Deadly Secrets (Hardy Brothers Security Book 11) (10 page)

“Hey, angel.”

Jake greeted Ally with a kiss on top of her head and then settled next to her on the couch. She was reading a book, and she didn’t look up when he entered.

“Hi,” she murmured.

Jake studied her for a moment. “What are you reading?”

“A romance novel.”

“Is it good?”

“It’s fine.”

Jake frowned. Something was off. She was usually on him the moment he walked through the door, happy kisses and roaming hands welcoming him after a long day. “Is something wrong?”

“What could possibly be wrong?”

Jake had no idea. “You seem … cold.”

“I’m fine. It’s summer.”

“That’s not what I meant,” Jake said. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing is wrong.”

Jake reached over and snagged the book, pulling it to his lap so Ally would have no choice but to look at him. “What’s up?”

“Nothing is up,” Ally said. “If something was up, I would write you a really short note and leave it on the counter so you could read it there.”

Things clicked into place for Jake. “You’re mad I left before you woke up this morning.”

“Why would I possibly be mad about that?” Ally asked, her voice full of faux sweetness. “I mean, that’s what every girl dreams about. She thinks she’s going to wake up with her sexy boyfriend, and instead she finds herself alone and a note on the counter explaining his absence in less than fifteen words. It really was the best part of my day.”

Ally got up from the couch and stalked into the kitchen, brushing past Jake without giving him the satisfaction of meeting his worried gaze. Jake followed her.

“I’m sorry,” Jake said. “I couldn’t sleep. I didn’t want to wake you up to tell you I was leaving. I didn’t think it would upset you so much.”

“I’m not upset,” Ally said, reaching down into a cupboard and returning with a frying pan. “Why would I possibly be upset?” Ally slammed the pan down on the stove with such force the teapot rattled.

“I don’t know,” Jake said. “I thought I was doing the right thing and letting you sleep. I don’t know why this is such a big deal.”

“Obviously.”

Jake ran his tongue over his teeth, frustrated. “Would you have preferred it if I woke you up?”

“Yes.”

“I’m sorry,” Jake said. “I didn’t mean to upset you. I thought you needed your sleep.”

“Oh, I noticed that, too,” Ally said, her head hidden by the refrigerator door as she rummaged inside. Jake had no idea what she was looking for, and he certainly didn’t have an appetite given the current argument.

“You noticed what, too?” Jake was confused. Was she angry about more than the note?

“I noticed that you’ve lost interest in me,” Ally said.

Apparently she’d gone crazy since he’d left her slumbering before dawn. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“I practically threw myself at you last night and you were too tired to touch me,” Ally spat, throwing a package of chicken on the counter. “Then you left me in bed and snuck out to … do whatever it is you were doing this morning.”

Jake took a step toward her, but the flash in her eyes had him immediately pulling back. “So, you’re saying because I was tired and just wanted to sleep last night that you think I’ve lost interest in you. Is that what you’re saying?”

“Of course not,” Ally said. “That would make me a lunatic.”

“I’m so confused.”

“I’m saying that turning me down and making me feel like a leper and then letting me wake up alone like I wasn’t even worth a kiss goodbye makes me think you’ve lost interest in me.”

Her lower lip was quivering, and Jake’s heart rolled painfully when he saw it. She had a tendency to let her imagination run wild, but this was out there – even for her.

“First off, I didn’t turn you down,” Jake said. “You were out like a light on the couch. I figured you were going to drift right back off, which you did.”

“Oh, please. I had my hand on your boxers and you pulled it away.”

“We were both exhausted.”

“And yet you couldn’t sleep and had to get up and slink away in the middle of the night.”

Jake growled. “Ally, you’re killing me. I was trying to do a nice thing when I let you sleep. I did not turn you down. Only a crazy person would do that. I … you were tired.”

“You just didn’t want to touch me.”

Jake momentarily wondered if he’d slipped into an alternate dimension. “I don’t even know what to say to that.”

