Positively Criminal (10 page)

“Really?”

“Yeah. I wasn’t sure my feelings for you were mutual.”

With little effort, her lips split into a smile.
Silly man
. “Do you remember the first time we met?”

“I’ll never forget.”

“I watched you from behind the curtain before I ever danced. I wondered why such a good looking, confident man would seek female attention at a gentlemen’s club. I was so relieved to discover you were part of a bachelor party. Something about you intrigued me, Jake, something so strong it scared me to death. I couldn’t stop watching you – wanting you.”

“Yet, you were all business.”

“Survival,” she admitted. “Besides you thought I was a stripper. You didn’t know my story.”

“You danced to put yourself through school.”

“How do you know that?”

“Research – payback for the hard-on you left me with.”

“What else did you find on me?”

“Nothing other than your relation to Mabel.”

“And you didn’t tell her?”

“Absolutely not – for your sake and mine. Your disguise had me fooled for a little while, until I saw you the second time at Mabel’s house. You told me I wouldn’t find you at the
Velvet Glove
again.” His gaze darn near burnt her. “But I did. Twice.”

“I wasn’t planning to return.”

“You’re a successful psychiatrist. You and Liberty speak all over the country. Make me understand, Bri.”

“Business is slow?”

“Try again, and while you’re at it, explain why there was a man at the clinic when I dropped you off after I released you from jail.”

“I told him you’d find out,” she groaned. “It’s not what it looks like.”

“The truth,” he insisted, “from the beginning.”

She took a deep breath and then prepared to spill her guts. “I’m profiling for the FBI. Three girls have disappeared from the
Velvet Glove
since last month and I’m trying to get a fix on a suspect. The man at my office is Agent In Charge Ryan Majors, my handler.”

“You’re dancing to identify a suspect?”

“I don’t dance, I choreograph for the others. I’m hanging around to determine what kind of man will most likely seek private attention from a dancer.”

He ran both hands down the sides of his face. “Sonuvabitch.”

“You don’t believe me.”

“Yes, I do.” He released a hard breath. “I just can’t believe no one mentioned it to me. It’s my case!”

“You know Ryan?”

“Hell yes, I know
Ryan
. I speak to him almost daily.” He reached across the table and braided his fingers through hers. “I’m sorry I jumped to conclusions but I’m so damn glad I was wrong.” He stroked a thumb across the top of her knuckles. “Now you understand why I don’t want you there.”

She tilted her head to one side. “And here I thought you were just being a jealous, territorial caveman.”

“I am. I’m concerned for your safety but I’m a little bothered by other men enjoying your naked body.”

“A little?”

“A lot.”

“I don’t fully undress.”

“Close enough,” he growled. “How much longer are you assigned?”

She squeezed her bottom lip between her teeth. “I don’t know.”

“Yes you do.”

“I’ve managed to figure out a few things but the whole process could take quite a bit more time.”

He slid his cell phone from the depths of his pocket and handed it to her. “Call Agent Majors.”

“Why?”

“Call Agent Majors,” he repeated.

“This is not the time for a pissing contest, Jake.”

“Your choice, sweetness. Either you call him and play referee or I confront him alone.”

“Caveman,” she mumbled as she accepted the phone and punched numbers.

He grinned and took a long swallow of coffee.

She shook her head at his cockiness, assaulted by another wave of testosterone when her phone call finally connected.

“Majors.”

“Ryan, this is Bri.”

“Are you okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine.” She narrowed her gaze on Jake. “I’ve hit a snag.”

The agent chuckled. “Rawlings?”

She frowned. “Did you give me a tail?”

“Caller ID,” Jake and Ryan answered in unison.

“Can you meet us at my office in ten minutes?”

“On my way.”

Bri released a heavy sigh as she handed the phone back to Jake. He stood and then grasped her elbow to pull her from the chair. “Agent Majors doesn’t drink coffee?”

“I happen to know that a public confrontation between two Type A personalities would not be pretty.”

“Type A, huh?”

“A, for — “

He raised an eyebrow and gave her another of those arrogant smirks while he nodded for her to exit.

“Alpha,” she mumbled.

Once he unlocked the truck door and she sat inside, he leaned in and placed a warm, soft kiss against her lips. “My alpha makes you hot.”

Although she wanted to laugh in his face, she couldn’t do it. Damn her weakness – he was absolutely right. Jake’s alpha made every single nerve ending in her body tingle to the point of orgasm.

And the cocky sucker knew it.

“You are wearing panties, aren’t you?”

She swallowed hard as his big body caged her inside the truck, blocking any view from the outside. “Guess.”

His right hand left the top of the door and lifted the edge of her skirt. “Blue,” he whispered, “as dark and sexy as your eyes, Bri.”

Her gaze dropped to his groin and the very eager erection raised against his pants. Her tongue swept her bottom lip in sheer anticipation. His finger drew lazy circles on the top of her thigh and she fought the urge to cram it between her legs. No doubt, those lazy circles he drew would make her scream in ecstasy.

“Loud enough to shatter glass,” he whispered as her breath caught and a sexual shudder crossed her spine. “You don’t know how lucky you are that we’re in a public place.”

She held his gaze and watched the iris of his eyes darken. Lucky? No, lucky would be her body smashed up against his muscled torso, both of them naked as the day they were born, Lady Luck was definitely a selfish bitch.

“Yeah, too bad.” She raised an arm and traced his erection with one fingernail.

