Page 74 of The Desperate Warrior

“Not according to Claire’s mom.”

“Why couldn’t Leroy reach Claire?”

“She’s on a Mediterranean Cruise and didn’t purchase a data package, so her cell reception is spotty. Leroy’s trying to contact her. I even got Claire’s number so I can try calling.”

Jules took in a deep breath. “Sounds good.”

Brock’s eyes hardened. “In the meantime, I think you should keep your distance from Asher. He’s fixated on you, and I don’t like it.”

A smile curled her lips as she reached up and smoothed the fabric below his shirt collar. “What’s wrong, G.I. Joe? You worried about a little competition?”

“Doesn’t it seem strange to you that he signed up for a cooking class to be with you, and he’s seeking you out at lunch? Even tonight, he’s been right by your side.”

“Not the whole night,” she countered, “just some of the time.” She’d briefly thought about not telling Brock about Asher joining her for lunch in the break-room, but she wanted to be honest with him. “The lunch thing feels harmless. I mean, we are coworkers,” she added.

His eyes sparked. “There’s something off about that guy. I can feel it.” He leaned in. “I’m going to do everything in my power to track down Claire. I want to hear what she has to say.”

Jules shrugged. “Fine. Track her down. It’s like I told you before: I don’t care if you track down Asher’s entire family. Do whatever makes you happy.”

“Oh, I will,” he said reflexively, and then his expression changed. His eyes deepened to a smolder as they moved over her face with deliberate slowness. “You’re saying I should do whatever makes me happy?”

Heat flooded her cheeks and then seeped down her neck. She let out a breathy laugh. “Well, within reason.”

“Ah,” he murmured, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. “You said whatever makes me happy.” In a swift movement, he circled an arm around her waist and pulled her to him.

He lowered his face to hers. “I can think of one thing that would make me very happy right now.”

Her breath caught. “Brock,” she whispered, eyes darting toward the doorway. “Right here? In the kitchen?”

A low, amused laugh rumbled in his throat. “Right here and right now. Did I mention how incredible you look tonight?” His gaze trailed over her in a caress that left a trail of tantalizing heat in its wake.

“Thank you,” she said, her voice barely audible.

He leaned in and kissed one corner of her mouth in a teasing gesture that made her want more. Then he kissed the other corner.

She expected him to kiss her then. Instead, a cocky grin quirked over his mouth. He knew he was driving her crazy. “Well,” she grunted, “are you gonna stand there all night with that goofy grin or kiss me?”

Mellow laughter rolled from his throat. “I thought you were worried about someone seeing us.”

He was impossible! “Just kiss me already,” she demanded.

Amusement ringed his eyes in gold. “Yes, ma’am.”

His mouth claimed hers with aching tenderness that circled shivers around her spine. This time, she was the one who deepened the kiss by encircling his neck with her arms andpulling him even closer. All worries about the other people in the house flew right out of her mind as she lost herself in the bliss of his nearness.

The clearing of a throat brought her abruptly back to reality as she and Brock broke apart. Her eyes widened in horror when she saw Asher standing there, frozen in place. His expression was stricken. Hurt twisted into confusion before morphing into visible disgust.

“You’re kissing your cousin?”

Jules let out a nervous cackle as her brain scrambled to come up with an explanation.

Brock, however, didn’t miss a beat. A smug grin spread across his chiseled face. “Well,” he said with mock sadness, “I guess the cat’s out of the bag.” He looked at Jules. “Sorry, cuz.”

“Asher …” Jules began, but he took a step back, his mouth a firm line. “Excuse me,” he said curtly before turning and marching out of the kitchen.

Jules whirled on Brock, swatting his chest. “Why did you do that?”

“What?” he asked, completely unbothered. His arms were still firmly planted around her waist.

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