“You don’t have to say anything,” Ally said. “I get it.”

“Really? What do you get?”

“You’re either cheating on me or you’re hiding something from me. You acted the same way when you were undercover down in Detroit.”

Jake stilled. He definitely wasn’t cheating on her, but he also wasn’t telling her the truth. She was too perceptive for her own good.

“Dammit, Ally.” Jake walked around the counter and grabbed her hips, whipping her around and pressing his lips to hers despite the protests trying to escape her mouth. “I always want you,” he said, pressing her body close.

She was shaking, and Jake could only hope it wasn’t because she was about to cry. If she did, he would lose it. He cupped the back of her head softly, deepening the kiss. “I always want you, angel.”

He lifted her up, relief washing over him when she wrapped her legs around him, and carried her toward the bedroom. He was still at a loss about what to do with Cameron Mitchell, but he knew what to do here. He was going to show Ally how much he cared about her and take solace in her at the same time. This is what they both needed right now.

Their tongues touched, and Jake held her close as he carried her to the bed. He kept their bodies snug as he lowered her to the mattress, reluctantly pulling away long enough to shed his shirt before returning to her needy mouth.

He scooted her body to the middle of the mattress, keeping her legs spread as he knelt between them and unsnapped her linen pants. He pulled them off of her quickly, kissing her inner thigh and causing her to shudder. He rubbed her calves for a moment, his eyes focused on hers.

“Sit up, angel,” he instructed.

When Ally didn’t immediately react, Jake pulled her to a sitting position so he could unbutton her shirt. He pulled it off of her shoulders and leaned forward so he could kiss her collarbone. She wasn’t engaging yet, but she wasn’t trying to put him off either.

Jake’s hands were soft as they cupped the back of her head. He kissed her again, his own need pressuring her for a response. Her hands climbed his bare back and gripped his shoulder blades, and Jake almost cried he was so relieved.

His hands roamed down her back, unsnapping her bra and allowing him to pull it from her body. He moved his mouth down to her heaving breasts, her heart racing as he flicked out his tongue and made contact with her rigid nipple.

“Oh,” she moaned.

Jake took it as encouragement and he sucked her entire nipple into his mouth, rolling his tongue over it. Ally’s hands traveled up to Jake’s hair, tugging on it lightly as he ran his tongue over her sensitive bud. He moved his mouth over to her other breast and gave it the same attention before pushing her back down on the mattress.

His mind was as busy as his hands as he ran them over her flat midriff, pushing them lower until he reached the lip of her panties. His tongue was flat and wet as he licked the entire length of the satiny hem, shuffling the flimsy piece of fabric lower and lifting her hips so he could easily remove them.

She was completely bare now, and as Jake lowered his mouth to her inviting folds he was thrilled to find her parting for him willingly. He had no idea how she could ever think he would want anything other than this. He slipped his tongue inside of her, enjoying the way her thighs quivered next to his face.

His tongue was strong and determined as he attacked her, and his hands were steady on her thighs as he gripped them. He had her writhing within seconds, and she cried out excitedly when her orgasm claimed her.

Jake kept up what he was doing, practically crowing when another small tremor wracked her a few seconds later. After licking her a few more times, Jake crawled up her body and kissed her again. There was no reticence in the way she accepted him now.

“Jake,” she murmured.

“Angel.”

Her hands moved to his jeans, and her fingers fumbled as she tried to unbutton them. Jake helped her, stripping the denim off of his body as fast as he could – his boxers following – before he pressed his body against hers.

He was more than ready for the main event, but he wanted to spend some time with her where there was nothing between them but desire. He nipped her bottom lip, capturing it between his teeth and giving it a small tug.

Her hands were moving lower on his back, and her fingernails dug into his muscled rear end as he rubbed himself on top of her. She was trying to maneuver him inside of her, but Jake fought her attempts. He was enjoying torturing her.

Ally was gasping when Jake sucked on her neck, and she was getting more desperate as she tried to force him inside of her.

“Jake,” she whined. “Come on.”

