Breaking the Bad Boy (33 page)

“And because I was such an anomaly on the polygraph, you don’t believe me when I say it was merely a story,” she studied Sir Gerard. He was delighted. Realization dawned on her. “He won’t do it. Buck won’t try to get the information from me for you; he’s far too honorable for that sort of devious behavior.” Buck looked at his plate, but she thought she saw his lips move the way they did when he tried to avoid smiling.

“You are a treat, my dear. John resigned from the Bureau when we asked him to do exactly that, so you are correct.”

“You resigned?” She asked Buck.

“I didn’t accept his resignation, he was testing me. Don’t play poker with him, either,” Sir Gerard said.

“Don’t tell her that,” Buck said irritation washing over him again.

“We’d like you to work for us, Joss,” Sir Gerard said.

“The FBI has a desperate need for art historians?” She asked him arching her own eyebrow.

“We have a desperate need for good brains. I don’t know how you were missed when you were in college,” he said.

“That would be the whole Nuremburg debacle,” Joss said. “Thank you, but no, thank you.”

“Don’t be hasty, my dear,” Sir Gerard said.

“How is it an Englishman can be in the FBI? Don’t you have to renounce all ties with other countries? And if that is true, Sir Gerard, wouldn’t your knighthood have been renounced along with it?” Sir Gerard made a small moue and shrugged his thin shoulders.

“Smoke and mirrors, my dear,” he said and stood up. Joss stood as well. Buck sighed and made a big show of getting up out of his chair. “Don’t get up, dear boy,” he said to Buck once he was standing. These two enjoyed vexing each other. “I do believe you’ve met your match in her,” he said shaking Buck’s hand.

“So have you,” Buck said and Sir Gerard threw his head back and laughed.

“Joss, my dear, it has been a true pleasure to meet you. Please consider my offer,” he said and kissed her hand. He and the agent at the door walked out. Joss looked at Buck. He opened his arms and she stepped into his embrace.

“Ain’t gonna happen,” Joss said. The only reason she kept it together when she and Buck were on the run was because he was there loving her and getting her through it safely. The last thing she wanted was to work for the FBI.

“Can we go back to bed now?”

“Yes.”

Joss’s phone rang and she looked at the display. “Oh,” she said. “It’s my boss telling me I’m fired.” Buck kissed the side of her head as she touched the screen. “This is Joss.”

“Joss, is everything okay?” Jeremy asked. She could hear the relief in his voice that she answered the phone. Buck went into the bedroom to give her a little privacy, and she sat on the couch next to Felix. He assumed the optimal belly scratching position and she began to scratch his belly.

“Jeremy, I’m sorry about leaving last night,” she said. “Peter must be pissed.”

“He wasn’t, he was very gracious about it actually. He said he’d had his fill of Durer anyway, and then he mingled with the other guests for almost an hour, promoting the next show.”

“He’s a great guy,” she said.

“Um, Joss, I’ve never spoken to you about your personal life before, but this was unprecedented. What happened? That biker dude practically assaulted you and then you just left with him. I just wanted to make sure you were okay, he looked a little… dangerous,” Jeremy said.

“He
is
dangerous, but I assure you, he’s not a danger to me, everything is fine, Jeremy, thanks for making sure. Hey, am I fired?” She asked.

“Well, I was pretty pissed that you just left, but the… I mean Peter was so cool about it, that I’m not really mad. I am concerned, though, you haven’t been yourself lately. I’d never presume to tell you your business, and it’s clear you’ve been through the wringer, but I’m afraid you’re making bad choices.”

“The trip to my dad’s ranch was bad, Jeremy, I didn’t want to go into it, but it was a very difficult time for me. I am on the road to recovery, though.”

“I’m sorry to hear that, Joss, but it’s not a surprise, you’ve gotten thin and shaky since you got back. We’re concerned for you, but Joss, I don’t want to lose you at the museum, if it’s salary; we can discuss that, okay? Don’t get swept away by the biker, we all thought you were going for Peter.”

“Thanks, Jeremy; I’m afraid it’s too late about the biker, though. I’ll see you Monday, bye.” She touched her screen to end the call before Jeremy could say anymore. It bothered her that she had been the subject of their scrutiny, but it didn’t surprise her in the least. Looking at her phone she decided to text Peter. Be brave, Joss, she thought and called him instead.

“Joss?” He answered his phone on the first ring.

“Hi, Peter,” she said and he was quiet for a few seconds.

“You found your special agent, I see,” he said.

“Yes. Peter, I want to thank you again,” she said.

“So, I’ve only got myself to blame,” he chuckled. “Well, I’m sad that you’ll never look at me like that, but you are obviously crazy about each other, you’d never be satisfied with anyone else. I’m happy for you, Joss, and hey, think of me if it doesn’t work out.”

“Thanks, Peter, you’re a prince,” she said and they said their goodbyes.

***

“Do you want to go out to dinner?”

“I don’t have much in the way of clothing,” he smiled at her.

“Do you want to go get clothing?”

