going to take a little more effort than that to land this particular fish.”
Sam picked up her coffee, blowing lightly on the steaming liquid as she studied Jessie over the rim. “And what makes you so sure that I want to land him? That’s his choice. It’s his life.”
“In our family, no one flies solo.” Jessie smiled, but Sam had a feeling she was deadly serious. That it was a statement of fact and, perhaps, a warning. “And believe me, he is worth landing under all that prickly armor. But if you want him, you must take the lead. Be the hunter, even if it isn’t in your nature.”
“Are you telling me to go after your brother?”
“Yes. Until you nail him.” Jessie grinned. “And whether that be sexually, emotionally or both, I don’t care.”
“Why?”
“Because he is going to end up a very lonely and bitter old man if someone doesn’t crack his reserve, and I don’t want to see that happen.” Her grin grew. “Besides, he’s crazy about you, even if he’s not willing to admit it, even to himself.”
Something Sam found
very
hard to believe. “So, why me, specifically? Especially when he apparently has a sexual relationship with another agent?”
Jessie waved a hand. “That’s just a mutual relieving of tension. You’re the first person in a long time that he has shown any sort of emotion toward. Therefore, you’re the logical choice.”
“I can’t believe you’re discussing something as intimate as your brother’s love life with someone you don’t even know!” And actually, she couldn’t believe
she
was doing the same. But there was something very comforting
and
comfortable about this woman’s presence.
“Ah, but I do know you. And we are going to be very good friends.”
Sam raised her eyebrows. “So, basically, you’re the crazy one in the family?”
“No. The clairvoyant. The future is my playground.”
“I’m betting it isn’t always a pleasant one.”
Jessie’s bright eyes briefly shadowed. “No.”
Sam sipped her coffee. Then, in an effort to get onto a safer topic, she said, “So, Gabriel’s actually having me tailed because…?”
“Because he believes Hopeworth is after you.”
If last night was any indication, they were. And they didn’t particularly care if they found her dead or alive. Goose bumps skated beneath the small hairs along her arms.
“What makes him think that?”
Jessie shrugged. “I don’t think he’s got anything substantial. It’s just a feeling.”
And feelings were often more reliable than hard evidence—she’d learned that during her years as a cop. “And as the clairvoyant, what are your feelings?”
“That he could be right.”
“Then he should have talked to me, not arranged this all behind my back.”
“Would you have allowed him to arrange it?”
“No.”
“Which is probably why he didn’t bother asking.”
True enough.
Sam smiled wryly and glanced at her watch. If she didn’t get moving soon, she’d be horribly late for her appointment with O’Hearn. She sipped more of her coffee and said, “If I admit that I’m on to you, he’ll simply replace you with someone I don’t know, right?”
Jessie smiled, tucking several dark curls behind her ear. “Very likely.”
“Who else has he coerced into this?”
“My husband, Alain.”
Sam raised her eyebrows. “Just the three of you? Doesn’t he intend to sleep?”
“Obviously not. As I said, you mean more to him than he’s willing to admit.”
She’d try to remember that the next time he was giving her hell over something stupid. “Next time you’re on watch, why not give me a call? If I’m off-duty, we might as well be bored together.”
Jessie nodded. “Are you going to tell him you know?”
“Maybe. Maybe not.” If Gabriel had the feeling Hopeworth was after her, she wasn’t about to refuse any protection he offered, however covertly. And yet all roads seemed to be leading to that place, and if she wanted answers, then maybe her
Sam picked up her coffee, blowing lightly on the steaming liquid as she studied Jessie over the rim. “And what makes you so sure that I want to land him? That’s his choice. It’s his life.”
“In our family, no one flies solo.” Jessie smiled, but Sam had a feeling she was deadly serious. That it was a statement of fact and, perhaps, a warning. “And believe me, he is worth landing under all that prickly armor. But if you want him, you must take the lead. Be the hunter, even if it isn’t in your nature.”
“Are you telling me to go after your brother?”
“Yes. Until you nail him.” Jessie grinned. “And whether that be sexually, emotionally or both, I don’t care.”
“Why?”
“Because he is going to end up a very lonely and bitter old man if someone doesn’t crack his reserve, and I don’t want to see that happen.” Her grin grew. “Besides, he’s crazy about you, even if he’s not willing to admit it, even to himself.”
Something Sam found
very
hard to believe. “So, why me, specifically? Especially when he apparently has a sexual relationship with another agent?”
Jessie waved a hand. “That’s just a mutual relieving of tension. You’re the first person in a long time that he has shown any sort of emotion toward. Therefore, you’re the logical choice.”
“I can’t believe you’re discussing something as intimate as your brother’s love life with someone you don’t even know!” And actually, she couldn’t believe
she
was doing the same. But there was something very comforting
and
comfortable about this woman’s presence.
“Ah, but I do know you. And we are going to be very good friends.”
Sam raised her eyebrows. “So, basically, you’re the crazy one in the family?”
“No. The clairvoyant. The future is my playground.”
“I’m betting it isn’t always a pleasant one.”
Jessie’s bright eyes briefly shadowed. “No.”
Sam sipped her coffee. Then, in an effort to get onto a safer topic, she said, “So, Gabriel’s actually having me tailed because…?”
“Because he believes Hopeworth is after you.”
If last night was any indication, they were. And they didn’t particularly care if they found her dead or alive. Goose bumps skated beneath the small hairs along her arms.
“What makes him think that?”
Jessie shrugged. “I don’t think he’s got anything substantial. It’s just a feeling.”
And feelings were often more reliable than hard evidence—she’d learned that during her years as a cop. “And as the clairvoyant, what are your feelings?”
“That he could be right.”
“Then he should have talked to me, not arranged this all behind my back.”
“Would you have allowed him to arrange it?”
“No.”
“Which is probably why he didn’t bother asking.”
True enough.
Sam smiled wryly and glanced at her watch. If she didn’t get moving soon, she’d be horribly late for her appointment with O’Hearn. She sipped more of her coffee and said, “If I admit that I’m on to you, he’ll simply replace you with someone I don’t know, right?”
Jessie smiled, tucking several dark curls behind her ear. “Very likely.”
“Who else has he coerced into this?”
“My husband, Alain.”
Sam raised her eyebrows. “Just the three of you? Doesn’t he intend to sleep?”
“Obviously not. As I said, you mean more to him than he’s willing to admit.”
She’d try to remember that the next time he was giving her hell over something stupid. “Next time you’re on watch, why not give me a call? If I’m off-duty, we might as well be bored together.”
Jessie nodded. “Are you going to tell him you know?”
“Maybe. Maybe not.” If Gabriel had the feeling Hopeworth was after her, she wasn’t about to refuse any protection he offered, however covertly. And yet all roads seemed to be leading to that place, and if she wanted answers, then maybe her
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