Secret Vows (Hideaway (Kimani)) (16 page)

“So you know that he’s been to my home,” she said, cutting Chase off.

He nodded. “And I know you’ve spent the night at his house. I’ve been paid very well to look after Jason because he’s more than a client. He’s a friend. I come to Stella’s before he arrives, and I always leave before he does. Most times he has no idea that he’s under surveillance. Unfortunately I’ve been called away on another assignment, and that’s where you come in.”

Greer was still trying to digest what Chase had just revealed. “Are your people still watching him?”

“Yes. I had someone place a tracking device under his Range Rover. What I need is for you to provide additional protection.”

Shock after shock slapped Greer. Vendettas, tracking devices and hit men were the elements in a televised movie-of-the-week thriller. “That’s not going to be that easy. I’m here on assignment.”

“I know that. Hanging out with Jason isn’t going to compromise that. If you help me out with this, I’m certain I’ll be able to repay the favor. My people are also ghosts, and I’m certain they’ll be able to ferret out who has been stealing and selling guns illegally.”

“How do you know so much about me when I can’t even pull up a file on you?”

“Connections.” Chase pushed off the bench. “Let me show you the other rooms before Jason sends out a search party for you. Does he know about your ex-husband?”

Greer rose to her feet. “Yes, I told him.”

“He knows about your ex, but not that you’re a special agent.”

“I can’t tell him, even if I want to.”

“Be ready for the fallout when he does find out,” Chase warned. “If you were any other woman, I don’t think it would bother him. But you’re different, Greer, because the man’s in love with you.”

Her jaw dropped. “He can’t be.”

“Why not? Only a blind person wouldn’t see what went on between you and Jason when you’re on stage together. More than half the men in Stella’s wanted to change places with him. Yours truly included,” he added with a sheepish expression. “What shocked me is that he didn’t bat an eye when I told him I wanted to ask you out.”

Greer laughed, the sound low and throaty. “That’s because I told him that you are not my type.”

Chase smiled. “So that’s why he’s so smug. All I can say is you have a good man.”

Greer agreed with Chase. Jason was a good man. One she knew she could eventually trust with her secret life. Chase had asked her to look out for his friend and client, a client unaware of his protective surveillance. Jason was also unaware that she never ventured outdoors without her leather tote that contained her badge and a Glock 26, 9 mm Luger semiautomatic handgun with three 10-round magazines. When at Stella’s she secured the pistol in her uncle’s safe where she kept the government-issued laptop; at home it was locked in a drawer in the cabinet where Bobby stored his rifles. Even if Chase hadn’t told her about the probable threat on Jason’s life, she knew she would step in to protect him if the occasion arose.

Greer tugged at her left earlobe. “I’d like you to answer two questions for me.”

“What is it?” Chase asked, sobering quickly.

“Were you Special Forces?”

Chase shook his head.

“Army Ranger or Navy SEAL?”

“The latter.”

“Is Charles Bromleigh Jr. your legal name?”

“No.”

“What—”

Chase held up a hand. “You said two questions, not three. Come on, let’s finish the tour so you and Jason can go home and do whatever it is you two do together.”

Greer was glad the darkness of the hallway hid the flush in her face as she followed Chase out of the master bedroom and into three smaller bedrooms that were twice the size of the one she occupied at her uncle’s house. The furnishings were indelibly American eclectic with Chippendale-style beds, chests and chairs. Each room contained an alcove with a sitting area near narrow floor-to-ceiling windows. All of the beds were covered with quilts and mounds of pillows in differing shapes and sizes matching white eyelet dust ruffles. Chase’s house did not have the more dramatic flair of Jason’s. It was the home of a man which, when he opened the door and walked into the house, was welcoming and cutoff from the world of danger where he floated in and out of like a specter.

She walked into the living room, stopping short. Jason had fallen asleep, his head at an odd angle, the half-empty bottle of beer on the table. It was obvious they were going to spend the night at his house rather than hers.

Shaking him gently, she waited for him to wake up. He opened his eyes, staring at her for several seconds before recognition dawned. “I must have fallen asleep.”