“Oh hell,” he groaned, “you make me crazy.”

She nearly screamed when he moved his hand from her thigh and pressed hers against his length. “Crazy enough to reschedule our meeting with Agent Majors?”

“No. I have a few things to discuss with
Agent Majors
.”

She moved her palm over him one more time and then sighed. “Let’s get this over with.”

He chuckled and took a step back. “Seatbelt.”

She stretched the fabric across her chest and buckled it just as Jake entered the driver’s side and started the truck. “Behave, Detective Rawlings, he’s only doing his job.”

“Believe me, I’m practicing great restraint.”

“Seriously, I’m a professional and I can help.”

“I don’t doubt your skills for one minute – hell, I’ve witnessed them firsthand.”

“That’s not funny.”

“No, that’s not what I meant. I’ve seen you with people, Bri. You have this uncanny knack for reaching into someone’s tortured soul and stitching it right up. I’ve witnessed your unselfish compassion toward a bruised, battered woman so many times my heart has threatened to burst with respect. And then I’ve seen you challenge her sorry excuse for a husband and bring him to his knees with no more than three words and the beat of your long, sexy eyelashes.”

She held her breath, amazed by his confession, warmed even more when he reached across the seat and grasped her hand.

“Not that I don’t appreciate your other talent,” he finished.

“Thank you.” She gave his hand a squeeze. “This is important to me. I’ve bonded with every single one of those women. No one even hinted at moving on – I just don’t understand what happened.”

“Majors claims all those girls are clean.”

“They are, yet they share one common attribute. Every one of them is a victim of domestic violence.”

“Really?”

“Yes, and although each managed to escape her environment they still carry the psychological need for acceptance by a man. Dancing puts them in control, even if only for three minutes at a time.”

A muscle ticked at the base of his jaw while he processed her analysis. She knew damn well he wouldn’t argue and if he even attempted, she’d remind him to consider his own experience.

“What do you know about Melissa Winston?” he said finally.

“She claimed she danced to pay for school.”

“You didn’t believe her?”

“I did, but I knew there was probably more to the story.”

“And?”

“There was.”

“She fed a habit?”

“No, Melissa was a straight arrow.”

“So, no tuition and no drugs. What then?”

“Confidential information.”

He smirked as he turned the corner and parked at the curb in front of the clinic. “She signed a confidentiality agreement?”

“Not exactly.”

“She’s missing Bri, I need all the help you can give me.”

“Melissa’s father verbally abused her until the day she disappeared.”

“Do you think her uncle knew?”

“No, Melissa claimed she told no one. In fact, he held such mind control over her I’m not sure she was totally convinced.”

“She made excuses.”

“They all do. Melissa just figured it was her duty to please her father and discounted the fact she couldn’t satisfy him. He criticized everything; her grades were never good enough, she dressed inappropriately, and she didn’t devote enough time to him.”

“What about her mother?”

“She passed away when Melissa was three.”

“Any possibility you think she disappeared to escape?”

“I guess it’s a possibility.”

“Go with your gut.”

“She didn’t run, Jake.”

“That’s all the confirmation I need.”

“There’s more.” She swallowed hard. “I’m almost certain another woman is missing.”

His eyes widened and she could almost feel heat from the flames dancing within. “And you’re just now telling me?”

“I’m not entirely sure,” she hedged. “Brian claims they made contact with her sister.”

“Name.”

“Sidney Livingston, aka Sunny.”

“Again Bri, go with your gut.”

“She wouldn’t have gone without telling me.”

He didn’t respond as he exited the truck and then opened the passenger door and offered a hand. “We need to get a few things straight with Majors.”

She released a huff and slid her hand into his as she stood. “I’m a professional.”

“I’m aware.”

He held tight to her hand as he urged her up the sidewalk, frowning as they stood at the door. “There’s no way you have keys anywhere on your body.”

“Good grief.” She rolled her eyes and turned the doorknob. Instantly, the alarm system squealed until she punched the appropriate four buttons.

She gestured with her free hand to the sofa. “Make yourself comfortable.”

Muscles bulged beneath his clothing as he lowered himself to sit and then folded his arms across his chest. She suddenly felt the walls close in around her.

She lowered herself to sit in the chair beside him, the soft, cool leather somewhat of a comfort against her heated skin, and crossed one leg over the other. Although she didn’t really welcome the confrontation between Jake and Ryan, it didn’t overly concern her. She’d spent time with both men; after the expected posturing, chest thumping, and Tarzan yodeling, logic would prevail and they’d come to the conclusion that she was the one who held the upper hand.

She hoped.

Her stomach muscles quivered and she gave her bracelet a spin for good measure.

“Nervous?”

She raised her gaze to his and lifted both eyebrows. “No.”

“Sure about that?”

“Positive.”

Only the knock at the door broke the heated tension between them. Jake stood and opened the door. Her stomach took another dip.

“Majors.” Jake nodded at the other man and motioned him inside before closing the door.

“Rawlings.” Obviously oblivious to the look of murder on Jake’s face, the agent bent to kiss her cheek before he sat in a second chair opposite the sofa. “Hey, Bri.”

“Hello, Ryan.”

He glanced back at Jake. “So, you’ve discovered our secret weapon.”

“Why the hell didn’t we know she was involved?”

“For her protection.”

“Right,” Jake growled. “You were protecting her by planting her in a den of hungry lions with a t-bone tied around her neck.”