He smirked, refusing to give her what she wanted. “What?”

“I need you.”

“I need you, too,” he said. “What I need more is to hear that you’re never going to think I don’t want you again.”

“I … Jake!”

Jake pulled her close and then rolled their bodies so she was on top. He was ceding control. Almost. “Say it.”

“You hurt me.”

“I would never do that on purpose,” Jake murmured, tilting her head and brushing his lips against her ear. “I swear I thought I was doing the right thing. I won’t do it again. I’ll wake you up eight times a night if that makes you happy.”

Ally choked, a mixture of desire and today’s misery rolling over her. “Fine. You want me.”

Jake chuckled. “You have no idea how much I want you. Now … take me.”

Ally pulled her body back, and Jake immediately missed her warmth. She slid down his body until she could lower herself onto his ready length, both of them groaning as he filled her completely.

“Jake,” Ally murmured.

He pushed her hips down on him and held her stationary as he sat up and pulled her body flush against his. She was struggling to move on top of him, but Jake held her for a moment and searched her eyes for a hint that she was okay. “I always want you, Ally. Never doubt that.”

Ally didn’t speak, but the heartfelt nod she gave him was enough for him to release the pressure so she could shift her hips. She moved up and down on him, resting her forehead against his as he kneaded her rounded rear.

They careened over the abyss together a few minutes later, hearts pounding and mouths fusing as they collapsed back on the bed. Jake kept Ally on top of him, reaching over to roll the comforter over them before tangling his hands in her hair and kissing her forehead.

“I’m serious, Ally. I always want you.”

“I always want you, too,” Ally whispered. “I just … .”

“Shh, angel. I know. Just let me hold you.”

They rested like that for what seemed like forever. Jake had no idea what was going through Ally’s mind, but he did know what was going through his. He could never lose her. He could never lose this. This was all he would ever want. There wasn’t a doubt in his mind that she was his forever. Now he just had to keep her – and him – safe long enough so he could make all of her dreams come true.

“What did you find?” Cara asked when Jake walked into his living room the next morning. “Wow. You look like you had a rough night. Did you get any sleep at all?”

“No,” Jake said. “I’m not complaining, though.”

“Why? Oh, seriously? Were you up doing … that … with your sweet-as-pie girlfriend all night?”

“No. I was up doing that all night with the prettiest portal to sin in the world.” Jake poured himself a mug of coffee and then settled on the chair next to the couch even though Cara conveniently shifted over to offer him a spot next to her.

“I was expecting you hours ago. I’ve been up working since six.” Cara was irritated, but Jake didn’t care.

“I needed some sleep,” Jake said, refusing to admit the real reason he couldn’t get up early. There was nothing in this world that could have dragged him from that bed before Ally woke up and saw him snuggled up beside her.

“Your girlfriend must have some amazing stamina.”

“You have no idea.”

Cara scowled. “I’m glad you have time to play footsies with your girlfriend while there’s a guy out there who wants to hurt us both.”

“I am, too,” Jake said. “I wasn’t joking when I told you to stop talking bad about her. I’m more than willing to do this investigation on my own. You can find somewhere else to hide.”

“I didn’t mean anything by it.”

“I know exactly what you meant by it,” Jake said. “I’m getting really tired of it.”

“I’m sorry,” Cara said. “I was just joking around.”

“It wasn’t funny.”

“Whatever,” Cara said. “What did you find out?”

Jake sighed and leaned back in the chair. “Not a lot. Cameron spent two weeks in Kentucky after he was released from prison. That’s where his brother lives. I have no idea what he was doing there. Once he left, he made a stop in Pennsylvania about four days before he showed up at your apartment.”

“What about since then?”

“There’s been sporadic movement on a credit card that was issued a week and a half ago in his name,” Jake replied.

“Where?”

“New York.”

“So he’s still out east?”

“I have no idea,” Jake said. “I don’t trust anything where Cameron is concerned. Especially after … well, you know.”

“That wasn’t your fault,” Cara said.

