved my life; because you were the only thing that kept me from going insane from the pain that night; because I thought I would enjoy knowing you, and…”

“And?”

Tori looked through her lashes at him for a moment before lowering her eyes to the table. The glance radiated sexual innuendo. “And, I think sex with you could be phenomenal.”

Jacob sucked in a sharp breath. His gut tightened like he had been sucker punched. Rational thought all but ceased as he battled his inner caveman. He reached his hand under her chin and lifted, forcing her to meet his eyes. “Are you finished with your meal?”

“Yes, but I really want desert.”

Jacob’s eyes followed her wet, pink tongue as she licked her lips—those beautiful, lush, sexy-as-hell, red lips. His eyes narrowed as he stroked her cheek with his thumb. She was going to pay for that tease. Jacob leaned closer and whispered, “Honey, if it wouldn’t get us arrested, I’d take you on this table right now.”



Her lips brushed his ear as she responded, “Then you probably would enjoy what I’ve been imagining doing to you under this table.”

Tori stood smoothing her flaming red dress down her hips before seductively arching her eyebrow at him. She smiled, winked, and excused herself to the ladies' room. As he watched her perfect body work her way through the tables, he couldn’t help notice every man’s head turn to follow her progress. A gruff voice beside him pulled his attention away from her, but his eyes followed her until she was out of view.

“Damn it little man, you’ve got it bad. And holy shit, she is one hell of a woman. When did you have time to find her? I mean, hell, I’ve seen you with some beautiful ladies, but that one? She’s quality where you generally go for…quantity.”

Jacob turned his gaze to his brother. “Fuck you. But yeah, she’s something special. I met her about a year ago and I have to agree with you, she’s quality. What about you dude? Anyone you’ll be taking home to mom?”

“Yeah…no. I work twenty-four-seven.” Justin turned to his brother with a curious look on his face. “But so do you. So exactly where did you meet Tori?”

“She’s in the business.”

“As in she does what you do? No fucking way.”

“No, moron, she doesn’t do what I do. As a matter of fact, I’m not one hundred percent sure what she does, but she is within the community.”

“Huh. It’d be cool if she could kick your ass. But I think she has already landed you on your butt without throwing a punch. Am I right, little man?” Justin’s laughter pulled a few eyes their direction.

Jacob started to respond but stopped when Tori reappeared in the dining room. Both men stood and watched as she maneuvered through the crowd and made her way to where Jacob stood talking to his brother. “God Almighty, Jacob, she’s as tall as Mom.”

“Yeah, good thing that is the only thing she has in common with her.” Both men gave a hearty laugh as Jacob grasped Tori’s ice-cold hand. A tenseness that hadn’t been there before radiated from her.

Tori smiled, but emotion never hit her eyes. “Please thank the chef for a fabulous dinner. I don’t know when I’ve had such an excellent meal.” Jacob scanned the room as she spoke to his brother looking for the cause of her well-disguised distress.

Jacob had noticed Tori had bumped into a small man returning from the ladies’ room and exchanged a few words. He continued to stare their way. He could be the source of her unease. Jacob joined the conversation, chiding Justin. “Yeah dude, keep up the good work. Someday you might make something of yourself.”

Justin gave a huge laugh and slapped Jacob twice on the back. Pain blasted through his shoulder bringing brilliant bursts of light to his vision. He forced himself to stay upright and breathe through the nausea his brother’s sharp blows had caused.

Justin hugged Tori and kissed her cheek. “Nice meeting you, Victoria. If you ever decide he is not the brother you want to date, forget about the other three. You know where to find me.”

Tori blushed and Jacob felt her arm snake around his waist. “It was nice to meet you, too, Justin, but I think I'll stay with the one who brought me.” She turned and her eyes examined him. Jacob tried to hide his discomfort. A thin film of perspiration popped out on his brow and his knees felt weak. Justin left them with a smile and a wave.

“Are you ready to leave?”

Jacob nodded, but his attention focused on the slight-statured blond man walking up to them—the one Tori had encountered returning from the ladies’ room.

“Victoria, perhaps we got off on the wrong foot just now.” The man’s eyes traveled up and down Tori’s body.

Jacob used every ounce of will power he possessed not to drop the bastard where he stood.

Tori tensed and moved even closer snuggling in his arms. The action triggered his recently unearthed protective instincts and forced any thought of pain from his mind.

“Jacob King, this is Doctor Carter Amiri.”

The man’s eyebrow lifted at her introduction. “How are you doing, Victoria? You do look well. Very well indeed.”

“Jacob King? Oh, so this is your savior?” The man looked from Jacob to Victoria. A glimmer of some emotion passed over his features before his face became passive. Tori didn’t answer the man’s question. Jacob was good with that.

Jacob tried to keep the immediate hatred he felt for the man out of his voice. “And what kind of medicine do you practice, Dr. Amiri?”

“I’m a Doctor of Psychology. I assisted Victoria with…how should I phrase this tactfully?” Amiri gave her an assessing look that was anything but clinical. “She fell under my care after that unfortunate incident. We spent a lot of time together, didn’t we, dear?”

Jacob felt Victoria’s arms tighten around him and a shudder ran through her body. The throb of pain radiating from his shoulder became the least of his concerns as he considered the slimy ass-hat standing in front of him. Jacob straightened. The congenial facade Jacob maintained among civilians threatened to crack. His gut never failed him and his gut screamed this man was evil. Pure evil. “Oh?”

Tori lifted her eyes to his without any trace of emotion as the doctor spoke. “Indeed, it was almost a year ago now. Wasn’t it Victoria? I’ve so missed our intimate time together.”

Her gaze shifted towards the small man. “Exactly a year ago. Our time was never intimate, Doctor Amiri, and the only one to receive anything out of our interaction was our employer. What I do now is none of your concern.”