Chapter 14
Sunday evening at a quarter to six, Jane sat in her car, tapping her fingers on the steering wheel, a bundle of nerves.
It made no sense. She’d been invited to dinner with a colleague. A simple meeting where they’d talk, she’d give him information about her old RA, and they’d share a meal. Her payment for passing along information to her old boss. To her friend.
So why did her pulse keep racing and her palms feel sweaty?
I can handle Matthew Scott, she kept telling herself. Yeah, he was good—no, great—looking. He had power and money and presence.
But he was no match for Jane Cannon.
The thought had her laughing at herself and her stupid nerves.
After calming down with some deep breathing exercises and promising herself not to act like a total idiot, she left the car, locked it despite the nice neighborhood, and moved through a gate and up the steps to the front door of her version of a dream house.
Months ago, when she’d scoped the place out with Hal, she’d seen the interior through many small cameras. But the reality of the home was even better.
The two-million-dollar residence, located in North Capitol Hill, had privacy despite its closeness to its neighbors.
It also possessed a rooftop deck with views from the Olympics to Lake Union and Downtown Seattle.
Matthew had decorated the inside with upscale furniture and a modern, minimalist aesthetic, much like her own taste.
She could easily see herself living here.
If she had the money to afford it. And on her salary, that was less a big if and more a not-in-her-lifetime.
But Matthew Scott, the only son of Senator Ronald and Belinda Scott—heir to the multi-million-dollar Rupert fortune—had serious wealth and the power that went with it.
In fact, Matthew’s family would totally be the type to join the Collective. A thought that gave her pause.
She hadn’t seen the Scott name on the list, but then, she hadn’t read through the entire book. With any luck, they’d get answers sooner rather than later.
Before she could knock, Matthew opened the door.
Dumbfounded, she could only blink at him. In a suit and tie, he appeared officious and good-looking for sure. But in jeans and a casual tee-shirt, he took her breath away. And she’d never imagined feeling that way about a man. Ever.
“Jane.” His grin showed even, bright white teeth. “Glad to see you. Come on in.”
She took a step then paused. “Shoot. I brought a bottle of wine. It’s in the car.”
“Don’t worry about it. Dinner and drinks are on me.” He gently tugged her inside then closed the door behind her. “Follow me.”
He gave her a small tour that she didn’t actually need, having seen it before. But she made the appropriate comments, sincerely appreciating the décor as they wound around the main level, through a formal living area and dining room back to the kitchen and more casual living space.
“Wow. This place is great.” Done in creams with teak accents and Scandinavian style furniture, everything felt sleek and natural while modern. The many plants parceled about the home gave the area color and life but didn’t detract from the calm feel.
“Wait until you see where we’ll be eating.
” He drew her back into the kitchen, where the heavenly scent of steak sizzled over the stovetop grill.
The white kitchen looked pristine, everything in its place, reminding her of the way he’d kept his office, his stacks of papers neat and orderly, every pen in the cup holder, every paperclip in its compartment.
“I really like your house.”
“Thanks. It took a while to find a place I liked.” He fiddled with the steaks. “I thought we could eat out back since it’s such a nice night. Then maybe coffee or wine afterward on the upper balcony. It’s got great views of the Space Needle and Lake Union.”
“I’m sold.” She glanced around, surprised when he handed her a wine glass. “Oh.”
“Is wine all right?”
“Sure.”
“I have a nice Cabernet, a Malbec, and a Syrah. Which would you like? Or maybe you’d prefer tea or soda? Water?”
Jane did her best not to cross her eyes in consternation. She could be sophisticated. He didn’t have to “water” down her choices, though honestly, she’d probably prefer iced tea. “You pick the wine. All I know is the difference between red and white. By color, mind you, not by taste.”
He grinned. “The Malbec it is.” He poured two glasses, one for her and one for him, then waited.
She looked at him in question.
“I’m trying to be polite. You taste it first.”
“Oh.” She did her best not to blush, but his smile told her she’d failed. She took a sip. “Not bad.”
He nodded and sipped at his glass. “Yep. You have good taste.”
She smiled back at him, nonplused when he focused on her mouth before hurrying back to the steak.
Probably her imagination. “So you wanted to know about the Poulsbo RA?”
“Yeah. Like I said, I spoke with your friend Grace. She’d make a heck of a manager when her boss leaves, I think later this year.” He turned to grab something from the oven.
“Good luck with that. Grace likes keeping her hands in all the pies. She doesn’t want to supervise the bakers.”
