Chapter 10
Chapter ten
Jayson had decided to go for it. Take his shot with the gorgeous FBI agent who had his full and undivided attention.
In the heat of the moment, they’d worked well together. He didn’t discard the significance of that, either. It meant if the going got tough, Sabrina would stick it out. She was a fighter. Unlike Tara.
He couldn’t seem to drag his eyes off her the entire flight home, and he had a feeling it was becoming obvious to everyone onboard.
That didn’t stop him, though. Noticing every little detail about her became his newest fascination.
From the way the honeyed highlights in her hair glinted, to the beauty mark on her slim neck, to how small her booted feet looked.
He also couldn’t miss how she kept slanting glances in his direction, luxuriating in the fire simmering in her golden-brown eyes.
He watched Emma and Sabrina’s interactions closely as well, and by the time the plane landed, they were whispering secrets to each other like long-lost besties.
He wasn’t exactly sure how he felt about that.
Of course, he was glad they were getting along, but a part of him wondered if they were talking about him.
And if they were, what exactly were they saying?
The last thing he wanted was Emma pushing him onto Sabrina like some kind aggressive salesman.
Or worse, a meddling matchmaker. Sure, he trusted his daughter, but sometimes she became a tad too focused when she wanted something.
And right now, she really wanted to see him happily dating.
After Lex taxied the plane to a stop and gave the all clear, everyone grabbed their gear and exited.
Jayson knew his friends were anxious to get back to their other halves to ease any fears that things had gone sideways on their trip.
Phone calls and texts could only go so far, considering some of the trouble they’d gotten into on other missions.
Jayson slapped hands and bumped knuckles with his team, thanking them again. If it weren’t for the Motley Crew and Sabrina, he wasn’t sure what the hell he would’ve done. He also didn’t miss the smirks and knowing looks.
“Have fun tonight,” Chaz murmured before heading to his car.
“Yeah,” Lex added, blue eyes filled with mirth. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
“Well, considering you’d do anything, I don’t know how to respond to that,” Jayson said dryly.
“Almost anything,” Lex corrected, then sauntered back over to take care of his Spitfire.
“Dad?” Jayson turned to see Emma approaching. She beckoned for him to lean down. In a low voice, teeming with quiet confidence and excitement, she whispered, “I really like her, Dad. You have my blessing.” Then she stifled a squeal, her nose crinkling adorably.
Her words gave him the reassurance he wanted to hear. But he was still a grown man and could make his own decisions, just as he trusted Emma to make hers. In other words, with or without her approval, he was getting laid.
Well, as long as Sabrina was feeling the chemistry, too. And if she was on the same steamy page, he definitely planned to rock both their worlds. Maybe tonight. Maybe tomorrow night. He didn’t want to rush her, but they both knew their time together was limited.
They climbed into his Tahoe and he listened to Sabrina and Emma chat easily.
His daughter wanted to know about her job at the Bureau, if she enjoyed living in D.C.
, and how long she’d be in Cielo Springs.
And bless her heart, Emma asked point blank if Sabrina had a boyfriend waiting for her back home.
The answer to that was no. Thank God. Leave it to Emma to get answers to all the things he was wondering about without him having to be overly obvious about it.
Sabrina seemed open and honest, sharing her dislike for the D.C.
area and how she wasn’t sure she was cut out to be a field agent.
And while her distaste for D.C. didn’t shock him—even he knew you had to be a special kind of intense to like that place—he was definitely caught off guard about her thoughts on her job.
Jayson didn’t know where her doubts about being an agent stemmed from, because she’d shown nothing but confidence in Vegas.
He slid her a look, brow furrowing. “You’re an excellent agent. You held those gunmen off until backup came and showed zero hesitation during the op.” Then he gave her the highest compliment one warrior could give another. “If I had to go into battle, I’d want you by my side.”
Her cheeks flushed pink and a beautiful smile lit her entire face at his praise. “Thank you,” she said softly. “That means a lot.”
“It’s true,” he said simply.
“My dad is a pretty big deal at the Bureau. I guess I worry about people comparing me to him. Thinking I don’t live up to his reputation. Or worse, they think I only got where I am because he pulled strings.”
