Crime and Punishment 4: Burning Submission (2 page)

“Sorry,” she said with a nervous laugh. “I guess I was doing something inside that built up electricity. I didn’t mean to shock you.”

Josh frowned. Was that what it had been? “It’s fine,” he replied. “Remodeling will do that sometimes.”

Linda drew in a deep breath and put a hand on each of their shoulders. “Well, now that you’ve met, why don’t I show Josh his room, and you can make us some tea.”

Josh raised an eyebrow. “I’m staying here?”

Linda tugged at his ear. “Of course you are, dear. Where else did you think you were staying?”

Josh started to say something, but Jennifer cut him off. “There aren’t any hotels close by. Besides, if Linda trusts you, then I trust you. But keep in mind, I sleep with a cattle prod as well as a tire iron.”

Fighting his grin, Josh watched her turn and walk back into the house.

Chapter Two

Jennifer pulled three cups down from the cabinet and set them on the counter. She added rock sugar and tea bags, then tap water. Glancing over her shoulder to make sure her guests were still upstairs, she placed a hand over one of the cups.

Heat began to build, warming her palm and sending steam through the cracks between her fingers. She could do this now almost without even thinking about it. It had become as simple as breathing. She repeated the process with each cup and turned to set them on the table just as Josh and Linda came back into the room.

“It’s Earl Grey. I hope that’s okay. It’s all I have right now,” Jennifer said as she pulled out a chair and sat down.

“That’s fine,” Josh replied as he too pulled out a chair.

He sat down, and the wood creaked from his weight. He wasn’t fat, but with all that muscle, he had to weigh well over two hundred pounds. It was no wonder the wood screamed in protest. His brow creased into a frown, and he glanced uncertainly down at the chair before standing again.

Jennifer giggled and lifted her cup to blow across the top. “This table came with the house. It’s old and even makes noises when I sit down. It’s solid wood, though, so I’m sure it will hold you,” she said.

Josh harrumphed softly. “I need to stand for a while anyway. It was a long drive.”

Jennifer nodded. “I’d say it was.”

“So what are your plans for this place?” he asked.

She set her cup down and ran the tip of her middle finger around the edge, reheating the water. She didn’t like for her tea to go lukewarm. She looked up and caught Josh watching her finger, so she stopped and wrapped her hands around the mug.

“I don’t want it to look modern. I want to keep the old feel. Maybe find a few antiques to decorate it. I would definitely like to add a gazebo to the front porch on the corner, opposite the rounded tower.”

Josh nodded in agreement. “That would be nice.”

“And a deck on the back with an outdoor kitchen.”

He raised an eyebrow as he took a sip of the tea. “What’s your budget?”

She shrugged. “Whatever it takes.”

Linda turned to face Josh. “Jennifer has an inheritance from her parents. It’s pretty substantial.”

Josh swallowed a sip of tea before shaking his head. “You don’t have to explain anything, Linda. I just wanted a ballpark so I would know what we could or couldn’t do. Remodeling can get expensive.”

Jennifer stared at her tea and listened to the deep rumble of Josh’s voice. He had a nice voice. It made her feel calm. But how calm would that voice remain if he knew?

“Isn’t that right, dear?”

Linda’s question drew her away from her thoughts. Jennifer frowned slightly as she tried to remember what Linda had asked. “I’m sorry. What?”

“I told him the first thing you wanted to tackle was the fireplace in the living room.”

Jennifer gave a nod. “Yes. It’s approaching fall, so I would like to have a fire.”

“That’s easy enough. Have you had the chimney checked?”

She stood and walked over to the sink so she could rinse out her cup. “Yeah. It all has to be redone. I’ve already ordered a new firebox and chimney piping. It should be here sometime this week.”

Linda’s phone rang, and she quickly moved to grab it from her purse. “It’s my husband. I’ll take this outside while you two talk.”

Jennifer watched her go, then shook her head.

“Jennifer,” Josh said.

She lifted her gaze to his and felt tingles move between them. What the hell was this? “Yes?”

“Are you okay with me being here like this?” he asked, concern darkening his eyes.

“Linda vouches for you, and I trust her.” She waved toward his chest and asked, “What about you? Are you sure you should be doing this work?”

