Jason (Kings of Guardian #4) (8 page)

Faith slapped the bedside table, searching for her buzzing phone. Opening her eyes would have helped, but who would be texting her at… oh, fireflies in a bottle… 5:00 a.m.? Her thumb landed on the home key, waking the smartphone. Searing light flooded her small bedroom and blinded her.

Faith dropped the cell and rubbed her eyes, blinking repeatedly, trying to sooth the dryness that threatened to affix her eyelids to her corneas. “Crap.”

The phone vibrated again. Her curiosity forced a squinty eye glare at the text message displayed on the screen.

Jason: I couldn’t wait any longer. I had a wonderful time with you and I want to see you again.

Faith: You just left yesterday
.
I’ll admit you do make a good impression.

Jason: I aimed to please.

Faith
:
And U did. 4 times if I recall correctly.

Jason: Busy on Friday?

Faith: As in 3 days?

Jason: 2. It’s Wednesday.

Pulling her lip between her teeth, Faith keyed the next response and debated sending it, but if this thing… or whatever it was between them… was going to work, he’d have to accept Reece. ‘Send’ loomed ominously under her thumb, but before she became emotionally invested in this guy, she had to know.

Faith: I work until 5 but then the little guy and I are free.

Jason: Dinner and early movie? New Disney movie out.

Faith smiled at the screen and her heart filled a little more. This guy was a keeper.

Faith: Love it. Then maybe grownup time after Boo goes to sleep?

Jason: Boo?

Faith: Nickname, long story.

Jason. I’ll call tonight so you can tell me.

Faith: Can’t wait.

*

Jason wiped his forearms and hands with his gym towel when he heard his phone vibrate with a text. Sweat pooled around his feet where he’d been taking out his stress on the heavy bag he’d had installed at his house. A surge of… shit, what was it? Happiness or contentment, maybe… ran through him at the thought the message might be from Faith. Even though he was flying back to Savannah tomorrow night to see Faith and Reece, spending time texting and visiting with the woman made him feel good. That little detail was fucking huge.

Faith: Red or black?

Jason: Red or black what?

Faith: You said nice place. Right?

Jason: You don’t have to buy a new dress. Wear the one you wore two weeks ago.

Faith: Obviously, you are not a girl.

Jason: Obviously.

Faith: Red or black? Both are on sale and I can’t decide.

Jason: I like both.

He snorted in amusement. He’d grown up with three sisters, and he knew
that
answer wasn’t going to fly.

Faith: Really?

Jason: Red.

Faith: Thank you.

Jason: I look forward to seeing you in that dress.

Faith: Who said it is a dress? Think lace
.


Jason glanced at the time on his phone and groaned before he turned back to the heavy bag. There were definitely too many hours and miles between him and that sexy-as-fuck woman.

*

Faith glanced at her cell. The text message had popped in a couple of minutes ago, but she’d been tied up helping a caller get to the right department. She took a look around the lobby to ensure she wouldn’t be seen and tapped the screen.

Jason: Chocolate, strawberry or cherry?

Faith: ?

Jason: Choose.

Faith: <3 Strawberry? Why? U making pie?

Jason: No. Buying condoms.

Faith slammed the phone screen-side down on her desk and shot a furtive glance around the lobby to see who might notice her crimson face. She lifted the phone and placed it in her lap, cupping the screen under the desktop.

Faith: OMG!

Jason: LOL! U asked.

*

Walking out of the NA meeting, Jason opened his phone and laughed. Several people cast curious glances his direction, but he just shook his head and smiled.

Faith: Where did you put the thingy?

He’d bought a small grill so they could barbeque when he was down last weekend. Faith and Reece had called the smoking tray a ‘thingy’ the entire day, so he knew immediately what she was looking for.

Jason: With the grate.

Faith: Kitchen? Oh. Got it, thanks.

Jason: Anytime, princess.

*

“Jason, I transferred an incoming call from your cell to line three.” Sonya’s voice over the intercom pulled his attention away from the computer and documents he worked on. Distracted by the paperwork in front of him, he hit the button and bit out, “King.”

Silence caught his full attention. He picked up the receiver and spoke again. “This is Jason King.”

“Mister Jason?” Reece’s small voice broke any ties the work day held over him. Jason smiled at the little guy’s nervous question.

“Hey, buddy. Is everything okay?”

“Yes, sir. Momma let me practice dialing her phone. I pushed and held the number one button, and it called you. She said we could because I got to tell you something.” The excitement in Reece’s voice carried through the connection.

“Really? I can’t wait to hear what that is.” Jason swiveled in his chair and gazed into the painting that hung on his back wall.

“I got moted.” Jason could hear Faith say ‘promoted’ in the background.

“That’s what I said, Momma! Promoted. I got promoted to kindergarten. I get to go to the big kids’ school. Maybe even ride the bus, but Momma’s not sure she likes that. Will you tell her it’s okay for me to ride the bus? Are you coming down this weekend? You didn’t come last week. Tippy and I want to play at the beach with you and Momma again. Maybe we can see a movie. Can we see a movie, Mister Jason?”

Jason chuckled as the little boy’s sentences slid into each other in one rushed exclamation. For the past six weeks, he’d been burning up jet fuel hopping from D.C. to Savannah. When he wasn’t tied up with Gabriel, he was with Faith and Reece. The free aircraft usage was a perk of his new position and one he was glad to use.

“I think that could be arranged, buddy, but you’ll have to ask your mom if it’s alright first.”

