Never Kiss a Bad Boy (20 page)

Abruptly he turned away, opening the car door and sparing me any further conflict. Leaning out, he eyed the sky. “It might rain, we should hurry.”

Freed from the tension, I dove eagerly into the cold air. It cooled the sweat on my throat. Shaking my arms out, I asked, “Is Kite going to meet up with us?”

“He's sure to find us after he gets his own shopping done.”

“You trust him to buy an appropriate outfit for tonight?” I teased, hoping to erase the awkward mood.

Snorting, Jacob held the mall doors open for. “He's capable, though I doubt he'll look as sharp as me.” Tugging at his shirt, Jacob preened. He was playing around, but I could have watched him adjust his outfit for hours.

Making fists, I dug my nails into my palms.
Focus!
Following Jacob onto an escalator, I stared up at him. “He told me that you guys have been friends since he was nine.”

Jacob spaced out, eventually looking down at me with a faded grin. “Has it really been that long?”

I gazed at his face, wondering what he was remembering.

He twisted away, giving me a view of his strong jaw and the tiny indent in his chin. He could have been a model, or maybe an actor.

Pretending to be someone else was definitely his strong suit.

When we reached the third floor, he led me towards a store that was so fancy, I couldn't even pronounce the name. I just knew it was some kind of French.

Stopping short, I threw up my hands and laughed nervously. “You realize I can't go in there.”

“What? Why?”

I jiggled my purse. “I'm broke. I can't afford any of that stuff. Do you see any big, bold colored sales signs pasted all over the windows?
That's
my kind of store, not this.”

Arching an eyebrow, he reached for my hand; I dodged him. “Relax, Marina. I'll take care of everything.”

The pit in my belly swelled. “No. I can't let you buy me anything.”

He cocked his head, studying me as if I was a new breed of animal. “Are you afraid of owing me if I do you a favor?”

I froze on the spot. “I guess I'm nervous about what you'd ask for in return.”

Darkness entered his smirk. When he spoke, his voice had a caramel thickness. “You
should
be nervous.”

Inhaling sharply, I swayed on my heels. “Is that supposed to convince me?”

Chuckling, he smoothed back his hair. “No, but this is. You want to go to this event tonight, correct?”

“Of course I—”

“
And
,” he went on, “You want to find your killer.”

In my purse, the photo Jacob had given me acted like an anchor. I couldn't have turned and walked away if I'd tried. “Yes,” I whispered. “I want to find him.”

Taking a mini bow, Jacob motioned me towards the store. “Then, Miss Fidel, let me take you shopping.” It was a phrase I never imagined anyone would say to me.

I'd expected him to sneer, but his face was serious. I didn't feel like he was mocking me, Jacob
wanted
to take me shopping. He actually wanted to buy me a dress.

Knowing that, my stomach fluttered.

Brushing into the store, I was swallowed up by the racks of silky cloth and sparkling jewelry. The women who shopped here owned closets dedicated to
just
shoes. That wasn't me, not even a little bit.

I fought my instinct to turn and flee.

Jacob put a hand on my back, nudging me forward. I'd stopped on the threshold, frozen by indecision. “Come on,” he chuckled. “This will be good for you.”

Good for me? How could trying on clothing that was meant for movie stars be
good
for anyone? I didn't belong here, and my skin crawled the longer I lingered.

“It's just...” I waved a hand lamely. “Look at it all. That purse there costs more than my rent did!”

“You shouldn't let that stop you from enjoying yourself.” When he nudged me again, his touch was closer to a caress between my shoulder blades than a push. “Just try something on, don't look at the price tags.”

“Hah, there's a concept,” I sighed. Needing to escape his too-delicious fingers scraping over my body, I strolled quickly down an aisle.

The racks were thick with outfits. I glided my palms over each of the dresses, feeling the exquisite material. Green, black, maroon... the colors and styles never ended.

I wonder what Kite's favorite color is?
Peering covertly over my shoulder, I watched Jacob browsing further away.
For that matter... What would HE like?

If I was going to dress in something fancy and beautiful, which of these dresses would fit the bill and intrigue one of these men?

Or both of them.