Josh’s lips twitched as he glanced down at his chest and rubbed between his pecs. “I can’t lift anything too heavy, but I’m fine. Besides, if I didn’t do this, I’d just be bored out of my mind at home with nothing to do.”

He dropped his hand and smiled. Jennifer’s heart skipped a beat. It wasn’t big, almost barely there, but it was enough to make her melt.

She turned away and walked back to the table, trying to take her mind off the things he shouldn’t be making her feel. The last man she’d developed feelings for had betrayed her in the worst possible way. How did she know Josh wouldn’t do the same thing?

“I’ll try not to wear you out too much,” she said as she pushed the chair back under the table. “Do you want to see the fireplace?”

He pursed his lips and gave a quick tilt of his head to the side. “Sure.”

She headed out of the kitchen and down the hall into the living room. The fireplace took up the far wall and had a beautiful mantel that was covered in decades of paint and stain. She ran her hand lovingly over the shelf. “I’d really like to redo this. Take it down to the original wood.”

Josh walked to the fireplace and brushed his thumb over the curved corner. “That will be a job. There’re lots of deep grooves in the leaf design.”

“I know, but I think it would be worth it. What about built-in bookshelves on either side?” she asked.

Josh stepped back and studied the wall. “It could be done.”

She admired his physique from the corner of her eye. He was definitely over six feet. Jeans hugged trim hips and thick thighs. The blue of his shirt darkened the blue of his eyes, especially in the dim interior of the house. In here, she also didn’t notice the gray in his hair as much.

“How old are you?” she blurted out, then felt the heat of a blush cover her cheeks. She sighed and closed her eyes for a second before saying, “I’m sorry. That is none of my business.”

Josh laughed. “It’s no big deal. I’m forty. Men don’t fret over age as much as women do.”

“Well, that’s because you have the better end of the deal. As men age, they become more distinguished and attractive. As women age, they just get older.”

One side of Josh’s mouth lifted in amusement. “Don’t tell Linda that. She still believes she’s twenty-five.”

Jennifer snorted. “Tell me about it. Half the time I can’t even keep up with her. The woman runs circles around me, and she’s over twice my age.”

“How do you know Linda?” he asked.

“She and my mother were friends.”

“Were?”

Jennifer glanced back at the mantel and rubbed the pad of her thumb over the corner of the shelf. He was so easy to talk to; she had an insane desire to spill the truth. She couldn’t. Not to him. Not to anyone. Only Linda knew the truth.

“My parents died about two years ago.”

“I’m sorry,” Josh said softly.

She kept her gaze down and away. She knew if she looked at him, she’d want to run into his arms. What was it about this man that had her defenses wanting to drop? That was dangerous—for her and for him.

Chapter Three

Josh had a sinking feeling Jennifer was hiding something. Unfortunately, he couldn’t dig. He was here to help her with the house and nothing more. He wanted to ask her questions. But he knew from experience that if he dug too much, she would withdraw.

And he found he didn’t want her to.

He liked her. There was something about her. She seemed cold and distant, although occasionally he caught a glimpse of a softer, teasing side. He imagined she liked to laugh, but he got the impression that wasn’t something she did very often. Sadness filled her eyes, especially when she talked about her parents.

He’d seen that haunted look before in military friends who’d gone off to war, in victims who’d survived tremendous violence and anguish. He’d seen it in his friend Nathan’s eyes when he blamed himself for his fiancée’s death at the hand of a serial killer. Nathan was happy now with Connelly, and that haunted look was gone, but…Jennifer’s wasn’t.

What had caused it? The FBI agent in him wanted to solve the mystery. The man in him wanted to get to know the girl. And she was a girl. God, she was at least ten years younger than him. He had no business, but damn if he couldn’t stop staring at that round ass of hers. In those jeans it looked incredibly spankable.

“Are you seriously staring at my ass?”

Josh looked up at her in surprise—both that he’d been caught and that she’d actually called him out on it.

He cringed. “Caught me. Sorry.”

She snorted, but amusement sparkled in her eyes. “No, you’re not.” She pointed her finger at him. “I’m going to have to keep my eye on you, aren’t I?”

Josh chuckled.

