She Does Know Jack (21 page)

Helping her into
the seat, the groom looked her over. “Are you sure you didn't hurt yourself?
That was some smack.”

“I’m sure,” she
said, smiling at him and the worried teacher on his right. At this rate, her
facial muscles would far out do her derrière in the sore department.

“I thought you
were going to fall into that God-awful water, Brielle.” Danni shuddered. “I’m
so glad you didn’t.”

“Me, too.”
Brielle grimaced, then nodded to Jack. “Okay, Captain, tow us to port.”

After making it
to the dock in record time without incident, she told the workers to keep the
scarf, and the five of them headed in search of food and games.

“I’m famished.”
Mandy clamored over to Matthew and grasped his arm.

“Yeah, me, too.”
Danni claimed his free one. “What shall we have?”

Matthew’s brows
rose. “Whatever you like.” He grinned down at the teacher, causing Mandy to
scowl.

“Oh, boy. Here
we go,” Jack muttered, staying a few steps behind.

Brielle stifled
a laugh and stepped closer, happy to be near him. His hand automatically went
to her back, and a jolt of pleasure warmed her insides. Deliberately slowing
her pace so his touch would become firmer, she sent him a sideways glance.

Concern consumed
his expression as he mouthed, “Are you sure you’re okay?”

Unused to having
a man’s concern directed at her, she found she liked the affectionate feeling
it created. “Yes,” she mouthed back.

His gaze dropped
to her lips, and when it lifted, his eyes had a dark, deliciously wicked gleam.
“And what about you, Brielle? What do you want?”

Oh dear. She
took a deep breath. She wanted this case to be over. She wanted the truth to be
out in the open. She wanted reassurance that he wouldn’t break her heart. And
most of all, Brielle wanted to be alone with Jack with both of his hands on
her.

“I’m game for
anything,” she answered, instead. Time would take care of everything else.

J
ack couldn’t wait to leave the park. Not
only because his brother walked around with an invisible bull's-eye on his
back, but because he longed to get Brielle alone where they didn’t have to worry
about pretenses, and he could wrap her in his arms and keep her safe.

Sure, she’d
reassured him of her unharmed state twice in the past hour and a half since the
incident, but he wanted more. Hell. Jack jammed his curled fists into his
pockets as they all walked back to the limo. He might as well face it. The need
to hold the dancer consumed him.

These raw
feelings were new. He’d never lost his sensibility completely to a woman
before. He didn’t like it. Fighting tooth and nail not to relinquish control,
he’d restrained himself from commandeering one of the food stands and chasing
out the teenage staff, just so he could get some privacy with her.

He eyed her
swaying form in front of him. Sunlight coppered Brielle’s brown hair, haloing
her body as it kissed her long, tanned legs—a pleasure he yearned to
experience. His fists tightened. He was an idiot. Their day was almost over.
How would he gain alone time with her now? Soon, they’d be dropping the women
off and heading back to the bachelor mansion. Regret soured his taste buds as
they’d reached Rodriguez and their awaiting limo.

To hell with
control.
Jack needed to talk to Brielle. He glanced around. But it would have to wait
until they got back. He didn’t know how, but he’d find a way.

Feeling some of
the tension leave his spine, he rolled his shoulders, then nodded for Rodriguez
to open the limo door for the smiling Mandy.

“Uh, Houston, we have a problem,” she announced the same way she had the other day at the
ranch.

“What’s wrong?
Don’t tell me the carousel horses made you sore?” Danni laughed.

“No.” Mandy
backed away from the limo. “But I bet that note will cause Jack and Matthew
some grief.”

Jack felt the
smile freeze on his face as the blonde’s words registered. He glanced at the
girls. Alarm widened Brielle’s eyes, mirroring the others as they stood on the
curb. He stooped down to peer into the limo.

“Damn! How the
hell did this get here?” He backed out and directed the question to his man.

