Much More Than a Mistress (14 page)

Jane had no idea her sister felt that way. Mary always seemed so confident in the fact that she was better than everyone else.

The waiter deposited Jane's drink and the bill at the table. She took a sip then told her sister, “You aren't an idiot. Idiots are not accepted into law school.”

“No, but do you think I like knowing that you're always going to be a better lawyer than me, even though you've never applied yourself?”

“Never
applied
myself?” Was she kidding? “I was never given the chance. I got stuck in the back doing everyone else's grunt work.”

“Oh, poor Jane. I am so
sick
of that self-righteous bull. When did you show even an ounce of motivation to do more? Do you think the rest of us built a client base by just sitting back and letting cases fall in our laps? We've all worked damned hard building our careers. What makes you think you deserve special treatment? A higher GPA? Well, I hate to break it to you, baby sister, but that's not the way it works in the real world.”

Jane didn't know what to say. Maybe she could have been more aggressive. Maybe, because school had come so easy to her, she expected the same in her career? And now that she thought about it, was it any different at Edwin Associates? If the undercover position hadn't literally fallen into her lap, would she have spent years feeling unappreciated, and passed over when it was no one's fault but her own? “I guess I've just always felt that you guys were trying to hold me back.”

“The only one holding you back is
you.
Not that I'm complaining. It worked out great for me. All your hard work made me look good.”

“And now that I'm gone?”

Mary leaned forward, imploring her, “Please come back.”

The sudden plea surprised her. She'd been taunted and badgered about leaving the practice, she'd been made to feel she was an outcast, but never once had anyone asked her to come back.

“Mom and Dad are too proud to say so, but they miss you, and they
need
you there. We all do.”

She scoffed. “I seriously doubt that.”

Mary shook her head. “See, there you go underestimating yourself again.”

She was right.

“If this was some sort of protest against the family, hasn't it gone on long enough?”

“It wasn't like that. I just wanted to try something…different. I felt underappreciated.”

“They appreciate you. Believe me. Even if they don't know how to express it. And they're driving
me
crazy!”

“Better you than me.”

“You should come back. Unless you're really happy in your
new
job,” Mary said. “Which, by the way, I know for a fact is
not
at Anderson Tech. I have a friend from college who works there.”

Damn. If she had known that, she would have picked a different company. “You didn't tell anyone?”

She shrugged. “I figured if you were going to lie, you had a pretty good reason.”

“I would have told Mom and Dad the truth, but I knew they would be upset, and it wouldn't be worth the hassle. They would just tell me I'm wasting my law degree.”

“What are you doing?”

“Something they definitely wouldn't approve of.”

Mary gasped and said in a hushed voice, “Are you a
stripper?
”

Jane laughed. “Of course not! Why would even you think that?”

“Well, there's your new
look
and you definitely have the body for it.”

“Are you forgetting that I'm slightly lacking in the breast department?”

“You're proportional. Besides, a lot of men go for that look.”

“Well, I'm not a stripper. It's nothing that racy.”

Mary leaned in closer. “So what is it?”

She wondered if she could trust her sister with the truth. “You have to swear not to tell anyone. Not Mom and Dad, or the boys. And especially not Jordan.”

She looked puzzled. “He doesn't know where you work?”

“You have to
promise.
”

“
Okay,
I won't tell a soul, I promise.”

She told Mary about Edwin Associates, and that she was on her first undercover assignment.

“Not racy! Oh my God, are you kidding? That is so cool.” She laughed and shook her head. “I am, like, so completely impressed right now. It must be so exciting.”

Exciting? Maybe it should have been, but in reality the lying made her stomach knot and the sneaking around gave her anxiety. Yes, it was only her first assignment, but she was beginning to believe that she just didn't possess the killer instinct.

If she was being totally honest with herself, the only thing she really enjoyed about the job was spending time with Jordan.

“Mary, I hate it.”

“What? Why?”

“I was going crazy cooped up in that dinky little cubicle
they put me in. I wanted to be out in the field, where the excitement is, but the truth is, I'm not any good at it.”

“I find that really hard to believe. You excel at everything you do. You always have.”

“I fell in love with the man I'm supposed to be investigating.”

Her mouth fell open. “Oh my God, are you investigating
Jordan Everette?
”

“Shh! Keep your voice down.”