“Come on, baby. Give me your keys. We’re going home.”

“You’re welcome to spend the night here,” Chase volunteered.

Greer shook her head. “That’s all right. I’ll drive. Besides, you’re leaving in the morning.”

“It’s already morning,” Jason slurred as he struggled to stand. “Damn! I must be more tired than I thought.” Rolling his head on his shoulders, he tried easing the tightness in his neck. He stumbled, but Chase caught him under the shoulder, bearing most of Jason’s weight.

“That does it. The two of you are staying over. It’s raining too hard for you to try and navigate the roads back to Jason’s house. I’ll show you to your bedroom. There are towels on a shelf and toothbrushes under the vanity in the bathroom. I’ll probably be gone by the time you get up.” He stared directly at Greer. “Jason knows where I keep an extra set of keys. Just lock the front door when you leave. The security system will activate automatically within forty-five seconds.”

Greer wanted to tell Chase that, although she’d spent the night at Jason’s, they hadn’t slept together. The only relief tonight was that he was too exhausted to do anything except sleep. He probably didn’t average more than four hours of sleep each night.

“Help me get him upstairs and into bed without him falling and cracking his noggin.”

Chase’s response was to hoist Jason over his shoulder as if he weighed two pounds rather than what she estimated to be two hundred. The
corporate warrior,
or mercenary as she thought of them, was several inches shorter than Jason and wiry. He’d admitted to being former Navy SEAL, and, as one, he had the intelligence, mental and physical toughness to withstand and overcome extreme conditions and situations. Picking up her tote, she followed Chase up the staircase and into the bedroom, pulling back the quilt and top sheet as Chase laid Jason on the crisp sheets.

“I’m sorry about not having anything in the refrigerator.”

Greer busied herself removing Jason’s socks. “That’s okay. Jason needs sleep not food. Tomorrow...I mean, today, is Sunday, so that means he can sleep in.” Turning she faced Chase, seeing the solitary man in a whole new light. Now she knew why he kept to himself. “Thank you for putting us up.”

He waved his hand in dismissal. “There’s no need to thank me. Jason would do the same for me.” He took a quick glance at his sleeping friend. “I meant what I said about helping you once I get back.”

Greer nodded. As soon as she wrapped up this assignment, she had to decide whether or not to take her uncle up on his offer to run Stella’s. “Do you have a T-shirt I can use?” She had no intention of sleeping nude.

“Check the chest of drawers. My sister sleeps in this room when she comes to visit. She’s about your size, so I’m certain there’s something that will fit you.”

“Thank you again, Chase.”

“No problem.” He waved. “See you when I get back.”

Waiting until Chase walked out of the room, closing the door behind him, Greer shifted her attention to Jason sprawled on his back, snoring softly. Sleeping with Jason paled in comparison to what Chase had disclosed.

At first she didn’t want to believe him, thinking that he’d concocted a story to throw suspicion off himself. But Greer knew unequivocally that Chase was telling the truth. The secure government database—with names, addresses and birth dates of every documented person in the country and its territories—had listed Charles Bromleighs who were either too young or much too old to be the man everyone called Chase.

A shiver eddied up her body. Jason had become the target of someone bent on revenge. Feuds between rap artists, talk show hosts, athletes, actors and spurned reality stars were headline news for televised entertainment shows, magazines and supermarket tabloids. Now CEOs had waded into the same cesspool with the others. Greer would check her computer again. This time she would search for Slow Wyne Records.

Undressing Jason proved challenging. It was easier removing his sweater than his slacks. He was all muscle and dead weight. Greer left on his boxer-briefs. She found a nightgown, several packages of brand-new panties and a couple bras with the tags still attached. The panties were her size but not her style and the bras a cup size larger than her own.

It wasn’t important whether her borrowed garments would fit or not fit. Keeping her promise to Chase was.