“I wasn’t expecting to need much in the way of clothing around you, but if you’re that eager to eat, I can’t say no.” He looked at his naked body. “Someplace really casual,” he said and they laughed. “Can you take time off and come to
Arizona
and meet my Dine grandfather?”

“Of course. Does that mean Navajo?”

“Mostly.”

“You have long lived relatives.”

“He’s just seventy five, Gerard’s close to ninety. So, if you don’t get me killed I should last a long time,” he kissed her. “Can Brent come, do you think?”

“Here?”

“To our wedding, Duchess. I’m planning our wedding.”

“Oh,” she said.

“I don’t know what you always had planned,” he said turning to her.

“Actually, I never thought I’d find anyone to suit me,” she smiled at him.

“I thought all little girls dreamed of the white wedding,” he raised one perfect eyebrow at her and she shook her head.

“Not all of us. I think I taught myself never to expect a smooth life after Brand.”

“Not surprisingly, I never considered getting married either, at least not until I drove around the state of
Montana
with your arms wrapped around me. I began to fantasize about neighborhood barbeques and it freaked me right out. But at the end of each of those fantasies you took me by the hand and led me to your bed and it suddenly wasn’t so frightening anymore.” Joss leaned in to him and kissed him. He looked shyly at her from under his long lashes. “I would rather not live in the suburbs, I think I need more space, and fewer neighbors coveting my woman.” Joss rolled her eyes.

“So, the city is out?”

“I don’t mind the city. I love this apartment, Joss. I just think I have a particular dread of lawn mowers.” Joss laughed and he reached for her and rolled on his side to face her.

“I would like a traditional Navajo wedding. It would mean a lot to me.” It was a rare thing to hear Buck sound uncertain and she laughed. “Don’t hurt me, Duchess.”

“I just want to be your wife; I don’t care how we get there. A traditional Navajo wedding sounds beautiful. You honor me, John Buckingham.”

“No, you have it backwards,” he kissed her. “Come on, I’m hungry, too.” He got up off the bed and helped her up. Felix watched them dress and went back to sleep. Joss straightened the bed sheets around him. “This is my second day in a row of inactivity, I’m getting stiff.” Joss laughed. “What?”

“If today was a day of inactivity, I can’t wait for the honeymoon,” she said smiling. He pulled her to him.

“It will all be honeymoon, from where the sun now stands,” he said quoting Chief Joseph.

“Oh good. There’s a pool in the basement, let’s swim tomorrow.” She said.

“Joss,” he said and the tone in his voice made her pull away slightly to see his face.

“You’re leaving,” she said.

“Yes, for a few days, that’s all, and then I’ll be here, and we can go to
Arizona
and do this thing.”

“Then let’s order in, why stray from all the comforts of home?” She smiled at him.

“You are a genius.”

***

There was a knock at her office door. “Come,” she called and one of her young assistants poked her head around the door.

“Can I talk to you for a minute?” She asked.

“Sure, Debbi, what’s up?” Joss asked. Debbi came in and looked uncomfortable.

“I need your advice, I think, and maybe your approval,” Debbi said. “And I totally need to get the skinny on the biker!” Joss smiled and gestured to the chair and Debbi sat down. She was a perky
Denver
University
grad student who was well on her way to being courted by some of the biggest museums in the world. Her chestnut hair was short and so was her skirt, and she was smart as a whip.

“So, Friday night,” she began and then hesitated when she saw Joss’s face harden. Joss was never one to be open about her personal life, mostly because she didn’t have any, and it was clearly off limits to ask, but her behavior the other night broke down some boundaries and Debbi felt easier with her all of a sudden.

Joss took a deep breath. She lost her professionalism in three minutes. The scarlet letter was back on her chest.

“You’re wondering who he is?” Joss said carefully.

“Among other things, yes, but really my question has to do with Jeremy,” she said.

“Jeremy?”

“Yes, I was hoping you were so into the biker dude that you would let me go after Jeremy.” Joss simply looked at her. “I don’t want to poach.”

“Debbi, I have no ties to Jeremy, I never have. He’s all yours.”

“Never?” Debbi asked.

“Never. He’s very cute, but he’s really not my type,” she said.

“Not your type? How can he not be your type? He’s so gorgeous!” Debbi didn’t get it.

“I have certain requirements, I guess,” Joss said. Debbi stared at her with her mouth open.

“Like fifty shades of requirements?” Joss laughed out loud.

“No, not quite like that, I need heat, and I haven’t felt it often.”

“Your biker dude does have heat,” Debbi said.

“Yup, for me, my biker dude has a lot of heat.”

“For anybody, he’s hot,” Debbi said and then cleared her throat. “So, how do I get Jeremy to go out with me?” Debbi asked.

“Have you asked him?”

“He’s my boss,” she said.

“Technically I’m your boss,” she said. “Are you sure you want to do this? Dating in the work place?”

“I would like to get to know him, but he spends so much time in his office or your office, it’s hard to strike up a conversation,” she said.