Mary slapped a hand over her mouth. “Sorry!”

Jane leaned in closer and said quietly, “I've been working as a temp secretary in his office.”

“And things got hot and steamy? Sounds like a porno movie.”

Jane laughed and kicked her under the table. “We've never done anything at work. And it wasn't like I went after him. He pursued me.”

“I'm not surprised. Clearly the man has it bad for you. The way he was looking at you the other night…
wow.
I can't even remember the last time a man looked at me that way. I always knew you could do better than Drake the snake.”

“Drake the
what?
”

“Drake the snake. That's what the family has been calling him since he left you for Megan.”

“He did me a favor.”

“Obviously, because now you're in love with a man who's rich and powerful and
gorgeous,
who seems to worship the ground you walk on.”

“And who is going to hate my guts when he learns who I really am.”

“Hmm, that could be a problem. Not to mention that you're still investigating him, right? For all you know he may be guilty.”

She shook her head. “No, if you knew him, you would know he isn't capable of hurting anyone.”

“Because after a week you know him that well? Sounds like maybe you're not being objective.”

Mary was right. Without a shred of proof she already had him exonerated. “As I said, I suck at this.”

“So quit.”

“I can't.”

“If you don't like it, why not?”

Because the minute she did, it was going to be over for her and Jordan. He would learn the truth. “I'm just not ready to give up yet.”

“What you mean is, you're not ready to give
him
up.”

Exactly. The longer she dragged this out, the longer she could be with Jordan.

And the more it would hurt when it was over.

D
espite the doctor's warning that she might never talk normally again, in the three weeks since her stroke, Jordan's mom had been defying the odds. Though he and Nathan had both feared that the embarrassment of having an impediment would hamper her recovery, and maybe cause her to hide herself away, they couldn't have been more wrong. She had welcomed visits from her friends and held her head high when her speech necessitated her repeating things to be understood. Only ten days after her discharge she returned to her bridge club and even attended a charity luncheon.

Even more remarkable was the way the stroke had changed her. Jordan didn't know if it was the damage to her brain, or simply the realization that she wasn't invincible, and life was precious, but she suddenly seemed to realize how important her family was to her. She welcomed visits from her sons and Nathan had even begun bringing Ana
and Max to see her. For someone who had no interest in her own children, she was turning out to be a doting grandmother.

But the weirdest thing by far was her relationship with Jordan's dad. He'd been spending an excessive amount of time at her place. So excessive that his fiancée packed her things and moved back to Seattle. Jordan had never heard his parents utter so much as a single kind word to each other, but now it seemed that they had finally connected. Jordan wasn't sure if it would last, but for his father's sake he hoped so.

And then there was Jane. Despite nearing the three week mark, when normally he would begin to get bored with a woman—especially one he was spending nearly every waking moment with, he found her more intriguing and more desirable every day.

He wished her part of the investigation would finally close so that they could have a normal relationship. He wanted to take her out in public, do the normal things that couples do. A nice dinner and a trip to the theater or even just burgers and a movie. She was fanatical about them not being seen together in anything other than a professional capacity. He was getting tired of the sneaking around.

What he didn't get was, what was taking so long? He knew for a fact that she'd had more than adequate opportunity to search both his office at work and at home. He made sure that she had access to his computer and all but a select few of his financial files. There wasn't much about him that she didn't know, or have access to, yet they were still playing this game and there seemed to be no end in sight.

There was one thing he was going to miss when she was done though. Jane was an awesome secretary. In some ways even better than Tiffany. And God knows he'd kept
her busy. With an equipment upgrade happening in just two days, followed by a vigorous safety inspection, Jordan had been spending more and more time at the refinery. It was during the last upgrade that the sabotage occurred, and tensions were high both at the refinery and the corporate office. As COO, the responsibility of keeping the men safe fell almost entirely on Jordan. This time before they brought the equipment back online, he planned to personally inspect every inch of the line.

The Friday before the scheduled maintenance, he was going over a few last minute changes to the schedule when Jane buzzed him.

“You have a call on line one from a Peter Burke.”

Jordan tensed. Peter Burke was a manager at the refinery. However, Jordan suspected that his call had nothing to do with a work matter. They had discussed this and Peter knew better than to call Jordan at the office regarding personal matters.

