Mine Until Dawn (13 page)

Wry amusement flickered in Eddie’s eyes. “If you two want to play at being fugitives, be my guest. I’ll ease the pressure off you but,” he looked at Jade, “I expect a call in forty-eight hours.”

“Thanks. I owe you.” Jade shrugged Vince’s arm off and marched to a side door. Within seconds, they heard the sound of the garage door opening.

Vince grinned and turned to Eddie. “I owe you—”

“Don’t. I’m doing this for
her.
For reasons beyond my comprehension, my cousin wants to help you. Just remember one thing. If the psycho you’re after harms her, nothing and no one will stop me from hunting you down.” Eddie gave him a cold smile. “So, don’t do anything stupid and that includes leaving without talking to me first. I expect that call in two days.”
 

Vince was no longer smiling by the time Eddie finished talking.

***

Jade tried to make sense of what she’d done, but fatigue, the car’s toasty interior and its monotonous hum made her drowsy. She closed her eyes and sighed. Only she could go from being a law-abiding and respected professor to being wanted for murder in a span of one day. If any hint of this got to the university, she could kiss her tenure promotion goodbye. She’d worked too hard to get where she was, and wasn’t about to let anything get in the way of her promotion.
          

She opened her eyes and glanced toward the hotel’s entrance. Where was Vince? Was he having problems getting her a room? Maybe she should have gone in with him. Personally, she didn’t care where she spent the night or whatever was left of it. She needed to rest. In a few hours, she would have to face the consequences of her decisions in broad daylight.

Her gaze followed a convertible with its top down and filled with a rowdy group of kids as it zipped down the street. She couldn’t help being envious of their merry attitude. Not that she could claim her life was a bed of roses before Vince walked into her office, but she had some modicum of order. She worried about her mother and her promotion, but nothing this big. Oh, no, her mother. She must try and reach her, tell her what was going on. Tears burned the back of Jade’s eyes. Determined not to let them fell, she blinked rapidly.

Was it wrong to want to save her mother’s reputation by finding out the truth about the missing statue? That was the main reason she’d convinced Eddie to let Vince go. She had to know what happened that night and if her mother was in any danger from the psycho who’d killed Cohen. The thought sent cold fingers scurrying up her spine.

Jade closed her eyes and tried to shift her thoughts to something pleasant—Ashley’s bachelorette party. What were Ashley and Faith doing now? Probably winding down or fast asleep. It must be nice to worry about nothing except a hangover….

Jade eyes snapped open when Vince opened the car door and slid behind the wheels.

“Ah, you’re awake.” He peered at her face.

“What’s going on?” she asked when he adjusted the mirror and the seat.

“We’re going to my place. I tried to get us a suite, but the hotel was fully booked because of the conference.” He threw the car into reverse and backed out of the parking spot.

She squinted at him, fighting sleep and trying to organize her thoughts. “Maybe I should spend the night at Ashley’s.”

“The party could still be going on.” There was a pause before he added, “Don’t worry, you’ll like my place. It has a decent bed, and no one knows where it is.”

Jade yawned, Vince’s calm lulling her. Did he say a bed? She hoped he had more than one because she intended to crawl in one and not come out for hours.
 
No sofa would do. Sharing, on the other hand, had merit. It would be nice to fall asleep with warm arms wrapped protectively around her. Of course, sleep might be the last thing on Vince’s mind. Not that she minded. She wanted him….

Something warm and velvety pressed against her cheek and a steady rhythm teased her ear. She inhaled. Hmm, masculine and tangy. She turned her head and buried her nose in…Vince’s neck. She opened her eyes and blinked, heat suffusing her face. Vince was carrying her toward an apartment. That was the second time tonight he’d cradled her so tenderly in his arms. It felt wonderful.
         
 

“Vince,” she murmured.

“Go back to sleep.”

“You shouldn’t be carrying me,” she protested although she made no attempt to get down. They entered a sparsely furnished living room, illuminated by one lamp on a side-table, then went down a hallway.

“I don’t mind.”

“But I’m so, uh, so heavy.”

He chuckled, his arms tightening around her thighs. “You’re perfect.”

He pushed a door with his foot and walked into a bedroom. A lamp on a side-bed table lit the room and a King-size bed. Vince must have come in to turn it on before he went back for her. He set her on the bed and squatted beside it. A dimple winked at her.

“Built like a woman is supposed to be,” he added and ran his knuckles along her Capri-clad hip and down her legs.