“Don’t doubt yourself.” His insistence on her abilities earned him a warm smile full of gratitude, and he basked in it.
When they reached Cielo Springs, Jayson drove straight to Emma’s place.
Brett had been relieved to know she’d been rescued and, the moment they parked, he dashed out and crushed her in a huge hug.
She kept reassuring him she was okay, and he kept looking at her, running his hands over her to make sure.
It truly made Jayson’s dad heart happy to know his little girl was with a man who loved her so much.
Jayson crossed his arms then turned to Sabrina.
“I was going to make them come over and stay with me, but I think they’re going to want to be alone.
” He knew they would be especially vigilant after what had happened.
And he also knew they had an alarm, a gun and the entire Motley Crew on speed dial.
“When I spoke to my dad on the flight, he said Ferrante will be brought up on kidnapping charges. That man is going to have much bigger things on his plate to deal with than revenge.”
She was right. He’d let the FBI deal with Rocco Ferrante. Still though, he wanted to make sure Emma felt safe, so he walked over, interrupting her reunion with her fiancé.
“You’re more than welcome to stay with me,” he offered, searching her face for any signs of distress. “I know that was traumatic.”
“I’m okay, Dad. Nobody touched me. I think I’m more angry than anything.” She hugged him hard. “I knew you’d come.”
“I’ll always be there for you, Emmie G,” he promised.
“I know,” she whispered. “And I love you so much for it. But maybe now you can focus on yourself a little, too. Because there’s a gorgeous FBI agent who can’t stop giving you googly eyes.”
A low chuckle erupted from his throat. “Roger that.”
“Thank you, Mr. Knight,” Brett said sincerely.
When he reached a hand out, Jayson frowned, stepped forward and clasped the man in a half-hug, slapping him on the back. “I think it’s about time you started calling me Jayson,” he said, voice gruff.
Brett nodded and they said goodbye. Then he wrapped his arm around Emma and led her back to their home.
Jayson rejoined Sabrina, who was waiting beside the SUV. She waved to Emma, who gave an enthusiastic thumbs-up. For crissakes. Jayson rolled his eyes, thinking she may as well just blurt out how she hoped Sabrina would be the woman to end his dry spell.
Although he hoped the same thing.
Once they settled in the vehicle, it was a short drive back to Jayson’s house. The air between them felt comfortable. Light and full of relief for Emma’s safe return.
“You raised a wonderful young lady,” Sabrina said.
Her words meant a lot, and his chest expanded. “Thanks. It wasn’t always easy, but my mom helped a lot. She passed away a couple years ago.”
“I’m sorry,” Sabrina whispered. “I never knew either of my grandmas.”
“Do you ever wish your mom had stayed?” he forced himself to ask.
He’d done his best to raise Emma, but that thought always lurked in the back of his mind.
Should he have tried harder to convince Tara to stay?
To find her a stepmother? Yes, she’d had her grandmother, but had it been enough? Had he been enough?
She didn’t think long about his question. “No. If she didn’t want me or my dad—two pretty freaking amazing people—then I don’t want her.”
Her answer made him feel better. “I can’t tell you how many times I wondered if I was enough. Emma and I have a great relationship, but I know a girl needs her mother sometimes, right?”
“I mean, don’t get me wrong. There were times I wanted a woman’s advice.
Some things, like boys and teenage girl stuff, I wasn’t always comfortable talking about with my dad.
But I had girlfriends. We muddled through it together.
And you said Emma had her grandma, which is amazing.
” She turned in her seat as he pulled into his driveway, reaching out and placing a gentle hand on his arm.
“Don’t doubt yourself. From what I’ve seen, you’re an incredible father. Emma is lucky to have you.”
Jayson shut the engine off and turned to face her. Locked eyes with her as the heat of her touch scorched straight through his jacket. “She’s been my entire universe for a very long time,” he confided in a low voice, “but I think it’s time to stop ignoring my own needs.”
“And what needs are you referring to?” she asked breathlessly.
His attention dipped to her mouth and her glossy lips tempted him like nothing else. Lifting a hand, he cupped her face, leaned closer and whispered, “You,” before capturing her soft lips in a fiery kiss.
