Chapter 14
As he leaned against his car in the restaurant parking lot, Jude kept his pose casual. No one looking at him would know what he really had on his mind. He’d gone inside only long enough to let Ashley see him and to verify Pascal’s identity.
And now he waited.
A few cars down, Ed Burton hid with his camera at the ready and a high-tech microphone hooked to his recorder. The photographer had proved more than agreeable to Jude’s suggestion. Now, with the sun already set and the night dark, he had everything in place.
Was May still pissed at him? Probably. She had a stubborn streak that took him by surprise. But he didn’t mind. When he finished this business, he’d make it up to her in bed. Before they curled up to sleep, she wouldn’t have a single complaint with him.
The door to the restaurant opened, causing Jude to tighten in anticipation, but Ashley came out, not Elton. She searched the area, spotted him, and started in his direction. Shit. What the hell was she thinking?
Before she could reach him, Jude turned and moved deeper into the lot, out of range of the lights. Ashley followed, but she had the good sense not to call out his name. As soon as he found a heavily shadowed, obscure spot between two trucks, Jude trained his gaze back on the front door. He didn’t want to miss Elton’s departure. Everything hinged on him getting the man alone.
“Jude?” he heard in a low, feminine whisper.
Shit, shit, shit.
“Jude?” she said a little louder, and as she stepped into sight, he snatched her into the shadows with him.
Rather than give a startled yelp, she said, “Oh, there you are.”
Too much like May. “You shouldn’t be talking to me here, Ashley. If Elton sees you, it could put you on his shit list.”
She shrugged as if it wouldn’t be the first such list she’d joined, and pushed her hair back from her shoulders. “I had to know for sure if it was him. The curiosity was killing me.”
Again, Jude made note of the similarity between the two women. It wasn’t just their looks, which were enough alike for them to be related. They shared mannerisms, smiles, and the same depth shown in Ashley’s eyes that he’d often noted in May’s.
In fact, their eyes were almost…identical.
“Hello,” she teased in a singsong whisper. “Why are you staring at me like that?”
Jude shook his head, not about to tell her the path his thoughts had taken. Insane, that’s what it was. “I’m worried that Elton will see you with me, that’s all.”
She said, “Uh-huh,” and again, her eyes mirrored the same challenge he’d often seen in May. Uncomfortable with his observations, though he wasn’t sure why, Jude forced his gaze away from Ashley’s face. “You should get going.”
“Where’s May?”
Good God, were they both nuts? “She’s safe at my house, of course.”
Ashley stared at him a moment, then twisted her expression into “the look.” Did all women know how to fashion that perfect mix of pity, scorn, and skepticism?
“Man, are you going to be in trouble,” she said. Jude rubbed his forehead. “Is that so?”
“Oh yeah. I bet she wanted to come along, and you went all macho and Tarzan and stuff, huh?” She grinned as if male idiosyncrasies tickled her. “If I were you—”
“Wait.” The door opened again, and two of Elton Pascal’s henchmen preceded Elton, while another man followed. “Hold that thought.”
Eyes flaring wide, Ashley started to turn, but Jude gripped her shoulder and pushed her down low. “Stay there,” he whispered. “Don’t come out, no matter what.”
“What do you mean, no matter what? What are you going to do?”
“Shhh.” Staying low and in the shadows, Jude moved away from Ashley, putting a good distance between them before straightening and drawing all the attention to himself. Driven by burning satisfaction, he stepped into the path of the men.
His sudden appearance forced them to a halt. Like dominoes, they nearly toppled each other.
As soon as he recognized Jude, the man in the lead went florid. “Jamison.” He bunched his fists and hunched his shoulders, coiling up like a too-tight spring.
Moron. Jude lounged back on the black luxury SUV that he assumed to be Elton’s car. The hulks that surrounded Elton were both taller and wider, providing a wall of protection.
The first guy took an aggressive step forward, and Jude, barely sparing him a glance, said, “If you don’t want him hurt, Elton, you better call him off.”
Managing a strained laugh, Elton stepped to the front of the group. With one lift of his hand, the men stepped down, giving Jude more space.
“Well, well, well,” Elton murmured. “If it isn’t the murderer of innocents.”
“Keep that lie going if you want. I don’t give a shit. But I do have a few things to say to you.” Jude never looked away from Elton’s taunting gaze. “Alone.”
Fear flickered in the green depths of Elton’s eyes, but he quickly banked it. “We have nothing to say to each other.”
