Wicked Ties(68)

She sighed. “I still have no idea who this is.”

“I’m sure you know him, Morgan. This is someone you’ve been close with on some

level, somewhere between

conversationally and sexually. But in your interaction, he believed that you connected,

that you were meant for him, which gives him the right to punish you for any ‘bad’

behavior you exhibit, like seeing another man. You’ve figured out that he’s tenacious.”

“Yeah, I know he’s not going to call it a day anytime soon.” The knot of apprehension

in her belly tightened.

“Good,” Deke praised. “You and Jack are doing everything you can. Stay here for now.

At this point, don’t try to be Miss Independent.”

Getting away from Jack would be great for her selfrespect—but terrible for her safety.

Morgan sighed. “It chafes me to need a babysitter, but until I know who and what I’m

dealing with, I feel better with backup.”

“Good. Does he ever call your cell phone?” Deke questioned.

“No. About six months ago, I got a new number. Only three people have the number:

My mother, Brandon, and my agent.”

“Brandon?”

“Her fiancé.”

Jack’s rancor as he answered his business partner stunned her. He sounded very

unhappy about the “fact” she had a soon-tobe husband. Morgan frowned. He’d gotten

what he wanted, right? He couldn’t possibly be jealous.

“Oh, and my production assistant, Reggie, has the number.”

Jack and Deke shot each other an oblique look.

“How much do you know about Reggie?”

They suspected Reggie, clearly. Morgan started to tell them they were being absurd.

Reggie was a cross between a giant teddy bear and a father figure. But then she realized

that anyone could be a suspect. Anyone at all, no matter how absurd it sounded.

“Reggie has been with me since the show started. He’s somewhere around forty.

Divorced. He doesn’t seem like the type…but I guess no one gets ‘stalker’ tattooed

across their forehead to make identification easy.”

“Exactly. Do you talk with him about personal things?”

She shrugged. “Some, I guess. He let me cry on his shoulder a time or two after my

big break-up with Andrew. After Turn Me On was renewed, most of the cast went out

together to this trendy L.A. bar and put down a few too many. Reggie ended up telling

me about his divorce and how his ex cheated on him before he ordered a pot of coffee

and insisted on taking me home since I couldn’t possibly drive.”

“Did you have sex with him?” Jack prodded.

Morgan’s jaw dropped. “No! I told you every bit of my personal past, which I’m sure

you shared with Deke.”

“He was sketchy about the details at best,” Deke said with mock regret. “You can feel

free to provide details. Or use me to reenact anything particularly juicy.”

Jack whipped around in his seat and burned a furious, quelling glare at Deke.

“Or not,” said the blond giant.

Morgan’s gaze bounced back and forth between the two of them. What in the heck

was going on? Jack was acting almost…possessive. She held in a snort. Yeah, as if she

mattered to a guy like Jack. To him, she’d just be a plaything.

“No chance you were too intoxicated to remember having sex with Reggie?” Jack

asked.

“No. I woke up the next morning with my panty hose still on.”

Jack relaxed a degree or two and looked at his pal. “Anything else, man?”

Deke’s reply was suddenly very businesslike. “Not at the moment. I’ll take the

originals of the photos out for forensic analysis, to see if this guy left behind any prints

or other clues.”

“That sounds unlikely,” she said.

“It is,” Deke admitted with a shrug. “But you never know. Maybe he had a careless

moment, or never believed you’d try to have them analyzed. I won’t know anything for a

few days. But be patient. We’ll get to the bottom of it.” He patted her hand.

Suddenly, Jack stood. His chair scraped across the hardwood floors, ripping into the

early morning quiet. His entire body was tense as he slapped Deke on the back.

“Let’s go discuss business.”

Deke hesitated, appearing to fight a grin. Morgan had the feeling he was completely

amused by the demand.

“Okay.” He turned to Morgan. “Nice to meet you.”

When he extended his hand across the table, Morgan barely had time to shake it

before Jack herded him down the hall to the door, unlocked it, and pushed him through.

She watched them disappear with a frown. What in the hell was up with Jack? #