Tempted (In Too Deep) (3 page)

I stifle a cough.
“Um, no. Come on.” I pull MJ by the arm. She doesn’t say anything, but I can tell she considered it for a second. “MJ,” I scold under my breath, pulling her to the door.

“So I guess that’s a no on the shower?” he calls.

I slip out of the room as quickly as I can, towing MJ behind me. I hear Reis chuckling from the other side of the door.

What a little shit!
He only did it to get a rise out of me. I stalk away, needing to blow off some steam and keep my distance from Reis.

Chapter 4

Colt

I check
my email for any new cases, find one and assign it out to a field agent, then check in with Vera. All the first years are set to arrive today. Vera will be busy. We have a new class of seven students starting. It’s the smallest class we’ve had in several years, but I’m new at all this and don’t have all the connections my dad did to recruit new students.

Then later I need to drive Reis home. Mrs.
Lee has him enrolled at a local public school. Neither of us has ever gone to public school, and I know he’s pissed. But he can’t go to school here. It wouldn’t make any sense. He needs a regular high school experience, soccer, getting ready for college – not following in our dad’s footsteps, like I’m doing.

I figured it’d be good to have Reis close by, but
I didn’t like the way he’d looked at Taylor this morning. His eyes roamed her body, moving from her hips, back up to her face, then resting on her chest. I wanted to thump him upside the head, but it’s his first day back, and he’s my brother so I let it slide. Sending him off with Taylor was the last thing I wanted to do. I’m craving alone time with her, and wish I could hang out and not have to worry about running this place. When I was an instructor showing up for classes two hours a day, and taking on the occasional assignment, I never realized how easy I had it.

This year,
I’ve hired a black belt from the local karate school to teach my old class to the first years, I’ve upped Vera’s responsibilities to handle more of the affairs with the students, and I’ve taken over all of McAllister’s work. I’ve emailed him occasionally when I can’t figure something out on my own, but for the most part, I’m handling it.

I’m working on
securing a deal for a new long term partnership rather than one case at a time. It would be nice to have the steady work, and steady income coming in. There’s a total of thirty-nine staff members here to pay, not to mention the mortgage and utilities for the school. I’m hoping a major deal like this could free me up from having to constantly hunt for new cases. Plus I’m not willing to take on some of the shadier things that my dad was willing to do, so I’ve already had to turn down some work from his old contacts. I won’t put Taylor or anyone else in a position to do something illegal ever again. That’s why this securing this deal is so important to me. I open the latest email from Geoffrey, the director of a firm that works directly with the British military that I’m hoping to partner with.

TO: Colt Palmer

FROM: Geoffrey
James

SUBJECT:
Wiltech partnership

Mr. Palmer,

I appreciate the information you provided on the various skills you employ on your staff. I would like to propose we work together on a trial basis – I have a case you could work now, and if all goes well, we can discuss the long-term arrangement we’ve spoke of.

I’d like for you to come to London, meet with myself and a senior officer to negotiate the details. In addition, you can actively work the case I have in mind from our headquarters in London. We anticipate it shouldn’t take longer than a few weeks.

Let me know if this arrangement is suitable to you.

Best,

Geoffrey

Wow.
A few weeks. In London. I hadn’t planned on being away from here – my duties, and of course, Taylor and keeping an eye out for Reis, but if I can secure us a long term contract, it’ll be more than worth it. I won’t have to constantly worry how to keep paying for this staff. About of the bills and invoices come through our office manager to me, and I would’ve never imagined how expensive it is to keep this place up and running. Gas and electric bills, school supplies, food for the cafeteria, and of course salaries for the teachers. McAllister always insisted on giving all of the students a free ride here, so he could easily recruit students to work the cases he wanted, but I’m considering changing that practice in the future. Tuition would help to cover some of the costs.

If I go to London – I’ve got to land this business. I try to picture myself, thousands of miles away, trying to do both jobs, working the case and winning over Geoffrey, plus handling the day to day business of the school
from afar. I’ll need someone to go with me if I hope to manage all this. And I know just the girl for the job. Bria. Skilled in negotiations, she’ll be key in influencing Geoffrey to work with us, and she can help me in the case, whatever it is too.

I hit reply and let Geoffrey know that a few weeks in London will be fine, and that I’ll be bringing along an agent of mine to assist in the case.