Jennifer rolled her eyes, and then her lips spread into a resigned but teasing smile that looked good on her. “I guess you’ll definitely make things interesting around here.”

“Interesting could be good.”

“Yeah,” she acknowledged. “Interesting can also be trouble.”

Josh started to say she had nothing to worry about from him, but Linda walked into the room and interrupted him. “I see the two of you are already hard at work.”

Josh snickered. “We’re talking. Hardly working.”

“Well, talking is making progress. So, do you think the two of you are going to be okay?” she asked.

Josh and Jennifer looked at each other. “We’re going to be fine,” Jennifer said.

Linda smiled, obviously pleased with herself. “Good.”

Josh frowned slightly at the older woman. Was there something more to this? He wouldn’t put it past her. Linda had an obsession with matchmaking, and as much as she would probably argue the contrary, Josh had a sinking feeling that was what she might have in mind here.

Her intentions were good, and he always appreciated her efforts, but Josh wasn’t interested in a relationship. Been there, done that, and had the scars to prove it. He worked too much, had too many demons to deal with. He tried to make relationships work, but he always put his job first, and that never sat well with the women of his past.

When his last girlfriend cheated on him because he was never there, he decided to call it quits and just accept that he would be a bachelor the rest of his life. Most of the time he stayed so busy he didn’t notice he was alone.

Most of the time.

“I’ll leave the two of you to get started, then,” Linda said as she walked over and gave Jennifer a hug. “Bye, sweetie. I’m just a phone call away if you need me.”

“I know. Thank you, Linda. For everything,” Jennifer murmured as she held tight to Linda.

Josh watched the exchange in silence. When Linda pulled away, Josh said, “I’ll walk out with you.”

She nodded and started to lift her suitcase by the front door, but Josh pushed her hand away. “I got it.”

“Josh, that’s awfully heavy,” she admonished.

“It’s fine.” Josh lifted the large bag and winced at the pulling in his chest.

“Josh, put that down,” Linda snapped.

He shook his head stubbornly. “I’m fine. I swear.”

He waved for her to open the door. She scowled at him but held the screen door open so he could step outside.

“Are all Doms as stubborn as you?” she asked.

Josh stopped and looked back at her in surprise.

Her eyes sparkled with devilment as she walked past him toward her car. “You didn’t think I knew that? I’m married to one, dear. I know one when I see one.”

Josh sighed as he fell into step behind her. “You never cease to amaze me, woman.”

Linda laughed as she used her key fob to open the trunk of her Chevy Traverse. Josh lifted the suitcase into the back and slid it up against the seats.

“She’s not like other girls, Josh,” Linda said softly.

Josh straightened and turned to stare at her. “Meaning?”

Linda licked her lips, and a strange wariness crept into her features, making the hairs on Josh’s neck stand on end.

“Is there something you’re not telling me? About her or this ex-husband of hers?”

“Just keep an eye on her. She’s been through a lot. Too much for someone so young. She’s strong, though. Much stronger than I believe I could’ve ever been under the same circumstances.”

Josh frowned. “What the hell happened to her?”

“She hasn’t told me everything. But I do know she wasn’t just abused but tortured, manipulated, drugged. When she showed up at my house, she was still having issues with withdrawals. I don’t know what they had her on, but there for a while, I wasn’t sure she would be okay.”

Josh raised an eyebrow. “They?”

Linda shook her head and waved a hand, dismissing it. “I meant he.”

“Really?” he replied skeptically.

She sighed. “I know that you know I’m not telling you all I know. Jennifer will have to tell you the rest, if and when she’s ready.”

“Will what I don’t know affect my ability to protect her or put our lives further in danger?”

She again licked her lips in a gesture that Josh was beginning to recognize as nervousness. “I don’t think so. You’re good at what you do, Josh. I know you’ll keep her safe, and you’re where you’re supposed to be.”

Josh put his hands on his hips and glanced away briefly before turning back. “Know it how, Linda? Is this more of your witchy knowledge?”

She swatted him on the shoulder. “I’ll have you know, smart-ass, that my
witchy knowledge
, as you like to call it, has never been wrong.”

He would have to agree with her on that one. He wasn’t sure how she did it. Wasn’t even sure he wanted to know. But somehow, she knew things.