Chapter Two
Jess stared
at her closet with despair. Nothing looked classy enough to wear to dinner with
Mr. Silver Spoon. Harold would be too busy kissing Dale and Sean’s ass to
notice what a lowly employee had on, but the strange compulsion to erase the
image of her wrinkled pants remained. You can’t impress a rich man with
polyester.
The phone
rang as she contemplated calling Harold to beg off. She reached for the handset
and tucked it under her chin while continuing to slide hangers in a futile
attempt to find something that would look decent. “Hello?”
“Mom?”
“Melanie, how
are you, darling?” Jess abandoned the closet with a sigh and sat on the bed to
visit with her daughter.
“What’s wrong?
You sound distracted?”
“I have to go
out with a client tonight, and I can’t find a damned thing to wear.”
“Let me guess.
Somewhere fancy with valet parking and pompous waiters who expect tips for
being asses.”
“Yep. Harold’s
choice, so what else?”
“So who’s the
client?”
“A very nice
lady and her arrogant, spoiled rotten son.”
Melanie’s
laughter drifted over the line. “How old is the kid?”
“He’s not a
kid. His mother’s in her late sixties, I’d guess.”
“Ah, so a
rich man. Nice.”
Jess crossed
her legs against the flash of heat thoughts of Sean’s hot hands and impish
smile generated. “Not nice. He called me grandma.”
“Well, you
could be a grandmother if I could find someone worth spending more than a
couple months with.”
“Not his
grandmother.” Jess flopped on the comforter with a sigh. She needed him out of
her head.
“Do I detect
a hint of attraction there? Is he cute?”
That’s an
understatement.
“If you like sun streaked blond hair and grey-green eyes, then I suppose he has
a certain appeal.”
“Ha! I knew
it. So what did you decide to wear?”
Jess sighed
again. “I told you. Nothing.”
“That should
get his attention.”
“Melanie Rae,
get your mind out of the gutter.”
Her daughter’s
laugh brought a smile to Jess’s face. “Am I forgiven if I offer a solution to
your problem?”
“Depends.”
“Wear that
red dress I bought for Valentine’s day last year. It’s classy and sexy. You’ll
knock his socks off.”
An image of
her curvaceous daughter in the slinky, low-cut dress created for a
twenty-something body had her shaking her head. “I can’t wear that.”
“Why not?”
She sat up at
Melanie’s frank question. The dress would certainly wipe out any image of her
as old. “Can I? I don’t want to look like I’m trying to be your age.”
“You won’t. Try
it on and send me a picture from your cell.”
“But you
haven’t said why you called.”
“I’ll call
back after I see it. Go before you’re late.”
“I’m going.”
Melanie’s
extra stuff all looked better than Jess’s entire wardrobe. The red dress hung
inside a dry cleaner’s bag. She lifted the plastic away to reveal the sexy
number. It was too young, nothing she’d ever buy, but the silk charmeuse caressed
her hand as she smoothed the material flat. With a deep breath, she striped
down to her underwear and stepped into the dress.
Slender
straps settled on her shoulders. The material hugged her ribs when she zipped
the side closure. Melanie had more bust so the draped front hung lower on Jess
but still looked more than modest. The hemline swayed above her knees rather
than mid-thigh as it had on Mel, but overall it fit far better than she had
expected, bordering on hot even. Feeling a bit cocky, she stepped in front of
the full length mirror, snapped a picture and sent it.
Her cell rang
moments later.
“It’s
perfect, Mom.”
Jess smiled
at Melanie’s usual enthusiasm. “I’m not so sure about that, but it’ll work.”
“There’s a
pair of matching stiletto pumps on the top shelf.”
“I’m not
wearing extreme heels.”
“Why not? You’ll
look amazing.”
Resigned to
the fact that nothing on her shoetree would do the dress justice, Jess stood on
her toes to reach the hot pink box. She stepped into the slender pumps and
smiled. The pointy toes and three inch spikes did wonderful things for her legs.