Chapter 13

J
ason woke disoriented. He knew he wasn’t in his bedroom because there were no skylights. That didn’t shock him as much as the soft warm body pressed against his side. Rising on an elbow, he stared at Greer. She was as lovely in sleep as in waking. His gaze moved slowly over her slightly parted lips, mussed hair clinging to her cheek and the rise and fall of firm breasts under a modest white cotton nightgown. He touched her hair, rubbing strands between his fingers. Everything about her was fresh, natural. Watching her face in repose was short-lived when she shifted onto her right side.

Sliding back to the pillows cradling his shoulders and turning on his right, Jason rested an arm over Greer’s waist. He had to touch her, savor the warmth of her body and adore her openly.

Greer had accused him of wanting her for her voice, but he’d want her even if she sounded like a croaking frog. Jason admired not only her talent but also her strength, femininity and loyalty to her uncle. There was also her humility. She’d rejected the recording contract certain to bring her untold wealth and fame, and he’d engaged in an exercise of mental calisthenics as he had tried to come up with a plausible rationale as to why she wouldn’t accept his offer.

Jason knew his wanting to sign her up had everything to do with his ego. His father had established Serenity with the raison d’état of signing only new talent, and forty years later, he and Ana had continued the tradition.

He also didn’t want to believe he had slept with this woman and not made love to her. Unlike some of his college buddies and those with whom he’d maintained friendship from childhood, Jason had always been overly cautious as to whom he bedded. He had never engaged in one-night stands or slept with a woman until they’d dated for what he considered enough time to feel comfortable and/or to get to know her better. However, there was now one exception: Greer.

There was something inherently innate that told him she was the
one.
The one woman who could get him to consider changing his marital status to share his life
and
their future. He’d watched his twin sister with her new husband, and he saw something that hadn’t been apparent before. Ana was calmer, more reflective, as if she’d rid herself of the impulsivity that had been so much a part of her aggressive personality. If Ana was fire, then Jason was water. He would become her voice of reason—whenever she got into a snit while negotiating with a client’s agent, suggesting she step back and look at the deal from another angle. She’d accused him of being too soft and laid-back but Jason was quick to remind his sister and business partner that, although she’d earned a law degree, he was more than versed with the ins and outs of business. Degrees in music and an MBA had served him well when he’d taken over the reins of Serenity after she had gone into self-exile to escape the sniper who’d accidentally shot Tyler. He’d resented taking off his creative hat to replace it with the business one. Yet once he found himself holding staff meetings and making decisions that changed the business model for the company, the transition went smooth and the result was very effective. Even Ana had admitted he’d done a better job running Serenity than she had in the past.

* * *

A soft sigh came from Greer, her eyelids fluttering as she came awake. She felt a crushing weight over her belly before realizing Jason’s arm was holding her down. “Good morning,” she mumbled, yawning.

“Is it?” asked the deep drawling voice behind her.

She smiled. “It would be even better if you moved your arm. You’re a lot heavier than you look.”

He withdrew his arm from her waist, splaying his hand over her hip. “How much do you think I weigh?”

“You’re at least two hundred.”

“Close. I’m two-ten.”

“How tall are you?”

“Six-three.” Jason pressed his mouth to her hair. “How tall are you?”

“Five-seven. And you better not ask me how much I weigh because I’m not going to tell you.” There was a hint of laugher in her voice.

“What’s up with
you
women not telling your weight as if it’s top secret?”

“
You
men don’t need to know unless they’re going to buy a woman something to wear. Then they should know her height, weight, dress, shoe and ring size.”

Jason chuckled softly. “That’s a lot.”

“That’s because there’s a lot to us. I thought you would’ve known that.”

“Why would I know that?”

“Haven’t you ever bought clothes and jewelry for your mother, sisters or girlfriends?”

“No. I’d tell them to let me know what they want and the price, and I’d give them the money.”

“That’s no fun. You take out the element of surprise.”

“I don’t like shopping.”

Greer turned to face Jason, her thigh brushing against his groin with the motion. Her breath stopped in her throat when she registered the look of desire in his eyes matching the growing hardness in his groin. “I’m sorry about that.”

