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Jack paid attention to her and the things she liked in ways she hadn’t fully appreciated until Steve was gone. The flowers he sent weekly were either calla lilies, stargazer lilies, or tulips—her favorites. How did he know that? Perhaps Steve mentioned it. But her favorite Luzianne chicory coffee, which had to be ordered? Or her favorite hand cream, Japanese Cherry Blossom Shea Cashmere, the smell of which was usually hidden by her perfume? Even Steve, the one person who’d known her better than anyone, couldn’t remember that.
Maybe Jack’s attention to detail was just part of who he was and the job he did. After all, the U.S. Marshals Service was responsible for the Witness Security Program. Maybe the little things he remembered about her were things he’d pick up on anyone, part of the process of wiping a person’s identity and erasing identifying habits. But maybe something more personal was involved. She hoped so, because she’d started falling in love with him over those gifts and how they made her feel. After years of having everything she loved denigrated and belittled by her aunt until she didn’t enjoy anything at all, Jack had taught her to celebrate the things that made her happy.
Smiling at the thought, she bent down and picked up after him, grabbing his clothes and taking them out to the hamper in the bedroom. It wasn’t a task she was particularly fond of usually, but she was beginning to think Jack could use a little looking after. Besides, he’d made the coffee. She was willing to trade quite a bit for the pleasure of waking up to freshly brewed coffee.
“Would you totally gross out,” she asked, returning to the bathroom, “if I use your toothbrush?”
“Go for it.”
Rachel was rinsing her mouth out when Jack turned off the water in the shower. Straightening, she turned and faced him, determined to catch the view. The door slid open. A dripping wet and gorgeously naked Jack appeared, and she gave an appreciative whistle. He was perfectly sculpted from head to toe. And the package in the middle, impressive even while semi-erect, made her hot and needy. She could seriously get used to this.
His mouth twitched with suppressed amusement as he reached for the towel hanging on the wall. He’d shaved and looked less rogue warrior and more GQ cover model. She loved both looks on him.
“Wait.” She stepped closer, licking her lower lip.
Jack’s eyes filled with a heat that made her flush. His arm dropped back to his side. “I’m all yours.”
JACK held his position despite the seemingly endless insurgence.
As if Rachel sensed his wariness, she’d brought him a beer earlier, hiding it from the multitude of underage eyes with an insulated bottle cozy. He didn’t touch it, knowing from experience that it was best to stay razor sharp when surrounded by unknowns.
From the safety of the grill, he eyed the dozen or so eight-year-olds running around the patio of Rachel’s small two-story condominium. It was a madhouse, but he didn’t feel as out of place as he’d expected he would. That was certainly because of Rachel, who smiled at him often and made a point of including him.
“Jack.”
He turned his head and smiled down at Riley, who looked so much like his dad. Riley had the same smiling sloe eyes and cheerful grin, the same quick laugh and desire to help others. “Hey, sport. Having fun?”
“Totally. I have a question.”
“Shoot.”
“My Aunt Stella says you like my mom.”
He glanced at the picnic table, where most of the Tse family was gathered. “I do.”
“Like her like a girlfriend. You know, kissing and stuff.”
“Oh?” Jack focused on the burgers and hot dogs grilling in front of him.
“She says guys only pay attention to what kind of coffee creamer a girl likes when she’s his girlfriend.”
Not knowing how to reply, Jack just nodded slowly and shot another glance at Rachel. She was talking about him to the Tses. He hoped that was working in his favor.
“So it’s true?” Riley pressed. “Is my mom your girlfriend?”
“Uh . . .” Jack blew out his breath. “How would you feel about that? Is that bugging you?”
“No. Will you be coming around more? I think you should come around more.”
“I’m going to be working on that. I’d like to spend more time with you. There are some things your dad and I used to do together—fishing, golfing, taking some Sea-Doos out to Havasu . . . I think you’ll enjoy those same things.”
“Sea-Doos?” Riley’s dark eyes lit up. “Really? That would be so cool!”