Taylor’s not going to be happy about me going overseas, let alone being alone with Bria for an extended period of time. I’ll have to break the news to her carefully. Especially after last night’s disaster of a date.

Chapter 5

Taylor

“Hey, Shrimp.” Reis pats the top of my head, rustling my hair.

I roll my eyes.
“Hey Reis.”

“Let’s go do something. I’m bored.” He leans over my shoulder inspecting my computer screen. “And this doesn’t look all that important.” He waves toward the screen which is black at the moment,
except for a string of code blinking back at me.

I stretch my arms above my head, realizing that I’ve been sitting immobile for several hours. My spine cracks with the movement. “I could take a break. What’d you have in mind?”

He grins, half of his lip curving up in a deliciously naughty manner and he wags his eyebrows at me suggestively.

I punch him in the stomach.

“Ompf.” He hisses, rubbing his tight abs. “Let’s go for a run. We can work out some of this sexual tension between us.”

I cock an eyebrow at
him, shaking my head. “Fine. Let’s go.”

After changing into shorts and T-shirt, I meet Reis in the foyer. He’s bent at the waist, lacing up his running shoes.
His gym shorts are slung low on his slim hips. No shirt. Damn. I try and fail not to notice his bare chest. He smiles when he catches me looking.

He loo
ks down his body. He knows he’s good looking. Though thankfully he isn’t as cocky as his older brother. “You think you can handle this?”

Scratch that.
He’s every bit as cocky. “I think I’ll manage.” I step around him. “I just want to tell Colt we’re leaving.”

He shrugs and follows
me to Colt’s office.

The door has been
left partially open and I peek my head inside.

He look
s tired. One hand roams through his hair causing it to stick up every which way and his other is tapping against the desk like he’s lost in thought. When he hears the door hinges groan, he looks up, catching my eyes.

His face brightens
instantly. “Hey baby.”

“Hi.” I cross
the office to him and he pushes his chair away from the desk to meet me halfway. I step between his knees and hug him. With him sitting down, we’re closer to the same height and he wraps his arms around my back, squeezing me to him with a firm pressure. I feel him inhale against my neck and relax against me. It makes me smile. I pull back and kiss him once briefly on the corner of his mouth. “I’m going go for a run with Reis.”

He eyes
go from mine to Reis’s form standing in the doorway, leaning casually against the frame. “Can you put on a fucking shirt?”

Reis chuckle
s.

A
deep blush creeps up my neck. I don’t like Colt thinking that Reis’s body is distracting me, but that’s obviously what he assumed. And unfortunately he’s right. It is a little distracting.

But when I’d told Colt about Reis hitting on me
before, he’d chuckled and said good for him. Apparently Reid used to be something of a wallflower and Colt’s reaction was one of pride. I don’t know what I’d been expecting…jealousy…or annoyance, but not pride. He actually seemed amused. I was forced to let it go. If Colt didn’t care about Reis’ ogling me and flirting, then why should I?

I kiss Colt once more. “I’ll run, then I’ll shower and after I’ll come and find you.”

He nods. “I should be done in a few more hours.”

I guess
I have some time to kill. I turn and follow Reis from the office.

Reis set
s off at a steady pace once we’re outside the building. He leads me behind the school to a worn path that runs along the perimeter of the woods. He runs at a moderate pace, slow enough so that I can keep up, but fast enough that we were both getting a workout.

“Colt doesn’t do the girlfriend thing. You must be pretty special
, Shrimp.”

“Yeah.
I guess so.” I wasn’t sure why, but talking about my relationship with Colt feels weird. Struggling for a way to change the subject, I blurt out the first thing that comes to mind. “What about you…girlfriend?”

“Not anymore. I was seeing a girl last year, but it ended a few months ago.”

He’s quiet for the next several minutes as our feet continue to pound along the trail, our breaths coming fast. I guess that’s all I’m going to get from him. But it’s interesting to know that he doesn’t have the same hang-ups as his brother when it comes to girls.

“So
are you excited about your new school?”

He scoffs
. “Oh yeah, starting a new school your senior year is awesome.”

I could relate to his sentiment. When I started here last year, I thought my life was over. Little had I known at the time that my life would never be the
same.