“I've got it,” he told Jane. “And could you please close my door?”

“Of course.” She disconnected and appeared in his office doorway. She flashed him a smile, then closed the door.

He took a deep breath, then picked up line one. “Peter, what the hell are you doing calling me here?”

“I've tried you at home and on your cell. I've left you messages. I can't talk to you at the refinery.”

“I would have gotten back to you when I had the time.”

“Jordan, I'm desperate.”

“I told you that I would get you the money and I will.”

“But if I don't get it soon—”

“Now just isn't a good time. With the upgrade next week
everyone
is under scrutiny. Especially the refinery workers.”

He cursed under his breath. “I'm sorry, Jordan. Maybe I should just come clean, tell everyone the truth.”

“And risk losing your job, and your family?”

“Considering what I've done, maybe they would be better off without me. If I don't get the money soon, it might be out of my hands.”

He closed his eyes and sighed. It was emotional blackmail. He never should have let himself get pulled into this mess. “Look, I have about half in cash in my safe at home. Will that be enough to hold you until I can get my hands on the rest?”

“That would be great,” he said sounding relieved.

“This time, I want you to get some help, Peter.”

“I will. I promise. I won't screw this up again.”

“I'll get the money together and call you with a meeting place.”

“Thanks, Jordan. I owe you.”

He certainly did. But this was the last time.

He grabbed his coat and headed out of his office, wondering for a fleeting moment if Jane could have been listening in on his phone conversation, but she was at her desk, talking on her cell phone. She looked up at him and smiled. “Mary, I have to let you go. I'll call you later.” She hung up and said, “Sorry about that.”

“Your sister?”

“Yeah, she was giving me another lecture on the virtues of coming back to work for my parents.”

She had been weighing the pros and cons of going back to the family practice for a couple of weeks now. Personally, he thought it was an excellent idea. “Still haven't made up your mind?”

“I'll probably do it, if for no other reason than I'm running out of money.” She grinned. “I guess I sort of like making her beg.”

He laughed. She was starting to sound more and more like him all the time. But he was glad she was patching things up with her family. It seemed they were both doing a bit of that lately.

“You're leaving for the refinery already?” she asked.

“Yeah, I have a stop to make on the way there. Do you have that equipment list I asked for?”

“Right here,” she said, grabbing the folder from the corner of her desk and handing it to him. “Are we still on for tonight?”

“Absolutely. Do you want to cook or pick something up?”

“I doubt I'll be done here before six, then I have to go home and change, and I would have to stop at the market—”

“Takeout it is. Unless you want to go to a restaurant somewhere.” At her exasperated look he shrugged and said, “It was just an idea.”

“I'll see you tonight.” She smiled up at him. She looked like her normal self, but when he looked deeper there was something in her eyes…what if she had been listening? She could have taken what he said completely out of context. But she knew him, and she had to know by now that he was one of the good guys, that he wouldn't deliberately do anything to hurt anyone. She had to care about him as much as he cared for her.

He had this burning need, this sudden desire to hear her say the words.

“Come here.” He took her hand and pulled her up out of her chair, leading her into his office and shutting the door.

“Jordan, what are you—” She let out a soft gasp as he pulled her into his arms, and when he kissed her, she melted against him.

He gazed down at her, cupping her face in his hands. “I love you, Jane. I've never said that to a woman. But I need you to know how much you mean to me.”

She smiled up at him. “I love you too, Jordan.”

He closed his eyes and pressed his forehead to hers. He never imagined that hearing those words would feel so good. So why, as he kissed her goodbye and walked out, did he have the sinking feeling that something just wasn't right?

Maybe his guilty conscience was finally getting the best of him.

 

Jane sat at her desk, replaying Jordan's conversation on the mini digital recorder, trying to come up with some logical explanation for what was said, feeling sick all the way down to her soul because she knew what she had to do.

She had been so certain that he was innocent, that he would never do anything to hurt anyone. She still couldn't wrap her head around it, couldn't make herself believe it. Whether or not he was actually paying this Peter Burke person a bribe to tamper with equipment, she couldn't sit back and do nothing. If she didn't report this, and there was another explosion, if people were hurt because she had proof but did nothing, she would never be able to live with herself.

