HIS Desire: An H.I.S. Novel (H.I.S. series Book 1) (21 page)

She gasped and shivered.

He put his hand under her chin to turn her head to him. “Tonight, Kate.”

Kate nervously wet her lips, and it drove him crazy.

He closed his eyes. “Dammit. Your guests are arriving.”

Someone knocked on the door.

She’d forgotten to ask about an earpiece for herself.

Breathlessly, she said, “That would be Rylee. She’s here to help me set up.”

“It’s her. This will happen tonight, Kate.”

He unwound his arms from her, moved to the door and opened it.

“Agent Hawkins, you’re early, for once.” Rylee had a habit of almost always being the last to arrive at any gathering, work related or not.

Rylee cocked an eyebrow and smiled. “I like the apron. Are we playing Suzy Homemaker tonight, Jesse?”

He quickly untied the forgotten apron. “Little smartass.”

She walked past him into the apartment. “Hi, Kate.” She held up a bottle. “I knew you’d do Margaritas tonight. I thought we’d try something new, so I brought a Strawberry Margarita mix.”

“I’ve always wanted to try them in strawberry.” Kate wiped her hand on her apron before accepting the bottle.

“Are you women going to get drunk on me?” He needed Kate sober.

“Doubtful, but it doesn’t mean we won’t be having a good time.” Kate smiled. “Josh drives Mary to the dinners, and he doesn’t drink much. Rylee stays the night since her place is so far away.”

His head snapped to a smirking Rylee. No way in hell. Not tonight. He’d pull her aside later. Get her a cab if he needed to. Hell, he’d pay for a hotel room for her. Kate was his tonight. His alone.

Jesse’s cell phone rang. “Excuse me.” He walked out of the kitchen.

“Jesse, we need to talk.”

“Hold on, Dev.” He turned back to Kate, covered the mouthpiece and asked, “Got room for one more?”

She nodded. “Of course.”

He removed his hand from the mouthpiece on his phone. “Come on over. Don’t ask why. Just bring a bottle of Mexican wine.”

* * * * *

In the kitchen, Rylee pulled out the blender and poured in the Margarita ingredients. “So, how’s it going between you two? You’ve been holed up here for a few days. Anything…you know…happening?”

Kate blushed. She remembered the conversation they’d had. “Nothing’s happening.”

“I seriously doubt that.” She stopped any response from Kate by starting the blender.

While the drinks blended, Rylee opened a bag of tortilla chips and put them in a bowl. Kate brought them to the living room, making a return trip with the condiments.

Jesse was sprawled on the couch with his legs stretched out before him, ankles crossed, channel surfing. She’d enjoyed preparing to entertain with him, even though he technically wasn’t a host. It felt like playing house. She reminded herself not to get used to it.

Rylee finished the drinks and poured them each a glass. “Jesse, do you want one?”

“No thanks, I’ll have a beer.” He stood, walked to the refrigerator and pulled out a beer.

“Is it a Mexican beer?”

“What do you think? Kate picked it out for tonight.”

“I’d call you whipped.” Rylee laughed.

“You’d best bite your tongue, squirt.”

Rylee stuck her tongue out at him.

Kate laughed, feeling jovial and jealous at the same time. Rylee and Jesse had a fun relationship. He treated her like a kid sister. She and Ariana had fun as children, but she couldn’t remember ever sticking her tongue out at her sister.

The doorbell rang. “That’ll be Josh and Mary. I’ll get it.” Kate moved toward the door.

He cut her off. “You will not. We’ve been over this. You don’t open the door.”

“But you already know who it is, and I bet it’s Josh and Mary.” She really had to remember to ask for an earpiece.

“It is, but,” he walked to the door, “just to be safe, I’ll get it.”

He ushered Josh and Mary in and looked at Kate.

She stuck her tongue out at him. It felt good, freeing.

“I figured you’d have Margaritas ready, so I brought wine for dinner.” Josh handed her a bottle of a Mexican vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon.

Rylee’s cell phone rang and she groaned. “I’ve got to take this.” She walked away from the group into the small office area.

“Jesse, I see you chose to participate or were forced to drink Mexican beer.” No one mentioned the fading bruises on Josh’s face. “I think I’ll join you.” He grabbed a beer, and the men moved to the couch. Typically, they turned the TV to a sports channel.

