Get Lucky (34 page)

Angela stared at Jake, not saying a word. She took him in from head to toe. He was acutely aware of wherever she looked. When she lifted her attention to his face, he swore he witnessed her mind switch gears.

“I’m going to head upstairs to talk to my dad,” she announced, starting toward the door. “Mario is supposed to send his car for me early this evening. I’ll be in contact with you before I leave and let you know what we’ve decided at that time.”

“You aren’t leaving yet.” Jake was right behind her, reaching for her and dragging his fingers down her smooth, thick hair before she spun around, yanking the strands from his fingers.

“Rule number one is this is my case. You answer to me, not the other way around. I’ll give the orders.” She held her index finger up toward his face and straightened to her full height, which was probably somewhere around five and a half feet tall. “That is, if I decide we can work together. I need to call my dad and debrief.” When she took a step backward, her hands were facing him, palms out, as if she warded off some dangerous animal. “You aren’t going to stop me and you aren’t going to touch me.”

“I’m not the bad guy here, Angela,” he said, holding his own hands out in a gesture of surrender. He had no problem with Angela running the show. If she remained this skittish, though, he would have to work even harder to protect her.

When she let out a loud breath, her body deflated. “You’re right. I’m sorry. This case means a lot to me. I’ve come so far on it. And I’m really curious why Dad doesn’t want to do backup and asked you instead,” she mumbled, pushing hair behind her shoulder.

“Because of his missing persons case.”

Her eyes opened wide when she stared up at him. “My dad doesn’t have a missing persons case.”

“How often do you two discuss each other’s cases?” Jake didn’t know Huxtable and his daughter’s relationship well enough to know if he’d tell her everything, or not. Angela’s tone suggested she believed she knew about every case he had, though.

Angela tugged at her sleeveless sweater, stretching the knitted material over her breasts, then crossed her arms, showing off her cleavage as she leaned against the door instead of opening it.

“Lately all we’ve talked about is this case.” She dropped her attention to her hands, unfolding her arms and staring at her fingernails, which were nicely filed and painted a bright pink. “I guess he could be working other cases right now without me knowing it.” She didn’t look up when she tucked her hair behind her ear. “I’m used to knowing everything he does,” she added, sighing and shaking her head.

Jake sensed her sincerity. Angela was proud of her father, loved him, and more than likely believed she took care of him. Huxtable might be a hard-ass, but he wouldn’t weigh her shoulders down with anything else while she worked this case. That meant he loved his daughter as much as she loved him. Maybe it was that tight bond that sent him flying out to California, stuffing his pride the best he could, and asking for help on his daughter’s behalf, because he knew she was going in way over her head.

“What are your plans tonight?” he asked.

“To end the game,” she said without hesitating.

“Nothing wrong with optimism.” He noticed her hand on the doorknob again, but she wasn’t turning it. He really didn’t want her leaving. If she did, he’d probably boot up his laptop and start researching her. It would be a lot easier, and more enjoyable, learning about Angela from Angela. “Call your dad here,” he decided, moving into her space and taking her hand off his doorknob. “It would be a good idea to hear your debriefing. I need to be brought up on everything.”

Her hand was soft, her fingers long, slender, and warm. Jake gripped her smaller hand in his, turning her as he did, and guided her back into his suite. When he ran his fingers down her back, he swore she shivered. Her silky black hair was thick, very straight, and had an enticing aroma to it he’d love to breathe in deeper, fill his lungs with it. Holding her hand and escorting her, his fingers and palm barely moving across her slender, perfectly arched back, damn near hardened every inch of him to stone. Jake needed to figure out how to work with this woman without sporting a hard-on every time he got close enough to smell her, feel the sexually charged energy she emanated, or touch her. Maybe it was the Chicago humidity affecting him. Jake didn’t lose control around women, no matter how hot they were.

Angela slid her hand out of his when she once again stood near the chair where he’d sat. She stared at her hands, rubbing them together. Jake wondered if he affected her the way she did him. That was one hell of a scary thought. If it were the case, knowing both of them were defenseless around the other, would either prove incredibly deadly, or wear both of them out trying to fight it.

“And if you’re in charge,” he added, trying to relax her, especially if she were fighting to douse the fire burning alive inside her, “you’re going to have to tell me what you want me to do.”

St. Martin’s Paperbacks Titles By

LORIE O’CLARE

Tall, Dark and Deadly

Long, Lean and Lethal

Strong, Sleek and Sinful

Play Dirty

Get Lucky

Praise for Lorie O’Clare’s previous novels

“The best book I’ve read this year!”

—
New York Times
bestselling author Lora Leigh on
Tall, Dark and Deadly

“O’Clare [writes] page-turners filled with well-developed characters, and sparkling, sharp-witted dialogue c and attraction so strong you can feel it!”

—Romantic Times BOOKreviews

“Gripping.”

—A Romance Review

“Ms. O’Clare has written a gritty, dangerous, and sexy story. The action starts on the first page and doesn’t let up until the last.
Tall, Dark and Deadly
is a page-turner packed with sensuality and suspense. You won’t want to miss this one.”

—Fallen Angel Reviews

“Intriguing [and] highly stimulating c a fantastic blend of mystery and suspense.”

—All About Murder

“The passion and steamy sensuality are great, as are the action and emotion.”

—Romance Reviews Today

Don’t miss the first HOT novel in Lorie O’Clare’s Bounty Hunter series

PLAY DIRTY

ISBN: 978-0-312-37215-6

And look for the novels in her dangerous and sexy FBI series

STRONG, SLEEK AND SINFUL

ISBN: 978-0-312-94344-8

LONG, LEAN AND LETHAL

ISBN: 978-0-312-94343-1

TALL, DARK AND DEADLY

ISBN: 978-0-312-94341-7

Available from St. Martin’s Paperbacks