“We’ll have to make plans, then.”
Riley ran off, shouting at his friends, but skid to a halt a few feet away and came back. “Watch out for Aunt Stella,” he said in a stage whisper. “She says if mom doesn’t snatch you up, she will. She’s cool, but . . . well . . .”
“Got it.” Jack somehow managed to keep his face impassive. “Thanks for the tip.”
Watching his godson run off, Jack rocked back on his heels and felt hopeful. If the Tses were endorsing him, he had a chance in hell. He’d take it.
His cell phone rang and his light mood sank like a stone. Pulling it out of his pocket, he answered, “Killigrew.”
“Hey, Jack.” Gary Lancet’s grim voice was like a cold shower. “I’m sorry to interrupt you on leave, but I figured you’d kick my ass if you found out after you got back.”
Jack set down the tongs he’d been using to turn the hot dogs. “What is it?”
“One of Terry’s old collars went to his house. Fucked the place up and killed his dog. Callie’s a mess.”
“Jesus. Are she and the kids okay?”
“Yeah, they’re shaken up but fine. It’s a miracle they weren’t home at the time. Her damn radiator hose took a shit on the way back from picking them up from school. Otherwise . . . Well, it could have been a lot worse.”
Looking at Rachel and the festive scene around him, Jack finally felt the sensation of being the odd man out. He should have felt it earlier. His life, such as it was, didn’t fit here. He’d forgotten that for a while. The grisly reminder was a timely one. He hadn’t yet laid his heart on the line; retracting it would have been a lot harder than just bailing early. “Am I needed?”
“We’ve got it covered. I just knew you’d want to know.”
“Absolutely. Tell Terry to call me if he needs anything. I still have some things to wrap up here, but nothing that can’t wait.”
“I’ll keep you posted.”
Jack hung up and stared at the phone for a long minute. Just imagining what Terry must be going through made his gut knot. Thinking about a close call like that happening to Rachel and Riley about doubled him over. Sweat beaded his forehead despite the coolness of the northern California weather. He rubbed at the tightness in the center of his chest. “Shit.”
Rachel’s voice came from behind him. “Is everything all right?”
He turned, grateful for the sunglasses shielding his eyes. “Something’s gone down back home.”
“Oh.” She bit her lower lip. “Do you have to go?”
Facing her disappointment only strengthened his resolve to stop being selfish. He had to think of her first. “Not yet.”
Her chin lifted. “I’d understand if you had to go. Riley would, too.”
“You shouldn’t have to understand.”
One of her brows arched. “Really? Says who?”
“Let’s not do this now.”
“Later, then. Right after this is over.”
It was already over. Not that it ever really had a chance to begin.
RACHEL picked up the last bit of torn wrapping paper that had blown beneath the patio table and straightened. Her house was almost back to normal . . . except for the brooding deputy attacking her gas grill with a steel brush.
Jack had grown strangely quiet since taking that phone call a couple hours before. He managed smiles for Riley, who’d loved every one of the too-many gifts Jack had given him. Gifts that were craft sets or science projects or models. Things that were taught or built. Rachel took note of the fact that a man who worked with death and destruction was fostering a love of discovery and creation in her son. But Jack was unable to muster even a ghost of a smile for her. Instead, when their gazes met, he looked . . . ravaged.
She shoved the trash in the garbage bag beside her and yanked on the handles to seal it. Then she approached Jack, coming up behind him and wrapping her arms around his lean waist. Even though he’d seen her coming, he tensed when her arms encircled him. She was grateful her mother-in-law and Stella had taken Riley to Target to spend his gift cards. It gave her the chance to get things straightened out with Jack.
She slid her hands beneath the hem of his shirt and caressed his washboard abs. “Stella tells me I need to keep you around and exploit your mad grilling skills.”
He set one hand over hers, stilling her movements. “Flipping burgers isn’t enough to fix my faults.”
“Oh my God, you have faults? What a relief! I was beginning to think you were perfect.”
