Layers Deep (5 page)

I twisted my
spine, releasing some pressure, and then tied my hair in an elastic
band and pulled on a pair of sweats. The gym was only four blocks
away, so I jogged there. A promise of snow lingered in the air, and
I had a feeling we’d have an early winter. Tomorrow, I’d drive to
visit my mother in South Carolina. I’d check out the local stores
and shops and watch her apartment for a couple of days to see
whether Wright was staking it out. If he was, it was time to move
again. And somehow, I’d have to find a new plan to get rid of him.
That is, if Cross had really hired someone else.

Inside the
gym, I worked through four reps of crunches, push ups, and squats –
my warm-up routine. My muscles began to ache, but in a good way.
The sweat dripped down my back and I stepped up on the treadmill,
cranking it up to full speed within minutes; or at least as fast as
my legs could take me. The gym was still empty, for most part,
smelling of fresh aloe and baking soda. Exercising in the morning,
before the rush of sweaty armpits, was a better remedy than the
tequila. And I could have sworn the liquor was still evaporating
from my pores.

Someone turned
on the machine beside me. I kept up my pace, concentrating on the
protein drink advertisement ahead. The smell of musk and Old Spice
wafted around me, and I knew it was a man on the other treadmill.
Why so close to me? Why not use a machine further down the aisle? I
finally gave in to my curiosity, reduced the speed, and turned to
my right. My brows narrowed into a frown.

I shouldn’t
have been surprised. There he was, in his “I’m the sexiest man
alive” red shorts that reminded me of the ones hunky H&M models
wore enticing women to shop in the store. I tried to imagine the
soft flesh underneath Cross’s shorts and wondered how fast I could
make him hard. The thought disappeared as soon as he caught me
staring, and I felt my cheeks heat up.

“You’re
following me.” I tried to divert his attention.

Cross jogged
in a slow warm-up, grinning. “It’s a public gym.”

“I’ve been
coming here for two years and never seen you.”

“Because I
choose when I want to be seen, Allie. Good morning, Cole.” He waved
to one of the trainers.

Either Cross
knew everyone in town, or he did come here and I hadn’t seen him.
But instinct told me it was too much of a coincidence for him to be
here at five in the morning. Was this the chance Laura spoke
about?

“You’re making
me wait a long time. Why haven’t you applied yet?” he asked.

“I’ve heard
the position’s been filled.”

The frown on
his face told me he hadn’t been expecting this. I had caught him
off guard. “It’s not filled. It’s just waiting for the right
applicant.”

Could it
really be possible? Was Tristan Cross still waiting for me to
apply? A spark of hope ignited in my chest and then weaved down my
body to heat the most sensitive places. Perhaps all was not lost.
The details of the mysterious job of a hooker surged my curiosity
to its highest. I was almost sure he’d been kidding the other
day.

As much as I
didn’t want to play the hard-to-get type, even for a job, I had a
feeling Cross liked to be kept on his toes. “All good things come
to those who wait. Is there a deadline?”

“The sooner
the better, Allie. I’m a patient man, but the job requires specific
training and it’s time-sensitive.”

I yanked the
safety string that tied me to the treadmill and it slowed my run to
a halt. “What training? What’s my deadline?” I lowered my hands to
my hips, controlling my breathing.

“When was the
last time you practiced your karate?”

“Is there
anything you don’t know about me?”

“Your bra
size,” he said, shamelessly eyeing my cleavage.

The comment
tingled deep between my legs, turning my limbs into strings of
gummy worms. A bit more flirting on his part and there’d be a
little pool in my panties. But I wouldn’t give in. Cross must have
had plenty of women to fulfill his needs. I was just another fish
in a pond, and one with more important goals than sleeping with
this gorgeous man. Was this part of his test to see whether we
could work together without the obvious attraction getting in the
way?

Still,
something inside me wondered how far he was willing to go, so I
replied, “36 C.”

“That’s what I
thought.”

“Cocky a bit?”
I stepped off the machine.

“I guess
you’ll have to wait and see.” Both of his brows moved up and down
suggestively.

