Knock Out (A Reynolds Security Novel) (11 page)

Chapter 14

She
hadn’t seen or heard from Jace in three days. She missed him. At first she told herself it was the amazing sex she missed but she knew it was more than that. He hadn’t been there for her work outs. She missed hearing him tell her not to drop her left. She missed his teasing when they were sparing and she kicked him. He always told her that was cheating. Working out with the heavy bag wasn’t the same anymore. Nothing was the same. She hated that he had become such an important part of her life and yet she couldn’t stay away from him. She found herself driving to his house on Friday night. Doubts assailed her as she drove. Maybe she shouldn’t just show up unannounced. It was Friday night maybe he wouldn’t even be home. Oh God what if he wasn’t alone? The thought was piercing in her chest. They weren’t exclusive. She had gone to great lengths to make sure he knew this was just sex. He was still free to sleep with anyone he wanted. And yet the idea of him doing to anyone else what he had done to her made her want to vomit.

Cooper whined and bumped her arm. She had parked on the street in front of Jace
’s house but had yet to get out. There was a warm glow from a couple of the windows. It looked like he was home. Now she just had to make herself walk to the door.

Jace muted the TV when he heard the doorbell. The woman on his doorstep was the stuff of fantasy.  She was wearing tight black jeans, a yellow t-shirt and a black leather jacket. Her long hair was loose flowing around her shoulders. His porch light reflected off the shiny black strands.

“We came to visit.” Her voice was low and sounded almost seductive. He had to swallow twice before he could speak.

“
Come on in Darlin’.” He didn’t trust himself to tell her how good she looked or how glad he was to see her. He definitely couldn’t tell her how happy he was that she wasn’t out clubbing on a Friday night.

“
Have you eaten?” He asked as he followed her into the sunken living room. Cooper was doing recon sniffing everywhere.

“
Not yet.”

“
I was just about to start some pasta. You interested?”

“
You cook?”

“
Well it’s hard to screw up pasta Darlin’ but I am a pretty proficient cook. A man can’t live on take out alone.” Lou smiled and he felt something that had been wound tight in his chest all week ease.

“
I would love some pasta. Can I help?” She took off the leather jacket and he could see a little tension leave her body as well.

“
Com’ere and gimmie some sugar Darlin’.” He reached for her hand and pulled her against him. His kiss was much more than a kiss as he licked and nibbled his way past her lips. When he finally let up she was panting.

“
I think that was the whole damn plantation.” She said breathless and he laughed. She followed him to the kitchen and watched him.

“
I have to go into the city on Sunday.” She blurted, even though she hadn’t intended to.

“
I heard that. Candace Spellner, right?” She nodded.

“
I am nervous.”

“
Why?” He frowned and she almost regretted bringing it up.

“
I’ll be on my own. What if I screw up?”

“
You won’t.”

“
How do you know?”

“
Because we wouldn’t have given you the assignment if we didn’t think you could handle it.”

“
You do the assignments?”

“
God no.” He laughed. “That was a collective we, Darlin’. But let’s just say you wouldn’t hold the position you do if Ethan and I didn’t have confidence in your abilities.” Lou wanted to make a crack about her bedroom abilities but she just couldn’t force the words past her lips.

“
Okay.” She mumbled instead.

“
Wine?”

“
I’m driving.”

“
Are you? I promise I’ll make sure you’re good and sober before you go.” He winked at her and she felt that warmth spread though her. He poured her a glass of wine and before she knew it they were sitting together eating fettuccini alfredo at the bar in his kitchen. He made her laugh and she relaxed back into the easy repartee between them.

“
I haven’t seen you at the gym. You slacking on your workouts?”

“
My new assistant has lightened my workload quite a bit and I’ve been able to get back in during the day.” No way was he going to admit he was avoiding her.

“
Oh I see.” She reached for her wine but he caught her chin with his finger and turned her face back to his.

“
Careful Darlin’ I might think you actually missed me.” He said softly.

“
I did.” She said and then seemed to realize what she had admitted to. “Sparing is a much better work out than working the bag.” She covered. He smiled and kissed her softly.

“
Let’s go watch a movie. What is your taste?” He stacked the dishes in the sink and took her hand leading her back to the living room.

“
Action adventure.” She tried to remember the last movie she had watched and couldn’t. She sat on the sofa and he turned on a movie. He reached down and removed her boots and she thought the foot fetish seduction was starting all over again. But instead he just pulled her back against his chest as the movie started.

The movie was actually pretty good and sucked her in rather quickly. She found herself readjusting her position, willingly curling against him as they watched.

“Are you staying?” Jace whispered in her ear as the credits rolled.

“
Is that an invitation?”

“
An open invitation.” He chuckled.

