Chapter 9
CHAPTER 9
O h no. Millie did not like that smile. Ace never smiled and this one was particularly off-putting.
“What?” She shifted back, unease pinching her stomach.
“I have an idea,” Ace repeated, the weird grin still on his face.
“Why do I get the feeling I’m going to hate this idea?”
He frowned, crossing his arms over his chest as he stared at her. “Would you like any idea that came from me?”
“Would it matter if I liked it or not?” she countered dryly.
A smug smirk curled the corner of his lips. “Since I’m the boss, no. Not really.”
She barely held back a sigh, rolling her eyes as she waved a hand for him to continue. “Go on then. What’s your brilliant plan?”
Ace leaned a hip against the desk, bringing one large hand up to rub his chin as he focused on something in the distance. Millie couldn’t help but notice the small bit of stubble on his chin. A light brown, like his hair. She wondered if he shaved every morning. Probably, the guy was as anal as he was stubborn. What would happen if he let go of that tightly strung control? Ace with a scruffy beard was something she would pay to see…and touch.
No!
She shook the thought off. No thinking about touching her hot, grumpy boss. That road led to disaster.
“The thief knows where the security cameras are and if we change their positions, it will look suspicious,” Ace said. “They might stop until the heat is off then start again in a few months.”
Millie held back a snort of laughter. The way he was putting it you’d think this was the crime of the century.
“What we need is information, someone on the inside to befriend the thief and get proof. A mole.”
“A spy.”
He shrugged. “Mole, spy, same thing.”
Of course he would say that. “No, it’s not.”
His brow furrowed as he turned his body to fully face her. “What’s the difference?”
“For starters,” she held up her hand, counting off on her fingers as she spoke. “A mole is a cute, but kind of freaky looking animal. A spy implies cool gadgets and undercover code names.”
“I don’t think—”
“For two,” she continued, talking right over him. “A mole is someone who has been working a case for a long time collecting numerous offenses against an organization. A spy is brought on for a particular mission. This is a singular incident, so you’d want a spy not a mole.”
Ace stared at her with shock. The room fell silent for a few seconds. She had to admit, seeing Ace Jackson speechless was a sight. She couldn’t wait to get home and tell Franklin all about it.
Finally, Ace found his voice. “Never pegged you for an espionage junkie.”
Most people didn’t. They saw her bright blue hair, tattoos, and piercings and assumed she was into horror or Avant-garde stuff. People loved to make snap judgments then acted all surprised when she turned out to be a real ass person with a whole array of interests.
“My dad was a James Bond fanatic. We used to watch the movies together when I was a kid.”
It was the only thing she and her dad did together. The only thing they could connect on. Millie preferred other spy movies to the often-misogynistic James Bond, but watching those movies with her dad was a core memory so she could never hate them fully.
“Me and BJ used to watch old musicals with our dad when he was home from deployment. Paint Your Wagon was his favorite.” Ace started down at his hands, a sad smile curving his lips.
A familiar pain struck her chest. She’d heard from her coworkers about how Jacks came to be. That it was the siblings’ father’s dream, but he passed away before he could retire from the military and achieve it. His kids worked hard and opened it up in his honor. She understood the aching hole of losing a parent. While her mother’s dream was never to become a circus performer, she did want to travel. Unfortunately, she didn’t get the chance. Which was why Millie carried the memory of her mother with her as she traveled the world performing. It was her way of making her mother’s dream come true. Honoring her life.
“When did you lose your dad?” She asked, hoping she wasn’t overstepping any bounds.
He swallowed hard, jaw tightening as he answered.
“When I was seventeen. KIA.”
You didn’t have to be a member of the military to know what that meant. Her heart ached for Ace and the rest of the Jackson family. At least she’d had a chance to say goodbye to her mother. She couldn’t imagine losing someone you loved and being half a world away from them.
“I lost my mom too,” she said, grabbing Ace’s hand and squeezing softly. “Cancer. When I was eight.”
Blue eyes filled with understanding and pain. His face hardened as he nodded, squeezing back.
“That’s young. I’m sorry.”
“I’m sorry too.”
They sat in silence for a moment. Two people who were nothing alike, bonding over sharing the same incredibly tragic loss. Life wasn’t fair.
After a moment or two Millie noticed a warm stroking sensation on the back of her hand. She glanced down to see Ace’s thumb gently rubbing back and forth. Suddenly the gesture that had been meant to soothe turned into something…more.
She looked back up to receive the shock of her life. Ace was staring at her with unbanked heat burning in his eyes. Now it was her turn to swallow hard. Her lips parted, body swaying slightly closer as her mind ran wild with thoughts of what it would feel like to kiss Ace. Would he be stiff and cold, like his demeanor? Or would all the ice melt away, revealing a raging fire of passion?
She was tempted to find out, but before she could decide if she wanted to risk her job and sanity by kissing her boss, he dropped her hand and leaned against the desk, putting distance between them.
