Undone: A New Adult College Bad Boy Romance (Mature Young Adult Fun Contemporary Romance) (6 page)

He tasted like cinnamon gum and coffee and damn if it wasn’t her current favorite flavor! He was a masterful kisser with soft, demanding lips that worked her over until she heard the moan escape her body and stopped cold. She looked at him with shocked green eyes and dipped under the strong arms bracketing her so she could hurry away.

“We’re not done here Dr. Fulgram,” he shouted down the hall. “Not by a long shot.” He went in to Jane Doe’s room to check Kasie’s work. And to forget about that kiss that would keep him hard until morning.

~

“She looks like half a dozen other missing girls around here,” Donna said matter of factly to a few other nurses as JJ walked by.

“No I’ll bet that’s Sylvia Whittaker, the Governor’s missing daughter,” countered Mei, a pediatric nurse.

Jase shook his head as he walked by the nurse’s station on the first floor of the hospital. For the past three days—
three days!
—the entire hospital speculated on who the mystery woman could be. He didn’t give a shit who she was, he just wanted her gone before the Chief found out and had all their asses. He still couldn’t believe Kasie had found a way to keep her around and he intended to talk to her about it. As soon as he found her.

Right now she was doing rounds on the patients who’d come through the ER last night so he went to his office for a few minutes of shut eye. He would have her paged to his office so he could ream her out in private and maybe gets his lips on hers again.
Other parts too, if she’s willing.
That thought brought a smile to his face and he whistled down every hall until reached the closet he called an office.

He closed the door behind him and shrugged out of his white lab coat and sank into the comfortable executive chair he stole from the dermatology department. His shoes were kicked off haphazardly in a corner and his socked feet were crossed at the ankle on top of his desk. “What the hell is this,” he snatched a piece of paper up that sat on his keyboard. It was a list of all the missing women in the area who matched Jane Doe’s description, along with a note.

Since you have more free time than I do, call these families and find out if they’ve heard anything about their missing daughters so we can keep caring for Jane.                                           ~KF

“Damn you Kasie, I don’t have time for this.”

“You don’t have time for what?” She strolled into his office without a knock or a care in the world and his menacing scowl did nothing to deter her. “Oh I see you got my list. Have you made any calls yet?”

Jase bowed his head, dragging his fingers through his blonde waves to stave off the growing frustration. “No Kasie, I haven’t. Why you ask? Because I am a surgeon, not a goddamn secretary and certainly not
your
secretary!”

She sat back with her arms crossed and slowly crossed her legs without ever taking her gaze off him. “I see.” She stood and looked at him with disappointment in her eyes. “I didn’t realize you only cared about saving patients on your operating table.” She plucked the list from his hands and turned to leave. When she got to the door she paused but didn’t turn around. “I’m feeling a bit under the weather so I think I’ll stay home tomorrow.” With that she left.

Having a day off never felt so good. Kasie couldn’t remember the last time she had a day off and slept in until, she looked at her phone,
eight thirty.
She’d actually slept a full eight hours last night, ate a balanced meal with a glass of wine and watched one sitcom before falling asleep in front of the TV. The long night away from the hospital would have been perfect if it hadn’t been peppered by erotic dreams of a green eyed man with a sexy smile and a sinful kiss.
Damn you Jase Jackson!

Luckily she wouldn’t have to see him at all today because she was going to do a little detective work to see if Jane Doe really was Holly. She grabbed Jane’s photo, the age progression photos she had worked up a few years ago to take with her as well as the photo of Holly at nineteen dressed up to go to a rock concert. Kasie smiled at the image. Her sister was all long legs, fire engine red lipstick and blonde streaks running through her hair. She was all attitude. She was beautiful.

And she was gone.

But if the Jane Doe in the hospital was Holly she would no longer be gone. Kasie would have her sister back, which meant maybe she could get her parents back. The distant parents who had pretty much ignored her from the moment Holly left and only spoke to her now briefly at Christmas time. And
if it isn’t Holly,
taunted her inner skeptic. Well if it wasn’t Holly then she wasn’t any worse off than she was four days ago before Jane Doe was stabbed almost to death.

She shook off those thoughts, grabbed a banana and locked the door to her small apartment.

Her first stop was the Downtown Homeless Shelter where she passed around several photos of Holly and Jane to see if anyone could identify them. Kasie bit back her frustration at the shrugs and blank stares that met her questions. She thanked everyone for their time and left, feeling less sure than when her morning began.

Next was the Mara Johnson Women’s Shelter, a place many women on the streets often stayed for at least a few nights to get away from abusive partners. The director of the shelter was kind and accommodating but none of the women would admit to seeing Holly or Jane. She could see recognition in some of their eyes but didn’t think it would be prudent to push. She left a few copies with the director along with a business card in case the woman came in again.

