Intimate (25 page)

“Good God.” Lola stared at her as if she'd grown a second head. “You okay?”

Kaz gazed into her glass and sighed. “I'm alive. I wouldn't have been if Martin Jackson hadn't stepped in and saved me. I didn't really get scared until I was on my way home. It was so damned close—closer even than the pickup Monday or the car the week before.”

Mandy covered Kaz's hand with hers. “Do you have any idea why anyone would—”

“No. None.”

Lola shook her head. “There's got to be something. The guy in Healdsburg—did you get a good look at him?”

“Not really, though there was a moment, when the car skidded to a stop in the intersection, I could have sworn he stared right at us, as if he knew us. A couple of days later, I'm almost sure I saw the same man watching our hotel room window when Jake was taking some pictures of me. And Mandy? The day I met Jake at the coffee shop? Do you remember a dark-haired man in there, sitting opposite us? The man we saw in Healdsburg looked a lot like him.”

“Sheesh, Kaz. I don't remember anyone from the shop. Do you think he was following you? A fan, maybe?” Mandy glanced at each of them. “You're in a lot of print ads, magazines and stuff.”

“A fan wouldn't want to kill me.”

Mandy shrugged as if this conversation were perfectly normal. “If he's crazy, he might.”

“What if he's after Jake?” Lola frowned. “What if he's got a beef with Jake and he's going after you?”

“Why would someone mad at Jake attack me? Jake and I hardly know each other.”

“Just a thought.” Lola glanced toward Mandy. “I think she should call Jake, tell him what's going on.”

“I agree.” Mandy shot her a very dark glance. “Call him. Let him know what happened. Make sure he hasn't had any of the same shit coming his way.”

“I dunno…” She wanted to call him so badly she ached, but not because she was afraid, not because somehow she'd become a target of all sorts of really bad stuff. She wanted to talk to Jake about good things, about the days they'd spent together, about the possibility of a future.

But she really wasn't ready for that talk. Neither was Jake.

They'd already planned to meet for the Intimate launch.

The call could wait. Not that she'd be ready by then to talk about possibilities.

Unfortunately—or fortunately as the case may be—neither would he.

 

CHAPTER 15

Kaz was ready to drop from exhaustion by Wednesday afternoon when Fletch jumped up on a small table and clapped his hands.

“Good news, people. To use an old phrase, it's in the can. Our client is thrilled with the results to date, and he's invited all of us to Fleur de Lys tomorrow night for a wrap party.”

“Wow!” Kaz turned to Tim and almost laughed out loud at the stunned expression on his face. “They must really like us.”

“No shit. That place is amazing. I hope I can bring Marty.”

Which of course made her think about asking Jake, but she'd see him Friday, and she'd started thinking about the past two weeks as a test. Did she really miss him as much as she thought she did? Friday night at the Intimate launch would tell her, one way or another.

*   *   *

Tim picked Kaz up around six Thursday evening, and they drove across town to Fleur de Lys, where they met Marty. Kaz wore black silk pants that rested low on her hips and a matching crop top with an uneven hem that floated just beneath her breasts. The style was sexy as hell, very flattering, and set her butterfly tattoo on almost full display.

She'd worn the Intimate diamond studs and gold chains Jake had left with her. She'd left off the chain to her clit, debated on the one between her ear and nose before adding that one as well, and immediately she felt sexier. But was it the jewelry or the fact it made her think of Jake? It certainly reminded her she'd finally see him tomorrow night, and that thought gave her butterflies in her stomach as big as the one that graced the outside.

In some ways, the past two weeks had dragged, but in others, she'd been much too busy to really wallow in her misery. She'd managed to put her concerns about the nut at the train station in proper perspective—the city was full of crazies, and it had just been her turn to interact with one. Obsessing over stuff that made no sense wasn't going to do her any good at all.

Besides, she wanted to think about Jake. She'd never missed a man before. Not the way she still missed him. It wasn't just the exquisite sex that had her so impatient to see him. It was something more, something deeper.

Something she really didn't want to try and name until she actually saw him tomorrow.

Twenty-four hours from now.

