Stealing His Heart(29)

As in, it didn’t exist.

“Don’t forget: this doesn’t change a thing. You still need to help me figure out that code, and then you go back to your life,” he said, keeping his tone flat and hard. Unyielding. Like him. “Away from me.”

She flinched, pulling back from him both mentally and physically. Scooting a little to the left, she turned her face away. “Yes, sir.”

“Don’t be like that.” He bent down, picked up her panties, and tossed them on the bed. “We both knew what this was.”

“I never said I didn’t. What’s your deal?”

He wanted to apologize. Hug her close and assure her that he was the fucked-up one—not her. So he did the opposite. He lashed out at her even more.

“You can go back to your own bed, but don’t steal anything when I’m sleeping. If you do, I’ll keep you cuffed next time,” he said, keeping his back to her.

Forced himself to act as if she meant nothing at all to him. He had to do that, or maybe she would mean something. And he didn’t need that in his life. Neither did she.

She could do better than a man like him.

Sheets ruffled, and her feet hit the floor. “Only you could take a perfectly enjoyable experience and then ruin it by talking.”

With that, she slammed the door shut behind her. Perched on the edge of the bed, he listened to her retreating footsteps until the guest bedroom door shut behind her. Then he fell back on the mattress, flung his elbow over his eyes, and wondered exactly what he’d just started with Tara…

And what it would mean in the light of day.





Chapter Eight

Tara lifted her lids slowly, not really wanting to wake up. If she opened her eyes, the slight belief that the past two days had all been a nightmare would fade away. And she would still be a prisoner in Jake’s house, forced to help him or go to jail—all while fighting off an insatiable desire to be his. But she recognized the guest room immediately. It hadn’t all been a dream.

She wasn’t sure how she felt about that just now.

The door opened, and in marched the man himself. Instead of the casual gear he’d put on yesterday, he wore a light gray button-down shirt and a black vest. All of his sexy ink was covered up, and he looked every part the businessman instead of the thief she’d once known. Black khakis completed the outfit, and her heart did a ridiculous pitter-patter at the sight of him.

He didn’t even remotely resemble the man who cuffed her to the bed last night. That man had been reckless and street-tough. This guy looked like a professional. Straitlaced and hot. Which one was the real Jake?

Last night, she’d thought he needed her. She’d felt such a bond with him when she’d given herself over to him…and then he’d metaphorically slapped her across the face with his actions afterward. He’d clearly gotten what he’d wanted from her.

And now he was ready to move on.

Just like the last time.

“Rise and shine,” Jake said, crossing the room and opening the curtains. “It’s Wednesday, and in my world? That’s a workday.”

Lifting on her elbows, she didn’t bother to hold blanket in place. It rested right above her breasts, showing cleavage. His attention immediately drifted down, then came hurtling back as if he didn’t want to see any more. She tilted her head to the side, ignoring the pain his slight rejection gave her. “I don’t work with you.”

“You do now.” He stared at her, and there was a heat that hadn’t been there earlier. He stepped toward her, but cut himself short, fisting his hands at his sides. “Until you crack the code, that is. Then you’re free to go.”

She swallowed hard and turned away. He expected her to go into the belly of the beast, and work with him? Hell to the no. “Can’t we work from here? I don’t want to go to your office.”

“No. We’re going to my office, and then we’re going on-site.”

“So, you want me to return to the site of my crime?” She snorted. “Yeah. Not happening.”

He grabbed hold of the blanket and tore it off of her. “You don’t have a choice. Now get up and get dressed, or I’ll drag you to jail naked today.”

“Fine.” She rolled out of bed and stood up. Holding her head high, she put her hands on her hips. “But I already told you that I don’t remember what I did. You’re wasting your time with me.”

He cursed under his breath and crossed the room, leaning into her face with anger written all over his expression. “I don’t think you realize how much trouble you’re in. The only way I got him to agree not to press charges against you was by promising him you would help me make his safe impenetrable by tomorrow morning.” He grasped her chin. “If you don’t help me, then I can’t save you.”