Her skin tingled and the flush of heat quickly spread to the rest of her body. A need so primal stretched and expanded inside her, clenching her stomach and making her nerves quiver. It pulsed hot and bright, like nothing she’d ever experienced before. Yet she recognized it in the smoldering desire in his eyes. When his hand landed on her ankle, she jerked away.

“What are you doing?” Her voice quivered.

“Removing your shoes.”

Where had he been all her life? His seductive charm was potent. If she weren’t careful, she would fall in love with him.

“Thanks, but I think I can manage,” Jade managed to stammer.
Now please, go away,
she wanted to beg him. She couldn’t think coherently with him so close. “Where are my things?”

Vince studied her for a beat, then brushed his knuckles on her cheek. “Right behind you.”

Flushing, she turned her head and spied the plastic bag. During the ride from her place to Vince’s hotel, Eddie had stopped by a superstore for her to pick a few things. She pressed her heated face on her knees and shot Vince a look from the corner of her eye. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” He straightened, taking his time and making her aware he didn’t want to leave her yet. He pointed to a door leading from the bedroom he’d given her. “The bathroom is through there. Should you need anything, I’ll be one door to your left.

She nodded. “I hope I didn’t kick you out of the master bedroom.”

“If I said you did, would you let me stay with you tonight?” he teased.

Jade swallowed at the tempting possibility. She licked her lips, tried to think up a response and came up dry.

“That’s okay,” Vince answered for her. “Bad-timing. I’ll see you later. Rest.”

Jade nodded and waited until he left the room before she covered her burning cheeks with her hands. This was bad. Every time she thought she knew him, he showed her a new facet. He had depth and a generous heart, and he was sexy as hell. How was she going to sleep knowing he was a few feet away, desiring her?

CHAPTER 10

Vince woke up at ten, showered and changed into black Levis and a matching polo shirt. On his way out, he stopped outside the bedroom Jade occupied. When he heard nothing to indicate she was up, he continued on to the kitchen, scribbled for her a brief note and left it on the fridge door.

He let himself out of his apartment and grimaced. The heat was stifling. Slipping on his sunglasses, he looked around. He’d been particular about renting the furnished apartment in Hollywood Hills, but it was nothing like his home. He missed the milder temperatures on Orcas Island, his morning walks through the woods and along the waterfront, writing until late in the nights with the sounds of the orca whales in the background. Then there was Uncle Remus.

With all the things that happened yesterday, he’d completely forgotten to call his uncle. Vince speed-dialed his home number as he pulled away from the complex. His uncle’s nurse picked up the phone after a few rings. “Morning, Rose. Is he up?”

“Yes, Mr. Knight. Just a sec.”

Diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor a year ago, his Uncle Remus suffered from severe headaches. He was also becoming weaker and forgetful.

“Vince? Is that you, son? I was just about to sit down for the hearty meal Rose is preparing for me. I don’t know where you found her, but I’m going to ask her to marry me,” his uncle teased.

Vince smiled. His uncle was awake, coherent and in good spirits. Since he left the island, their conversations were brief and strained. Remus was usually sedated, drifting in and out of asleep.

“I’ll be your best man if she’ll have you, sir.”

The old man chuckled. The chuckle became a laugh, then finally a cough. When the coughing bout stopped, Vince asked, “Are you keeping warm, Uncle Remus?”

“Quit fussing, boy. Talk to me about your investigation. Have you spoken with everyone who was at the party?”

“A few are still unavailable, but I’m getting somewhere now.” That was stretching the truth, but he didn’t want his uncle worrying on top of everything else.

“It’s been over a week, son…no, close to two weeks since the artifact was stolen. Do you really think the person could still be hanging on it?”

The way the case was going, Vince refused to speculate on anything anymore. “I’ve spoken to a few dealers, and they all agree there’d be a buzz if someone was trying to sell it. So far, there’s been nothing. Not just locally, but abroad too. I was introduced to a young dealer that keeps tabs on the market. As soon as the statue surfaces, he’ll know about it.” The same young man told him about the fake piece Cohen tried to pawn off him. Vince planned to pay him a visit later and thank him.

“Keep me posted,” Remus interrupted his thoughts. “Now I need to eat my breakfast before it gets cold.” Another coughing bout hit him hard.

Vince waited for his uncle to catch his breath. “Take care of yourself, Uncle Remus. Can I talk to Rose now?” He waited for the nurse to come back to the phone. “Is he taking anything for that cough, Rose? He sounds bad.”

“He is, Mr. Knight. The doctor gave me a prescription which I filled a couple of days ago.”

“How’s he really doing?”

There was silence on the line.

