Page 12 of Jack

Chapter Five

He’d beenon his way to apologise to Astrid when Reid had called to say they’d had a breach near the beach. His brain had instantly summoned up the worst-case scenario and imagined his father was behind it. It ended up being a pap who just wanted a money shot of the Queen, but that didn’t quell the anxiety he felt.

Until his father was caught, the possibility of an attack hung over his head like a noose. An attack could come from anywhere—he knew that and had dealt with enough threats for it not to be the problem. It was the fact his father could be the man he had to face down and take out that kept him awake at night.

Now he was facing the woman who had him thinking things he shouldn’t be. Once again, instead of thinking about the threats and his father, all he could do was fight the urge to see if her lips were really as soft as he remembered.

“I’m sorry I overreacted.”

He blinked, not expecting that from her. Astrid was usually stubborn and full of inappropriate comments. He was half expecting her to snarl at him and say something provocative, but he had a feeling he’d got this beautiful woman all wrong. He hadn’t seen it before now, but part of her defence mechanism was her attitude. He didn’t think it was all fake. She definitely had a mouth on her, one he found he liked. Especially now when she was almost timid. But she had more to her than what she let the world see.

Stepping closer, he could smell the scent of lemon balm on her skin. “No, you didn’t. I never meant to kiss you, and I shouldn’t have,” he held up a finger and placed it over her lips to stop her speaking, “but the reasons why I regret it probably aren’t what you’re thinking.”

He saw heat slash across the high cheek bones, felt the plump lips under his touch, and wanted to drag her into the safe room and find out if she tasted and felt as good everywhere. He settled for moving closer until her breasts brushed against his chest. Her nipples were beaded and needy, making his dick harden. “I knew you were dangerous, Astrid. That you could fell a man with a look or a word and most definitely with your body, and much as I didn’t want to want you, I did. I do. My regret isn’t kissing you because I don’t want you in that way. It’s because now I’ve kissed you, I want more, and I don’t know how to handle that.”

“Oh.”

He smiled as his finger slid over her lips, her teeth grazing the pad with a nip that made him suck in a breath. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from her. His attention on the job would slip if he didn’t get this under control and he had no idea how to do that. For the first time in his adult life, he wanted a woman he knew he shouldn’t because she split his focus. Yet, somewhere deep inside him, he craved her. It was why he verbally sparred with her so often—because he wanted her and that was all he could have.

Now he wondered if that was enough. She drew him like no other woman ever had and the more he saw of her, the more he wanted. Could he use this trip to get it out of his system, or would he fall under her spell even more?

“You’re dangerous.”

“So are you.”

He could see the pulse in her neck fluttering wildly and was desperate to kiss her again. He leaned in until he was almost touching her and ran his nose along her neck behind her ear. Her hands came to rest on his forearms, and he wasn’t sure if it was to hold on or to push him away.

“Have dinner with me tomorrow night after the Governor’s reception?”

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”

He was confident it wasn’t, but he wanted it anyway. “It’s just dinner, Astrid, not a marriage proposal. It would be good for us to get to know each other better when we’re working so closely.”

She swayed back on her feet, and he placed a steadying hand at the base of her spine, supporting her. Her eyes, which he’d thought were blue, were actually more blue/green fading to almost grey near the iris. They were steady on him now, as if she was trying to understand him better. He didn’t even understand himself at that moment and knew he was acting out of character but couldn’t seem to stop.

“Do you have dinner with Reid or Blake?”

He smirked, knowing precisely what she was asking. “Sometimes, but this wouldn’t be the same.”

“Why not?”

His pinkie finger rubbed along the curve at the top of her ass, and she inhaled sharply. “Because I don’t want to fuck them so bad I can’t see straight.”

“So, you do want to fuck them?”

“What? No, of course not.”

“Just me then?”

“Yes.”

“You don’t seem happy about it.”

“Honestly, I’m not. I don’t do relationships and don’t have time for distractions, but I can’t stop thinking about you. Day and night. It’s infuriating.”

“I’m not sure. I want you. I’ve made no secret of that. This,” she waved a finger at him from head to toe, “is a nice package and for some reason, I can’t stop thinking about you either, but I don’t want to get hurt, Jack.”

“How about we start out as friends and see what happens? I won’t promise commitment because honestly, I don’t want it, but I’d like to get to know you better and see where that leads.”