Chapter 17 Noah
Chapter Seventeen
NOAH
“You’re kidding,” I muttered as I lifted my head and looked up at the doorway of my office.
My older brother, Dallas, stood there. He rested his shoulder on the inside of the doorframe, shaking his head. “Definitely not kidding. I want you on this one with me.”
“You’d have to fight to keep me off,” I replied as I leaned back in my chair, picking up a miniature Slinky I kept on my desk and spinning it on my forefinger.
Dallas stepped into my office, closing the door behind him. He slipped into the chair across from my desk. “I hate this shit.”
“Money always leads us in interesting directions.”
Dallas and I both worked in the FBI and specialized in financial fraud. Often, our cases started with one thread that unraveled into several. In this particular case, we’d been looking at money laundering through a bank that was leading us to a massive identity theft operation.
“I can’t believe Jones would risk this.” I was referring to a local Boston politician.
Matty Jones had been a fixture in Boston politics for two decades, following his father’s footsteps to the Boston City Council.
They reigned supreme in terms of business influence around town and liked it that way.
Dirty money was always mucking up politics anywhere in the world, but this little turn was a surprise. The Jones family tended to play it smart and careful.
Dallas shrugged. “I know. Let’s see where it takes us.” His phone buzzed, and he slipped it out of his pocket. “Hang on, let me take this.”
I nodded and glanced back at my computer screen, scrolling through my email.
“Hey, love,” he said, quickly lifting the phone to his ear after he swiped his thumb across the screen.
I knew that meant Audrey, his wife, was on the other end. The moment I thought of Audrey, my mind squirreled to Sasha. Lately, many thought roads led to Sasha, but Audrey brought her to mind because they’d been in school together. I wondered if they stayed in touch.
“On my way,” Dallas said as he ended the call.
I grinned when he stood. “You have become very good at leaving work on time,” I observed.
Dallas shrugged, casting an easy smile. “I’ve got a woman I love and a son to go home to. Work doesn’t compete.”
I chuckled.
“Speaking of,” Dallas began, “have you seen Sasha since you’ve been back to Boston?”
“Just last night. I’m taking her and Quinn to dinner tonight.”
A knowing glint entered my brother’s eyes. “Do you like her?”
“Definitely.” I didn’t even bother to hide it. Dallas knew me well.
His gaze sobered. “It’s a package deal, you know?”
“With her daughter, you mean?” At his nod, I added, “I know. That’s why I’m taking them to dinner tonight. I met her last night. She’s a nice girl.”
Dallas turned to leave. “If you need someone to vouch for you, I’m your man.” He tapped the door in emphasis on his way out.
Quinn pushed her glasses up on her nose as she studied the menu.
Although she was fully a teenager at fifteen, somehow that gesture made my heart twinge a little.
It made her seem younger than her years.
She seemed to have assumed the role of Sasha’s gatekeeper, casting me a sort of glowering look and asking pointed questions.
After we ordered, the conversation actually went easier than I anticipated.
Quinn was polite and delightful with a quirky and blunt sense of humor.
She had lots of questions about my job, which was easy enough to talk about.
I was an expert at keeping discussions general so as to avoid complications.
When I walked up to the apartment with them afterward, Quinn gave me a cautious look in the living room. “You can stay for a little bit. I’m going to my room.”
Sasha rolled her eyes, crossing to her. “Good night, sweetie. Don’t forget, we have errands tomorrow.”
“How could I?” Quinn drawled as she turned before spinning back and kissing her mother on the cheek. She called, “Thanks for dinner!” just before sprinting to her room.
After her door closed, Sasha looked at me. “Do you want to stay for a little while? You don’t have to.”
“As if I’d say no,” I said bluntly. I shrugged out of my winter jacket, hanging it on the coat rack by the door and slipping off my shoes.
“Do you want something to drink?” Sasha asked from where she stood in the archway that divided the living room and kitchen areas. She looked restless with her fingers twining together.
“Maybe water? I’ve still got to drive home even though it’s not far.”
A moment later, she sat on the couch beside me, setting two glasses of water on the coffee table beside it. She sat cross-legged and looked over at me. “Thanks for taking Quinn with us. I hope it wasn’t too awkward.”
“Not at all.” I reached for her hand to discover it was cold. I gave her a little tug, and she scooted closer. Her eyes searched mine. “Quinn’s your daughter. It’s not awkward to have dinner with her.”
Sasha bit her lip. “I’m not used to dating, much less anyone who didn’t run because I have a teenage daughter.”
“Sasha, I know you, and I know your life. She’s a good chaperone,” I teased, rubbing my thumb over the back of her hand.
Her shoulders shook when she laughed. “I know. I wish you could stay the night.”
“Same, but I don’t know that Quinn’s ready for that,” I offered. “She’s no idiot, but I don’t want to dive in too quickly.”
I was mentally at peace with taking it slow, but my body had other ideas. “How likely is it that she’s gonna burst out and check on us?”
Pink crested on Sasha’s cheeks. “Not likely. She watches YouTube and chats with friends. Once she’s in her room, she’s in.”
“Then come here.”
Sasha came easily, uncurling her legs as I let go of her hand and slid my hand up her back to lever her closer to me. I didn’t count on how difficult it would be to pump the brakes and stop kissing her. One kiss blurred into another and then another.
By the time I managed to break my mouth free of her delicious lips, I was out of breath and my heart was drumming wildly. My cock was swollen to the point of pain. Dragging my eyes open, I took her in. Her lips were kiss swollen, and her cheeks flushed.
“Fuck me,” I rasped.
“No, fuck me,” she teased.
I squeezed her hand. “Maybe we should have a lunch date soon?”
Sasha’s eyes took on a gleam. “That would be lovely. Quinn is at school during lunch, and she starts back after break on Monday.”
“Of course,” I whispered against her lips just before kissing her again.