Ariel figured he wouldn’t. But that didn’t mean he didn’t have proof of it locked away in his personal office, and since Toby had casually mentioned his father’s plans to go into town to get some gas and supplies, she knew this would be the best opportunity to see if she could find clues that just might bridge the knowledge gap.
She entered the grand entryway and made a beeline for her destination. The office she’d been using was next door to his, but she hadn’t needed to go into it before now. She turned the knob and pushed in, hitting the light as the door swung open.
It was just as dark and rustic as the rest of the house. If it wasn’t for the computers, printers, fax machine, and other office paraphernalia, this cabin could be placed anywhere in time.
She walked to his massive oak desk and tried pulling on the drawers. The bottom one was locked, so she tried the middle drawer that was narrow enough to hold pens and small supplies, hoping she’d find a key that’d give her access to the bigger drawer. That one was unlocked.
She pulled it open and rummaged around for a key when she noticed an envelope addressed to her.
From the lab where she’d sent the DNA for analysis. Fuck. Why hadn’t Thomas given her this letter, and why the hell was it already opened? This couldn’t be good.
“Just what the hell do you think you’re doing in my father’s office?”
Jack’s harsh voice caused her head to snap up, eyes landing on his cold ones. “I, err, wanted. Um, I was looking for Thomas.” Shit, she knew she was babbling because she was caught red-handed digging in Thomas’s desk. Then she glanced down, actually noticing Jack for the first time. “Why are you naked?” she blurted out.
He slowly reached back and shut the door, the click of the lock so loud it vibrated inside her. Jack stalked toward her. “I was running and smelled you. Do you know how fucking good you smell? It’s maddening having you around here. No matter where I go on this property, it’s like your scent is a siren, calling to me.”
Uh-oh. She stood on shaky legs, staying behind the desk. She didn’t know why he had the look of a predator, but she figured it was best to keep the big piece of furniture as a barrier, especially since his penis was erect and so hard it was already leaking pre-cum. “You don’t look well, Jack.”
“No?” He laughed without any trace of humor, his blue eyes ice, and he continued walked toward her until he was up against the other side of the desk. “I think that’s your fault, doc.”
“I’m not a doctor.”
“Shut the fuck up!” He slammed his hands down on top of the desk so hard it creaked under the pressure. “This is all your fault, you little chemistry whore. I’ve been taking those damn shots like the obedient little lab rat, and you haven’t once thought to come out and check on me. At least lab rats get tended to by their fucking doctors.”
Ariel shut her eyes, taking a deep breath to steady her nerves, thinking it better not to correct him again.
“I talked to my dad about this, and he insisted I give Rob alone time with you. Like Rob fucking deserves you more than I do. I told him that the medicine made me feel sick. That I didn’t think I needed it to be as strong as it was.”
What? Had she totally misunderstood Jack’s reaction to the compound? “I thought I just needed to test one of you—”
He cut her off, continuing as if she hadn’t said anything. “I came out here to talk to him after breakfast while he was getting his list of supplies ready and I saw that fucking letter you’re holding.”
Ariel glanced down. She hadn’t even had a chance to read it yet.
“When I saw it, dad shoved it in his desk, so I kept my mouth shut. After he left, I came back in here and read it.” He leaned in closer to her. “You fucking little bitch. I know what you’ve been up to.”
Her heart was racing. Jack was all kinds of pissed at her, and she feared if she tried to explain it’d only make things worse. She needed to bide her time and make a run for it as soon as the opportunity presented itself.
“Wow. You’re not even going to deny the fact that you had no intention of keeping our secret.”
How had he known that she’d considered using them to further her career? She hadn’t told anybody about that. And if she were being honest with herself, she had no intention of bringing any harm to Rob’s family because that’d mean harm for him. She couldn’t live with herself if she’d done that. Truth was, she’d made up her mind a long time ago to never let this secret out, assuming she ever really would have to begin with.