“I understand that. I’m more a supervisor myself.”
“I know.”
He chuckled, his back to her, and she realized he stood a few inches taller than her. Odd, as he’d never seemed that big before. Though he didn’t have the breadth of shoulders her uncle and most of his meaty mercenaries did, Matthew wasn’t small.
Jane could still take him down.
That knowledge pleased her, and she started to relax.
Though she tried to help, he had the meal already prepared. A nice steak, potatoes au gratin, some kind of delicious smelling veggie casserole, and salads.
They spoke about the squad while he plated the steaks, and together, they set everything on the table out back. He’d previously set it with a lovely navy-striped runner over a wooden picnic table.
Box shrubs towered at the back of the patio, bordered by wooden slat fences and thin, flowering trees with a few hydrangeas for color.
In front of the shrubs roared a gas fireplace, the long hearth a nice contrast against the greenery to its back and the sapphire-blue sky spotted with white puffy clouds overhead.
They had plenty of privacy while outside under the pale swath of evening.
“This is like paradise,” she murmured, surprised to see him blush.
“Yeah. I spend a lot of time out here. Especially when it’s this nice out.”
She nodded. “I agree. It’s perfect weather.” Not too hot or too cold, but just right for her jeans and short-sleeved blouse, though she’d brought along a light jacket for warmth…also in the car, dang it.
When they’d finished bringing everything out, she moved to sit and was taken aback when he held her chair out for her.
“Oh, er, thanks.”
He smiled down at her, his blue eyes deep. “Of course.”
The meal didn’t stay awkward, though. As they ate a delicious dinner, they spoke again about work, a topic with which Jane felt comfortable. The conversation moved to Natalie Grimshaw and Matthew’s new responsibilities as an assistant special agent in charge.
Jane couldn’t believe the meal had gone by so quickly. Or that she’d eaten every bite.
“I have to say, you’re an amazing cook.”
He nodded. “I really am.”
They both laughed.
She helped him clear the table, putting everything in the kitchen.
“And for dessert, a homemade cheesecake.” He lied through his teeth, his eyes smiling, as he directed her gaze to the box the cheesecake had come in—smack dab in the center of the kitchen island.
“Nice. Did you make the box as well?”
“I did. With a lot of cardboard and glue.” He chuckled. “A little bird told me you like New York style cheesecake with cherries. So I found one I thought you’d appreciate.”
“Thank you.”
“Coffee?”
Jane looked at him. “Really? That’s a question?”
He laughed again. “Do me a favor and take the tray with the dessert up the stairs and out to the balcony.”
She left him, bemused at how easy and fun the night had been thus far. It was like being out with Jenn, where they could talk about work and understand the hazards and excitement of the job while still admitting to the tedium of investigative work. Matthew was surprisingly easy to talk to.
Once outside on the upper balcony, she placed the tray on a table centered between two comfy cushioned chairs. The view captured her attention, the fading blue of the sky replaced by ribbons of orange, red, and purple, the clouds thinning into indigo shadows.
Beyond Lake Union she saw the Space Needle’s silhouette, and the cool breeze brought with it a breath of lilac, which surprised her, being so far above the ground.
Then she saw a potted shrub in the corner with lavender flowers.
“Amazing, right?” Matthew said as he joined her, carrying a tray filled with a pot of coffee, fixings, and two mugs.
“Totally amazing. I’d never leave this if I were you.”
He smiled and stared at her.
Jane felt a frisson of heat building. She wanted to look away but couldn’t.
The moment seemed poised to become something more.
Then a horn sounded from below, startling her out of immobility.
Matthew quickly grabbed the coffee carafe. “I’ll pour. Help yourself to cream and sugar.”
“And cake,” she reminded him with a grin.
“Sweets for the sweet.” He laughed at himself. “I can’t help it. I’m corny like that.”
“I never would have guessed from Mr. Serious.”
“I know. I act like I have a stick up my butt. Isn’t that how you once described me?”
Jane chuckled. “More than once, actually. And I don’t think I said ‘butt.’”
He laughed with her, and they had a magical time enjoying the setting sun, the decadent dessert, and upscale coffee. And most of all, the wonderful company.
Until Jane remembered what she needed to tell him.
“Matthew, there’s something I need to say.”
“Me too. But you first.”
She glanced away, wishing reality didn’t always have to intrude. “I think my case is connected to the Rook.”
He froze, staring at her. Then his brows drew close, his intensity impossible to miss. “Tell me everything. Don’t leave a single detail out.”