AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I bristle at Johnny’s simple dismissal of Jeb’s character. There are several deep layers to the man I spent the summer with. “You don’t know him very well, Johnny. You have never liked him ‘cause of his past relationship with Cash.”
“Yah,” Johnny concedes. “That and his big, braggy mouth of his, but I don’t need to know Jebediah. I know you, and I know being in love with him is just going to cause you pain and I don’t want that.”
“Okay, your right, I do love Jeb, I huff out. “But I don’t regret it no matter how much its gonna hurt when he leaves.”
“Everything okay out here?” Jeb asks. My head swivels around to find that Jeb has quietly come up on us like the thief that he is.
Did he hear me say that I loved him?
He doesn’t look like he just heard any huge revelations. His arms are crossed, and he’s watching us with lazy interest.
“Everything fine,” I answer him in a too-high, squeaky voice that only comes out when I’m close to panicking. “Johnny and I are just catching up.”
“Well, Cash is looking for you.” He nods to Johnny. “He says he wants to run through one more engine check on the vans before we leave.”
Johnny shoots me a long warning look and then heads off, and I go to follow him, but Jeb catches me by the sleeve. “Have a sec?”
“I really don’t,” I say, needing a few minutes to focus myself before we leave. I pull out of his grip and hurry away from him and ignore him calling my name as I go inside.
The next hour flies as we suit up in our Do Right overalls and drive the two service vans to Leland Banks’ house. I’m busy checking and double-checking my data, while Jeb’s in a cheery, upbeat mood, whistling along to his Spotify all the way to the compound.
After we’re checked in with security, Jeb pulls up to the servant’s entrance and parks behind the van Johnny and Cash drove. I check my computer to make sure the signals I have for Jeb, Cash, and Johnny are strong, and my communication with Daisy and Jonah is secure. I look at Jeb.
“Are you ready?”
He nods.
“Then team, time starts now. You have sixty minutes.”
Jeb exits out the back of the van, and I begin tracking all movements of the staff and security guards. Seconds later the van door slides back at open, and Jeb comes striding back in.
“What—” I begin.
“I’m glad you don’t regret it, because I love you, too.” He swoops down and takes my mouth in a possessive, demanding kiss that has me opening up to him and clawing at him for more.
He pulls back reluctantly, his breath heaving, and winks at me. Then he turns around and hops back out of the van. “And I’m never fucking leaving you,” he says right before he slides the van door shut.
Chapter31
Jeb
Kentucky
Best job ever. Still floating from what just happened in the van, I charm Linda, the house manager, to have a cup of coffee with me while Cash and Johnny dollied in the evidence in boxes labeled ‘air conditioning supplies.’ Cash and Johnny have broken into Banks’ secret compartment in the wine cellar and the safe in the upstairs bedroom, while Linda tries to set me up with her daughter, Elyse.Sorry, Linda, I’m a taken man now.
I suggest to Linda she call Elyse and, as she hurries off to the privacy of her bedroom in the back of the house, I hit the safe in Banks’ study.
My fingers fly over the combination and crack it in seconds. For once, I’m in a hurry to get a job done. I never usually feel more alive when I’m working, but I want to drag Eli off somewhere and make him repeat what he told Johnny—that he loves me—to my face, and then after he does, I’m kissing him senseless.
So I plant the evidence in the safe, tidy up, and exit the study. I check my watch.Forty-one minutes.We’re ahead of schedule.
I return to the kitchen and find Cash and Johnny waiting for me, worried looks on their faces.
“What's up?”
“Eli is gone.” Johnny says.
My blood goes ice cold. “What in the fuck do you mean, gone?”