“They fit.”
“Told you. Now
put on a push-up bra and a thong and you’ll be perfect.”
Jess chuckled.
“At last a use for the ridiculous underwear you insist I buy.”
“See. Having
me around comes in handy.”
“Can’t
imagine life without you, little girl. So what did you call for?”
“I’m going to
be in the Bahamas next week. Any chance you can meet me?”
“I don’t know.
I’ll be on a yacht, but we’re scheduled to be in the area. I’ll find out the
actual route and call you.”
“A yacht? Ooh,
you’re moving up in the world.”
Jess tucked
her phone under her chin as she stepped out of her conservative underwear and
wiggled into a much skimpier pair. Red satin strings clung to her hips, and the
thong slid between her butt checks in a weird caress. She shifted until it
settled in place. “It’s a job that happens to be on a boat.”
“Perfect!
Maybe I can meet the cutie. You should have him wrapped around your finger by
then.”
She pulled
the shoulders of the dress down and replaced her practical bra with a bit of flame
red lace that lifted her breasts high and round. The neckline lay differently
with the push-up bra, revealing cleavage she’d almost forgotten she had. “It’s
not like that.”
“Sure it’s
not.”
Jess laughed
at the blatant sarcasm in Mel’s tone. “How did I raise such a smart alec?”
“Luck. Hey, if
you’re going on a cruise, take some of my old summer clothes along. There’s a
really hot bikini in the bottom drawer of my dresser. The top’s too small on
me, but it should fit you perfectly.”
“I’ll think
about it, but right now I have forty minutes to dress and get to the restaurant.”
“Okay. Have
fun and let me know your schedule as soon as you can. Love ya, Mom.”
“Love you,
too. Bye.”
Jess hung up
the phone and hurried to finish dressing. She smoothed lotion on her legs to
prevent static cling and the swish of fabric over her silky skin added a sensual
feeling to the night.
Out of time to
fuss, she swept her hair into a conservative twist and curled the strand she
missed. She added smoke grey shadow to her eyelids and a bit of real lipstick. Slipping
into the heels, she stepped in front of the mirror. She looked at least five
years younger. Still too old.
Her pistol
fit perfectly into Melanie’s silver beaded clutch along with a credit card, the
tube of lipstick, and breath spray. A quick spritz of perfume, a silver
bracelet, and she was out the door.
****
Harold’s car
pulled away as Jess stepped gracefully from her conservative Sonata and handed
her keys to an attendant. Sean studied the view. The frumpy bodyguard had
morphed into a siren. Her cheeks flushed as he took in her hair tucked into a semi-formal
bun, then slid to the draped bodice which revealed more enticing curves than he’d
expected from her earlier attire. Sexy, yet classy, his favorite.
“Jess.” His
mother stepped forward and slipped her hand through Jessica’s elbow. “You look
incredible. Doesn’t she boys?”
Harold
remained silent, but Sean flagrantly studied the petite beauty. The low-cut
dress teased his imagination. A single curl escaped her upswept hair and
caressed the gentle curve of her right breast. He shifted his gaze from the
tantalizing shadows of Jessica’s chest to meet her emerald gaze. “Breathtaking.”
A slight
flush crept over her classic cheekbones. His brain skipped from appreciating
her outfit to wondering what lay beneath it. Did her pert little tits still
stand at attention naturally or did her bra push them up to torture him. Rich, fire
red material followed her every curve and swayed evocatively at her knees. Toned
calves, emphasized by spike heels and fine boned ankles, conjured images of her
legs wrapped around his hips as she writhed beneath him.
She had no
business looking so damned hot. She worked for a bastard. Harold had to have an
ulterior motive, which meant she was part of the plan or at least knew about it.
No way could she be innocent. No one who wore a dress designed for pure
seduction could be guiltless, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t enjoy the view.