Jordan's sudden declaration of love wasn't making this any easier. It was almost as if he knew who she was, knew she was listening, and suspected that she would turn him in. Maybe he thought that telling her he loved her would change her mind.

But how could he know? Wouldn't he have said something?

Though she had strict instructions to take all new
information directly to her boss at Edwin Associates, she just couldn't do it. She palmed the mini recorder and walked down the hall to Mr. Blair's office, hands trembling, heart beating so hard her chest ached.

She must have looked as bad as she felt. When Bren saw her, she frowned and said, “Honey are you okay?”

Come on Jane, pull it together, be a professional.

“I need to see him,” she told Bren. “It's urgent.”

She picked up the phone and buzzed her boss, relaying the message, then she told Jane, “Go on in.”

Swallowing back her distress, and squaring her shoulders, she walked into Adam Blaire's office.

He rose from his seat, “Miss Monroe.”

“I have something I need you to listen to.” She pressed Play and handed him the digital recorder.

He sat back down, stone-faced as he listened to the entire conversation. When it was over he hit Stop, then muttered a curse that she didn't think men as polished as him uttered in mixed company. Then he looked up at her and said, “Sorry.”

“It's okay.”

“Has anyone else heard this?”

She shook her head. “I thought it would be best if I gave it to you first.”

“You did the right thing. Where is he now?”

“On his way to the refinery.”

He picked up the phone and dialed his secretary. “Get Jordan back here immediately. Tell him to come straight to my office. It's urgent.” He hung up and gestured to the chair across from his desk. “Have a seat, Miss Monroe.”

He wanted her to
stay?
The information she'd gathered was quite possibly about to ruin Jordan's career,
his life,
and Mr. Blair wanted her to watch? She knew there were people who relished this moment, took personal and
professional pride in bringing down the bad guys, but she felt like garbage.

Jordan had told her he loved her, and she had betrayed him.

God, she hated this job, and the second she was out of here, she was going back to the office and submitting her resignation. After that she was going to see her parents, and she would
beg
for her old job back if she had to. She would rather work in a fast-food burger joint earning minimum wage than put herself through this again.

“Miss Monroe?”

She looked up and realized Mr. Blair was watching her. “Huh?”

“Are you okay?”

Other than the fact that she felt like she might be sick? “I'm fine. I just…”

“You like him.”

Was she that transparent? She bit her lip and nodded. “He's just so…so…”

“Charming? Personable?”

Not to mention sweet and sexy and generous and kind. “I didn't expect to find evidence against him.”

“There's still a chance that there's a reasonable explanation.”

He didn't believe that, and neither did she.

“You two have become…close?” he asked.

She no longer had to worry about her career as an investigator. It was over. She didn't see any point in lying to him. Besides, when Jordan walked in and saw her there, he was going to be furious. Adam would have to be a moron not to realize that something had happened. And he was no moron.

She nodded. “I didn't mean for it to happen.”

He smiled, which he didn't seem to do very often. “We never do, do we?”

“I can't do this again. I'm going back to the law.”

His brows rose. “You're a lawyer?”

She nodded. “I left our family practice and started working at Edwin Associates six months ago. This was my first undercover assignment.”

“For what it's worth, I never would have guessed. You gave the impression of being a seasoned professional. And if you're looking for a job, I'm sure we can find a place for you in our law department.”

“I appreciate that,” she said, but once she left today, she would never set foot in the Western Oil corporate headquarters ever again. It would be too awkward.

The door opened and Jordan walked in, still wearing his coat, and Jane's heart sank to her toes.

“You wanted to see me,” he said.

Mr. Blair stood, and motioned Jane to come stand to the side of him. “That was awfully quick.”

“I hadn't left yet. I was grabbing a sandwich in the coffee shop to eat on the way.”

Jane waited for him to ask what she was doing there, for surprise or confusion. For
something.
But he didn't even look at her.

Why didn't he look at her?

“Why don't you have a seat.”

He folded his arms. “I get the feeling I'm about to face the firing squad, so I think I'd rather stand.”

Mr. Blair pressed Play on the recorder and set it on his desk. After about three seconds, Jordan said, “I recall the conversation, considering it took place, oh, about twenty minutes ago.”