Page 17 of Desperate Temptations

He turned and sauntered out the door, his mouth kicked up into a smile at her strangled screech. He was much happier leaving her angry than upset. The anger he could handle. Her tears tore through his heart.

He grinned as he drove home. Fuck, he liked her spunk. Not many people challenged him. He terrified most people. Hell, he could think of less than a handful of people who weren’t afraid of him. His size alone made people nervous. The hard face, muscular body, and very dominant personality meant not many people could handle him outside his family. She seemed to be an exception, which pleased him tremendously. She was the last person he wanted to ever fear him.

Chapter Thirteen

The week slowly crept by. One long day bled into another. Every day was more excruciating than the previous. Not being able to investigate on her own was taking a toll. The fact that Cain hadn’t updated her made it so much worse. Jessa was debating on whether to break her promise to Cain to stay away from the warehouse. Also, she wasn’t quite sure if it wasn't investigating anymore or missing Cain that was twisting her inside out. Just thinking like that shattered her.

Her tension grew with every knock at her door, at either work or home, just waiting for him. She wasn’t sleeping. She woke up crying several times a night. Her sleep was disturbed by nightmares of Drew and Cain. Some were of seeing Drew die again, slowly seeing his life’s blood drain from his body. Others showed Cain instead of Drew in the seat next to her, watching him die before her eyes.

Against her intentions, he was becoming important to her. The feelings were multiplying, and they’d only just met. This wasn’t like her, and she didn’t like it. The anguish was slowly consuming her spirit.

Late Friday afternoon, Jessa was studying a legal document for a client when a deep cough came from the doorway. Her head jerked up, and instantly her body stiffened and then immediately softened, readying herself for the man lounging against the doorframe.

In old jeans and a black t-shirt, he looked scary and sexy at the same time. His dark hair was a little longer than the last time she’d seen him. God, had it only been a week? It felt like months. His eyes seemed to bore through her, which made her afraid he was seeing things she didn’t want him to see. He was rugged, not movie-star handsome like Drew had been, but he was pure male. With his dark coloring and high cheekbones, she wondered if he had some Native American Indian in him.

For several moments, she sat frozen, unable to talk or take her eyes off him, not quite believing he was really here. She jerked to attention when he pushed away from the door and started for her in an unhurried, predatory stride. Jessa tried to stand, only to have her legs buckle, unable to move.

Cain came around the desk and sat in the corner next to her chair, and he looked intently down at her.

Her stomach tightened, and her nerves grew, making her feel shaky. She wished she had been able to say something—anything—but she was unable to at the moment.

Chapter Fourteen

Cain’s eyes roamed over her, starting at her tiny feet in black heels. Very sexy. He liked seeing her all buttoned up in a neat black suit. He wanted nothing more than to peel her out of it and spread her on his bed. He had an urge to unbutton one at a time, revealing the soft white skin he knew lay beyond the shirt. He would pull the pins from her thick hair, letting it fall in a heavy curtain around her shoulders and over his pillow.

He looked at her in stunned disbelief. He suddenly crouched and frowned. He turned her chair to face him straight on and caught her chin, turning it toward the light.

“What the hell happened to you?”

Her mouth dropped open only to slam shut. She gave a humorless laugh.

“What does that mean?” Jessa asked.

“You look awful.”

She rolled her eyes.

“Wow, Cain, what a sweet thing to say.”

He chuckled, his eyes running hotly over her, concerned.

“I just meant you look exhausted, and you look like you’ve lost weight.” Even pale and tired, she was still so beautiful it took his breath away.

She crossed her arms defensively.

“I’m a little tired, and I’m eating just fine. Thank you for your concern, but my life is none of your business.”

Cain frowned, then grunted.

“I’m making it my business. Why does it look like you haven’t slept in a month? And you damn well have lost weight.”

A calm voice from the door stated, “I’d like to know that, too.”

Jessa and Cain’s heads jerked toward the door.

“What, Leona?” Jessa asked.

“I was wondering why you look a little more haggard every day you come into work. Since you won’t give me answers, I was hoping Mr...” Leona looked at Cain, an eyebrow arching.

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