HIS Desire: An H.I.S. Novel (H.I.S. series Book 1) (2 page)

“Sure, that’ll be great.”

Josh had been a blind date that hadn’t worked out. They’d become fast friends from the start.

He wove his way to the bar, and Mary leaned in closer to Kate. “Mark called me, asking me to help him get back together with you.”

“Are you kidding me? After all the lying and cheating?”

“Believe me I called him a few choice words and reminded him he was with you only for the money your parents left you.”

Kate chuckled. Mary had been her best friend since they’d grabbed for the same book in the library in their freshman year of college. Mary happened to be her shy, reserved friend who changed into a tiger when it came time to stand up for her friends.

“And what did he say to that?”

“He said,” she paused and took a deep breath.

“It’s okay. I know. Because of my problem, I was lucky he wanted to be with me. Something like that?”

Mary nodded, closely observing Kate’s reaction. “Yeah, something like that.”

“Why didn’t I realize it sooner? No man is going to be serious about me unless he’s after my money.”

Mary reached over and covered Kate’s hand. “That’s not true. There’s someone out there for you. Just be patient.”

Josh returned, bringing the conversation to a halt. “Rylee’s here.”

Rylee Hawkins could always be counted on to dress in the current trend. Tonight she wore tight Levi’s and a faded t-shirt. Her light auburn hair dropped just below her shoulders. As a natural beauty, she could have easily joined her sister as a successful international model. Instead, she’d chosen law enforcement.

She carried herself confidently as she walked through what could be described as nothing other than a gauntlet with man after man trying his luck. She shook her head each time and continued toward the table.

She fell in the chair beside Kate. “Good grief.” She shook her head. “I didn’t think I’d make it over here. Damn drunken men.”

The lights in the bar dimmed as the band prepared to play.

“You’re just in time.” Josh returned to the bar for another beer.

The noise in the bar grew louder as more customers arrived. Although it was a Tuesday night, the band and drink specials packed a crowd at the Bayfront Bar. Kate searched the bar, looking for anyone she knew. Her eyes passed over a tall man with a woman trying to drape herself over him. She stopped and turned back to him. Damn it. Jesse Hamilton. The only man to make her seethe one minute and lust after him the next. The last man she wanted to see this evening.

He stood there devilishly handsome, dressed casually in a pair of jeans and a blue polo that emphasized the muscular body his business suit hid. His jaw hadn’t seen a razor this morning, and the shadow of a beard gave him an even sexier appeal. His short, jet black hair gleamed in the lights and looked as if he’d run his fingers through it a few times. He looked nothing like the man she’d been dealing with.

He caught her eye his smile widened in approval, and he winked at her. Actually winked. To her annoyance, she found herself starting to blush. Damn him.

She turned to avoid his gaze. “How was Vegas, Rylee?”

Rylee’s jaw tightened, and her eyes closed before she released a long, deep breath. She opened her eyes and shrugged as if to dismiss the question. “Fine.”

Kate studied her. Hmm, it wasn’t like her to avoid a question. What had happened?

“Who’s the tall guy at the bar who keeps looking at Kate?” Mary asked the group.

She couldn’t resist and glanced over her shoulder at Jesse.

“That’s Jesse Hamilton. Kate’s partner’s brother.” Rylee smiled. “He and Kate are
perfect
for each other.” She laughed and held her beer bottle up in a toast to Kate. She knew how volatile their relationship happened to be.

Kate shook her head. “Not even close.” She and Jesse? No way. She took a long draw of her beer.

“Kate, you should go for it. It’s been awhile since you got any.”

She almost spewed her beer across the table. It may have been awhile, but she refused to have this conversation with Josh.

Rylee leaned over. “You should go for it. Jesse’s hot.”

Her friends meant well, but this had to be the most awkward conversation to have. “He’s already with someone.”

Josh picked up his beer. “You’re hotter than she is.” He shrugged. “He doesn’t look like he’s into her. Well, we can find someone else. What about that guy in the yellow shirt? He may have long blonde hair, but he’s built and smiling this way.”

She glared at Josh until he realized it was time to stop talking.

After several sets of the band, Kate glanced at her watch and noticed the early morning hour. After telling her friends good night, she left, avoiding a glance toward Jesse.

