Beneath the Silk (27 page)

An hour later Jackson stepped off the elevator. Joe was working toward a serious drunk, one Jackson couldn’t blame him for. But he wasn’t worried. It was time Joe faced the past. And Lucky had promised
to
be his brother’s shadow for the next couple of days while Joe pulled it together. And he would pull it together—Joe was the logical one. He never did anything without thinking it through.

As he headed across the bridge to Silks, he noticed a crowd had gathered in front of the display window. Suddenly a little nervous, he shouldered his way through the crowd, then jerked to a stop as his eyes locked on Mac. Standing inside the window he’d placed himself between the beautiful mannequin and Sunni’s lion. His hackles were raised an inch off his back, and his canines were gleaming in the spotlight.

“Oh, hell,” Jackson muttered. He’d told Sunni just last night that Mac hadn’t chewed up or broken anything in more than a week. Before he could get through the crowd, Mac sprang and fur went flying. He reached the door seconds later intending to rescue the lion, but when Sunni spied him and started to come toward him, he quickly changed direction. Hooking onto her arm, he pulled her close and stole a kiss.

Seconds later, she glanced at the crowd that had collected outside the door. “What’s going on out there?”

“Let’s go in your office, honey.”

As he tugged her along, she glanced over her shoulder. “Have you seen Mac? He was here just a minute ago.”

“He’s entertaining a few people out in the lobby.” Jackson waved to Mary as he opened the office door and ushered Sunni inside. “About that lion in the display window. Ever thought about changing the theme?”

“Of course not, silly. I shelled out five thousand big ones for him. Leo is Silks’ mascot.”

Jackson winced. He should have known the lion was the real deal. Sunni wouldn’t wanted a fake-fur mascot.

“Jack … you look a little pale.”

“Come here and kiss me, Sis.” He drew her against him and nuzzled her lips. Fingering the buttons on her melon-colored silk suit jacket, he whispered, “The twins want to come out and say hi. You know we never did get around to making love on your desk.” He reached behind his back and locked the door. “How about it? Let’s make a memory. One I’ll be able to feed off of for the next few days.”

She kissed him and arched her breasts into his hands. “A few days? Are you going somewhere, Jack?”

“Not any distance. Have you heard the weather forecast for the next couple of days? Is it suppose to rain all weekend?”

“And possibly snow. But that shouldn’t matter. Not unless you’re planning on camping outside.”

She unbuttoned his shirt and kissed his bare chest with her hot little mouth. When she unzipped his jeans, he squeezed his eyes shut in anticipation, and decided that the last thing he was going
to
think about at the moment was flying fur or sleeping on the terrace in bad weather. Pneumonia and anteing up five grand for a new mascot was a small price to pay for a touch of heaven. And Sunni’s touch was pure heaven.

He really should confess just how much power she had over him. Tell her how much he liked her hands on him, touching and stroking. Massaging and tugging, and…

No, they were past words now. She was out of her skirt and he was definitely out of his jeans—in a matter of speaking.

Deciding to show Sunni instead, Jackson lifted her into his arms and headed for the desk.

* * * * *