“I needed to get out of his hearing range,” the nurse explained. “He’s not doing well. The doctor increased the dosage of his medication. He’s becoming more and more forgetful, and the headaches are more severe. This is the most lucid he’s been since you left.”

Vince agreed with her. Remus had become a shadow of the man he once was. Watching him become weaker and weaker was painful, and every time he called, Vince feared the old man wouldn’t remember him.

“I’ll see if I can come home for a couple of days, Rose. Meanwhile, call me if he gets worse.” After he hung up, he pulled up outside a grocery store and just sat in the car.

His uncle meant a lot to him and losing him would be hard. Sure, he had a year to prepare himself, but one could never really be prepared to lose a loved one. When he felt his chest grow tight, Vince muttered a curse and stepped out of the car. He refused to mourn. His uncle wasn’t dead yet.

Jade was still asleep when Vince returned to the apartment. He put most of the groceries away, except what he needed, then started the coffeemaker. He had no idea what foods Jade preferred, but going by what he’d observed yesterday, she was particular about what she ate.

He studied the assortment of items he’d set on the table—eggs, cheeses, butter, fresh vegetables, bacon, and warm croissant—and shrugged. He could always order out if she didn’t eat eggs. He turned on the oven, then started to slice and dice the vegetables. Occasionally, he paused to listen and glance at the bedroom door. There was no sound, indicating Jade was still asleep.

His mind wandered to the events of last night. He still couldn’t figure out why she had sided with him against her cousin. Hopefully his father’s condition hadn’t influenced her. There were lots of things he wanted from the beautiful professor, but pity wasn’t one of them. Then there was the burglary. Did the men break into her home because they’d seen her with him or because of her mother? If they suspected Estelle had the statue, Vince wouldn’t put it past them to go after the woman. Or worse, use Jade to get to her.
 

A cold knot settled in his gut. He didn’t know how it happened, but Jade managed to slip passed the defense he had erected around his heart. It didn’t sit well with him. Caring made one vulnerable, something he couldn’t afford now.

The timer on the coffeemaker went off. Vince poured the dark brew in a mug, took a sip, and went back to his cooking. He sautéed red onions, peppers, and mushrooms, then added spinach. He transferred the mixture in to a baking pan, spread it evenly on top of mozzarella cheese, added eggs seasoned with oregano, pepper and salt, and sprinkled with feta cheese. He put the pan in the oven to bake, placed bacon in a pan on medium heat and started cutting oranges and grapefruit.

“Morning.”

Jade’s soft voice washed over him a little while later and the pull of helpless desire rippled through him. Slowly, Vince placed half a grapefruit down and looked up.

Her wet, curly hair hugged her head, her face scrubbed free of make-up, yet she never looked more beautiful. He gave her a slow, lingering appraisal. The jeans and shirt she’d picked from the store the night before fitted her as though designed specifically for her. His gaze returned to her face, to the uncertain and beguiling smile on her lips. He wanted to take her in his arms and steal that smile, mold those lips with his and make her pliant with a hunger that had nothing to do with breakfast.

"Morning, sleepy head,” he said instead, wiping his hands on a cloth. “I was about to make a ruckus with a spoon and a pan.”

"Your cooking already woke me up.” Hips swaying, she sashayed toward him. “You’re full of surprises, Vince.”

“Good ones I hope.”

“Oh, yeah.” She stopped on the other side of the counter and fixed her gaze on him.
 
“Whatever it is, it smells heavenly.”

“Thank you. Want a cup of coffee?” When she glanced at his coffeemaker, he got up, reached inside a cupboard and pulled out a bottle of decaf. He waved it like a trophy. “I got this just for you, and French vanilla nondairy creamer is in the fridge.”

An appreciative gleam entered her eyes. “That’s very thoughtful. Thanks. But you don’t have to do that. I can make some by myself. If you don’t mind, that is.”

“Help yourself.” He set the cup and the decaf on the counter, his gaze not leaving her. She appeared relax, unlike last night. “Do you eat eggs?”

She shot him a surprised glance. “Yes. Why do you ask?”

“I noticed that you’re very particular about what you drink.”

“Oh, that. Just something I have to do.” She didn’t elaborate, kept moving around the counter to join him. “I don’t eat bacon, but love eggs.”

She was about to walk past him when he placed his hands on her waist and stopped her. “I’ve been thinking about something most of this morning.”

Her eyebrows went up. “What?”

“This.” He claimed her lips, slipping his tongue inside her mouth when she gasped, loving their fullness and the sweet taste that was uniquely Jade. She reached up, crunched his shirt and pulled him closer. Pressing her softness against his hard body, his hands followed her contours until he reached her face. He cupped her jaw and deepened the kiss.