Feeling disappointed and a little dejected, Kasie lifted her head towards the sun to boost her spirits. “Excuse me?” She turned at the sound of the small voice behind her. “Kasie, right?”

She nodded and relaxed her muscles so she would appear non-threatening to the woman. “I am. You’re Sophia?”

“Yep. Look I didn’t wanna say nothin’ in front of the others but I think I know the woman in the photo.”

A thrill rushed through her body, speeding up her heart and making her hope. “This one,” she held up the photo of Holly.

“No the other one. I think that’s Bo. I don’t know her last name but I’m pretty sure that’s her.”

“Are you friends?” If Jane
was
Holly this woman was a lifeline.

Sophia shook her short black hair. “I don’t know her that well but uh, we, uh. Well my husband used to force me to work the streets for cash and uh, Bo she, uh, she showed me the ropes.” The woman looked around nervously, smoothing her pixie cut down compulsively.

Kasie caught on to her nervousness quickly and steered Sophia back towards the door. “Thank you so much for telling me that Sophia, that can’t have been easy for you.” At the woman’s surprised look Kasie gave her a small smile. “Can you tell me what areas you’ve seen her work?”

Sophia shook her head. “Not really but her, uh, her pimp’s name is Goldfinger. You can find him by the sub shop on Central Avenue and Ninth.”

Kasie nodded as the information sank in. Her sister might be turning tricks and that thought simply gutted her but if she could find her, she could help her. “Thank you for your help Sophia, you have no idea what this means to me, really. And don’t worry, your secret is safe with me.” She smiled and laid a reassuring hand on the woman’s slight shoulder.

“Good luck Kasie.”

She was going to need more than good luck if she was going to brave a pimp named Goldfinger in an area she knew very little about. But it was the only lead she had so Kasie started up her car and headed towards Central Avenue.

She parked on the street in front of Sammy’s Sub Shack and made sure to lock her doors as she took in all the men and women hanging around the shack. It was a literal shack with no entrance for customers. It was one room with a countertop and refrigerated unit holding all the meats, vegetables and condiments. If you wanted Sammy’s sub you had to stand outside to place your order.

She scanned the lot looking for a man who looked like a pimp, not that she knew what the hell that would look like other than from the
Law & Order
reruns. So she looked for the man who looked to be in charge and she spotted him leaning against one of the painted wooden picnic tables entertaining the crowd with a story. As she moved closer, Kasie noticed that this pimp wasn’t at all what she pictured. Instead of greasy and smarmy he was striking with butterscotch skin, hazel eyes and a smile as bright as the summer sun. His gaze connected with hers and with a flick of his wrist the crowd disbanded.

“What can I do for you white girl?”

She moved closer to the good looking man but made sure to leave enough space to feel comfortable. “Are you Goldfinger?”

A sly smile spread across his face, the one he knew drove all women wild. “Are you lookin’ to become one of my girls?”

She shook her head. “No, I already have a job. But I am looking for one of your girls.”

“Candy is my only girl who does girls so you must be looking for her. Unless you’re a cop?”

Kasie shook her head. “Not a cop and not looking to rent one of your girls.” She handed over the two photos. “Do you know this woman?”

He flicked his gaze at her, his curiosity piqued. “Are you a nun or social worker?” She nodded and he continued, “Because my girls are happy with me, you hear what I’m sayin’?”

“Look I’m not trying to take anything from you Mr. Goldfinger. But I need to know if this woman is my sister. I haven’t seen her since I was a kid and you don’t know how much it would mean to me.”

The man eyed her critically taking in her casual clothes, high cheekbones and girl next door beauty. He could make a lot of money on this one. He pointed to the photo on the right of Jane Doe, “I know this trick. Bo, but she ain’t mine no more and I haven’t seen her in a few months. This one I’ve never seen.” He saw the disappointment in her eyes and felt now was the time to pounce. “You know I bet you can make a lot more money with me than you do now. For just a few hours of work.”

A smirk lifted one side of Kasie’s face at his arrogance. She could tell that his brand of charm would work well on young runaways and other vulnerable women. “I highly doubt it.”

He stepped closer and ran a finger softly down one side of her face. “Don’t be so sure, a sexy little girl next door. Oh yeah we could make good money.” He took her in, “All we need is some sexy clothes to show off that figure and you’ll definitely make more money than you do now. I guarantee it.”

She placed her hand on her hips. “So you’re telling me that being a prostitute pays more than being a surgeon?” She laughed when his eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Yeah I told you Mr. Goldfinger I already have a job that I love and I’m damn good at it. So can you tell me about Bo?” She held up the picture of Jane Doe.