“I don’t know,
sir. The doors were locked, I swear. I made sure of it.” Rodriguez frowned,
glancing around the parking lot. “And I only left for half an hour to get
lunch. That was it.”

Running a hand
through his hair, Jack refocused on the note. “Call the team, and have them
bring us another limo.” He turned to the group. “You might as well sit on the
benches over there. Depending on traffic, it could take awhile.”

“I’m sorry this
keeps happening, ladies,” Matthew said, arms around Danni and Mandy as he led
them to the bench.

“It’s not your
fault,” Danni said.

“Yeah.” Mandy
smiled up at his brother. “You can’t help it if you’re dreamy.”

Jack transferred
his gaze to Brielle who still stood by him. “You might as well sit, too.” As
much as he enjoyed her nearness, there was no sense in her getting
uncomfortable by standing a half hour.

“That’s all
right. I’m happy right here.” She glanced inside the limo.

His lips
twitched. He should’ve known she’d dig in and wait it out. Brielle was not only
beautiful, she was strong and smart. A winning trifecta. His smile broadened.
“You wouldn’t happen to have a pair of tweezers on you?”

“No. But I bet
you could buy a pair in one of the gift shops. Would you like me to go see?”
She eyed the park’s entrance.

“You don’t have
to. We have a pair in our van,” one of the cameramen spoke up. He rushed to a
white cargo van, then returned five minutes later with several pairs and a zip
bag. “Here you go. And the bag is new. We keep them for our film.”

“Thanks.” Jack
reached into the limo to extract the note off the seat. Using a second pair, he
and Rodriguez carefully unfolded the paper. His heart rocked hard against his
ribs.

“Shit!” His gaze
snapped to Brielle’s. “I’m sick of this.”

The color
drained from her face. “Jack? What is it?” She stepped closer. “What does it
say?”

“Yeah, what does
it say?” Matthew got up from the bench and hurried to them.

“It says:
Did
you enjoy your boat ride? I did!
” The note shook as Jack worked hard to
control his emotions. He refolded the paper and slid it into the bag Rodriguez
held. “Seems you didn’t just run out of gas.” Snapping his gaze from his
brother to Brielle, he swallowed a curse. “You were lucky you only got a few
bruises.”

The image of
Brielle’s body tossed like a sack of potatoes while he watched helplessly from
his boat, ran in slow motion through Jack’s mind. His cracking knuckles itched
to make contact with something. The thought of Brielle getting hurt…

Warmth soaked
into his fist as she uncurled his fingers.

“It’s all right,
Jack. I’m okay. I can take a lot more than that. Trust me.”

He scowled,
trying hard to keep his feelings in check. The more he thought about it, the
angrier he got. Dammit! Whoever did this hurt Brielle. Furious, he clenched his
free hand. “That’s not the point. You shouldn’t have to take anything.”

Rodriguez
cleared his throat. “Sir, the rest of the men are here with the other limos.”

Limos? And in
record time. He glanced over and watched his men unfurl from both vehicles. The
studio sure knew how to waste money. No matter. He didn’t care if they sent
over a horse and buggy just as long as he got his brother and the girls out of
there. Safety first.

He removed his
hand from Brielle’s and straightened his shoulders. “All right, everyone get
in. We’re going to the bachelor mansion.”

“Bachelor
mansion?”

He surveyed the
now-gathered group. “Yes. I will be questioning each of you, privately.”

“Jack, do you
really think that’s necessary?” Matthew asked in a hushed voice after Mandy and
Danni walked away toward one of the limos. “I really don’t think any of these
girls are responsible.”

Right now, he
didn’t give a damn what Matthew thought. Someone tried to hurt his brother today,
and Brielle was caught in the crossfire. The kid gloves were off. He wanted
answers, and by God, he was going to get them.

“Yes, it’s
necessary,” he ground out, minus a few choice words that sprang to mind. “I’m
supposed to be here to protect you, Matthew. I don’t take that lightly, and
neither should you.”