She rubbed the chills from her arms. Even in early fall when it remained warm, a cool, crisp breeze blew off the Bay.

Her phone beeped. She removed it from her handbag, entered her password for messages and heard her sister Ariana’s voice. “Hi, Kate. Give me a call tomorrow. We’ve got a lot to catch up on. By the way, I booked our spa trip, and you are
not
getting out of it this time.”

She smiled. Before she could delete the message, a knife wielding bum, whose stench should have forewarned her to his presence, confronted her.

“Give me your purse, bitch,” he hissed, pointing a knife at her stomach.

She shrugged and kicked the bum in the crotch. His knife fell with a clatter. He grabbed himself as he fell to his knees, a high pitched sound emanating from his throat.

She reached down to pick up the knife with her left hand, and the bum lunged at her. She tightened her right hand into a fist and came up with an uppercut to the bum’s chin. He staggered back. She tossed the knife behind her, out of the bum’s reach and ignoring the pain in her right hand grabbed his arm, twisted it behind his back then slammed his body against the wall.

The bar door opened. A hand came from behind, clutched her arm and tossed her aside.

What the fuck?
When did bums start having backup?

She moved toward the new threat only to stop short at the sight of Jesse, now holding the bum’s arm.

“What is
wrong
with you? I didn’t need your interference.”

“Well, hell. Here I thought I was being of service protecting a lady,” he drawled.

“As you saw, I had everything under control.”

Jesse looked at the bum. “What the hell, Lucas?” He released him.

Lucas turned and looked at Jesse. His eyes widened, his shoulders dropped in a sign of defeat. “Shit, Jesse. I just wanted her purse. You know I wouldn’t hurt her.”

“Get the hell out of here, and, I don’t want to hear of you bothering her or any other lady again.”

He nodded, then ran down the street, not looking back.

Even in her heels, she knew she could catch him. She stepped around Jesse to chase Lucas but only took two steps before he halted her with a strong hand clamped firmly on her bare arm.

“No, sweetheart. Let him go.”

She rounded on him. After a long pause, during which she fought for self-control, she demanded, “Let go. That dirt-bag held me at knifepoint.”

“I’ll let go, if you don’t run after him. He’s harmless.”

Too far away for her to catch, she saw no reason to prolong her time with Jesse.

She raised her hands, palms out, in an ‘I-give-up’ gesture. “Okay. I won’t chase him, but you’d best hope he doesn’t hurt anyone, or I’ll put your ass in jail. I don’t care who you know.”

He chuckled and released her arm. The cool breeze couldn’t compare to the cold she felt from the loss of the warmth of the personal contact of his hand.

“What the hell are you doing walking by yourself?” He crossed his arms over his chest. The muscles rippling under his shirt quickened her pulse.

Taking a deep, unsteady breath, she backed away, turned on her heels and the back of her head was the next thing he saw. Her feet propelled her in long, purposeful strides down the sidewalk away from him. He caught up to her. His powerful body moved beside her with an easy grace.

“You didn’t answer me.”

She stopped and faced him, fighting something she couldn’t explain. “Look, Mr. Hamilton, you’ve done your chivalrous act of the day, so you can leave me alone.” Why was he bothering her?

He chuckled. The smile in his eyes contained a sensuous flame. “Let’s start over. It’s good to see you again, Kate.” He held his hand out for a handshake.

She looked down at his large hand and wondered what it would feel like on her body.
What the hell was wrong with her?
She spun and walked away.

Again, he caught up to her.

She stopped in mid-stride and swiveled. “Okay. Hello, Jesse. I walk alone because I can take care of myself. Good night.” With that she left him behind, again.

He caught up to her. The warmth of his full and masculine laugh sent shivers down her spine. He’d never laughed when they’d worked the case. He’d always growled and grunted at her.

“Go away, Jesse.”

He stuffed his hands in the front pockets of his jeans. “It’s not safe for a beautiful woman to walk home alone.”

She glanced at him, ready to object, when she stumbled over a cobblestone. He reached out and caught her.

He raised an eyebrow. “How much did you have to drink tonight?”