Sabrina grabbed onto his shirt, her fingers sinking into the cotton as she opened her mouth to him.
He traced his tongue along the seam of her lips, briefly teasing, then slid his tongue inside, deepening the kiss.
She responded eagerly, arching her body toward him and moaning softly.
Fuck. That soft mewling sound was nearly his undoing.
Threading his fingers through her hair, he broke the kiss and pulled away. She made a disappointed sound and tried to tug him closer.
“Your heat and plumbing are fine, aren’t they?” he asked, already knowing the answer, his fingers playing with a silky lock of her hair.
She gave a little nod. “Yes. I’m sorry for lying.” Shifting in the seat, she held him hostage with her hot honeycomb eyes. Eyes laced with regret. “But I’m hoping you’ll still invite me to spend the night?”
Hell, yes, he would.
“You’re invited,” he said, voice rough with desire, pulling her hair just hard enough so her head tilted and her mouth opened. Before she could respond, her stomach growled and he smirked. “How about I cook us some dinner? And we’ll see where the night goes.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
If the night went where she hoped, Sabrina planned to spend it in Jayson’s bed.
His kiss had ignited a fierce yearning, and an ache steadily throbbed in her nether regions.
Jayson Knight was turning her on in a way she’d never experienced before.
Yes, she wanted to jump him, but she also found herself wanting to know more about him.
She ran home, changing into more comfortable clothes and freshening up, then returned to his place. Even though she offered to help make dinner, he motioned to the stool at the island.
“I’ve got it,” he assured her, and she watched him expertly chop some small, yellow potatoes. Or, more accurately, she admired the deft way his hands worked and his delicious forearms flexed. Droolworthy.
“So what’s on the menu?”
“I’m thinking honey mustard chicken and crispy roasted potatoes with rosemary, butter and parmesan.”
“Oh, my God, that sounds good.”
“There’s some wine over on the rack, if you’d like some.”
Yes, Sabrina decided, she could absolutely use some alcohol. It had been a long day.
As she picked a bottle, her nerves kicked up.
Jayson Knight was one of the good guys. A former Army Ranger, a devoted father, a silver fox who could cook—and wanted to do so even though she was pretty sure they both knew he could’ve taken her straight to bed first. And that made him a gentleman, too.
She hadn’t thought men like him existed. At least, not outside of romance novels. And certainly not in Washington D.C. Maybe the fresh air here in Montana created a different breed. One she definitely wanted to get to know better on every level.
But it had been just over two years since she’d gone to bed with a man, so she couldn’t help but feel some anxiety. Wondering how long it had been for him, she poured them each a glass and lifted hers.
“To getting to know each other better.” They clinked glasses, and she watched him over the rim as they both took a sip. That mouth of his filled her head with all sorts of dirty thoughts, and she quickly set her glass down, toying with the stem.
“You seem nervous,” he murmured.
The man was extremely perceptive, and she let out a soft sigh. “I haven’t dated anyone in a while.”
“No judgment here. I haven’t dated anyone seriously in over twenty years.” His mouth edged up.
“But you were busy raising Emma. You had an excuse. I just…” Her voice trailed off and Ian’s image flashed through her head. So annoying. She quickly quashed it.
“Just what?” he pressed.
“Picked the wrong man and got hurt.”
A dark scowl settled over his handsome face. “Fuck him. Anyone who had you and didn’t appreciate you is a goddamn idiot.”
Her mouth curved up in a smile at his bluntness. “Those might be the sweetest words anyone’s ever said to me.”
“Clearly, you’ve been with the wrong men.”
“All idiots,” she agreed. “But I’d like to change that.”
“You should.”
She chewed her lower lip, forcing herself to be brave. Just say it, Sabrina. Don’t chicken out now. “I think,” she said carefully, “you’re exactly what I need.”
An unholy golden light lit his eyes. “Oh?”
“A good man,” she clarified.
They said a good man was hard to find. And she truly believed with her whole heart that he was exactly that and then some. A damn unicorn when it came to the male species.
And she was rather curious about how much magic he might have in that horn of his.