“
Then I’d like to stay.”

Jace volunteered to take Cooper out and she wandered to his bedroom while she waited. She stood at the foot of his big bed a little apprehensive. She stripped off her jeans but
wasn’t sure if she should go farther. She had taken herself shopping and bought some sexy lingerie. At the time it seemed like a fun surprise. Now it felt like she was trying too hard.

She felt him behind her before he even touched her but when he did touch her it was to sweep the hair off her shoulder and kiss her neck. She leaned back against him letting her apprehension bleed out of her. He put his arms around her and she felt her shirt ease higher until his warm hand slid across her midriff. He sucked lightly on her neck and she sighed. He pulled the shirt off and one of his hands cupped her breast. He ran his thumb across the lace as if testing the texture and he lifted his head and looked over her shoulder.

“Damn Darlin’. The view from where I am sittin’ is spectacular.”

“
It’s new, do you like it?”

“
It is very pretty. I like that color on you.” She had bought lemon yellow, remembering it was his favorite color. “But of course you would look gorgeous in a burlap sack.”

“
You’re such a silver tongued devil.” She said wishing his words didn’t make her quiver. He sucked lightly on her earlobe and ran his tongue along the shell of her ear.

“
My silver tongue is at your service.” He whispered, she shivered with need.

Waking up in Jace’s bed with a very naked and aroused Jace was just about the best thing ever. She didn’t think he was awake yet but one part of his body was awake and pressing into her lower back. She rubbed against him and felt the reaction as he swelled even more. His hand slid up her torso and cupped her breast. He pinched her nipple lightly between his fingers and she gasped.

“
I thought you were sleeping.”

“
Not with you rocking against me like that. It makes me want to bend you over something.” He murmured as he kissed her neck.

“
No.” She jerked forward but didn’t get very far because he had his arm wrapped around her. He looked at her wide eyed.

“
We’re not going to do anything you don’t want to.”

“
I just… I don’t like that.”

“
Okay, that’s not a problem.” He watched her swallow she looked really uncomfortable. Instead of pulling her back he eased forward. Pressing his warm body to hers. He nuzzled her neck kissing along the edge of her collar bone. He made a line of kisses and felt her relax back into the bed again.

“
You’re insatiable.” She whispered, she was teasing him but he could tell she was as turned on as he was. 

“
Not insatiable, but I would be a fool not to take advantage of the fact that there is a beautiful naked woman in my bed. And my mamma did not raise a fool.” She giggled and he grinned.

“
How do you feel about the shower?”

“
The shower?” She stilled again.

“
Yes. I’ll soap up every inch of your soft mocha skin until we’re both slippery, sliding against each other until we’re frantic. Then you’ll wrap your legs around my waist and I’ll slide deep into your velvet heat. You’re so tight it’s like the sweetest torture there is. You feel so good wrapped around me that I want to just stay right there forever. But I can’t because your body calls to mine to burry myself deep until I am so far inside of you neither of us can tell where one ends and the other begins.”

“
Oh God.” She moaned. The things he said and the way he whispered them in her ear turned her into a puddle every time. “Yes, do it.” Her voice was laced with need but she didn’t care.

He
didn’t waste time or give her a chance to change her mind. He pulled her to her feet and let her to the ensuite bathroom. The shower was huge with a clear glass enclosure and dual showerheads.

“
Have double occupancy showers often?” He glanced up at the showerheads.

“
Nope you’re the first. I am just a water hog.”

“
You’re a bed hog too.” She mumbled and he laughed.

Jace made good on all of his water play promises and when she sat in his kitchen wrapped in his bathrobe and sipping coffee while he made pancakes she decided that she had seriously underestimated the pleasure in a long shower.

Chapter 15

The Grand in San Francisco was as opulent as the Radisson in
Edgepark had been. She checked into her room next to the client’s and checked in with the Security coordinator before she knocked on the client’s door. The body guard she was relieving opened the door. She identified herself and showed him her Reynolds ID and he let her in.

“
The client is in there.” He pointed at the closed door of the bedroom. He quickly gave her a rundown of the woman’s routine and left. It seemed he couldn’t get out fast enough. Slightly apprehensive she knocked on the door. The answer was a frustrated sounding “What?” from the other side. She opened the door and stepped inside.

“
Good morning Ms. Spellner. I am Lou Santiago from Reynolds Security. I am your personal protection detail for today.”

“
You are a woman.” The young woman was lying on the bed watching TV. She rolled onto her stomach propping herself on her elbows and looked at Lou.

She knew it
wasn’t a question but she felt the need to answer anyway. “I am.”

“
You’re not a lesbian are you?”

“
No.” Certainly not after spending most of the weekend with Jace. If she had been a Lesbian she was well and truly converted.

