Leanne Banks - Trouble in High Heels

“You don’t have time to procrastinate, Lori,” he reminded her, making her stomach knot.

“I know, I know. You can use this time to set up several dates for me with different men. Maybe five,” she said, watching his eyes widen in surprise. Yep, that was the solution-she needed to keep Jackson busy during the next two days. “You’re a goal-oriented type. Five men. There’s got to be someone I can stand for several years out of five men.”

“As long as they smell okay and Kenny likes them,” he muttered.

“Yoo-hoo,” Delilah’s voice called from the hallway. “Lori-girl, my youngest needs a diaper change. Where would you like me to-”

Lori pushed open the door. “Would you like the blue suite on the second floor? There’s a connecting room with another bed, and we could put a crib in it if you like. Mabel keeps a few of the guest rooms ready all the time.”

“Your Mabel is a goddess,” Delilah said, craning to look beyond Lori’s shoulder. “Did I hear you talking? Did I interrupt something?”

“Not a thing.” She felt Jackson step behind her and bit back a groan at Delilah’s curious stare. “I was telling my assistant that I need him to take Kenny for his grooming appointment.” She turned and smiled at Jackson, avoiding the look of murder in his eyes. “I just need to give him the address.”

“Hasn’t he ever taken Kenny before?” Delilah asked.

“Did I mention that I’d just hired Jackson? He’s been busy putting my social and charity information on the computer.”

“Good for you. Jackson, do you have a college degree?”

He gave her nosey but charming sister a quick nod. “Business.”

“Business,” Delilah echoed. “Aren’t you overqualified for this kind of-”

Lori stifled a sigh. “Delilah, quit harassing my employees. This is a temporary job for Jackson. Since the hours are flexible, he can pursue other opportunities at the same time.”

“Such as?” Delilah asked.

“Delilah, stop-”

“Real-estate development,” Jackson said.

“Really?” Delilah said.

“Really?” Lori echoed, then cleared her throat at the skeptical expression on her sister’s face. “Of course. But it’s none of your business. So leave him alone. Jackson, could you wait just a sec while I take Dee upstairs to her suite?”

“No problem,” he said, but his eyes said there would be hell to pay.

Lori led Delilah to the guest room, thankful her sister’s little daughter was demanding her mom’s attention. At least she had a temporary reprieve from the inquisition. She walked back down the stairs and found Jackson waiting for her in the foyer with Kenny in one of his large hands. Her pet appeared totally content and safe. He flashed a business card at her. “I got this from Mabel. I’ll do the spa run this time, but don’t ask again.”

“I won’t,” she said. Besides, she rarely sent Kenny for grooming more frequently than every two weeks. Her sisters would be here only two days. “Thanks.”

He shook his head. “You’re digging one hell of a hole for yourself, Lori.”

She bit her lip. No, she wasn’t. She would make it all work out. She was determined. “Just set up those dates. I’ll surprise you.”

“You’ve already done that,” he said, but it didn’t sound like a compliment.

She smiled. “Save your flattery for a more susceptible woman.”

His lips twitched and his gaze skimmed over her, making her skin feel sunburned. “As if you need any flattery,” he said.

“You’re right. I don’t. But I don’t know anyone who doesn’t appreciate a sincere compliment or even just a positive comment every now and then instead of unrelenting criticism.”

He held her gaze for a long moment. “Okay, you are the most generous woman I’ve ever met. In fact, you’re too-”

“Nuh-uh,” she said, covering his mouth with her hand. “Stop there. That sincere compliment was about to become a criticism. Let me savor the moment,” she said in a half-mocking voice, but underneath it all, his words were a soothing balm over the cactus prickles he usually presented her.

Catching her hand with his, he flicked his thumb over the inside of her wrist where her pulse picked up. “You’re a tough one to figure, Lori. One minute, you’re asking your accountant to find a husband for you. The next, you’re sending cashier’s checks to three women in Tennessee, Virginia, and Oregon.”

Shock raced through her. She thought she’d been so careful to keep those payments concealed. “How did you know about those? I used cashier’s checks.”

“It’s my job to know.”

Her throat closed in panic. “I’m serious, Jackson,” she whispered. “Those women aren’t just counting on my support. They’re counting on me to keep their whereabouts a secret. How did you know?”

“Your trash,” he said.

Lori opened her mouth to scream, but her vocal cords were frozen. She’d thought she’d been shocked before, but she’d never expected this. “My trash,” she finally managed in a voice that sounded weak to her own ears. “My trash,” she repeated. “What were you doing in my trash?”

“Hey, you were going to be the biggest assignment I’ve ever been given. After a few of our discussions in the beginning, I needed to know what I was dealing with. Everyone’s trash tells a story.”

Lori felt violated. She felt so furious, so powerless that she wanted to slap him. “You’re a disgusting person. You call me manipulative and helpless, but you enjoy intimidating me, violating my privacy, and making me feel like crap. You’re disgusting.”

He shrugged. “Fine, call me disgusting. I call it survival. You forced Tilly into an early retirement. You’re not taking me down, too.”

Lori balled her fists. Oh, how she wanted to slap him. Just once , she thought. Her fingers itched. She lifted her hand slightly and eyed his jaw.

He must have read her intent when his gaze caught sight of her hand and the blood that was in her eyes, because his eyes widened like golf balls. “You really think you’re going to slap me?”

“I want to,” she said. “I want to, but that’s one of the differences between one who’s been raised to behave in a civilized, gentle manner and one who has not.”

“Is there a problem with the dog?” Delilah called from the top of the stairs. “You two look a little intense.”

Lori took a deep breath. “No problem. I was just repeating the instructions to Jackson. I’ll be right with you.” She glanced at Kenny, then at Jackson. “Hurt my dog and you’ll pay in ways you’ve never imagined.”

Jackson ignored her, dipping his head toward Delilah. “Nice meeting you,” he said.

“The pleasure’s mine,” Delilah returned in the same flirty voice she’d used to lay men at her feet for years.

Lori opened the front door and resisted the urge to slam the hard frame into Jackson ’s own buns of steel. Closing it carefully, she counted to ten and prayed that her color would return to normal. She could still feel her pulse pounding in her head.

“I like your taste in employees,” Delilah said, descending the stairs with her toddler on her hip. “He’s got a great body.”

“I hadn’t noticed,” Lori muttered.

“Is that so?” Delilah asked, stepping in front of Lori. “Then why do you look like a ripe tomato? I saw him take your hand earlier.”

“It’s not what you think it is, Delilah,” Lori said. “Jackson and I don’t have a romantic relationship. He’s temporary.”

Delilah moved closer and touched Lori’s cheek with sisterly concern. “You could use a temporary diversion.”

Lori shook her head. “Not him. He’s a bit too sexist, controlling, and just-” She couldn’t find the right word.