Cupping her hip in his hand, Jason pulled her closer. “I’m not.”

“Jason?”

“Hush, baby. I’m not going to do anything to you. Especially not in someone else’s house. Plus I don’t have protection with me.”

Greer rested her hand on his furred chest. She wasn’t an ingenue when it came to men, but she also wasn’t so worldly that she’d slept with more than she could count or remember. “It’s been a long time for me.”

Jason kissed her forehead. “Don’t you think I know that?”

She closed her eyes, shutting out his intense stare. “I want you to make love to me, but when you hear my reason, you may change your mind.”

“Nothing you say will make me change my mind.”

“I know it may sound selfish...” Greer couldn’t finish because she cared for Jason, and she didn’t want to hurt him. She didn’t want to use him just for sex. He deserved more than that.

“You want to know how it feels again, don’t you?” he asked, smiling.

Her eyes flew open. He’d read her mind. “How did you know?”

“I don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know you haven’t slept with anyone since your divorce.”

A nervous smile trembled over her lips. “Am I that transparent?”

“No, baby. It has nothing to do with transparency. You had a tumultuous marriage and a hellish divorce. It would stand to reason you probably wouldn’t want to deal with another man for the rest of your life.”

“You’re right about that. But then you came along.”

“No, Greer.
You
came along, and I didn’t know which end of my life was up or down. I told myself I didn’t want you, that I didn’t need you, but I was lying to myself. If not for you, I’d be more than content to spend the next three months holed up in the studio writing and occasionally sitting in with Doug and his band. But when you’re not at the house, I find myself wishing I had magical powers so I can conjure you up.”

Greer realized Jason had given her the opening she needed to fulfill Chase’s directive that she should remain close to Jason. As close as she could without arousing his suspicions. “What if I fulfill your wish?”

An expectant expression crossed Jason’s features. “What?”

“If you want, I can move in with you.”

He went completely still. “What did you say?”

Greer knew it was too late to retract her words. “You heard what I said, Jason.”

“Say it again?”

“What do I get if I say it again?”

He smiled, dimples deepening in the stubble. “Just say it,” he crooned.

“Would you like for me to move in with you?” Rapid Spanish rolled off his tongue and Greer only caught a few words. “You’re going to have to translate that for me.”

“I said I’d love for you to live with me but on one condition.”

It was Greer’s turn to hesitate. “What is that?”

“That if everything turns out well, then we should think about making it a permanent arrangement.”

Her eyes narrowed as she groaned inwardly. Greer thought he would’ve welcomed her suggestion without conditions. “How permanent? And what’s the time frame?”

“I think after three months we should know more or less whether we should get married.”

She shook her head. “No! No marriage!”

“I am not your ex.”

Greer glanced over his shoulder so she wouldn’t see the rage darkening his eyes. “I know you’re not.”

“Then stop treating me like him. I told you before, people don’t hurt those they love.” Pulling her closer, Jason buried his face in her hair. “I’ve denied it more than once when asked if I love you.”

“Who asked you?”

“First Chase, then Pepper. Last night he told me that he knew I was in love with you.”

“You love me.” Greer didn’t recognize her own voice. It was soft, childlike and barely audible.

Moving over Greer, Jason straddled her body. “Yes, I love you. Why is that so hard for you to accept?”

“We haven’t dated. We...we haven’t even made love. What if we turn out to be totally incompatible in bed?” She wanted to ask him about his declaration for her to take all the time she needed because he wasn’t going anywhere and neither was she. But that was before she’d asked him to make love to her and before she had made the overture to live with him.

Jason pressed her body down to the mattress. “What makes you think it’s not going to be good? Because you say so? Well there’s only way to find out. We’re going to get up and go to your place where you’ll pack enough to last you at least a week. Then we’re going out on a date and, when we come back to
our
place, we’re going to make love over and over until we get right. It may take only one time or it may take all night. But there will be one thing for certain and that is we’ll know whether you want to continue to live with me as my future fiancée or whether you’ll continue to live in your uncle’s house. Cole men are raised not to shack up with women unless they’re willing to commit.”