Hah. Now THAT was a thought. A thought I didn't stick with, because it made my belly do jumping jacks and turned my tongue to water. Imagining them one at a time was enough to choke me. Together?

I'd never survive them.

It was a dumb idea, anyway. There was no way these two would go for it. If I didn't put a stop to all of this sexual tension, Kite and Jacob were going to kill each other. I needed them around to help me. That had to take priority.

No matter how tempting the alternative was.

“Find anything?” Jacob asked. For once, he hadn't startled me; I'd been spying on him and knew he was approaching.

Grabbing the nearest outfit—a green evening gown—I held it up like it was a shield. “I'll just try this one.”

“You should take a few more,” he said. Thumbing over the rack, he looped three hangers over his fingers. His smile went ear to ear. “I'll show you to the changing rooms.”

He was so polite and insistent, he could have been a store employee. Jacob had an uncanny way of blending in. He was also capable of taking one of those hangers and slicing someone's throat with it.

Pushing at the goosebumps on my arms, begging them to melt away, I followed him deeper into the store.

The changing rooms were quiet, lights brightening the space. In spite of that, I felt like I was creeping into a den full of monsters.

Anywhere Jacob went, there was always a bit of darkness.

Taking the dresses from him, I paused. This place was no better than his car, as far as being alone went. “I'll be right back,” I said, doing my best to imply that he should stay
here
and not try to follow me into the stalls.

Jacob leaned on the wall, checking his watch. “Alright. Shout if you need anything.”

What the hell could I need?

Swallowing my heart, I ducked into the stall. The box gave me breathing room, I sat on the tiny bench inside and put my head between my knees.
What the hell is going on?

I asked myself this a lot, lately.

There were too many levels to this craziness. In my purse, I kept the photo of a man I wanted dead. Just a few feet away was from me was one of the men I'd hired to help me achieve this.

And, tonight, those same two people were taking me out to a fancy party.

A party where I was going to try and spot the murdered who'd chopped my family to bits.

In my fingers, the dress material felt sickeningly slippery. Playing dress up was... it just wasn't me. Blinking, I looked down at my hands, closing my fingers and flexing them so hard they cramped.

Get it together. Think of this as going undercover. You're not doing this for the luxury and fun.

And then I understood why I was so uneasy.

I was freaking out because doing this felt like a betrayal. In my head, I saw Cece's accusing eyes and flinched. She'd been the one who liked to play dress up.

Not me.

Gritting my teeth, I forced myself to stand. I was too wrapped up in my guilt. I had to take control of my emotions, make myself see that what I was doing wasn't frivolous. If Jacob said this event was important, and that wearing these piles of money would get me inside, then I had to bite down my bile and do it.

This was all part of my purpose.

Steeling myself, I stripped down in the stall. In the mirror across from me, I caught sight of myself. There was a tiny mark on my shoulder, almost gone now, from Kite's teeth. My blush was furious.

Sliding the green dress over my head, I pushed all the pieces into place. Turning, I scowled.
Wow, this is hideous.
Jacob had been right to hand me more options.

My hair fluffed when I removed the outfit, eyes grazing over the other dresses. Gingerly, I rubbed the hem of a gorgeous looking crimson gown.

I squeezed into the tight little number. It clung to my curves, hugged the swell of my ass and dipped in around my waist. I had to give Jacob credit; even
I
thought I looked good.

Running fingers down my stomach, I noticed how second-skin the dress was. It was as if I had nothing on, nothing to save me from insistent touches and intentional legs that wanted to press against my own.

My shiver went from scalp to knees.

“Marina?”

His voice echoed, rocketing in my skull. “Uh, hang on,” I coughed. My blood had gone hot, sweat dancing down my back. I worked to get out of the dress, making sure my stall was locked. I doubted he'd randomly open my door, but... I still hurried.

With burning cheeks, I redressed and grabbed the outfits. Pushing the door open revealed the hitman standing just a foot away. If he'd crouched, he could have seen my feet in the stall.

His eyebrows went up, his mouth following. “You were taking awhile, did everything fit?”

Looking down at the dresses—of which I'd only tried on two—I nodded. “Yeah. Everything was fine.”