Embarrassed, she steadied herself, her face feeling impossibly hot. “We’re not going to have sex,” she blurted out, scarcely aware of her own voice.
Where had that come from?

“Sweetheart, I don’t recall asking. But now that you mention it.” He chuckled heartily, an easy smile played at the corners of his mouth.

It took her a minute to regain her senses. She couldn’t believe she’d just said that. “Let me go.”

His thumb caressed her arm sensually before releasing it.

She had to get to her apartment. Something was obviously wrong with her. Maybe she had too much to drink tonight. She quickened her pace down the sidewalk, and he appeared beside her again. Did he really think she needed him to protect her on her walk home? Did he think she couldn’t handle herself? If he did, he would be wrong, so wrong. He might not think her a strong investigator, but she excelled at kicking ass.

“Do you walk home by yourself often?”

She refused to get into a conversation with him.

They arrived at her doorstep. She pulled her keys from her purse and turned to him. She kept all expression from her voice, “Jesse, thank you. Good night.”

His fingers curved under her chin, turning her face up to his, and his lips brushed against hers. “Good night, Kate.”

She dropped her keys on her doorstep.

He smiled and released her.

She picked up her keys and fumbled with them as she inserted the key in the lock. After locking the door behind her, she leaned against it, and her fingers reached up to touch her lips, still warm and moist from his kiss. She closed her eyes and found herself filled with a strange inner excitement. Something about him stirred her. Something that started by looking into those gorgeous golden-brown eyes a month ago.

* * * * *

A large sinister smile slowly spread across the Facilitator’s face while observing the interaction from a darkened doorway across the street. The purpose for tonight’s trip had been to quietly take out the target, but this unexpected change of events screamed for a more inventive plan.

He slid from his hiding place and moved silently down the street, keeping to the shadows, pulling out his cell phone. “I need you to drive in the morning.”

Yes, tomorrow his revenge would finally begin.

CHAPTER TWO

Jesse stood outside Kate’s door until the click of the deadbolt sounded. What had just happened? He’d kissed her, just a light peck, but a kiss nonetheless. He’d been damn lucky she hadn’t hit him.

He wanted to bust down her door, throw her over his shoulder and take her to bed for days. He doubted the caveman thing would work on her.

He adjusted the growing bulge in his jeans. How could she get him this excited so quickly?

His interest had stirred at their introduction, but he had a rule against mixing business with pleasure. She’d been his only challenge to that rule. He’d thought if he kept her angry, kept the venom in her eyes, that it would diminish his desire for her and keep him from wanting to throw her to the ground, pushing himself deep inside her, riding out waves of ecstasy.

It had backfired. He wanted her even more when her cheeks flushed and her temper flared. Arguing with her turned into an aphrodisiac.

A shiver of wanting ran through him as he imagined his hands and lips all over her tight body. Those thoughts made his erection painful, straining against his zipper. He considered knocking, then shook his head and started walking. No, she wouldn’t answer the door. She might shoot him.

He knew he’d pissed her off again tonight. Yeah, she could’ve handled Lucas, but he couldn’t help himself. He wouldn’t let another woman get hurt around him, FBI agent or not.

Jesse walked the few blocks to AJ’s house where he’d crash for the night. Hopefully, since his brother knew he’d be there, he wouldn’t find a naked woman partially covered in whipped cream on the kitchen table watching AJ open a jar of cherries again.

When he finally made it to AJ’s guest room, he still sported a hard-on. A cold shower and his hand hadn’t kept thoughts of Kate naked and under him out of his mind. Maybe he should call someone to help take care of it. No, he wanted Kate.

He’d been drawn to her like no other woman. He had to have her and get her out of his system before he went nuts. She’d never just jump in bed with him, so he had his work cut out for him.

The beginning of a smile tipped the corners of his mouth. Challenge accepted.

* * * * *

Kate had a dire need of caffeine. Her sleep had been interrupted by sensual thoughts of Jesse and that kiss.

She stepped into the short line at Morning Grind, her favorite coffee house, and briefly spoke with her friend Nolan who’d just finished his regular morning run. When Kate reached the front of the line she ordered a cappuccino with an extra shot of espresso. She considered a third shot, but decided she wanted to be awake not wired.