Last year was quite a wild ride, between falling for a bad boy that I knew wasn’t good for me, and causing an oil tanker to crash against the reef with a hacking assignment from McAllister, who turned out to be Colt’s father…yeah, last year was anything but boring.  I learned that I liked the thrill. The thrill of hacking and training in martial arts, and capturing the heart of a boy who didn’t think he could love again after he lost his mother. While I certainly didn’t want to go back to my old life in boring Pennsylvania, I
hoped for a little more calm this year as I settled into a routine with Colt. I just didn’t know if Reis being here and Colt’s new leadership role were going to change things.

Chapter 6

Colt

I turn and face Reis. “Taylor told me you hit on her.”

“Dude, I was kidding.”

“I know
. That’s what I told her. But she didn’t know that, so just don’t make her uncomfortable, okay?”

“Yeah, sorry man.”
Reis rubs a hand over the back of his neck.

“It’s alright. I’m
just going to need you to watch out for her.”

He studies me, waiting for
an explanation.

“I have to go to London for a few weeks.”

Reis frowns. “That’s sucks. You’re going to miss my first soccer game.”

“Sorry bro.
Take Taylor.”

I’m not sure why I offer her up like a consolation prize, but I can tell he likes being around her almost as much as I do. She’s sassy and smart and doesn’t take an ounce of crap. It sort of reminds me of our mom, and I wonder if Reis feels that way too. She was the same way with us, easily
keeping two rowdy boys in line with a single look. I smile at the memory.

“How long will you be gone?”
Reis asks.

“
I’m not sure, at least a few weeks.” I stuff a pile of papers into a stack and shove them in a file folder. I needed to get an assistant.

“Does Taylor know?”

“Not yet. I’m going to tell her tonight.”

He nods, looking at me thoughtfully. “I’ll take care of her while you’re gone.”

“Thanks, man.”

Bria
pokes her head in my office. “You wanted to see me?” She grins, looking between Reis and I. I’m used to her eye raping me, but I don’t like the way looks hungrily at Reis.

He’s eating up the attention, holding her in his gaze too.

“This is my
little
brother, Reis.” I emphasize the word little, as in too young for you.

“
Bria.” She moves closer to us, swaying her hips as she walks.

“What’s up?”
Reis causally nods in her direction.

I resist the urge to roll my eyes.
“Can you leave us?” I say to Reis.

He shuffles out past
Bria, his eyes on her the whole time. Bria watches his behind as he exits. Well that was annoying.

“So Colt Palmer is talking to me again?”
Bria steps closer, placing her hand on my chest.

I lift her wrist and remove her hand. “You know it’s not like that between us anymore.”

A look of hurt flashes across her face, but she steps back and holds her head high. “Then what do you want?”

“I need your help.”

I explain the arrangement I’m trying to secure with Geoffrey and the British military contract and how I need her negotiation skills, which she loves. I ask her not to say anything to anyone, since I haven’t told Taylor yet. She grins and bites her lower lip. She likes that she knows about this trip before Taylor does. Maybe this was a bad idea. No. I have some making up to do with Taylor before I spring this on her.

“
Bria, don’t say anything.”

She holds her hands up.
“Fine, lover boy. But I doubt she’ll be happy about this.”

“I know.”

When Bria leaves I go online and buy our plane tickets and reserve our hotel. Then I email Taylor.

TO: Taylor Beckett

FROM: Colt Palmer

SUBJECT: Tonight

I know it’s against the rules, but considering I’m in charge…I don’t care. Please come over tonight?

Colt

A few seconds later, she responds.

TO: Colt Palmer

FROM: Taylor Beckett

SUBJECT: RE: Tonight

Mr. Palmer,

Even though it’s a gross misuse of power, I like when you’re in charge. I’m hanging out with Logan and MJ tonight
, but after lights out, I’ll sneak down. But you have to promise you’ll talk to Vera if I get busted
.


Yours,

Taylor

I’m lighting the last candle when I hear her tap softly at the door. I open it and pull her into my arms. Sweet vanilla and her floral shampoo fill my senses. “Hi.”

She wraps her arms around me, hugging me tight.

I walk us backwards and let the door swing closed behind us. The room is dim with just a few candles glowing softly.

“Wow. Thank you for plan
ning this,” she says, noticing the candles once I release her.

“You’re welcome, baby.” I wanted to show her that she’s special to me.

“You just don’t want to go out in public with me after what happened last time.”