“There’s where you’re wrong. Now, I can either go through your men first, which would be a piece of cake, or we can walk to the other end of the lot and settle this like mature men.” Jude grinned. “Unless you’re afraid to be alone with me.”
Elton seethed.
Doing his own share of taunting, Jude laughed. “Come on, Elton. I won’t give you the beating you deserve with witnesses hanging around. Your boys can keep you in sight, ready to jump to your defense if you need it.” And then, softer, “Not that it would do them much good, and we both know it.”
“Son of a bitch,” one man snarled. “That’s one insult too many.”
Jude didn’t move. He didn’t have to. Elton called the man off with alacrity. Showing his satisfaction, Jude gestured toward the end of the lot—closer to Ed Burton, so the photos would be clear and the recordings accurate. “This way.”
Elton glanced at his men, and snapped, “Wait here.”
Following his stocky form, Jude noted that Elton had picked up weight. At forty-two, he was Denny’s junior by five years, but he looked older, more worn, and far softer. Other than money and influence, he didn’t have what it took to be a hard-ass. The dissolute lifestyle and hateful nature had aged him. Left on his own, without others to fight his battles, he’d be helpless.
When they’d moved far enough away, Jude stopped near a light post. He put his hands in his jean pockets and studied Elton. “I see you’ve been eating well.”
“Fuck you.”
“You certainly try often enough. But not this time.”
A trickle of sweat worked its way down Elton’s temple. His twitching gaze darted left and right. “If you’ve got something to say, say it, damn it.”
“All right.” Jude kept his tone mild, almost gentle. “I’m done playing the game. I’ve stood aside while you slander and malign me, but now you’ve gone too far. You should have stayed in Hollywood—out of my reach.”
Alarm drove Elton back a step. “Are you threatening me?”
“Of course not.” To be annoying, Jude reached out and straightened the lapels on Elton’s jacket. The older man held his breath until Jude had retreated again. “You know I only fight in the ring”— he narrowed his gaze—“unless I’m forced to fight out of it. At heart, I’m a peaceful man, completely averse to violence.”
That prod pushed Elton beyond sensible discretion. He bunched his shoulders, making his stocky frame even boxier and turning his ears hot. “Except when you’re murdering innocent women.”
“Say it again, Elton.” Jude stepped closer, quiet in his menace, lethal in his intent. “I dare you.”
Red faced and sweating, Elton blustered, but nothing intelligent came out of his mouth.
“You’re a pathetic coward, Elton. Less than a man. You make me want to puke. No one with any sense pays you any attention, so I’ve been content to ignore you.”
“The paparazzi listen.”
“I don’t give a rat’s ass what the rag mags say, any more than I care what a few struggling actors think. The judge and jury didn’t believe you, so you should have let it go.”
Eyes bloodshot and bulging, voice strangled, Elton rasped, “She’s dead because of you. Sweet Blair is dead, and now I’ll never—”
“For the love of God, Elton, quit whining.” He didn’t bother denying the charge again. Insanity shone in Elton’s gaze and in the deep, panicked breaths he took. He’d believe what he wanted to believe. Jude didn’t care. “You never would have had Blair, so you might as well quit deluding yourself with that particular fantasy. She despised you.”
“That’s not true!”
“The hell it isn’t. You sickened her as much as you do me.”
Blind with rage, Elton lashed out, swinging hard.
Jude leaned back a scant few inches so that Elton’s punch missed the mark, sending him off balance. He found himself kissing the pavement.
Footsteps pounded toward them.
Bending down, his knee in the small of Elton’s back, Jude knotted his hand in the coarse blond hair. He wrenched Elton’s face, now marred with gravel and grit, up and back. “Call them off again, Pascal. Do it now, before I decide you’re not worth the effort.”
“Stay back,” Elton wheezed. “Damn it, stay back.” He panted, wincing in pain as Jude’s fingers tightened in his hair.
“Jesus, Elton.” Jude dredged up a laugh to conceal his disgust. “I’m too fast, and you’re too clumsy and slow, for you to pull such a stupid stunt.” Every muscle in Jude’s body twitched with the need for violence. But he had Ed taking photos and recording everything, so he wouldn’t lose his cool. Dredging up his famous calm facade, he said, “Now, pay attention. Blair Kane is dead. You can’t bring her back. I can’t bring her back. You might as well let it go.”
A sob broke from his throat, and he shook his head, inadvertently increasing the hold Jude had on his hair. “I can’t.”