Once again,
Brielle’s warm hand curled around his until their fingers tangled.

“None of this is
your fault, Jack.”

Instead of
letting loose with those clamoring curses, he grunted. It sure as hell was his
fault. He was in charge of security, yet these damn threats kept showing up,
and now, something physical had happened.

“She’s right,
Jack.” Matthew clamped a hand on his shoulder and stepped closer. “This isn’t
your fault. You’ve done an amazing job, and I’m very grateful.”

“Enough to call
a halt to this show?” He arched a brow and waited, already knowing his
brother’s reply.

“No. Sorry.”
Matthew released him and smiled. “The show must go on. But I do have your back,
bro.” And with that, his brother saluted, then climbed into the limo with the
other two contestants.

Had his back?
What the hell did that mean?

Two seconds
later, he had his answer as he stood there watching his brother’s limo pull
away from the curve…without Brielle or him. Matthew had just given Jack that
alone-time he’d recently craved. If it weren’t for the fact one of his men
drove the disappearing limo while another rode in back, Jack would be a hell of
a lot more concerned for his brother’s safety. But, he trusted his men with his
life. The former Rangers were more than capable of watching out for Matthew and
his mini harem. Besides, he was about to follow in the other limo...with
Brielle.

She squeezed his
hand and brought his fist to her mouth. “I love the way your brother thinks.”

“Yeah, sometimes
he comes up with a good idea or two,” he admitted, watching her mouth graze his
knuckles. A sharp need to haul her up close and claim those sweet lips hit him
full force.

He resisted,
barely, but held on to her hand as he turned to the rest of his men. “I want
this limo processed from top to bottom, inside and out. Get a copy of the feed
from any camera facing the parking lot, and that damn boat ride.”

“Yes, sir,” one
of his men replied as they all nodded.

Surely, the
security at the park had caught something. He wanted this perpetrator behind
bars. Yesterday.

“Come on, boss,”
Rodriguez stepped close. “I’ll drive you two back to the mansion so you can
start your questioning.”

N
o sooner had the limo’s door closed when
Brielle found herself hauled up onto Jack’s lap, his wonderful, talented mouth
on hers, zapping her strength and a few more brain cells along the way. Matthew
was safe for the moment with two of Jack’s men. It was okay to relax and enjoy
his touch, her mind insisted. Take advantage of the private time.

His kiss was
different, though, needy…desperate as if he had to touch her, all of her to
reassure himself she was okay. And oh boy was it hot, so much so all of her
happy parts were tingling in anticipation for some of that wild monkey sex.
When he finally drew back so they could suck in air, his gaze ran down the
length of her sprawled out over him, then locked with hers.

“You sure you’re
okay?” he asked, voice rough, heat and concern blazing in his eyes while he ran
a finger down her jaw.

Her heart
knocked her ribs, and she couldn’t stop the slow smile from tugging her lips.
“If I say no, will you kiss me like that again?”

An answering
smile curved his lips as he twisted to set her on the seat and lean over her.
“There’s plenty where that came from,” he replied, and proceeded to show her.

His mouth was
warm and gentle at first, then turned hungry and demanding, replacing the
amusement with a mind-staggering heat. She moaned, and arched into him, needing
to feel him everywhere. And it was okay. The divider was up. They were alone.
No Matthew. No contestants. And best of all, no cameramen. Bless Rodriguez,
he’d taken off before her cameraman could climb in the limo.

“God, you drive
me crazy,” Jack said against her mouth, before he trailed kisses down her jaw
and neck until he found the sweet spot behind her ear.

She did some
more moaning and arching and just a little bit of clutching while he slowly
drove her out of her mind. His hands snaked under her T-shirt to stroke her
belly, and she gladly returned the favor. A second later, their shirts hit the
floor, and her hands went on to explore the wonderland of ridges he called a body,
while he went to kissing her neck, her throat. Soon her bra joined their
shirts.