Page 58 of Secrets

Jessica’s hotrod turns into the lot and is quick to fill Miss Morton’s vacant space.

When she gets out, my eyes instantly rove over her, taking in the cute black jumpsuit and cropped tan sweater underneath. Bare skin peeks from the sides, though even that part is mostly covered by her long soft curls. She’s wearing her hair down today, and I have the powerful urge to comb my fingers through it.

“Agent.” I greet her at the door, my gaze flashing to the small brown bag in her hand before pressing a kiss to her lips. “What do we have here?”

She beams. “Sourdough. It just came out of the oven. Well, like an hour ago.”

“Thank you.” I accept it from her before backing away from the door, allowing her room to come inside. “I’ll make us a slice with some garlic butter Mrs. Ward made for me.”

“Yum—Oh. Hello!” Jessica’s smile is bright as she waves at Ben.

He puts the broom away and takes off his apron, the close of business only minutes away now. He holds out a thick hand.

“This is Ben, Mrs. Ward’s son. He helps out on occasion with big deliveries and what not. He also took care of me during my awkward teenage years in high school after being homeschooled for so long.”

If I wasn’t looking directly at her, I would have missed the way her smile drops a centimeter. The way her shoulders sink and how dullness steals the sheen of her bright eyes. It’s a look I’ve never seen the agent possess, and oddly enough, have no idea what causes it.

She corrects her expression by the next blink, however, her smile returning even wider as she shakes his hand. “I’m sure there wasn’t an awkward bone in your body, Red. And Ben, so great to meet you. Your mom makes thebestcroissants.”

Ben lowers his head in thanks, his voice a deep rumble. “Thank you.”

Still curious as to where that odd response came from, I dismiss Ben, asking him to let his mother know I’ll be by the next day to help with her pathos. He nods to us both before leaving. I’m quick to lock up the shop and flip the sign toclosed. When I turn back around, Jessica is on her tiptoes, humming a song while inspecting a new leaf my Adansonii monstera just put out.

“Larry’s getting huge.”

I step toward her, trepidation working through my nerves. I can’t place it, but something’s askew, even if only slightly, I can feel it.

“How was your day?” I walk behind her, wrapping my free hand around her waist so I can place a soft kiss to the curve of her neck.

A shiver presses her into me. “Better now. Yours?”

I chew on my bottom lip, trying to ignore the way those two little words feel like a lie. Perhaps this is what insecurity feels like. But why on earth would I be experiencing it? “Busy.”

Shehmms, twisting in my hold to face me. Placing her hands around my neck, she kisses me twice, both times slowly and softly. Her eyes gaze into mine, the pupils expanding to wash out the gorgeous blue color as she searches mine, but for what I’m unsure. When she speaks, her voice is low, sensual. It slices right into my veins and invades my bloodstream. “Let’s go upstairs. I’m starving.”

“Are you trying to distract me, Agent?”

Her head cocks to one side. “From what?”

I’m honest, a rarity with how I’m feeling a tad more open—more vulnerable. It’s odd that a person can establish such a hold on one’s life that they soon can affect their very mood. “Something’s happened. What aren’t you saying?”

It’s her lips this time that give her away. The corners twitch with the words she wants to say, but die in a thick swallow she does before clearing her throat.

There it is.

“Actually nothing. I’ve been bombarded with a lot of information lately and possible leads on closing two cases I’ve been working on for a while.” Jessica exhales a short laugh, dropping her arms to grasp my free hand and begin leading me toward the back. “It’s just…the closer I get to figuring everything out, the more I question if I should.”

My brows lift as we ascend the stairs. “I’m confused. Why wouldn’t you want to finally be done with something that’s consumed so much of your life?”

I recall vaguely how much relief—how much more free—I felt after finally meeting with my father in prison. Who ever said revenge heals no wounds must not have done it right.

Jessica shrugs before opening the door to my studio. “I don’t know. It’s just, life has changed, and I see things in such a different lens than I did a while ago. I’d hate to have that ruined.”

Curiouser and curiouser. “I never knew you to be such a cryptic.”

Jessica pulls me inside, hitting the door closed behind me before pressing me up against it. My heart comes to life with the proximity of her and only increases in pressure when she leans forward, her mouth a mere inch away from mine. Again, her eyes search mine for something and when she either finds it or doesn’t, she smirks. “We all have our secrets.”

With that, she takes control of my mouth, her kiss fierce and direct as she consumes me. The bag drops from my hand and I immediately reach for her hair, but she stops me, threading her fingers in mine and pushing them above my head.

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