Stupid fool. Jude shoved his head away and pushed back to his feet. Staring down at Pascal, he almost felt pity. Almost.
“I’ve had enough, Elton. I suggest you face reality, that you give up your ridiculous vengeance and accept how wrong you are, how wrong you’ve always been. Then get out of Ohio.”
“I have business here.” Slowly, Elton lumbered into a sitting position. With one shaky hand, he smoothed back his hair and wiped sweat from his face. Two deep breaths later, his arrogance semi-restored, he glared up at Jude. “There’s property for sale in Newport, just over the river. I might open a—”
“Spare me your details. I don’t care what you’re doing.”
Elton’s face pinched up. “I’m just saying, you have no right to try to run me off.”
Jude fashioned his meanest smile. “Go. Stay. I really don’t give a fuck what you do as long as you leave me the hell alone. I mean it, Elton. The phone calls and the threats stop. Now.”
Elton flinched at that commanding tone. “I…I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Jude crouched down in front of him. Legs spread wide, wrists resting across his knees, he stared into Elton’s glassy eyes. “I’ve let you run your mouth. I’ve let you slander me. But you finally crossed the line—and we both know it. Now it’s time for you to be smart and let it go.” His tone hardened, leaving no room for doubt. “Because if you push me again, I’ll walk right through your men to get you, Elton. That’s a promise.”
Back on his feet, temper still primed for a fight, Jude walked away from Elton, deliberately striding into the group of men who waited anxiously for direction from their boss. They had to scramble out of Jude’s way to keep from being plowed over, and in the deepest, darkest part of himself, Jude wanted one of them to try something, anything.
The need to battle burned in his gut. He wanted to strike out.
He wanted to make Elton bleed.
No one spoke to him; the men hurried to Elton, dusting him off and grumbling in a low drone. Left with no other recourse, Jude got into his car and watched until they’d loaded up and driven out of sight. He realized his hands gripped the steering wheel with crushing force, and he concentrated on relaxing his fingers.
Seconds later, he saw Ashley dash toward her little yellow Civic. Now that the excitement had ended, she looked to be in a hurry.
Had he made her late for work? He hoped not. But it pleased him that she had enough sense not to risk a wave in his direction. No one could know she’d ratted on Elton. No one.
Ashley drove out of the lot and sped down the street. He’d have to check on her later—after he’d dealt with May.
Ed Burton started his car and with one friendly toot, he, too, drove off. Jude would talk with him later, as prearranged. Hopefully, Ed had gotten some good shots. But whatever showed up on his film, by agreement, he wouldn’t run them yet.
No, Ed would wait for the exclusive interview Jude had promised to him. If all else failed, that’d be Jude’s ace in the hole.
With everyone else gone, he fired up the Porsche and started home. But the edge on his temper remained. He’d have to work it out in the gym before talking with May. He’d angered her enough for one day.
Paranoia wasn’t a normal part of Ashley’s psyche, but she could almost swear someone followed her. Lights had flashed in her rearview mirror many times, but then, she wasn’t the only one on the streets that time of night. She moved in and out of traffic but couldn’t be sure if the lights that reappeared behind her were the same.
Foregoing a turn signal, she took a sharp right into the office building’s entrance—and watched the other headlights pass by. She breathed a sigh of relief, but still couldn’t shake off the sense of invasion.
The parking garage was dark and mostly deserted, and the idea of getting out alone didn’t thrill her. But after hanging around to see that most impressive conflict between Jude and the other men, she knew if she lingered any longer, she’d be late for sure.
Pushing her unease aside, she pulled into the closest parking spot she could find and killed the engine. The sense of being watched niggled on her mind, making her clumsy as she dropped her keys into her purse and opened her door. She stepped out, looked around, and saw nothing but a few deserted cars, shadows, and drifting debris.
The closing of her door echoed like canon blast.
She could hear herself breathing, sucking the hot, humid evening air into her lungs too fast, too deep. “Get a grip, Ash,” she told herself. Sheesh. What was she, three years old and afraid of bogeymen?
Thrusting up her chin and straightening her shoulders, she started forward—and something moved behind her.
“Do you always talk to yourself—”
Screaming, Ashley turned and lashed out with a closed fist. She connected with a rock-hard shoulder, heard a masculine grunt, and started to swing again.
“Whoa!” Muscled arms locked around her, pulling her in tight.