“You’re
unbelievable.”

“I know. And
I’m glad you know it, too. Have you always been a tease, Allie? Or
is it just for me?”

I grabbed my
water bottle. “What?”

“You say one
thing but mean something else. I can see the way your body’s
reacting to me.”

I knew my
nipples hardened and my skin tightened in knots every time I saw
Cross. How could they not? I was still a woman in her prime with
bursting hormones, but I never dreamed he’d noticed. The control I
usually had over my reactions seemed ineffective when Cross was
around, and I made a mental note to relieve myself before the next
time I saw him. Except at this point I wasn’t sure when that would
be, as he was popping out of thin air all the time. Mr. D would
once again see its happier days.

“Like you
never say
anything
without a double meaning.” I rolled my
eyes and loosened my clinging shirt. The patches of sweat probably
decorated the fabric under my armpits and on my back.

“I know I do.
Let’s try this. Are you attracted to me, Allie?” He leaned against
the machine. The casual way he spoke made me a bit nervous. Like he
was just another guy.

I took a sip
of water, noting how nicely Cross’s shorts outlined the curve
underneath the loosened strings.

“Well, that’s
a little forward, isn’t it?”

“In my
business I don’t have time to waste time.”

“I can’t deny
you’re a good-looking man, but you already know that.”

“Do you know
how gorgeous you are? How nicely your tits bounce when you
run?”

“Seriously?
That’s sexual harassment.” I walked toward the exercise room on the
other side of the gym where Cole usually taught the Pilates and
Zumba classes. Cross followed alongside, and I had no doubt he was
checking out my behind because my ass swayed from side to side like
it wanted all the attention for itself.

“You haven’t
applied for the position I need you in, so it’s not really sexual
harassment. I’m just stating the obvious. Are you saying you don’t
enjoy me harassing you?”

Everything he
said sounded so right and so wrong at the same time. I saw myself
in different positions with Cross, and none of them had anything to
do with work as he took advantage of me.

“I want to
take this job seriously, but I’m finding it difficult with you
around.” I said.

“That’s the
most honest thing you’ve said to me. I take it as a compliment.” He
opened the door.

My shoes
squeaked on the maple finish, which looked like it had been freshly
polished.

“I’m surprised
your head isn’t swollen from all the compliments you must get.”

He stepped
closer and I felt the wall behind me. I flattened my palms on its
surface. Cross leaned in until his front pressed against my hip and
his hardness ground against me. I couldn’t breathe or think. His
hands braced on the surface at the side of my head. The smell and
feel of him rushed my pulse like a bullet, and the walls closed in
on us. It felt like the ceiling had lowered as well and we were the
only two in the gym. A hint of mint toothpaste flowed on his breath
as he said, “It’s because you haven’t seen the right head.”

It had been a
few minutes since I’d stopped jogging, yet my pulse raced.

“Why a cop?”
he asked out of nowhere, pulling away.

Holy shit! What
was that all about?

He rolled a
pink exercise ball toward him. Sitting on it with his legs spread
apart, hands resting on his thighs, he looked at me with that cocky
lopsided grin. Cross could have been sitting on a toilet seat and
he’d still look sexy. He bounced another one in front of him,
motioning me to sit. I welcomed the distraction from his flirting.
A few more rounds and we’d be down on the floor, rolling from wall
to wall.

“My family
drove down to Florida when I was eight. About five cars in front of
us a van lost control, flipped over, and rolled to the side of the
road. It caught fire. I don’t know where she came from, but the
officer pulled over her cruiser and jumped out while everyone else
was in shock. She ran down the hill toward the flames. And one by
one, she saved the family. An older man was the last one to walk
out, and then the van exploded. The officer’s back caught the
flames from the blast and she lit up like a dried up Christmas
tree. My parents told me she survived. It was the bravest thing I’d
ever seen in my life.”

While what I’d
told Cross wasn’t a lie and had happened when my father was still
alive, I wasn’t ready to share with him the true moment of when I’d
made a career choice.

“I’d thought
it was because your father was a cop.”

