What would he do if she brushed up against him in the elevator?
Better yet, why didn’t she invite them both into her bed some night when Leo was dead to the world?
That delicious thought kept a smile on her face for the remainder of the meal, and when she accidently tripped getting into the car outside the restaurant, she made sure Mr. Abercrombie was standing close enough to catch her.
She smiled as he helped her into the car a moment later. “Thank you. I must have drunk more than I thought,” she said, squeezing his hand in what could have been simple gratitude.
“Not a problem, miss. Anytime.”
His middle finger slid over her palm. There was no doubt. “How polite you are,” she murmured, taking her seat, a little jolt of lust warming her senses.
“Yes, miss.” He released her hand and stepped back.
Had she been mistaken? Was it simply a meaningless stroke of his hand?
“If you ever need anything, miss, Bo and I are here to serve you.”
“Thank you. Leo, your bodyguards are the most polite young men,” she said, turning her smile on Leo as the two men moved to take their seats in the front of the limo. “What agency sent them?”
“Fuck if I know. Ask Ben. He takes care of that shit.” Leo rubbed his stomach and grimaced. “I shouldn’t have had that third martini. I’m going to call it a night, babe. Sorry, but you’re going to have to wait to get laid.” Leaning forward, he tapped on the glass behind his driver’s head. “Take me home, Tommie, and then take the lady home.” Falling back against the seat, he muttered, “Maybe it’s all the stress with my bitch wife. Chriiist. As if I don’t have enough on my plate without having to chase her down.”
“Poor dear,” Hannah murmured, stroking Leo’s arm. “If there’s anything I can do, just let me know. I feel just terrible for you.”
“Thanks, babe. It’s all in the bag though. Soon the problem will be solved.”
“To your satisfaction, I hope.” Janie’s rather sordid background had always made her a complete unknown to Hannah. Unpredictable. Impossible to read. Even harder to understand.
“Of course to my satisfaction,” Leo said with a snort. “Is there any other way?”
Twenty-five
While Hannah Reiss was trying to play all her cards right and possibly score with Leo’s bodyguards in the bargain, those seated at Liv’s kitchen table were enjoying another fabulous dinner, compliments of Jake Chambers.
Matt was eating his second chocolate chip cookie, while the adults were sipping chilled coffee and Kahlua with a dollop of whipped cream much superior to that served at Murphy’s Steakhouse.
Roman, Janie, and Matt had spent the day at the beach. Liv and Jake had spent the day in bed until such a time as extreme hunger forced them to rise. After a quick trip to the local co-op grocery store, Jake made Southern fried pickle spears for an appetizer; a baby beet, heirloom tomato, and fig salad; and pulled pork with barbecue sauce served on homemade focaccia bread.
Everyone was stuffed, content, and practically speechless from a sense of well-being. The warm summer evening insinuated itself into the kitchen through the open windows and door, while the frogs and crickets sang their nightly chorus.
“You’re sunburned,” Liv murmured, only half-lifting her hand in Janie’s direction, overcome as she was with balmy lethargy.
“That’s a great beach so close to your house, and I’m just a little pink. It’s nothing,” Janie airily added, smiling up at Roman. “We’re going back tomorrow, aren’t we?”
“Whatever you say, boss.”
The blatant absurdity between Roman’s formidable seen-it-all detective persona and his quiet acquiescence made Liv smile. She turned to Jake and sportively asked, “Why aren’t you so amenable?”
He looked amused. “I beg your pardon? Have I ever said no to you?”
Liv’s gaze flicked to Matt in warning. “I was just teasing. ”
He grinned. “I wasn’t. Not that I’m complaining. In fact-”
“Stop,” she hissed, her gaze darting to Matt again. But the little boy was totally engrossed in picking chocolate chips out of his cookie.
“I was only going to say that I find your company extremely pleasant in every way,” Jake said with a lazy smile.
“And I yours,” Liv replied as smoothly, relieved that no one at the table was even listening. Janie and Roman were talking softly to each other; Matt had completely decimated his cookie and was now intent on pushing the crumbs into a pile on the very edge of the table.
Taking note of Liv’s quick survey, Jake softly drawled, “See, I didn’t embarrass you. They don’t even know we’re here.”
"Fortunately.”
His mouth quirked into a faint smile. “You-the shy type?”
“Please.” Her brows flickered. “Stop it.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
An irrepressible grin appeared. “You’re impossible.”
He slid lower in his chair, looked at her from under his lashes, and said in a low voice pithy with ambivalence, “Perhaps-but never with you.”
“Allow me to decide that,” she said with deliberate lightness, knowing if she had half a brain she’d never lose sight of the fact that the past few days were nothing more than fun and games. Which meant she’d best curb any thoughts she might have about wanting him to stay.
It suddenly felt like déjà vu, as though she’d been here before at her kitchen table on another summer night. And Jake had been staring at her with that same intense scrutiny.
“Mama, will you read me da moon book again donight?” Matt asked, sending the cookie crumbs flying with a wild sweep of his hand.
Janie looked up. “Of course, dear. Are you finished eating? If you are,” she said, ignoring the mess he’d made like someone with a household staff might, “we’ll go upstairs and read.”
“Me done.” Matt jumped to the floor. “I wuv dat book.”
When Janie rose from her chair, Roman stood. “I’ll come listen, too.” As Matt came hurtling past on his way to the stairs, Roman scooped him up in his arms and tossed him over his shoulder to the squealing delight of one three-year -old little boy.
“That’s turning out to be a real interesting trio,” Liv murmured, her gaze on her retiring guests. She preferred talking about safer subjects in her current overly sensitive, déjà vu mood.
“I hope Janie doesn’t fuck him over,” Jake remarked, his voice carefully neutral, as though he, too, understood the necessity for a shift in conversation.
“I’d guess Roman can take care of himself.”
“Let’s hope so. I wouldn’t want to see him get pissed.”
“It’s really nice of him, though, to help out Janie. Or give her moral support or whatever. She can use some sympathy in what will probably turn out to be a nasty divorce.”
“I’d say Janie has Leo in a box.” Janie had explained about taking the computer files.
“Let’s hope so. His last wife didn’t fare too well.”
A small silence fell.
They’d both run out of miscellaneous topics.
“I think I should head home,” Jake finally said into the lengthening silence. “It’s been a while since I checked my voice mail and stuff.”
They both knew he could check his voice mail from anywhere, but his remark wasn’t unexpected. In fact, Liv was surprised he’d stayed as long as he had. Surprised and hugely gratified sexually. But really…
They were both adults.
They both understood this couldn’t go on forever.
“Thanks for driving up. Your visit was”-she smiled- “exceptional in every way.”
“I agree.”
“And thank you, too, for all the wonderful meals.”