She was really proud of herself after the event, when Marty and Tim dropped her off in front of her house. She got a kiss good-bye from Tim, and then Marty walked Kaz to her door and kissed her cheek just before she stepped inside. She waved to them from the open doorway as Tim pulled away from the curb. Then she carefully locked and bolted the door.

Yep, she was definitely feeling proud. She'd made it through the entire evening, having a wonderful time and not feeling sad. And while she'd thought about Jake, she hadn't let his not being with her ruin a perfect evening.

Well, almost perfect.

As she headed to her room, Kaz was already thinking of how much more fun tonight would have been, if only Jake had been her date.

*   *   *

Jake closed all his files and shut down the computer. Kaz smiled at him from the screen just a few brief seconds more before her image went dark. She'd been his screen saver for over a week now, a profile shot of her gazing over her left shoulder, lips painted a dark, ruby red, her dark eyes sparkling with reflected candlelight. She'd touched her lashes with just a bit of mascara, a shimmery black that gave her a dramatic flair without overdoing it.

Jake had chosen the jewelry for this particular shot—the blood-red ruby studs that perfectly matched her lipstick, and a fine gold chain that draped from the lobe of her left ear to a matching ruby in her left nostril. She'd worn a comfortable top for the shot, but he'd cropped the image across the upper curve of her breasts, which gave the illusion of total nudity. In the candlelight they'd used with reflector screens, her skin glowed a dark shade of honey.

It was much too easy to imagine that same color all over, even easier to imagine her giving him that “come hither” look while wearing nothing but the subtle jewelry. Marc had fallen in love with this shot.

These last two weeks had stretched on forever. He'd picked up the phone to call Kaz more times than he could count, but every single time he'd talked himself into walking away, into giving her time.

He'd never expected to feel this way, but he missed her. Missed her smile, missed the soft silences that were so easy between them. Most of all, he missed her laughter. He'd never laughed as much before Kaz.

Staring at the empty screen, Jake saw his life. A dead, black screen. Nothing there. No matter what he did, what he accomplished, it all added up to nothing if he didn't have the courage to tell Kaz the truth.

Not merely the bits and pieces of his fractured life, but all the filthy, cowardly details.

Which was probably the best way ever to insure that she'd not only walk out of his life forever, she'd walk away hating what had been the most perfect four days of his life.

He glanced at the clock. Almost midnight. Tomorrow by this time, he'd know for sure how Kaz felt about him. He'd call in the morning, offer to pick her up for the launch party, and be on his best behavior. If he got the slightest feeling that she felt for him even a fraction of what he felt for her, he would tell her everything.

His phone rang. He picked it up and glanced at the screen, blowing the brief burst of hope that it might be Kaz. Fletcher Arnold? Why the hell would Fletch be calling so late?

Kaz? Had something happened? “Fletch? Hey, man. It's late. What's up?”

“Jacob! I called to thank you. Kaz is amazing. She's absolutely perfect. I think—no, I know—I'm in love.”

Jake's immediate, gut-deep jealousy shouldn't even surprise him at this point. He took a deep breath, let it out, and calmly said, “You're married, Fletch. How are we going to explain this to Janice?”

Fletch's laughter boomed in his ear. Jake held the phone away and set it on speaker. “Fletch? How much have you had to drink tonight?”

“Not nearly enough. Look, Jake, I called because I missed you tonight. I honestly thought you'd be at the wrap party with Kaz, and I planned to thank you then. She is a joy to work with, and I appreciate your introducing us. She and Tim Milbank were absolutely perfect for the series of spots my client wanted. Both of them are professional and adaptable. We ended up doing a few more commercials than intended. Point being, they're talking about offering her a spot as spokesperson for Lucullan Cellars, and I need to know what her contract with your client allows.”

He had to think about that for a moment. “Marcus Reed has right of refusal on her for now, but I don't know if he has anything planned. The launch party for the jewelry line is tomorrow night. I'll check with him then and get back to you by Monday.”

“Good. We're not going national with this campaign until mid-October. Let's keep in touch. Let me know what you find out.”