I grin, guilty as charged. “No. I just wanted tonight to be about you and me.”

She smiles up at me, lifting up on her toes to kiss my cheek. “Sometimes you say the sweetest things.”

Good. That’ll make what I have to tell her easier.

“But still, I think we need to talk about last weekend.”

“Oh.” I frown.

“We can’t just hide from your past.”

“Why not?”
I nuzzle against her neck, breathing her in.

She giggles, but swats me away.
“Because. I have a few more questions for you.”

Shit
. I thought we’d been over this. I lead her to my bed, where I have a tray of strawberries, chocolate sauce and bowl of Cheetos.

“For me?” she asks, smiling.

I nod.

“Sweet of you.”
She pops a Cheeto in her mouth, settling on my bed.

Her posture
tenses, stalling around the questions she wants to ask.

“Lean back,” I murmur, arranging the pillows behind her. She leans against them so she’s half sitting, half lying down.

I dip a strawberry into the bowl of chocolate sauce. “Close your eyes,” I whisper.

She obeys, letting her eyes fall closed.

I bring the berry to her mouth and dab the chocolate on her bottom lip. She smiles and her tongue darts out to taste it.

“
Mmm. It’s warm.”

Pride surges inside me, happy that I’ve pleased her. I lean in and lick the rest of the chocolate from her lip.

She inhales sharply at the surprise of my tongue on her mouth and her eyes fly open before slowly drifting closed again.

I want tonight to be perfect for her since I’d fucked up on our date last weekend and I still had to tell her about going out of town with
Bria.

I feed her the strawberry and kiss away the sweet juice
lingering on her bottom lip.

She smiles, lazily opening her eyes. “We’re still going to have that conversation.”

Damn. Distracting her wasn’t going to work. “I know.”

I fed her a
Cheeto next.

She chews and swallows, watching me thoughtfully.

I pop one into my mouth as I give her another. Maybe if I keep feeding her, we won’t have to talk. I loose count of the number of Cheetos I feed her when she holds up her hand, stopping me.

“I’m good, thank you.”

I move the tray from the bed and settle in next to her. “I have something to tell you, but you go first. What do you want to know?”

“So last weekend…all those girls…it got me thinking.”

That’s exactly what I was afraid of.

“Why did you seem to change so easily for me
? And how can I trust that you have really changed?”

What can I say to make her believe me? This change might seem fast to her, or not sustainable, but I know it is. Being with Taylor grounds me and gives me a connection I’ve been missing for years. And I don’t even care how sappy I sound. The love word pops into my head again, but I don’t want to tell her yet. I don’t want her to think I’m just saying it to smooth things over.

She’s waiting, watching me. I cup her face, and drift my thumbs across her cheeks. “I’m falling for you, hard, baby. Give us a chance, okay? Give me a chance to show you how much you mean to me.”

She leans in and kisses me. Thank God.

But after several minutes, she stops and pulls back. “What did you have to tell me?”

Oh, shit that’s right. I need to tell her I’m going away. But s
uddenly, telling her about Bria right now when things are still so fragile between us doesn’t seem right. I’ll have to tell her eventually, but not right now. Not when we’ve just made up.

I take a deep breath.
“You know how I’ve turned down some of the assignments McAllister had lined up?”

She nods.

“I’m working on a new deal for the school, and it means I’ll have to go away for a little while.”

“Oh.” Her face falls.

“I’m leaving next week, and I’ll be in London for a few weeks while I work one case and try to secure a long term partnership with another agency.”

“London, huh?”

I nod.

“Sounds cool.”

I shrug. “I guess. I’ll be working a lot, so there won’t be much time for fun.”

My cell phone chimes loudly from across the room. This is not the first time it’s interrupted one of our moments alone together.

Taylor sighs, rolling her eyes. “That phone is really starting to piss me off.”

I reach for it. I’ve missed several calls and texts from girls I used to hang out with. Shit. Taylor looks down at the phone, a little crease on her forehead.

“Sorry,” I mumble.

She shakes her head. “I’m going to erase all those old contacts from your phone.”

“Hey.” I tilt her chin up to meet my eyes. “I’m sorry, okay. You trust me, right?”

She nods once. “But that doesn’t mean I like it.”

She never fails to tell me exactly how she feels. It’s one of the things I like about her.