“Which of them do you want?” Tilting his chin, he let his powder-blue eyes roll over me. Was he imagining me in the clothes? “You can have all of them, if you wish.”

I coughed roughly. “No! Uh, no. I'll just take this red one.”

Smoke whirled in his stare. It suffocated me. “I'm glad. That one was my favorite.”

I needed to get out of here. Everything about this place—this event—had my brain convulsing. Jacob's wide smirks and hungry gaze had made me a pile of mush.

“Let's buy this and find Kite,” I said, shoving past him.

He followed me, tall enough that he could remain close and still bend in to talk. “Kite will be meeting us at his place. He finished shopping and left.”

Blinking, I hoisted the dress. “But I thought we were all going to meet up.”

“We will. It won't be long.”

Shooting him another eyeful of suspicion, I set the dress next to the register. The woman who rang me up did it with speed and efficiency. I almost didn't see the price blinking.

Eight hundred dollars.

My dress had cost eight hundred fucking dollars.

“Where would we go for jewelry?” Jacob asked, knocking me out of my daze.

“Oh, just across the way,” the clerk said, pointing. “Hidden Stones, they're a wonderful shop. I'm sure they'd have something to go with this dress.”

Jewelry? I had the sudden paranoia that Jacob was trying to buy me. A dress for tonight made sense, but anything beyond that was... what? Him showing off?

I wanted fresh air, but instead I found myself tailing after Jacob.

He was a gentleman, carrying the shopping bag for me. That was good, because I might have thrown it over the third floor banister. This didn't feel like a mission, or part of the plan.

This felt like a date.

The threads holding my heart together began to fray. If Jacob was trying to woo me, I didn't know how to fight back.

A cheerful, older woman faced us as we entered the store. She swayed our way, instantly looking at the logo on the shopping bag. She could smell money. “How can I help you two today?”

Opening the bag, he showed her the contents. “We'd like to buy some jewelry to match this dress. What would you suggest?”

Clasping her hands, she waggled her eyebrows at me. I didn't appreciate that. “Oh! I think I can find something to fit. Should I show you some of our more
special
items?”

“Yes,” Jacob said.

“No.” I spoke over him, our answers blurring together.

The clerk stared at us, inching towards the glass case. “Ah. Well, let me grab a few things.”

Turning, I leaned up on tip-toe and hissed into Jacob's ear. “We don't need anything 'special' for this! I don't need jewelry at all!”

Tilting towards me, his breath tickled me and made me shiver. “We do, and you do.” Straightening, he grinned at the tray the woman held towards him. “These look wonderful.”

Putting the box on the counter, she stepped back and waved us forward. I didn't move an inch, but Jacob scooped up something shiny. The necklace looked heavy, weighted with green gems and silver filigree. It was beautiful.

It wasn't meant for me.

It couldn't be.

His shadow cloaked my face, lips tilting up in a smile. “Lift your hair,” he instructed.

Breathing in tiny, tight bursts, I curled my hair up and exposed my neck. The backs of my eyeballs throbbed, his presence becoming
more
encompassing.

This vibe of his was crushing me. By the time he'd swooped the necklace around, his fingers skimming the nape of my neck, my bones were dust. How was I still standing?

“Look up,” he whispered against my temple.

I did, spotting us in the mirror. Jacob hovered behind me, his fingers holding the clasp of the necklace. I was a queen. And Jacob was my warrior.

No,
I reminded myself.
He's more villain than warrior. I have to remember that.

His razor smile and piercing blue eyes made that a challenge.

I was staring into another world. A place where Jacob was allowed to be this close to me, and it was okay if I wore expensive things. A universe that only existed in a mirror.

“It's beautiful,” I hushed, my own voice strange to me.

“Yes,” he said softly. “It is.” Jacob didn't tear his attention from me the entire time. Was he even talking about the necklace?

The clerk said something. I don't know what, but it shattered the moment. Jacob pulled away, handing the emerald necklace back. “Could we get matching earrings, please? We'll be taking this set.”

The transaction was a blur. I saw the money exchanged, watched Jacob add the box to the dress bag. Then he was moving, taking my wrist to encourage me from the store. It was a possessive grip. He held me like that until we reached the evening air.