Jake stared at his phone after Fletch disconnected. It was happening, just the way he'd thought it might.

She wouldn't need him. Didn't need him, not with all the fucking baggage attached to his ass. Damn. Jake stuck his phone back in the charger, stripped off his sweats, and got into bed.

He lay there, going over the conversation with Fletch, and the fact that it had come just as Jake was getting ready to tell Kaz the truth about everything. Fletcher's call shot his plans all to hell. He couldn't tell Kaz how he felt. Not now. Not with her career ready to explode.

Even if she forgave him, even if she could look beyond what he'd done, the last thing she needed hanging on to her arm was an ex-con with his ugly history. All he'd be was dead weight. Not good. Not when Kaz was ready to fly.

*   *   *

It was after ten before Kaz crawled out of bed and stumbled into the kitchen. She was greeted by a note on the counter in front of the cold, empty coffee pot.
Out of coffee—stop by for a cup this morning. My treat. Mandy.
She let out a sigh and headed back to the bedroom.

Twenty minutes later, after a quick shower and a change into yoga pants and a worn sweatshirt, Kaz walked to the coffee shop over on Irving.

Traffic was light, and fog hung low over the city. She shoved her hands in the pockets of her sweatshirt and walked quickly—to warm up as much as anything—though she was absolutely desperate for some caffeine. Last night had been more fun that she'd expected, but all she could think about this morning was Jake. She couldn't wait to see him again. Would he still look at her the way he had when they'd parted? Would her heart still stutter in her chest when he touched her?

Good Lord … if this wasn't love, she was badly in need of therapy. Had he thought of her at all while they'd been apart? If he had, at least he had pictures. She had nothing but her memories, and they'd been working overtime.

She still wasn't sure what she was going to wear tonight. The bronze skirt and top he'd bought for her in Healdsburg looked good, but she'd felt really sexy in last night's black silk pants and crop top. She could always go shopping, find something special just for tonight. Something that went well with the rubies. Jake had seemed partial to the rubies, but he'd suggested she go with the diamonds for Marc's big night. He'd really liked the tigers eye, too.

Except he hadn't left those with her, had he? Not flashy enough, according to Marcus Reed. So, diamonds or rubies? Black outfit or bronze? She'd felt really sexy in the bronze, and it rocked the wine motif really well. She glanced up, her nose twitching at the smell of freshly roasted coffee. Almost there, and she really, really needed her caffeine.

It felt weird, walking by the damaged wall where the truck had almost hit her. She paused a moment to get a better look, but as she turned away, the front of her sandal caught in a crack in the sidewalk. She stumbled, arms flailing to catch her balance.

A loud crack sent Kaz to her knees. Bits of stucco rained down around her and instinct took over. She rolled to one side as another shot hit the pavement where she'd just been kneeling. Sucking in a harsh breath, she raised her head and glimpsed a dark car she'd not even noticed spin out and race down the street.

The smell of burning rubber hung in the foggy air as she gasped for breath, one harsh cry after the next.

“Kaz! What the hell…?” Mandy grabbed her by the arm and helped her to her feet. “What the fuck happened?”

It took her a minute to draw in enough air to speak. By then, everyone who'd been in the coffee shop had spilled out onto the sidewalk. An older man had his phone out, calling 9-1-1. Kaz clutched her hands together, but they wouldn't stop shaking. “That bastard shot at me. Twice!” She pulled free of Mandy's grasp and walked over to the wall. “Look. The bullet's still in there.”

“Don't touch it.” Mandy, the expert on all things
CSI
, grabbed Kaz's hand before she could touch the bullet to dig it out. “It's evidence.”

“Oh. Yeah. Evidence.” She glanced in the direction the car had gone. “Did you see what make it was? Get a license plate?”

“I got a partial.” Eddy, one of the kids who washed dishes on the weekends, held up a scrap of paper. “I wrote down the first four digits, 5LRD, but I didn't get the rest. I think the next number was a seven, but I'm not sure. It was an older black sedan. No idea what kind, though.”

“Better than what I got, which is nothing. Thank you.” She grabbed Mandy's hand. “I need caffeine. Really, really badly.”