“
Thank God. I can spend a few hours without someone ogling my breasts.”

“
Well I have been known to stand in the bathroom in front of the mirror ogling my own.” It was a very unprofessional statement and Lou regretted it as soon as it left her mouth. Much to her relief the young woman burst out laughing.

“
Oh we are going to have so much fun.” The woman bounded off the bed and made her way toward the bathroom. “Please tell me you are going to be with me the whole time I am here.” she said around a toothbrush now sticking out the corner of her mouth.

“
Yes Ma’am, I’ll be here until Wednesday.”

“
Oh please don’t call me Ma’am. You can call me Candace. Finally this trip is looking up.” The woman quickly applied her makeup and dressed.  She was very pretty, naturally pretty so her makeup was light and she wore jeans and a tank top and still looked great. Her long blond hair was pulled up into a pony tail. Lou would have thought that an actress with a blockbuster movie opening the following month would put more effort into her appearance.

“
So what qualifies you to be a bodyguard? The men that the studio usually hires seem to be hired on size alone.” She laughed and Lou smiled.

“
Don’t worry I am trained in hand to hand combat as well as firearms.”

“
Do you have a gun?” The woman asked wide eyed. Lou lifted her jacket revealing the shoulder harness and Glock 19 she was carrying.

“
That is so cool. Can I hold it?”

“
No.”

“
Oh fine. Let’s get going. I have a rental in the garage.”

“
The studio has a limo for your use.”

“
I hate limos.” Candace wrinkled her nose.

Lou expected that they would be shopping. San Francisco had great shopping. So she was surprised when they arrived at the California Academy of Sciences. 

“Have you ever been?” Candace asked as they made their way to the entrance.

“
No, I have heard good things though.”

“
Me too. I was really looking forward to it, but then I didn’t think I was going to get to come.”

“
Why not?”

“
Because I didn’t want to bring one of those sexist judgmental assholes with me.” Lou was surprised by the venom in Candace’s voice.

“
If someone from Reynolds Security was rude to you, you can file a complaint. I can guarantee they will take it seriously.” If Jace didn’t take it seriously he would have more than a little friendly sparing. 

“
No.” Candace sighed and stopped before she got to the entrance. “Maybe I am the sexist one. It’s just that every man I meet sees me as nothing but a sex symbol now. He looks at my chest before he looks at me. Then if he recognizes me he thinks it’s okay to ogle me and ask personal questions like I am not a real person.”

“
I hate to break it to you but that is just men. Ever heard the term penis envy? Well they have breast envy. They don’t have any of their own so they want to play with ours.” That made Candace giggle and Lou was relieved that she could cheer her up.

“
I was a late bloomer.” Candace said as she walked. “I used to think that nothing could be worse than those flat chest jokes. Then bam I got boobs and suddenly all the boys took notice.” They paid the entrance fees and began to stroll through the first part of the museum. “I went from being Candace the bookish wallflower to Candi the girl all the guys wanted to get to second base with.” She rolled her eyes. They stopped in front of a Neanderthal in the evolutions exhibit and she sighed. “Sometimes it feels like not much has changed.” They continued through the museum and Candace became distracted by the exhibits. She chattered about the various periods referenced and Lou was enthralled by the wealth of information that she knew. When they went through the rainforest exhibit Candace was equally knowledgeable.

“
How do you know all this? I thought you said you had never been here?”

“
I haven’t.” Candace sighed. “I have a PhD in earth sciences and a masters in early human history.”

“
Are you serious?”

“
Yep. I started modeling to pay for college. I joined the drama club for fun. The next thing I know I am cast in my first big budget movie with an agent and a manager and a whole career path chosen for me that is nothing like the one I chose for myself.”

“
Wow.”

“
Tell me about it. I do talk shows all the time and before I go on my manager tells me to dumb it down. Can you believe that? Not that it matters no one ever asks questions with any merit. You want to know what I am asked most often?”

“
What?”

“
If my boobs are real.” Candace rolled her eyes and Lou grimaced sympathetically.

“
I don’t even get to play myself in the real live version.”

“
Maybe you should. Maybe you should just tell your manager to go to hell and be yourself on talk shows and in interviews. Tell your agent to get you roles where you can play a smart person like that genius mathematician on that cop show. Instead of the love interest of the manly hero. Not that I mind a good manly hero.” Candace just stared at her for a minute and Lou wondered if she had overstepped her bounds.

“
I am the worst tour guide ever.”

“
What?”

“
I brought you here and then I just had a world class pity party and dumped all my crap on you. You must think I am a total whiner. I never do this you know. I mean I do talk a lot but it’s usually not personal. Most of the time I don’t even complain to my therapist this much. Who by the way I am going to fire because you just gave me better advice than she ever has.” Candace grabbed her and hugged her fiercely and Lou was so startled she just awkwardly hugged her back.

