truthfully say you’re going to Disney World. And it’ll be cooler and less crowded and … I haven’t forgotten that you’re hiding something from me, Jaime.”
“I promise, Pepper, I’m not hiding anything from you. It’s just now that … the paparazzi are following me, trying to find dirt on me, and I don’t want them dragging you into anything.” He was lying. But why was he lying, she wondered.
“Or you don’t want them thinking there’s anything going on between me and you is more like it. I get it, Jaime. I’m not supermodel material, and you only date tall, busty blondes. I’ve seen the pictures.”
“You have? I can explain.”
“Explain what? That you date while you’re out of town. What was her name last week while you were in LA? Ella Talbot, the actress from the new Bond movie? I get it. Believe me I do. She is beautiful.”
“That wasn’t what it looked like, Cass, Ella and I were guests at the same party, and all that dating stuff is just lies. Heck, that was the only time we were even near each other all night. I swear.” He sounded almost defensive.
“Jaime, you don’t have to defend your life to me. I’m just your secretary. It’s not like there’s anything between us, is there?” She didn’t dare look at him. She didn’t want to see relief in his eyes. She sure as hell wasn’t about to bring up the one night of unplanned sex that should never have happened. Nor would she mention that she really, really wished it would happen again.
“I don’t know, Cass. I can’t figure you out. Well, I’m going to have the codes changed on the front gate and the alarm updated this week. Just stay close to the house and pay attention to what’s going on around you. If you notice anything out of the ordinary, call me, or the police. Okay? Promise me that much.”
“Okay, Jaime. I promise.” Somehow, she didn’t think this had anything to do with the paparazzi. Something else was going on, but she knew Jaime Dalton well enough to know he’d already told her all she needed to know.
“That’s good. I, uh, have to go. I need to call Mitch. That thing with the accountant is not going well.” He took his package and disappeared in his office. Seconds later she heard the lock turn. He’d never locked her out before. Something was definitely going on. Something he didn’t want her to know about.
Cass felt her skin crawl. Somehow, she had the strange feeling that she was being watched. It was just her imagination. Of course, Jaime’s odd behavior had nothing whatsoever to do with giving her the heebie-jeebies. No, not at all. Now, thanks to him, she expected a camera-wielding psycho to jump out of the bushes in the backyard at any moment.
She did know one thing for certain, though. She really hated Jaime Dalton more and more every day.
* * * *
She was late. Jaime paced his office, going to the front window to look out over the drive. On Sunday, she went to her book club and then for coffee with a couple of the women she met there. She was usually home long before dark. And the sun had definitely set over Miami, nearly an hour ago. Jaime checked his phone again. There was nothing, not even a text telling him the meeting had run long or that she was going to dinner.
He hated waiting and worrying, but he didn’t call because he didn’t want her knowing he was worried. He sure as hell didn’t want her reading anything else into his worry. Cass wasn’t easily misled. She’d almost had him cornered yesterday after the third package had arrived. He knew what he would find in this batch. Mitch had hired someone to take care of it. Everything was going to be okay, as long as Cass was safe, and that was all that mattered. At least that’s what he told himself. The simple fact was he didn’t want anyone finding out what was in those packages. In the wrong hands … he shivered just thinking about it.
He heard the gate open before he saw the headlights. Right now, no one but Cass
“I promise, Pepper, I’m not hiding anything from you. It’s just now that … the paparazzi are following me, trying to find dirt on me, and I don’t want them dragging you into anything.” He was lying. But why was he lying, she wondered.
“Or you don’t want them thinking there’s anything going on between me and you is more like it. I get it, Jaime. I’m not supermodel material, and you only date tall, busty blondes. I’ve seen the pictures.”
“You have? I can explain.”
“Explain what? That you date while you’re out of town. What was her name last week while you were in LA? Ella Talbot, the actress from the new Bond movie? I get it. Believe me I do. She is beautiful.”
“That wasn’t what it looked like, Cass, Ella and I were guests at the same party, and all that dating stuff is just lies. Heck, that was the only time we were even near each other all night. I swear.” He sounded almost defensive.
“Jaime, you don’t have to defend your life to me. I’m just your secretary. It’s not like there’s anything between us, is there?” She didn’t dare look at him. She didn’t want to see relief in his eyes. She sure as hell wasn’t about to bring up the one night of unplanned sex that should never have happened. Nor would she mention that she really, really wished it would happen again.
“I don’t know, Cass. I can’t figure you out. Well, I’m going to have the codes changed on the front gate and the alarm updated this week. Just stay close to the house and pay attention to what’s going on around you. If you notice anything out of the ordinary, call me, or the police. Okay? Promise me that much.”
“Okay, Jaime. I promise.” Somehow, she didn’t think this had anything to do with the paparazzi. Something else was going on, but she knew Jaime Dalton well enough to know he’d already told her all she needed to know.
“That’s good. I, uh, have to go. I need to call Mitch. That thing with the accountant is not going well.” He took his package and disappeared in his office. Seconds later she heard the lock turn. He’d never locked her out before. Something was definitely going on. Something he didn’t want her to know about.
Cass felt her skin crawl. Somehow, she had the strange feeling that she was being watched. It was just her imagination. Of course, Jaime’s odd behavior had nothing whatsoever to do with giving her the heebie-jeebies. No, not at all. Now, thanks to him, she expected a camera-wielding psycho to jump out of the bushes in the backyard at any moment.
She did know one thing for certain, though. She really hated Jaime Dalton more and more every day.
* * * *
She was late. Jaime paced his office, going to the front window to look out over the drive. On Sunday, she went to her book club and then for coffee with a couple of the women she met there. She was usually home long before dark. And the sun had definitely set over Miami, nearly an hour ago. Jaime checked his phone again. There was nothing, not even a text telling him the meeting had run long or that she was going to dinner.
He hated waiting and worrying, but he didn’t call because he didn’t want her knowing he was worried. He sure as hell didn’t want her reading anything else into his worry. Cass wasn’t easily misled. She’d almost had him cornered yesterday after the third package had arrived. He knew what he would find in this batch. Mitch had hired someone to take care of it. Everything was going to be okay, as long as Cass was safe, and that was all that mattered. At least that’s what he told himself. The simple fact was he didn’t want anyone finding out what was in those packages. In the wrong hands … he shivered just thinking about it.
He heard the gate open before he saw the headlights. Right now, no one but Cass
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