“So, about the mole,” he said casually.
“Spy,” she replied, not sure if she was grateful or disappointed, he pulled away.
“Fine, spy,” he agreed with a heavy sigh.
She smiled at her victory and motioned for him to continue.
“Del works with the waitstaff the most,” she said, pondering the best person for the job. “He probably knows all the ins and outs of who to talk to.”
Ace shook his head. “No. Del is a boss. No one is going to talk to the boss about theft. Besides, I don’t want to tell my siblings just yet.”
He probably wanted to wait until he caught the person, knowing Mr. I Need To Be In Charge Of Everything At All Times. She rolled her eyes.
“Well, who do you think should do it?
“It has to be someone who already knows about it. Someone who I can trust because I know they can’t be the thief.”
He stared at her with a knowing grin. Realization sunk in as dread grew in the pit of her stomach.
“Oh hell no, not me.” She waved her hands in the air.
“But you’re perfect,” he insisted. “Don’t you see? The stealing started before you got here so I can trust it’s not you. You’re new, people love sharing gossip with the new hires. They always seem to know things faster than the people who have been working here for years. Plus, the staff knows how much we…disagree on things so no one will suspect you’re working undercover for me.”
He brought up some very valid points. Still, she knew where this road led, and it didn’t end with her being the hero. “Ratting out my last coworker made me a pariah at work. I had to switch jobs because everyone hated me.”
“Why?” Ace frowned. “He was stealing. He was in the wrong. You were just doing what was right.”
She pointed a finger in his direction. “Snitches get stitches.”
He sighed, rubbing a spot on his forehead over his right eye. “Has anyone ever told you, you can be dramatic at times?”
She grinned. “Constantly. It’s one of my best qualities.”
He snorted, but she saw the hint of a smile at the corner of his lips.
“I’m not asking you to rat anyone out. I just need you to keep your ears open, talk to the staff and see if you can find out who is stealing and why.”
Her mouth dropped open as a small laugh escaped her. “That is literally the definition of ratting someone out.”
“Millie, please.” His jaw clenched, frustration clear on his face. “There has to be something you want. Something I can give you in return? Everybody needs something.”
That was true and what Millie needed was cash. It was why she took this job. Serving was one of the quickest ways to make cash. Legally anyhow. But even with the stellar tips she’d been making, she wasn’t as far in her goal as she needed to be. She’d underestimated the amount of work the studio would need to be up to safety codes for all the aerial rigging. She needed cash, fast.
“Ten thousand,” she said with a straight face.
Ace’s jaw dropped.
“Are you fucking serious?”
“Okay, twenty.” She crossed her arms over her chest and sent him her own smug smirk.
He scowled. “That’s not how negotiations work, Millie.”
Lifting one shoulder in a small shrug, she turned and headed for the door. “Fine. If you don’t need me—”
“Five.”
The offer sounded from behind her, resigned but firm. She paused. She could work with five.
“It’s a ridiculous number for what I’m asking, but if this keeps going on we stand to lose a hell of a lot more than that, so five. Take it or leave it.”
Giddy excitement filled her. She’d done it! She was getting the money she needed for her studio. Her dream would become a reality.
Schooling her features, she turned with a serious expression pasted on her face and stuck out her hand. “Deal.”
Ace grabbed her hand and shook, muttering something about her being a stubborn pain in his ass under his breath before quickly letting go.
Gracing him with her most charming smile, she winked. “Buddy, you just bought yourself a spy.”
His gaze took her in, a wary expression filling his eyes. “Why do I get the feeling I just sealed my doom?”
And he called her dramatic.
She huffed out a laugh. “Because you always think the worst of people.”
“I do not,” he frowned.
“You’re right.” She moved closer and patted his cheek like one would do to a petulant child. She had to stand up on her tippy toes but the deepening scowl on his face was worth it. “You’re a bastion of believing the good in everyone. Happy now?”
Ace grabbed her hand, tugging her closer until she nearly fell into him. She had to place her free hand on his chest to steady herself. A small gasp left her as her palm encountered the firm hardness of him. The steady thundering beat of his heart pumped against her hand. His thumb rubbed small circles in her palm as he stared down at her with a wolfish grin.
“I’ll be happy when the thief is caught, so get out there and do your job.”
Normally Millie bristled at anyone commanding her to do things, but this weird back and forth power control thing she had going on with Ace was…exciting. Something about pushing this man’s buttons tempted her in a way she’d never been before. Knowing she was playing with fire, Millie trailed her fingers down his chest, stopping right above the snap on his jeans.
“Sure thing, boss,” she said in a voice far huskier than she’d intended it to be.
With that she pulled her other hand out of his and turned. Moving across the office she left, closing the door behind her and leaning against it to catch her breath.
“This is either going to be a thrill ride or a disaster,” she whispered into the distillery, not sure if she was referring to the spy mission or the dangerous flirting with Ace.
Either way, it wouldn’t be boring.