It didn’t
surprise me Cross knew my father’s profession. “I guess he had
something to do with it as well. He was a good man and an honorable
police officer.” My throat tightened. If it weren’t for Wright, my
father would still be alive. I would have a sister, and my mother
wouldn’t be broken in half.

“Your record
on the force is the cleanest I’ve seen. You’re trying to keep
everyone’s attention away from something, Allie. Why?”

Could he
really see through me? Was it possible that in some way, Tristan
Cross had dug deep enough to know what had happened?

“I’m just
trying to build a good reputation, the kind my father would be
proud of.”

He had to
believe that. No one could have found out about Wright. My mother
and I were the only ones who knew. My desire for revenge had to be
hidden, for a while at least, until Cross trusted me and could help
me.

Cross narrowed
his brows as if he could sense my reluctance to share information,
but he didn’t press for more, and I was glad. I wasn’t sure I could
handle talking about that day or admitting my drive. But eventually
I’d have to tell him. I would need his help to dispose of Wright’s
body. Make it disappear.

“So, how long
do I have until I can be your hooker?” I smirked. Seeing the lust
spark in his eyes swirled a new yearning in my belly. “I need to go
away for a couple of days before I can commit.”

“Hhm, where
are you going?” he asked, trying to steady his ragged voice.

“South
Carolina. I’m leaving tomorrow morning.”

“To visit your
mother?”

The hairs on
my neck stood tall. “How … ? No one knows where she lives except
for me.”

“Allie, there
isn’t much I can’t find out if I want to.”

Which only
meant Wright could find her too.
The bastard would never give
up looking for my mother. He’d gotten too close to us before. Rage
boiled inside me. This was one trip I couldn’t postpone.

“Why hide her,
Allie? Why does your mother move along the east coast every few
years?” He rolled on the exercise ball a bit closer to me.

All I could do
was shake my head. A lump formed in my throat. I didn’t want to cry
in front of Cross. Part of me wanted to tell him everything, yet I
wasn’t ready to share my past.

“Will this
affect your job?” he asked in a much quieter voice.

“No.” But the
devil on my shoulder screamed
Yes
.

“You’ll take
my jet.” He rose his finger before I could argue. “It will be
quicker.”

“It’s not a
far drive.”

“Doesn’t
matter. If you’re going to work for me, I need you rested. You may
as well get used to the perks the company can offer.”

“But...”

“No buts. The
only thing I ask of you is that you come to my office as soon as
you return from your trip.”

“Friday
morning?”

“Yes. We can
get the paperwork out of the way before the weekend.”

Cross really
wanted me to work for him. Could I tell him about Wright? Not yet.
Not before I spoke with my mom. Perhaps this was a good idea.
Allowing him a bit of control by taking him up on his offer to fly
to South Carolina would show him this job was important to me too.
After all, work was all about trust, and if you couldn’t rely on
your closest ally, then what was the point of doing your best
work?

Yet, my father
was still dead, killed at the hand of his best friend, a
trustworthy chief of police.

“Stand up,” he
ordered.

I sprang up at
his command, acutely aware of how easily he controlled my body with
his deep voice. He strolled to the mats in the corner and beckoned
with his index finger for me to come along. The sexual gesture
uncoiled my hormones. The dimple in his chin sunk in deeper. Cross
flung four mattresses out onto the floor, setting up a squared
area. He stepped up on the surface and spread his legs apart.

“Hit me.”

I could have
sworn I’d heard a slight growl in his voice.

“What?”

“It’s not a
request. If you want me to consider you for the job, you need to
pin me to the floor.”

“You just want
me on top of you.” I crossed my arms at my front.

“Actually, I
want you under me, and I won’t have it any other way.” He
grinned.

The next few
moves were deliberate, and Cross cheated. He didn’t use any karate,
which forced me to match his onslaught of street fighting with a
mix of kickboxing and jujitsu. My mother had ensured I could
protect myself as soon as we moved. The training came in handy when
I did my physical at the academy. A black belt in three different
fields was nothing to scoff at.