Tina Beckett - Flirting With The Boss

Jace looked around the freshly painted blue room. “I thought you were going to put Zack in your old bedroom.”

She shrugged. “I tried, but I couldn’t bring myself to touch it.” She looked at him and he saw the pain in her eyes. “I guess I’m still trying to figure out why my father kept it the same all these years. Crazy, huh?”

Unable to help himself, he draped his arm across her shoulders. “It’s okay, Lori. You have a lot to work through. You’ve pulled up your roots and come back here. There’s a lot to deal with.”

She looked up. “But I have the funds now to take care of my family.”

That was the one thing that kind of bothered him. He’d been pretty well-off financially before his divorce, but to have a woman with so much money when he was trying to scrape by hit him in his pride. But he truly thought it bothered her more.

“So how does it feel to have that kind of money?”

She scrunched up her nose. “Oddly strange,” she admitted. “It’s far too much. I’m the kind of girl who’s had to work all my life, and when I lost my job a few months ago, I was really worried about what was going to happen, especially for Gina and Zack.”

“They have you now.”

She looked up at him, her eyes bright and rich in color. “And I have them. I wouldn’t stay here in Destiny, money or no money, if they couldn’t be with me. Their safety and well-being is the most important thing to me.”

He frowned. “Why wouldn’t they be safe here?”

She glanced away. “It’s just a worry I have.”

He touched her chin to get her to look at him. “Lori, what aren’t you telling me? Is someone threatening you or your family?”

She finally looked at him. “It’s Gina’s ex-husband. He’ll be getting out of jail soon.”

“Why did he go to jail?”

“Look, Jace, I’m not sure Gina wants anyone to know her private business.”

“I’m not a gossip. If your family needs protection then I want to help.”

Lori was surprised at his offer. She wasn’t used to anyone helping them. “Eric is in for drug possession and spousal abuse. He swore when he got out he’d make Gina pay for having him arrested.”

She felt Jace tense. “So that’s why you were headed out of state?”

She nodded.

“Does this Eric guy know where Gina is moving to?”

“No one knows. We haven’t even told Zack. I want so badly for Gina to make a life here. She has full custody of her son, but we’re still afraid of what the man might do.”

“This house has a security system. I hope you’re using it.”

She nodded.

“And I think you should have protection for yourself, also. You’re worth a lot of money and you could be a target for threats from this guy. Maybe a security guard isn’t out of the question.”

“I can’t let my life be dictated by a coward.”

Jace clenched his fists. “I don’t care for a creep who gets his jollies by beating women, either, but you still need to take precautions. Not an armed guard, but maybe a security man disguised as a gardener or handyman.”

She hesitated. “If Gina will agree.”

“What about you? I’m sure you’ve had some run-ins with your brother-in-law.”

Lori shivered, recalling Eric’s threats.

Jace’s eyes narrowed. “Did he hurt you, too?”

“Just a few shoves here and there, but I couldn’t let him hurt Gina.”

He cursed and walked away, then came back to her. He reached out and cupped her face. “He put his hands on you, Lori. No man ever has the right to do that unless the woman wants it.”

She stared into his eyes. That was the problem. She wanted Jace’s hands on her. Badly.

JACE had trouble letting go of Lori. He knew the minute he touched her again this would happen.

He cursed under his breath. “This isn’t a good idea.” His gaze searched her pretty face, those bedroom eyes, then he stopped at her perfect rosy mouth. He suddenly felt like a man dying of thirst. Especially when her tongue darted out over her lips. With a groan, he leaned down and brushed his mouth across hers, hearing her quick intake of breath.

“I swore I’d stay away from you. We shouldn’t start something.…” His mouth brushed over hers again and then again. “My life doesn’t need to get any more complicated.”

“Mine, either,” she whispered.

He fought the smile, but it didn’t stop the hunger, or the anticipation of the kiss he so desperately wanted more than his next breath.

Then Lori took the decision out of his hands as she rose up on her toes and pressed her mouth against his. That was all it took. His arms circled her waist and he pulled her against him, unable to tolerate the space between them any longer. Their bodies meshed so easily it was as if they were meant to be together. All he knew was he didn’t want to let her go anytime soon.

His mouth slanted over hers, wanting to taste her, but all too quickly they were getting carried away.

He tore his mouth from hers, and trailed kisses along her jaw to her ear. “I could get drunk on you.” Then he let his tongue trace her earlobe, feeling her shiver. He found her mouth again for another hungry kiss.

Then suddenly the sound of his cell phone brought him back to reality. He stepped back, and his gaze was drawn to Lori’s thoroughly kissed mouth. Desire shot through him and he had to turn away.

“Yeager,” he growled into the phone.

“Hey, Jace,” Toby said. “What happened? I thought you were coming right back.”

He glanced over his shoulder at Lori. “Sorry, something came up. I’m heading back now.” He shut his phone. “I’m needed at the site.”

“Of course,” Lori said, wrapping honey-blond strands behind her ear. “I can’t thank you enough for your help. I couldn’t have done this on my own.”

Unable to resist, he went back to her and stole another kiss. They were both breathless by the time he released her. “Your sister and nephew arrive tomorrow, right?”

She nodded.

“Okay, I’ll have a security guy in place here before you get back from the airport.” When Lori started to disagree, he put his finger over those very inviting lips. “He’ll work with Charlie so Gina doesn’t have to know. I want you and your family safe.”

Lori smiled. “I wasn’t going to disagree. I think it’s a good idea.”

He blinked. “You’re agreeing with me? That’s a first.”

“Don’t get used to it, Yeager.”

The next afternoon, Lori had agreed to let Charlie drive her father’s town car the 47 miles to the Durango airport to pick up Gina and Zack.

She couldn’t hide her excitement as she watched her sister and nephew come out of the terminal. She gave them a big hug, then herded them into the backseat of the car while Charlie stowed the few belongings in the trunk.

They talked all the way to Destiny. It was as if they’d been apart for months instead of only two weeks.

Lori kept hugging her seven-year-old nephew beside her in the backseat. She’d missed him. “Zack. I was able to work in the second grade classroom last week and met your teacher, Mrs. Miller. I think you’re going to like her.”

The little dark-haired child didn’t look happy. “But I don’t know any kids.”

“The class knows you’re coming. And there’s Ellie and Cassie, who will help you learn your way around the school.”

“Girls?”

That brought a smile as Lori looked at her sister. Although beautiful, with her rich, dark brown hair and wide green eyes, Regina Williams Lowell looked a little pale and far too thin. Lori hoped she could erase her sister’s fear once she knew she was safe living in Destiny. And her son would blossom here, too.