“She used to trick over by the truck stop and soda factory but no one’s seen in a bit. The other girl, like I said, never seen her.”

She nodded, deflated. “Okay well thanks for your help.” She extended her hand to shake his.

“What in the hell do you think you’re doing!”

~

Jase was taking lunch away from the hospital because he was craving an Italian sub from Sammy’s. He knew the residents could handle whatever popped up this time of day, even if Kasie
had
decided to stay home today. He was still pissed about it, but she had played him well.

He turned into Sammy’s parking lot and did a double take. Kasie. What was she doing in this part of town? Before he could rethink his decision he was out of the car and at Kasie’s side with a furious scowl on his face. “What in the hell do you think you’re doing!”

She turned a stunned look his way and yanked her arm from his grasp. “I’m minding my own business, why don’t you do the same?”

“Are you kidding me right now Kasie?” He couldn’t believe she was being this careless with her own safety.

She knew she was being indignant but so what, dammit. She was an adult trying to find her sister. She could go wherever she pleased. “In fact I’m not kidding. Now can you please get the hell out of here so I can finish my conversation?”

Jase grabbed her arm again and shook his head. “Nope sorry sweetheart, that’s not going to happen.” He looked to Goldfinger and back to Kasie. “Where’s your car?”

She sighed loudly so her exasperation was clear. “It’s over there,” she pointed to the street where her navy blue sedan was parked.

“Where?”

“Jeez are you blind or something, it's right over th--,” She stopped when her eyes settled on the blank space where her car should be. “Son of a bitch, someone stole my car!”

That’s it, I’ve heard enough.
Jase grabbed her arm again and this time when she tried to take it back, he lifted her over his shoulder and stalked over to his car.
Stubborn damned woman!

“Jase Jackson if you don’t put me down right now I swear to all that you hold dear I will cut your dick off!” She pounded on his back and muscular ass until he summarily tossed her into his car. “You miserable bastard,” she muttered at his backside walking around to the driver’s seat.

He got in and turned his key in the ignition. “If you try to get out of this car, so help me Kasie.”

“What,” she asked defiantly.

He turned to look at her. “I’ll take your plump little ass over my knee and spank you until you’re dripping wet and begging me to fuck you.”

Holy. Shit.
“And that’s supposed to be a punishment?”

He laughed at the look of mortification that crossed her face. He doubt she meant to say that aloud. “You can call it whatever you want Kasie, just keep your ass in that seat.” He backed out of the lot and onto the street.

They drove a while in tense silence. Kasie was fuming about his high handed ways and he was still miffed about her coming to this part of town on her own. “You’re taking me to the police station right? Right?”

“No.”

“What do you mean no?”

“Is there a part of that word you don’t understand?”

If looks could kill, Kelsie was sure her look would have stopped Jase’s heart and then caused the car to roll into oncoming traffic. She crossed her arms and looked out the window in angry silence.
Stupid arrogant man thinks he can tell me what to do? Well he’s got another think coming!

“Are you just going to sit here and pout the entire time?”

She didn’t spare him a glance. “You can drop me off at any time Dr. Jackson.” She smiled when he mumbled something under his breath about
feisty women lacking common sense
.

Fifteen minutes later the silence was broken. “We’re here,” he said and got out of the car without waiting for her or looking back.

“Where exactly is
here
,” she scrambled after him into a tall building with sleek green glass doors, a doorman and a concierge. She followed him into a key operated elevator and the doors closed, leaving her alone with him.

“My place.”

~

Kasie clenched her jaws. Hard. “Why are we at your place?”

Jase kept his eyes trained on the elevator door as he looked on distorted images of them. “Because you and I have a few things to talk about.”

“No. We really don’t.”

Jase hopped off the elevator, hardly sparing her a glance. Inside his massive open floor plan apartment, he finally turned to face her. “Oh, but we do.” After drinks were poured, lights were dimmed and seats were taken Jase finally spoke again. “You see we have to talk about exactly
why
you don’t like me,” he held up a finger as he counted off, “we also need to talk about why the hell you were in that neighborhood alone,” he sat back and turned the full power of his panty dropping smile on her. “And I owe you a spanking.”

Kasie swallowed hard and squeezed her thighs tight. She cursed her traitorous body for responding to that beautiful smile and dirty mouth. She shot back the tequila shot and sat forward to lean on her knees. “This is very simple. First I don’t
dislike
you, I just don’t worship the ground you walk on.”

“It is pretty hallowed ground,” he grinned.

She rolled her eyes. “Second the reason I was in
that neighborhood
,” she mimicked him, “is none of your damn business.” She continued so he couldn’t cut her off again. “And third, well third I may be open to.” She poured herself another shot, tossed in down her throat and sat back smiling at his stunned face.