“
Let’s go check out the earthquake exhibit and see if it rocks our world.” Candace laughed and tugged her hand.

After they had been through all of the exhibits, spending extra time in the submerged rainforest part of the aquarium they watched the sunset over Golden Gate Park from the living roof.

“
This place is utterly amazing. I think I could come here every day for a week and still see things that are amazing that I didn’t see before.” Lou said somewhat awed.

“
Me too. I want to live here. Maybe I could move into that Victorian earthquake house. Do you think they would notice?”

“
Not me I want to live in the planetarium under the stars.” Lou sighed and Candace laughed.

“
Well right now I just need a steak and a beer.”

“
Sounds good.”

They went to a steakhouse that boasted the best selection of surf and turf on Fisherman’s Warf. They enjoyed their meal and sat there laughing and talking well past the dinner crowd. Lou wasn’t drinking because she was working and Candace had only had one beer but as the lounge began to fill up the two women began to get attention. They both noticed the looks but chose to ignore them. A couple of times someone sent them drinks but they refused them. Finally one guy had had enough liquid courage that he approached the table.

“
Good evening ladies, can I buy a round?” He was pretty good looking and probably used to women falling at his feet but they weren’t interested. Lou looked at Candace in silent question and she shook her head.

“
Thanks for the offer but we’re really not interested.” Lou said hoping he would go away quietly. Of course he didn’t.

“
What about you?” His attention focused on Candace.

“
Like she said, we’re just here for dinner.”

“
What are you, a couple of dykes?” Candace’s eyes narrowed in anger.

“
What, if we aren’t interested in you we must be batting for the other team?”

“
Can I watch?” The man leered at them and laughed at his own joke. “Come on just one dance.” He took a hold of Candace’s arm and Lou grabbed his wrist. She wrenched it behind his back and slammed him down on the table.

“
Maybe we are dykes and I don’t like the fact that you touched my girl." She wrenched his arm higher and he squirmed against his hold. “Or more likely we just don’t like you. Either way you do not touch a woman unless she invites you to, ever. You got me?” She pulled his arm higher for good measure and he whined.

“
Yeah I got it.” She let him up and he cussed at her as he walked away rubbing his shoulder.

“
Well that was fun, you have to go clubbing with me.” Candace laughed.

They left after that, heading back to the hotel. After Candace assured her she was in for the night Lou returned to her own room. She put her pajamas on and crawled into the big empty bed. She wished she had Cooper with her. But he would
’ve had to stay in the hotel the whole time and she just couldn’t do that. She picked up her phone and dialed Jace. She wanted to check on Cooper, that was all. It wasn’t because she wanted to hear his sexy voice before she went to sleep.

"I didn't wake you did I?" she asked, when he answered.

"Course not. It's early. So how's it going? Did you get settled in okay?"

"Yeah, everything went fine. The client is...
Interesting."

"Interesting how?" She heard the subtle change in his voice.

"Interesting as in she's not what I expected. I like her. She's like a real person."

"Don't get attached to the client."

"I am not getting attached." She laughed. "Speaking of attached, how is Cooper?"

"Funny thing about Cooper, he seems to think I should let him sleep in my bed." Jace said dryly. She giggled but offered no explanation. "
Louellen, have you been letting the dog sleep with you?" That name in his sexy, trying to be stern voice gave her goose bumps.

"Maybe."

"Highly trained K9 and you’re spoiling him so he's going to be fat and lazy," he sighed. "So did you just call to check on your dog?"

"We'll that and to hear your sexy phone voice. You know if you decide you want to change professions you could always become a phone sex operator."

"Oh really?" His voice dropped an octave, "So what are you wearing?"

"Nothing, nothing at all," she said huskily, but she couldn't hold the pretense and busted up.

"Ah such a tease," he laughed. She sobered immediately.

"Don't call me that."

"I was only kidding Darlin' and a little teasing is a good thing.” Lou forced herself to focus on the present and not let her demons get to her.

“
That reminds me. I had a bit of an altercation with some loser in a restaurant. What is the tolerance level for what should be reported?”

“
Report everything. Your coordinator will sort it out.”

“
Okay.”

“
Didn’t they tell you that in training?”

“
Yeah, I was just testing you,” she laughed and heard him growl.

“
Woman. Don’t mess with me.”

“
Or what?”

“
This time of night, I could be there in an hour.”

“
Ooo is that a promise?”

“
You are so lucky you’re working right now,” he grumbled.

“
You are all talk,” Lou laughed. “I gotta go. Candace has to be in makeup by five for this show. Really who is up watching good morning San Francisco at seven am anyway?”