“It feels like my fault.”

“Do you want to talk about it? Or is that something you’re reserving for your sweet Ally, too?”

“I can’t talk to her about this,” Jake said. “She wouldn’t understand. No one can.”

“I can,” Cara said, her voice serious. “I was there, too.”

“I guess you’re the only person who can understand.”

“So, tell me what’s bothering you.”

“I … I don’t know where to start,” Jake admitted.

“HELLO,
big brother,” Ally said, breezing into James’ office and kissing him on the cheek. “How are you on this bright and beautiful day?”

“Wow. You’re happy,” James said, looking her over for a moment. “Why are you in such a good mood?”

“I happened to have had an incredibly wonderful night last night.”

“You’re a pig.”

“How do you even know what I was talking about?” Ally asked.

“It’s written all over your filthy face,” James said.

“I’m guessing you only recognize it because you saw the same look on your wife’s face before you got out of bed this morning,” Ally said.

“You’ve got that right.”

“How come I’m a pig and you’re not?”

“I didn’t say I wasn’t a pig,” James said. “I’m just telling you I don’t want to hear about it from you.”

“Whatever,” Ally said. “Where is my little snuggle bear?”

James furrowed his brow. “What do you mean?”

“Jake. Where is he?”

“He’s not here,” James said. “He called in sick. We didn’t really need him anyway. I thought he was spending the day with you.”

Ally stilled. “What do you mean he’s sick?”

“He called a little before ten and said he didn’t feel well and he wouldn’t be in. He sounded fine, so I figured he was just lying because he didn’t want to tell me what he was really doing.”

Ally tried to keep her face neutral but failed miserably. “I don’t understand. He said he was coming here when he left my house this morning. I took a personal day just because I didn’t feel like going to work. I thought we could have a late lunch together.”

“I wouldn’t worry about it,” James said. “Maybe he’s out doing something for you.”

“Maybe.” Ally nodded, distracted.

“Ally, what’s going through that busy mind of yours?” James asked, concerned with his sister’s downtrodden features.

“Nothing.”

“Don’t lie to me,” James said. “I’m your big brother. That doesn’t work on me. What’s wrong with you?”

“He’s just been a little distant. The other night he … well, he didn’t seem interested in me. Then he got up early and didn’t say goodbye. He left a note on the counter instead.”

James sucked in a breath. He’d done that to Mandy once and she’d frozen him out for hours later that night. He’d finally agreed to watch
Sharknado
on SyFy and then reenact the death scenes in the pool in order to get her to thaw. “I’m assuming that went over well.”

“I thought we made up last night.”

“It sounds like you did,” James said. “Ally, I’m guessing he’s putting together a surprise for you or something. Please don’t fly off the handle.”

“I don’t fly off the handle.”

“Do I have to remind you of the
Star Trek
outfit?”

“Which your wife helped with.”

James held up his hands to ward off Ally’s irritation. “I’m just asking you to remain calm. I’m sure it’s innocent.”

“He’s just been … different … the past few days. I can’t put my finger on it. He seems distracted, worried even.”

“I’m not sure I should tell you this, but I’m going to because I think it’s going to save Jake a lot of heartache,” James said. “We had a talk yesterday. He wasn’t expansive but he did ask if I ever have nightmares about my time overseas.”

“Oh,” Ally said, her face clearing slightly. “Really? What did you say?”

“I said I used to. He said he hadn’t had one in a while, but he did the other night. I’m guessing that’s really why he left without waking you. He probably just wanted a little time to think.”

“He could have talked to me about that.”

“I think he’s embarrassed, Ally.”

“Why would he possibly be embarrassed about that?”

“You can’t understand what it was like to be over there,” James said, choosing his words carefully. “You worry about your life, but you’re not really living it. Not like we’re living it here.

“Over there, you’re just trying to survive,” he continued. “More importantly, you’re trying to make sure everyone else survives. Coming back home is an adjustment.”

“I thought he was adjusted,” Ally said, her voice small.