What started as a morning kiss shifted and grew into something bigger and hotter. Her floral scent filled his senses and need swelled inside him with the fury of a squall. He wanted to pull off their clothing, spread her legs and sink inside her warm sheath. Shifting her, he pushed her against the counter and slipped a knee between her thighs. His fingers slid through her wet strands to hold her head in place as he savored her again and again.

The oven timer beeped. Vince broke off the kiss and rested his forehead against hers. Eyes closed, Jade breathed out in spurts, her body quivering. He’d bedded his share of women, but none did things to his mind and body like this one. A look, a smile, and he craved. A touch and he forgot himself.

“Babe, I can’t take any more of this,” he growled.

Jade swallowed, wished she could hide behind a sophisticated rejoinder, but she didn’t think she had it in her. She couldn’t pull anything off since her voice seized up on her.
 
Neither could she put some distance between. Her knuckle-white grasp on his shirt was the only thing keeping her knees from giving out.

She was through using the past to push Vince away. He was nothing like her ex-husband. Taking a deep breath, Jade opened her eyes and looked into Vince’s bottomless grays.

“Neither can I, Vince.”
 
Her voice was a mere whisper.

A swift smile touched his sexy lips. “I need to do something about my timing, though, don’t I?” He ran a thumb over her lower lip, making it tingle.

Before she could stop it, her tongue sneaked out and tasted it. The sound of his breath catching reminded her just how fast things got out of control whenever they touched.
 

“Or we’ll burn, uh, burn our food.” She nodded at the oven. “It smells delicious. What is it?”

The gleam in his eyes told her he was aware of her gaffe. He released her and turned to retrieve their meal from the oven. He set the pan on the table and announced, “Spinach and feta frittata. I’m supposed to chill this mixture,” he pointed at the freshly squeezed orange and grapefruit juice, “for at least thirty minutes before adding Perrier,” he looked at his watch, “but I don’t think we can afford to wait.”

 
With the stunningly sexy picture of him bustling around the kitchen, she could willingly freeze time. In black jeans and a black shirt, the oven mitts and his obvious culinary skills, he was a dream. Everything he did seemed so effortless. A tingle sliced down her spine at the thought of those hands on her body. Reaching down to touch her intimately. Pleasuring her. Making her moan with need.

Then you lay there like a sack of potatoes and make the whole thing seem sordid.
Her ex-husband words resounded in her head. Not liking the direction of her thoughts, Jade quickly picked up the cup, got water from the faucet and put it in the microwave. When she turned around, Vince was scooping the frittata into two plates. Once again, she was sidetracked by the sexy image of a man in total control of his environment. He made it seem so easy while she couldn’t cook anything worth bragging about.

He glanced up, caught her gaze and cocked his eyebrows. Jade smiled and rushed into speech. “When did you learn to cook when you were busy interviewing and exposing dictators and warlords around the world?”

“My Uncle Remus gets all the credit. Self-reliance is something he values and passed on to me.” A wistful smile crossed his lips as he heaped bacon on his plate. “He also believes a man shouldn’t complain about his woman’s cooking if he can’t cook. Do you cook?”

“Some.”

“Any particular cuisine?”

“Take your pick.” He placed the pan in the sink and turned to eye her with narrowed eyes. She bet he could see right through her lie. Jade tried to keep a straight face. “Chinese, Italian, Cantonese, Thai, Creole, Spanish. As long as it is in a box and comes with directions.”

He snickered.

“Laugh at me all you want, but you have no idea how hard it is to get the time thing right. Cook for 8 minutes or until tender. Who told them we want choices? I always end up with undercooked pasta or a soggy mess.” A crack of laughter escaped him and the sound softened her insides. She’d made him laugh. Crazy as it might sound, the day seemed brighter and a weird optimism washed over her. “Anyway, tell me more about your uncle.”

The smile disappeared from his face. “What do you want to know?”

She shrugged, retrieving her water from the microwave and setting it on the counter. “Ah-mm, when he taught you how to cook, where he lives, and anything you might like to add.”

For a moment, Vince didn’t speak. He took his time pouring the juice in champagne chutes and filling them with Perrier, removing utensils and napkins. She scooped a half-a-spoon of decaf into her mug and a generous amount of the creamer. Then she replenished his cup for him.

Once they settled on their stools, she took a bite of her frittata and closed her eyes in bliss, savoring the taste. When she opened her eyes, Vince was staring at her mouth. The man had a way of throwing her off balance with just a look.