Rylee returned. “I’m sorry, but I have to go. I’ll be gone for a while, Kate. I hope all goes well with your doctor appointments.”

Kate’s smile disappeared. The undercover assignment. She’d learned a little about it and worried about Rylee on this one. “I hate you have to leave. Please be smart. Be safe.”

They hugged before Rylee left.

Kate and Mary walked into the kitchen. She frowned at Mary’s fading bruises. “How’re you feeling?”

“I’m better, thanks. I heard Dan took a good beating. He hasn’t bothered me since.”

Kate smiled. Now she knew where Jesse went the other night. She didn’t condone physical abuse, but Dan deserved a taste of his own medicine, especially if it would keep him from Mary. “I’m glad he hasn’t bothered you again.”

“I decided to press charges after all.”

Kate fought jumping for joy. “Mary, I’m so proud of you. What made you finally change your mind?”

“He messed with my friends. I should have done it right after he touched Josh. It was past time I did something. I was being chicken. As long as you and Josh are there with me, I’ll be okay.”

Before Kate could respond, she heard a knock on the door. That must be whoever Jesse invited.

Devon arrived carrying a bottle of a Mexican Chardonnay that he offered to Kate. “This is for my party-crashing.” He smiled with that angelic smile that probably had women dropping their panties. He was a handsome man. Not as handsome as Jesse but handsome all the same. He wore his curly black hair a little long. It didn’t touch his shoulders, but it was longer than any of his brothers’.

“Thanks, Devon. You didn’t need to do this, but we appreciate it. Let me introduce you to everyone.” She introduced him around then he and Jesse disappeared into her office area, talking quietly.

She was not going to let them exclude her. They’d have to wait until Mary and Josh left to talk. And she’d be a part of that talk.

“Dinner’s served.”

They sat around the table, passing around platters of food. Josh started the conversation. “I was listening to what the radio hosts call Dumbasses of the Day this morning. A guy held up a store wearing a ski mask. He left but had forgotten his gun. When he realized it, he went back into the store. The dumbass had already taken off his mask, and the clerk recognized him. The clerk had also taken his gun off the counter. So he began to argue with the clerk about returning his gun all the time not realizing he didn’t have his mask on. He finally gave up and left. He was surprised when the police showed up at his house. He couldn’t understand how they knew he was the robber.”

They all laughed.

“Some people are not too bright.” Jesse dished out more enchiladas.

Talk about current events dominated the dinner conversation. Everyone avoided their two problems – Dan and the Facilitator.

They finished an enjoyable dinner, refreshed their drinks and went into the living room.

“Thank you for dinner.” Devon’s smile was infectious. “It was nice of you to include me.”

“Kate, as always, you outdid yourself.” Josh tilted his beer bottle to her in a toast motion.

Mary rubbed her stomach. “It was delicious, Kate. I like that new desert. You’re amazing in the kitchen.”

Kate waved her injured hand, embarrassed at all of the praise. “Jesse did most of the work tonight.”

Devon gave his brother a sly grin. She couldn’t decipher the look that passed between them. Was Devon silently laughing about Jesse helping out in the kitchen?

“I’d say that I’d help do the dishes, but I know you won’t let me.” Mary set her drink on the coffee table.

“You’re right. I’ll take care of it. That’s what the dishwasher is for. You’re here to relax and have fun. How’s it going at work?”

Mary Thompson worked as an enrollment advisor at the local university. She established such a great connection with new students when they enrolled that they kept in touch with her throughout their program and after graduation. She loved what she did.

“Same ole, same ole. A man called in and wanted to know how much he had to pay to get his doctorate. When I quoted him the price, he said that was too high for him. He asked how much it would be to buy the piece of paper saying he had his doctorate.”

Josh raised his eyebrows. “He didn’t! You’re a prestigious school. How could someone think they could just buy their degree from you like some diploma mill?”

“They try it all the time. There are even some who say because they paid for their program, they should get the degree whether they finished the work or not. People are wacko.”

They laughed.

“Mary, I don’t believe I’ve ever heard you use the word wacko.”

“Well, today, Kate, the word fit.”

“So, are we here to tell all of Kate’s most embarrassing moments or is Devon going to regale us with Jesse’s embarrassing secrets?” Josh smiled.

Kate didn’t hesitate. “I go for Devon telling the stories.”