“He
is
adjusted, Ally. If you want to know the truth, and I’m not sure you do, I think it was seeing Cara that stirred all of this up again,” James said.

“You think he has feelings for her.”

“No, I don’t,” James said quickly. “Not for a second. I think you’re the only one he has feelings for. That doesn’t mean that seeing someone who lived a different life with you isn’t … trying.”

“What do you think I should do?”

“I think you should give him a little space,” James said. “Cara is gone. Jake is just trying to push these memories out of his head. He just needs time. Things will be back to normal before you know it.”

“I hope so.”

“I know so.”

“THIS
is an incredibly stupid idea,” Mandy said, tucking her blonde hair under the black baseball cap and studying her reflection in the window shade mirror.

Ally and Mandy were sitting in Ally’s car, which was parked about a block away from Jake’s house, and they were preparing for another covert operation. Despite James’ kind words, Ally was convinced something else was going on.

She’d called Mandy and asked her to come over, and then she’d forced her into an all-black ensemble so they could drive across town.

“I just have to know.”

“I get that,” Mandy said. “I still think you should just ask him what’s going on.”

“He won’t tell me. I don’t think he trusts me.”

Ally looked miserable.

“I don’t think that’s it, Ally,” Mandy said. “He’s just going through something.”

“What if he’s not going through it alone?”

“I … what makes you think that?”

“He told James he was sick. He only had sex with me last night because I called him on it. I think he’s trying to find a way to break up with me, but he doesn’t know how to do it without ticking everyone off.”

“And losing his job,” Mandy grumbled. When Ally’s eyes glinted with unshed tears, she changed her tactic. “I still don’t think he’s cheating on you. I’ve never seen any indication that he would do anything like that.”

“I really hope you’re right. I hope I’m overreacting. I hope … I’m crazy. That’s how I feel. I feel crazy. Everyone keeps telling me one thing, but I feel something else.” Ally pounded her chest for emphasis. “Something hurts.”

Mandy reached between the seats and pulled Ally in for a hug. “It’s okay. I promise it’s going to be okay.”

“You can’t make that promise.”

Mandy rubbed Ally’s back. “Come on then. Let’s see what’s going on in the house. That’s the only thing that’s going to make you feel better.”

“WE
need to find a location for him,” Cara said, pacing in front of the living room window. “We’re stuck until we know where he is.”

“We’re stuck even if we know where he is,” Jake said. “We have no reason to do anything to him when we do see him. He was legally released.”

“So what do you want to do? Should we just sit here and let him kill us?”

“Of course not,” Jake snapped. “We have to find him and then we have to wait for him to make a move. That’s the only thing we can do. We can’t stalk him. We can’t hunt him. We can’t do anything until he does.”

“Well, I don’t like that idea,” Cara said. “I think we have to go on the offensive.”

“I’m not murdering anyone,” Jake said. “I don’t care what he did. I’m not a murderer.”

“Then you’re going to be a dead man.”

Jake sighed and leaned back in his chair, pinching the bridge of his nose as he tried to calm himself. “What time is it?”

“Why? Do you have a date?”

“I have to get over to Ally’s before it gets too late. She’s going to have a fit if I’m late.”

“She’s got you on a tight leash there,” Cara sneered. “Do you roll over and speak for treats?”

Jake ignored her and glanced at the clock on the wall. “Good grief. Is it really almost nine? I can’t believe she hasn’t called.”

Jake got out of the chair and strode over to the counter, checking to make sure his cell phone was working. There were no missed calls, no text messages. There was … nothing.

“You should probably have a little talk with her about her neediness,” Cara said.

“She’s not needy,” Jake said. “She’s just … worked up right now. She can’t help it.”

“That sounds like a great girlfriend.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Jake said. “You have no idea how great she is. Now … shut up while I call her.”

“Oh, will she cry if she finds out I’m here?”

“No. I’ll cry.” Jake punched in Ally’s number and then lifted the phone to his ear. “Now shut your mouth.”