Just as she’d been taught, she brought her knee up hard and fast, only to miss the mark and connect with a thick thigh instead.
“Ow. Damn it. Settle down.”
Her purse fell from her hand, dumping the contents with a clatter. She twisted and fought and—
“Ashley, calm down.”
Oh, crap. At the familiar voice, her racing heart slowed to a steadier beat.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. Are you okay?”
She went limp. The hands holding her loosened. Breath, and maybe a light kiss, touched her ear.
“You…” Words seemed beyond her as she tried to bank the adrenaline rush brought on by sheer terror.
“Yes?” came Quinton Murphy’s teasing, amused reply.
“Jerk.”
Laughing, he leaned away to see her face but kept his hands locked at the small of her back. His smile tantalized. His eyes seduced.
“Now, is that any way to talk to a guy,” he asked, “who’s waited hours just to see you?”
His voice…Man, Quinton had a nice, deep, rich voice.
Ashley shoved him away. “You scared the hell out of me. What do you think you’re doing, lurking around like a blasted serial killer?” She took in the sight of her dumped purse and groaned. “Damn it. Now I’m going to be late.”
They both bent down at the same time and clunked heads. Ashley fell back onto her butt. Quinton cursed.
Rubbing at her forehead, she said, “Go away. Leave me alone.”
One brow rose an inch. “And here I’d hoped you would be happy to see me.”
God, she acted like a bitch. “Sorry.” The surly reply didn’t hold much sincerity, but under the circumstances, she couldn’t do any better. “I haven’t had much sleep and it’s been one heck of a day.”
“I understand.”
She picked up her wallet, a hairbrush, and a lipstick.
He picked up her spare tampon and sunglasses.
Ashley snatched them out of his hand. Jamming things into her purse, she said with a lot of skepticism, “So you waited this late just to see me, huh? You didn’t have work to do or anything?”
Taking her elbow, he helped her to her feet and flashed a grin. “Okay, so I had a little work that kept me over. But I was ready to go forty minutes ago. Then I realized you’d be in soon and decided to hang around.”
“To scare ten years off my life.” With a quick glance at her watch, she turned to head in.
Quinton kept pace beside her. “When do you get your first break?”
“I haven’t even clocked in yet. And in about two minutes, I’ll be late.”
“You like to cut it close, do you?”
“No. Usually I like to be here early.” As they crossed the foyer, Flint, the security guard, spotted her. His face lit up, and he started to wave—then he saw Quinton behind her and the smile changed to a frown.
Quinton lifted his hand in a jovial wave.
Elbowing him, Ashley said, “Stop that.”
Together, they got onto the elevator to go down to the basement. The doors slid shut, sealing them inside, and a new tension filled Ashley’s stomach.
Silence hummed. Her nerves jangled. Quinton stood silently beside her, looking at her, smiling.
Smelling good.
Giving off heat.
Making her oh so aware of him…
She couldn’t take it. She rounded on him—and the elevator doors opened.
“Thirty seconds,” he said. “Hustle.”
With a huff, she jogged to the time clock and punched in her card with just a few seconds to spare. She didn’t bother to look at Quinton as she went into the employee break room, opened her metal locker, and stored her stuff.
From close behind her—real close—she heard, “Nice shirt.”
Yeah, it had seemed like a good idea at the time. Now the glitzy shirt just felt like overkill. “Thanks,” she said with false sweetness. She slammed the locker shut, turned—and he was right there, a scant breath away, a colossal temptation.
His gaze on her mouth, he said softly, “I am sorry I frightened you in the garage.”
Wow. Ashley had the feeling that he knew exactly how his close proximity affected her. He probably knew everything there was to know about women. He probably knew how to make a woman sing.
She didn’t care, damn it.
That is, she didn’t care until he cupped her face in warm hands.
“I tried to forget about you,” he whispered. “But it’s impossible.”
Scoffing, albeit in a breathless way, she said, “What a practiced line. I bet you’ve said it at least a dozen times.”
Wearing a look of concern and confusion, as if his reaction to her took him by surprise, he said, “I swear, it’s making me nuts, wondering how you taste.”
She would not be the typical female. “Uh-huh.”
“I lied earlier.” His thumbs brushed her cheeks, went under her chin, and lifted her face. Full of seriousness and molten sex appeal, he looked into her eyes. “Work didn’t keep me here. I just…waited for you.”
She would not do the expected, damn him. She was a strong, independent woman, in charge of her life. One super-hot guy would not take out her knees. “Is that right?”