He rolled off her body and the bed, landing lightly on his feet and extending his hand. “Let’s go, princess. Destiny’s calling.”

Greer slipped out of bed, her arms going around his waist. “You’ve outlined the rules without asking my input, so I’m going to set down a few of my own.”

“What are they?”

Tilting her chin, she met a pair of eyes so much like her own. “I want you to start taking care of yourself. No more staying up all night and trying to get by on three or four hours of sleep. My uncle is cutting back his hours, so that means I’ll probably spend more time at the restaurant. Because I won’t be home to distract you, you should use that time to write. Don’t worry about going out to shop for groceries because, whatever we need, I’ll bring home from the restaurant. I also want you to take at least one day off during the week to relax completely. I can’t have my man breaking down on me.

“I have a standing appointment on Mondays at a full-service salon to get my hair and nails done. I want you to come with me so you can take advantage of their services for men. They also offer mani-pedis, facials and massages. Not only will you look incredibly handsome, but you’ll also feel wonderful. How does that sound to you?”

“What are you trying to do? Turn me into a metrosexual?”

She patted his chest. “You’re already one. You just haven’t acknowledged it. What do you think of my plan?”

Jason stared down at the woman who’d turned his predictable world upside down. She was the first woman who’d offered to take care of him and his needs and not the other way around. “Why are you doing this?”

Going on tiptoe, Greer touched her mouth to his. “You’re not the only one who’s falling in love.”

His smiled was dazzling. “Don’t tell me the love bug bit you, too?”

She nodded. “Big time.”

Bending slightly, Jason swept her up in his arms. “Let’s get out of here so we can put
our
plans into motion.”

Greer giggled like a little girl when he carried her to the bathroom. She was still laughing to herself when they stopped at her place where she filled an oversize quilted duffel with enough clothes to last more than a week. Jason had mentioned marriage and the mere mention of the word frightened her more than staring down the bore of a loaded gun. The man who’d held her to his heart appeared too good to be true. It had been the same with Larry before she had exchanged vows and took his name. However, things would be different with her and Jason because they would live together first, and if it didn’t work out, then they would go their separate ways to live separate lives.

* * *

Greer was surprised when their date began with a visit to a local nondenominational Christian church. She’d been raised to attend services every Sunday with her mother, brother and grandmother, and her father whenever he wasn’t working, but lately she’d been what her late grandmother would’ve called a backslider. Jason told her that he’d been raised Catholic, had taken all the sacraments, had been an altar server and that old habits were hard to break. Even if he’d stayed out Saturday nights, arriving home at sunrise, he’d always stopped by a church to hear mass or say a prayer. Both of them complained of hunger by the time the service ended, although there were sweet rolls, bagels, coffee and tea for the churchgoers to enjoy before and after the service.

The rain that had tapered off started again as everyone raced to their cars. Greer sat beside Jason staring at the torrents slashing the windshield. She shivered noticeably until Jason turned up the heat inside the vehicle.

Resting his arm over the back her chair, Jason’s eyes made love to Greer’s profile. “Where do you want to eat?”

“I wanted to go into Portland and eat at this café with outdoor dining, but that’s not going to happen with this weather.” She turned to meet his stare. “Why don’t we go home and fix something together before I start Sunday dinner?”

Jason ran the back of his hand over her cheekbone. “Are you certain that’s what you want to do?”

She gave him a tender smile. “Yes. I like lazing around in the house whenever it’s raining.”

Jason removed his arm, shifting into Reverse as he backed out of the parking space. “Home it is.”

Within minutes of walking into Serenity West, Greer changed out of a pair of navy-blue tailored slacks, red jacket, a white silk blouse and black patent leather kitten heels and into yoga pants, a loose-fitting T-shirt and flip-flops. When Jason joined her in the kitchen, he’d exchanged his slacks and sweater for a pair of paint-spattered walking shorts, T-shirt and leather sandals. She glanced at his hair, noticing the ends were beginning to curl over his ears.