Page 251 of The Parkers' Handsome Holiday
I parked at the office and took a few deep breaths, preparing myself for the confrontation I was about to have. Emma had to understand that she couldn’t take risks like these, couldn’t put herself in danger. I wouldn’t watch as another woman died in front of my eyes. The first one had almost crippled me.
Seeing Emma hurt would rip out my insides and set them on fire.
It was time to give her a taste of her own medicine. She’d threatened me to get her way. Let’s see how she liked it when I turned the tables on her.
CHAPTER 10
EMMA
My heart was hitting my ribcage so hard, I figured I’d have a bruise on my chest come morning. I’d already bitten my nails down to the quick. I couldn’t believe how close I’d come to being caught. If Jack hadn’t been there...
He’s going to kick my ass. There was no doubt in my mind. I’d seen the storm clouds on his face when he’d caught me crouching in that closet. I was glad that Matt and Dad were already gone. I’d told them that I wanted to close the office early so I could go help out at the local veterinary clinic. I volunteered there sometimes, so it wasn’t too surprising, and Dad had been happy to oblige me.
The lie had enabled me to sneak to Jansen’s hotel and rifle through his belongings. Sadly, I hadn’t gotten very far by the time they showed up. Which meant I hadn’t found the envelope containing the photos. And then I’d almost gotten caught. Not the best day of my life.
I was pacing, unable to relax. I knew Jack would be on his way back to the office. And when he got here, it wasn’t going to be pretty.
The office door banged open and I looked up, biting my lip. If I’d thought he’d been upset before, I wasn’t at all prepared for the fury on his face now.
Jack lunged forward, grabbing my arms. “What in the fuck did you think you were doing?”
“My civic duty.”
His eyes narrowed, and his hands tightened on my arms. “Knock it off, Emma.”
“If the councilman is mixed up in something illicit, we have a duty to investigate it.” I spoke calmly, hoping it would diffuse his anger. “I thought I had time to get in and get out. I used the extra key provided for security detail, and since we control the camera feed, there was minimal risk.”
“That’s bullshit,” he growled. “You aren’t putting yourself in danger for the good of the community, on the thinnest shred of evidence. You’re playing spy to please yourself.”
I frowned up at him. “I will admit, I get tired of being cooped up in his office all day while the guys get to have all the fun. My dad and my brother handle me with kid gloves. Until you showed up, no one let me in on anything at all.”
“They are protecting you.” His voice was low, insistent. “Keeping you safe from the bad shit that’s out there. Because, believe me, there’s some really bad shit in the world.”
I blinked up at him, noting the shadow that crossed his face. “I don’t want to be so protected that nothing exciting ever happens.”
“Exciting?” A black expression took up residence on his face and I knew I’d said something wrong. “You’re worried about excitement when you could have gotten yourself hurt, or worse? I was never so worried in my goddamn life as when I saw you hiding in that closet. You have no right to put yourself in danger. Your dad and your brother have the right of it. You need to be protected. Even from yourself.”
I could feel his hands shaking as they gripped my arms. He was genuinely upset, and not just because I’d almost gotten caught. The look in his eyes was suddenly more dangerous than hiding out in Jansen’s hotel room closet.
Without warning, Jack pulled me into his arms, his lips descending to crash into mine. I was caught off guard by his kiss. It was more powerful than the one we’d shared before. Like electricity from a live wire arcing between us. He devoured my mouth, which only left me begging for more.
I melted into the kiss, giving him anything he wanted. Jack was like a force of nature, and my body was responding without conscious control. Anything he wanted to take, I wanted to give him.
Jack pulled me into the conference room and lifted me up to set me on the table. He pushed open my thighs and positioned himself between him, putting his hands on either side of my face and returning his lips to mine. I couldn’t catch my breath, drowning under the assault of his passion.
Then his hands were on my blouse, pulling it up over my head. I was happy to see it go, wanting my skin to be pressed against his. I shoved his jacket off, then started yanking at the buttons on his shirt. He helped, his hands still shaking, although this time with a different emotion.
Sliding my hands under his undershirt, I was amazed at the heat I found there. His skin was on fire, and I wanted to be closer to the flames. Jack yanked his shirt off and I eagerly pressed myself against him, marveling in the hard feel of his chest against mine.
His head lowered and he pressed a kiss to my shoulder, then worked his way over to my neck. His lips there were soft but searching, and when he reached my ear, the sensation of his hot breath there was driving my senses into overload.
Jack’s hands were on my thighs, pushing my skirt up and pulling me forward so that our lower regions came in contact. I removed my bra, baring myself to him, and his eyes lit up, causing a warmth to spread through my midsection. I could see that he wanted me. I wanted him just as bad.
Maybe worse.
I pulled his head over to my lips and kissed him again, wishing we could always be connected this way. I’d never experienced a kiss like this, full of longing and anticipation. My hips started moving involuntarily, rubbing against the hardness I could feel behind his slacks.
Jack groaned, then moved to undo his pants. Sliding them to the floor along with his boxer briefs, he at last stood fully nude before me.