Jesse’s evil glare didn’t faze her.

“I dare my brother to tell stories about me.”

“You don’t scare me. You stopped scaring me when I turned fifteen.” Devon laughed.

“We’re all ears.” Josh moved forward on the couch.

Devon cleared his throat. “Well let’s just say that Jesse was a daredevil. When he was six, he thought himself Superman.”

Jesse groaned. “Not this story.”

“Well, he wore his cape everywhere. He had Superman pajamas and underwear, which he wore on the outside of his pajama pants.”

Jesse didn’t hide his displeasure at their laughter.

“He decided he had super powers, and one of those powers was to fly. He climbed up the old oak beside the house and took a nose dive out of it. He broke his arm but still insisted he could fly, that some Kryptonite must’ve been nearby.”

“It wasn’t funny at the time.” Jesse’s scowl grew.

“He swore we were trying to take away his powers.”

“I still believe you put Kryptonite near there.”

Laughter filled the room. Even Jesse laughed this time.

“Let’s see. Oh, the twins were pranksters. Well, still are, but one day they decided to get back at Jesse for his not letting them go to their friend’s party. As soon as Jesse left his room each morning, they poured water on his bed. They did it every morning for a week and told our dad Jesse had been wetting the bed. Now, Jesse was seventeen at the time. Dad believed the twins after the maid confirmed his sheets were wet every morning. Dad wanted to take him to a specialist so he wouldn’t wet the bed any longer at his age.”

“That was embarrassing. I couldn’t believe he believed those little brats.” Jesse shook his head.

“It was a simple payback that turned into a much better revenge than they’d imagined.”

After a few more stories, Josh stood. “I love the stories, but I think it’s time we leave. I have to be to work early tomorrow. I had a good time. Sorry it was mostly at your expense, Jesse.”

“Glad I could oblige you.”

Mary stood. “Thanks, Kate. I had fun tonight.”

Kate walked them to the door and gave each of them a hug before they left. She walked back into the living room.

“Now boys, what’s going on?”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Only bad news was delivered in person by a reluctant messenger. Whatever Devon had to say, Kate could deal with it. H.I.S. had the best investigators and protection specialists working this case. She wasn’t sure when her loyalty to solving the case shifted from the FBI to H.I.S., but she didn’t feel regretful about it. She trusted Jesse and his team with her life.

She put her hand on her hip and narrowed her eyes at Devon. “Spill it.”

He looked anxiously at Jesse who nodded, presumably giving him permission to talk in front of her. She’d tackle that action later. This involved her. They wouldn’t be allowed to keep any secrets from her.

“We’ve cleared our last three suspects. Joe had a lead on Ed, the driver, but when he got there it was too late. Ed had already moved on.”

“Dammit.” Jesse’s expression tightened. He fisted his hands at his sides.

Her shoulders sagged like a weight of an elephant had dropped on them. They had nothing. This maniac had the upper-hand. He could be anywhere, be anyone. “What about other cases of Jesse’s? Did you find anything there?”

“Nothing stood out.”

“What about the money? Have you followed it?”

He shook his head. “Without a starting, ending place, amount or dates, there’s nothing to follow. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still searching. AJ just gave me the names of people they suspected hired the Facilitator. It’s possible I can find something that can lead us to him. If it’s there, I’ll find it.”

“What if we use me as bait to draw him out?” She could end this, even if it meant she had to bare the heartache of losing Jesse because his job had ended.

The brothers stood at the same time. “No!”

She started at the force of their response. “Why not? I’m a trained FBI agent. I can do whatever needs to be done.”

Jesse walked to her and pulled her hand into his. “Let’s sit and talk about this.”

She followed him to the couch where he sat close to her, the heat of his thigh touching her sent shivers through her body.

“We don’t know what we’re up against. I won’t let you risk it.”

She snatched her hand from his. “Won’t
let
me? Jesse Hamilton, you don’t own me. If I want to be bait, I
will
damn well be bait.”

“Kate, let’s listen to all that Devon has to tell us.”

She might have overacted. A little bit. But, she decided what she did or didn’t do. “Okay.” She refocused her attention. “Go ahead, Devon.”

He looked at her then Jesse, a bewildered look on his face. He looked back at Kate. “Steve is on the street looking for information. He’s posing as someone who needs to hire the Facilitator.”