He offered
Jess his arm as his mother took Harold’s elbow and walked with him into the
restaurant. “Shall we?”
She ignored
his courtesy and strode ahead of him. Her skirt caressed her high, tight ass. His
long deprived cock stood up and took notice. Damn.
She looked
over her shoulder as she pulled the door wide. “Are you coming?”
He almost
groaned. Not yet. “I forgot my wallet in the car. I’ll catch up.”
Pretty
eyebrows narrowed above gorgeous wide eyes, but she shrugged and slipped inside
the building. Did she see him as a randy kid, cock swollen at the sight of a
pair of perfect breasts and a tempting backside? He drew the evening air deep
into his lungs to purge her lovely assets from both his heads.
****
He’s a
frickin’ kid. Quit thinking about screwing him. Sean had
been seriously mouthwatering earlier in khaki trousers and white cotton polo,
but in a black suit the guy could arouse a mannequin. His emerald shirt and
muted print tie emphasized his sun-god looks and crazy slate colored eyes. She
had avoided taking his arm so she wouldn’t embarrass herself by leaning against
his gorgeous bicep.
“Jess?”
Dale’s soft
voice cut through Jess’s musings. The woman was the man’s mother for crying out
loud. “Yes?”
“Where’s
Sean?”
“He left his
wallet in the car.”
“Good.” Dale
took Jess’s arm and led her down the hall toward the ladies’ room. “I wanted to
talk to you about him.”
Oh God, does
she know that I am attracted to her son? Does it show that much? Jess
followed patiently and waited until Dale had settled on the sofa in a small
sitting room. “How can I help you, Mrs. McCloud?”
The woman
patted the cushion beside her. “Dale is fine.”
After Jess
took a seat, Dale remained silent for an uncomfortable amount of time, but Jess
didn’t push.
Finally, the
other woman took a deep breath and turned toward Jess. “My son has money. Lots
of it. For some, that makes him an easy target.”
Jess nodded
but didn’t interrupt.
Dale fiddled
with the strap on her purse before she spoke again. “I asked Harold to send me
his best. I assume that’s you?”
“I’m tougher
than I appear.”
That pulled a
tiny smile from Dale as she sat back. “Good. I need you to watch out for my son
on this trip.”
A shiver
raced up Jess’s spine at the thought of being assigned to the sexy man. “Sean
looks like he can take care of himself.”
“He can, but
he tends to be too arrogant.” Dale smiled as she looked at Jess. “I suppose I
shouldn’t admit that I raised an overly confident man, but he is so much like
his father. If pirates were to attack the boat, Sean wouldn’t hesitate to
confront them. I want you there to keep him safe, but I don’t want him to know
it.”
“Thus the lie
that I am there for you.”
“Exactly. If
nothing happens, Sean needs a vacation anyway. He works too hard and rarely
takes time for himself. Maybe having a beautiful woman along on this trip will
remind him that he can relax sometimes.”
Blood rose in
cheeks at the offhand compliment. “So what exactly do you expect from me?”
“I would like
you to do whatever it takes to keep him safe and occupied.”
Occupied? Thoughts of
how she wanted to occupy his time sent luscious shivers over her skin.
“Please. He’s
all I have.”
The plea
jerked Jess back to the moment. Sean might seem like nothing more than a
gorgeous rich boy, but to his mother he was far more. Jess patted Dale’s hand. “Don’t
worry. I’ll keep him safe. I promise.”
****
Sean’s mouth caught
and held Jess’s attention. Every bite he took added to the uncomfortable
tension building between her legs. His full lips conjured fantasies of his
mouth playing over her naked flesh. She had promised his mother she’d take care
of him, but she had a hard time seeing past his physical draw even though the
whole concept seemed ridiculous. He had to be at least ten years her junior,
probably closer to twenty, but everything about him made her want to throw him
down in the padded booth no matter who saw her do it.
“Isn’t that
right, Jess?”