“She’ll say yes. She always says yes to you!” Faith’s comments in the background were muffled, but he got the idea she didn’t want to bother him at work.

“I know, Momma, but he’s not busy now. Are you, Mister Jason?” The little man was definitely wound up.

“I’m never too busy to talk to you or your mom, bud. Have you been a good boy?”

“You have to say yes, Reece. He can’t see you nodding your head.” Faith’s comment prompted his laughter.

“Yes, sir, I’ve been real good.”

“Awesome, then the next time I come down, we’ll go see a movie, and I’ll buy you popcorn.”

“Yeah! Momma, Mr. Jason said we’d go to a movie! Popcorn, too!”

“Hey, can I talk to your momma for a minute?” Jason jerked the phone away from his ear when a resounding crack came through the airwaves.

“Hey, sorry about that. He dropped the phone.” Faith’s comment explained the noise.

“That’s alright. So, are you busy this weekend, Cinderella?” He damn near growled the question.

“I am, actually. My boyfriend is coming to town. He’s one of those growly protective types. Some people think he’s intimidating.”

“He sounds intimidating. Am I going to have a fight on my hands?”

“Oh no, I don’t think so. He puts on airs, but I know he’s just a big ol’ softy.”

“Princess, whenever I talk to you, soft isn’t a word I’d use to describe my condition. I can guarantee I’m…” He swung his chair around and shut his mouth. Jared sat in one of the leather chairs situated in front of his desk. The smirk on his face spoke volumes.

“What can you guarantee, Superman?” His cock twitched at the low, sultry tones of Faith’s voice. Thank God for a solid mahogany slab between him and his brother’s eyes.

“I have to go. I’ll call you back as soon as I can.” Jason kept his eyes on his brother. Damn smug asshole.

“Okay, but you’re coming down this weekend, right?”

“As it stands right now, yes. Subject to change, as always.”

“Alright. I’m looking forward to being with you.”

“No more than I am.”

“Is there someone in the office with you?”

“Yes.”

“Male or female.”

“The first.”

“Do you know what I want to do to you as soon as I get you alone? I bought a big thick cucumber and I’ve been practicing a certain technique.”

He dropped his head to his desk with a thud. The pain puncturing his forehead did nothing to stop his cock from standing up and saluting. Jason groaned into the phone. Jared’s laughter mingled with Faith’s. He didn’t bother to lift his head as he spoke. “You are going to pay for that.”

“I can’t wait. As a matter of fact, I’m hoping to provide further enticement when you call later tonight. Bye, Superman.”

Not bothering to lift his head, he threw the phone onto the top of the desk. He pawed the phone base and disconnected the call.

“Poor Jason.” Jared’s voice taunted him, just like when they were young.

“Shut up.”

“What? Someone missing his thing on the side?”

What? Oh, hell no. He sat up and scowled at his brother. “She isn’t a side game.”

The lifted eyebrows conveyed surprise. “Then why haven’t we met her? Who is she? Has she been vetted? How serious is this… tryst?”

He leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers together. “I’m not ready to say.”

Jared’s eyes widened slightly. “Why?”

“Because it’s new. She’s special.”

“Seriously? Who the hell is she? We need to vet her. You’re in a VIP position, Jason. You know the protocols. What if she tries to blackmail you or use your position? This is fucked up.”

He damn near came out of his seat before he grabbed ahold of his anger. Barely. His brother usually didn’t provoke him. Jared knew better. All his family did. “She is not using me. She wouldn’t take a dime from me. She works hard to support herself and her son. What the fuck, man? Do you think I’m incapable of having a healthy relationship? And really, why the hell do you care?”

“Why do I care? Did I hear that right? You honestly want to go there? Oh, I don’t know, Jason, we’ll start with you once again disregarding the protocols that we all adhere to. Maybe we should tack on that anytime life turns south for you, we get ringside seats complete with blood spatter as you destroy yourself.” Jared’s cutting words echoed strangely in the gilded office.

The one-two punch of his brother’s shouted anger and disbelief he could handle his own shit hit hard and stung like a bastard. Had he disregarded protocols? Yes, but… Fuck, his boss had practically demanded he travel to meet the families of his dead men. To top it off, Gabriel knew the reason the company jet was logging hours to Savannah. They’d discussed it numerous times.

Who the fuck did his brother think he was? He’d be damned if he would justify anything to Jared, not when he was practically his brother’s boss. Practically? That line of thought sent an iron rod down his back. He straightened under his brother’s condescending look. In every way that mattered, he
was
Jared’s boss. Fuck him and the high horse he’d rode in on.

Sonya opened the door and slipped in just as that realization settled in and took root. “Jason, is everything okay?” she asked.

He stood slowly and buttoned his suit jacket. He held his brother’s heated glare. “Everything is fine, Sonya. Jared’s just leaving.”

Jared dropped his eyes to the desk in front of him and ran his hands through his hair as he stood. “Listen, what I meant to say…”

“Oh, you were very clear. There was no misunderstanding your intent, and you’ve said more than I care to hear. If you need to see me for business, please make an appointment with Sonya. She’ll fit you in if I can manage to find time in my schedule
as your boss
to see you.” His poorly caged anger grew with each word he snapped toward his brother. “Please feel free to let Gabriel know what you think of his pick to run his company. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I believe I may have more shit to go fuck up. I’d hate to deprive you of a front row seat to the pending disaster, but I’m sure you’ll understand if I don’t want to see you again—for one hell of a long time.”