A half smile appeared. “I lay awake all last night, thinking about kissing you.”
Ashley stared at him. He wanted her to be flattered. He wanted her to be flustered.
He wanted her to want him—and she did. But she’d play by her rules, which’d keep her ahead of the game.
Cocking out her hip, she grinned. “Poor baby. I was too busy last night to think of you at all.” His piercing green eyes cooled a bit. “But, you know, I don’t want your loss of sleep blamed on me, so…”
Deliberately taking him by surprise, she grabbed him around the neck, pulled his head down, and plastered her mouth to his. She heard his startled inhalation and felt the rigidity of his body…for about two seconds.
Then he gathered her close and took over, and there wasn’t a damn thing she could do about it except succumb.
She’d meant the kiss to be pushy. More overkill to go with the shirt. But as his hands spread out wide over her back, and he aligned his body with hers, letting her feel every inch of his hard frame, and his tongue touched hers, then sank in for a long, leisurely taste, she forgot whatever half-baked plan she’d had.
The break room turned into a sauna.
Her stupid knees did go weak.
How long they kissed, Ashley couldn’t say. Her awareness existed only of him, his scent, his taste, the ripening sensation of pleasure all through her body.
Then his hands slid up her waist, higher and higher, until his thumbs were beneath her breasts and she knew he’d touch her. Any second now, he’d be feeling up her boobs and she had to get herself together.
Turning her face away, Ashley rasped, “That’s enough.”
His harsh breathing fanned her neck. Heat poured off him. His fingers contracted, then went loose and slid back down to safer ground. “I’m sorry. That got out of hand.”
“Yeah.” She needed three more breaths before she could converse in complete sentences. “Give me some room, will ya?”
His temple touching hers, he brushed his mouth over her jaw—and stepped back.
Ash looked at him. Or more specifically, she looked at the signs of arousal that were so clear: the glittering eyes, the heightened color in his cheekbones, the taut muscles. She shouldn’t have, but she slid her gaze along the length of his body until she saw the impressive boner beneath his slacks. New desire mushroomed inside her.
“This is crazy.”
“Can you please not stare? You’re making it worse.”
She rubbed her face, dropped her head back against the locker, and closed her eyes. “I don’t even know you.”
“Get to know me.”
He sounded almost urgent, maybe even desperate, edging on angry.
Quinton Murphy was a very confusing man. Ashley worked a believable laugh past the emotion clogging her throat. “No way. What I do know about you keeps you on the short list.”
“Short list?”
“Of men not to get involved with.” She waved her hand at him, indicting his body, his mind, his…everything. “You know, rich men who get whatever they want. Spoiled men.”
The description displeased him. “As you said, you don’t know me.”
She shrugged. “Actually, my list is nonexistent, so it’s a moot point. I’m not about to get involved with anyone. But even if I wanted to, you wouldn’t be the right man.”
Hardened resolve changed his expression. He looked her over and half smiled. “Your body disagreed.” Without seeming to move, he was closer again, intoxicating her with that delicious scent. “Your nipples were hard, you sucked on my tongue, and you were moaning enough to alert the night guards.”
Mortified heat rushed up her neck.
“And all I’d wanted was a simple kiss.” He chucked her under the chin. “I’d say that makes me the right man.”
“Then you’d be wrong.” Not since high school had she let anyone of the opposite sex goad her into a temper. She wanted to lash out. She wanted to storm off.
But she was a fair person, and he spoke only the truth. She had been all over him. If she’d kissed him someplace other than her work, her reaction might have taken them straight to bed.
And by the looks of him, he knew it.
She laughed, at him and at herself. That she’d let a near stranger get to her so much was hilarious. “Let’s call this a temporary loss of insanity and move on, okay?”
More confused than ever, he scowled. “I don’t want to move on.”
“Sorry, but you’re going to have to.” So that there’d be no more misunderstandings, and no more kissing, Ashley broke one of her rules and explained. “I don’t have time for dating, Quinton, and even if I did, it’d take one hell of a man to be better than no man at all.”
Considering that a great parting remark, she walked away. But with every step that separated them, she was aware of Quinton just standing there, watching her go. Likely a little insulted. In no way giving up.
Probably feeling challenged.
She glanced over her shoulder and saw him smiling after her. Oh yeah, definitely challenged. A little thrill of excitement ran up her spine.
Why oh why did she have to meet him now?