Jess jerked
at her boss’s question. “Huh?” Harold’s scowl told her she’d been fantasizing
about Sean and his amazing lips far too long.
Harold leaned
across the table. “What the hell’s wrong with you, Summers? I need your head in
the game.”
Jess pinched
the bridge of her nose. Since she couldn’t share the truth, she had no logical
excuse for checking out.
“Do you have
a headache, dear?”
Dale’s
concerned expression softened the tension building behind Jess’s eyes while
providing a reasonable pretext for distraction. “Just a small one. It’ll pass.”
She forced a smile as she turned to Harold. “What did you say?”
“I was
telling Dale and her son that the waters are dangerous right now. Although
large ships are primary targets in some of the true pirate paths in the Indian
Ocean and other places like that, no boat is safe here. Bandits have started boarding
even small pleasure cruises. The Coast Guard blames a band of thieves, nothing
overly organized, but until they’re caught, it makes sense to up security.”
Jess nodded. “That’s
right. The idea may seem farfetched, but modern day pirates are no less
dangerous than their historical counterparts, maybe more so because of today’s
weapons.”
Sean snorted.
“That’s ridiculous. Pirates do not exist around here.” His frown did not ease
as he downed a swig of beer.
The sexy rise
and fall of his Adam’s apple recaptured Jess’s attention until his tongue snared
a drop of amber liquid from his upper lip. She almost moaned aloud as her mind
and body did another jig through Smutville.
“No one would
attack our boat when there’s bigger fish to catch, and if they did, what good
is one woman against several armed men?”
Arrogant
brat—know it all.
“You’re right, Sean. What we may face here won’t be traditional piracy, more
like petty thievery on water. However, things can get out of hand if an
unprepared crew attempts to fight back. I’ll work with your people to protect you
and Dale through evasion and if necessary, cooperation.”
“Cooperation?
You’d lay down for them?”
“No, but I’d
lay down for you.”
Sean choked
on his beer.
Harold
glared.
Lust,
tempered slightly by embarrassment, burned through her as the double entendre
registered. Shit! “I mean, I’ll be there for you and Dale. Sometimes
fighting back isn’t the best answer. The goal is to walk away with as little
damage as possible.”
Sean shook
his head. “Who takes care of you?”
“I can handle
myself.”
Harold
chuckled. “Jess may be small but don’t let that fool you. She’s deceptively
effective.”
Her boss had
never complemented her in the thirteen years she’d worked for him. A feeling of
dread curled in her stomach. What wasn’t he telling her?
Sean’s eyes
remained locked on Jess. “I’ll say again, Harold. We do not need a bodyguard.”
Jessica
studied the two men but could not decipher their motives. Sean’s mother appeared
concerned that Jess would walk away. Jess covered the older woman’s hand with
hers and squeezed gently. “Better to be safe than sorry. I don’t eat much, and
I promise to be quiet as a mouse unless I’m needed.”
Dale seemed
relieved as she turned her hand over and squeezed back. “I hope not. I intend
to eat and drink my way merrily across the Caribbean. Come along for company if
nothing else. Sean can pout if he wants. We’ll have a girls’ break unless
things get scary.”
“Mother. Seriously.”
Jess ignored
Sean’s indignant protest. “Sounds perfect. When do we sail?”
“Tomorrow
morning at first light?”
“I’ll be
there with bells on.”
“Good. This
will be lovely, right Sean?”
“How could it
be anything but?”
“Excellent. Now,
Harold, ask this old lady to dance. Sean, dance with Jess.”
Harold stood
automatically to do as he was bid. Ass kisser. For Jessica the thought
of Sean’s arms around her while they swayed to music sounded too much like
torture to be pleasant. “I’m sorry. I don’t dance.”
Dale patted
the back of Jess’s hand with a wink. “Nonsense, child. Everyone dances. Besides,
if that’s the case then it’s about time you learned. Show her how it’s done,
son.”
Harold led
Dale away while Jess desperately prayed for a reprieve as she looked across the
table at her fantasy. “You don’t have to do this.”
****
Gorgeous
green eyes begged him to remain seated, but he rose with a smile. He caught her
slender hand in his and tugged her to her feet. If he had to have her around
for the trip, he might as well take advantage of the situation. Delicate floral
perfume teased his nostrils as she stood. Even dressed in impossibly high
heels, her head barely grazed his chin. He bit back a groan at the thought of
her firm, little body stretched beneath him. “No use fighting, Jess. Accept
fate gracefully.”
She clung to
his fingers as he wove through the crowd and onto the dance floor. The music
pulsed slow and exotic, or erotic. The two concepts became the same as he
pulled her into his arms. Unlike his ex-fiancée who had never outgrown the
inept teenage clutch and rock step, Jess settled into his arms like a woman. One
delicate hand rested on his shoulder, the other snuggled into his palm as he eased
into the rhythm of the music. Her graceful steps made leading as natural as
strolling on the beach. Her plea of ignorance a lie.
Her head tipped
back. A soft sigh whispered from her lips. “Where’d you learn to dance?”
Sean chuckled
as he spun her out of the path of an oncoming couple. The move brushed her
lower stomach against his cock, and his entire body tightened. He forced
himself to concentrate on the conversation rather than the how much he wanted
to get her alone. “With a mother like mine I had no choice. I did get boxing
lessons out of it though.”
Humor sparkled
in her compelling green eyes. “Boxing?”
“Mom wanted
me to take dance lessons. Dad didn’t want a sissy. I benefitted all the way
around.”
“How’s that?”
He swept her
in a wide arc and pulled her flush to his chest as they spun. Her firm breasts
nudged against his ribs. He snuggled her even closer absorbing her softness and
subtle, sexy scent. “Whenever anyone tried to beat me up for being a dancing
Mama’s boy—”
“You showed
them your right hook.”
“Yep.”
“What did
Dale think about that?”
“She acted
like she didn’t know, but honestly, I think she appreciated a son with social
grace who could stand up for himself.”
Jess’s low-cut
neckline teased his imagination. Her nipples pressed against the material of
her bra and dress enticing him to look, to taste, to lose himself in her spicy,
sweetness. He slid a hand lower to rest just above the curve of her lovely ass
while they continued to sway to the sensual beat. “In the long run, dancing won
the hearts of a few girls, but boxing helped pay for college.”
Jess laughed.
“Like you worried about tuition costs. Did Daddy cut your spending money down
to less than five grand a month?
And there it
was.
Desire faded. Assumptions about money were never long in coming. “Don’t judge
things you know nothing about, Jessica.” He stopped dancing and led her off the
floor. “Tell the others I have things to do before we cast off tomorrow.”
“Sean wait.” She
caught at his arm. Confusion clouded her lovely eyes and drew her brows down. “I
didn’t mean to insult you. I’m sorry if I did.”
Long,
delicate fingers curled over his forearm, sending warmth through him despite
his irritation. “No problem. I have a big bank account. I get it.”
He brushed
off her hand and walked away before common sense gave way to lust. He didn’t
want another woman who treated him as an extension of his wallet without
knowing another damned thing about him. Her alluring scent followed him outside.
His groin
tightened. Most women failed to intrigue him since his ex had proven him a fool.
Jess, on the other hand, captured and held his attention with a simple
smart-assed comment. Her age maybe. Immaturity wouldn’t be a problem. Or maybe
her superior attitude. Every time she flashed that condescending smile, he
wanted to kiss it away. For starters.
He settled in
the backseat of a taxi, annoyed with himself for leaving. The problem lay in
Harold and the rest of the money hungry world. Not in Jess. He had two weeks to
prove she was different. No sense letting a casual, misplaced comment get in
the way.
Face it,
McCloud. You want her any way you can have her. Preferably wet and willing.