"Look, Jack. I'm sorry if I led you on in any way. I want to continue this."
didn't mean to. I had fun. But really, I'm tired and I have to get Okay, something wasn't right here. "You can't be up early for work." She opened the door and looked at him serious."
expectantly. "If you don't mind..."
"I am."
He looked at the open door then back at her. "Wow. I He dragged his hand through his hair, confused as hell.
was really off base about you. About us. I'm sorry, Callie." He
"This doesn't make any sense."
turned and walked out the door, wincing at the sound of it Callie shrugged. "Look, Jack. I'm busy with my career closing behind him.
and you're busy with yours. I had a nice time this weekend, but He turned and watched as the lights went out in Callie's you really can't expect me to behave that way every day, can house, but as he climbed into his car and drummed his fingers you? I mean let's be realistic here. The public sex was hot and on the steering wheel, he shook his head.
all, but it's not my everyday life. For a one time fling, great.
His instincts had never been wrong. They'd seen him But that was it."
through years of college and numerous cases at work. Instinct One time fling? What the fuck? Hurt knifed hot in his told him now that Callie had been lying.
stomach, leaving him at a loss for words. He couldn't believe Something was off about her performance back there.
this was the same Callie he'd just spent the weekend with.
And that's what it had just been: performance.
Something was off, but he couldn't figure it out.
Callie was many things, but a cold, heartless bitch
"Tell me what's really going on, Callie. This isn't you."
wasn't one of them.
Her gaze narrowed. "Isn't it? You really don't know me She was warm, caring, generous.
at all, Jack. You know nothing about me. We had a fun fuck, He wanted that Callie back, and he was going to find but that was it. You were a bet I made with my friends. A out what the hell had happened to cause her turnaround.
174
Jaci Burton/ Wild, Wicked & Wanton/Unedited Advance Reading Copy Berkley Heat/May, 2007
Callie stood at the window and watched Jack get into his car, then just sit there.
"Drive away, Jack. Just drive away."
Her heart ached so much she was afraid she was going to die from the pain. It was like losing Bobby all over again, that heart wrenching, stabbing feeling of loss.
The hurt in Jack's eyes as she'd flung her noncaring attitude at him had torn her apart. She'd never felt so callous before. God, it hurt. She wanted to open her door and run out to his car, throw her arms around him and tell him she was lying, that the weekend they'd spend together had meant everything to her. That she was sorry for hurting him, that she hadn't meant anything she'd just said.
But if she did that, she'd ruin his life. Everything he'd worked so hard to achieve.
Finally, he drove away.
She sank to the floor and sobbed.
175
Jaci Burton/ Wild, Wicked & Wanton/Unedited Advance Reading Copy Berkley Heat/May, 2007
"She was worried about you two being so different socioeconomically," Blair explained.
Jack shook his head. "That's bullshit. And we talked about it. I told her my roots. I grew up on a farm, for the love of God. We come from the same type of background so that wasn't an issue for her."
Chapter Seven
"Hmm, then you're right. That can't be it," Blair said, tapping her nails on the table.
Jack searched the restaurant for two familiar faces,
"Maybe it had something to do with that guy from your finally locating Blair and Abby at a corner booth. He firm stopping by her shop the other day," Abby said.
maneuvered his way through the crowd and slipped in the Jack's gaze shot to Abby. "What guy?"
empty side of the booth.
"She didn't say. Only that one of the senior partners of
"I appreciate you both agreeing to meet with me."
your firm came by after she'd closed up shop, and that she Blair shrugged. "No problem. What's up?"
didn't care very much for him. Some Walters guy. Monday, I
"I was hoping you could tell me. What's up with Callie, think."
that is."
And Monday night was when she'd had her little Abby frowned. "What do you mean?"
goodbye talk with him. "Ah. I see."
He relayed what happened the other night, feeling
"What?" Blair asked.
strangely comforted when both women's eyes widened.
"I think I have an idea what might have happened."
"That's not like Callie at all," Abby said.
"Does it have something to do with that guy from your
"She doesn't have a mean bone in her body," Blair firm?" Abby asked.
added. "And about the bet? She'd never throw it out to you like
"I think it has everything to do with that guy from my that. No way."
firm." He reached for Abby and Blair's hands. "Thank you
"Have you spoken to her at all about the weekend we ladies. I appreciate the information. Now I have to go talk to spent together and what happened afterward?"
someone and hopefully get this cleared up with Callie."
Blair shook her head. "She's been strangely
"You do that," Blair said. "Because I don't think she's unavailable. Says she's busy. Which is really unusual for her."
very happy right now."
"I think she's avoiding talking to us. We know she's
"Well I'm sure as hell not happy without her. I want her upset, she said it didn't work out for the two of you, but we back."
thought it was the whole social status thing," Abby said.
"That's what we like to hear." Abby squeezed his hand.
"Social status?" Jack asked.
176
Jaci Burton/ Wild, Wicked & Wanton/Unedited Advance Reading Copy Berkley Heat/May, 2007
Jack left the restaurant and hopped in his car, trying not
"Isn't she? We have a reputation to uphold and we can't to let fury overtake him. The last thing he needed was a car have sexually perverted partners in our firm. I like you, Jack.
wreck. He forced himself to calm down while he drove, but it You have a killer instinct and you're going to make a was damned difficult. He had an idea, a really good idea, of phenomenal senior partner. But it won't be with that depraved what had transpired between Callie and Bob.
woman at your side. Now you're going to find a socially It was really too damn bad that murder was illegal, acceptable woman and marry her, and have normal sex with because it was first and foremost on his mind right now.
that woman and that's all I'm going to say on the subject."
Even though it was late, he knew Bob would still be at
"You can't dictate my private life, Bob."
the office. Bob was always at the office. Jack practiced Bob smirked. "Can't I? How fast do you think your breathing in through his nose and out through his mouth while career will sink once word gets out about your predilections for he rode the elevator to the penthouse offices, then found Bob public sex?"
exactly where he knew he'd be--in his office, working. He
"You wouldn't do that."
must have one understanding wife.
Bob arched a brow. "Wouldn't I? You know me, Jack.
He didn't even bother to knock, instead stepped in and I'll do whatever it takes to get what I want. And what I want is said, "Bob, I need to know what the hell you said to Callie."
you in this firm as senior partner. And without that Jameson Bob swiveled around in his chair and smiled. "I saw the woman at your side. You continue to see her, that rather two of you in the movie theater the other night."
unpleasant information about you goes public."
Bob was there? Ah, th
at explained some things. "I see.
"You can't prove it."
And?"
"I won't have to. All it takes is my word of what I saw
"So I told Ms. Jameson I saw the two of you, and what in that movie theater. Once a background investigation is you did. I said what you should have said to her. I told her to started, I'm sure we'll be able to uncover many sordid little get lost."
secrets about you."
Blind spots sparked in front of Jack's eyes. He didn't He could not fucking believe this was happening. "And think he'd ever been this angry before.
to think I used to respect you."
Stay calm. Don't kill him. Oh, but he really wanted to.
"I don't care if you respect me or not, Jack. As long as
"What the fuck did you think gave you the right to go to her you continue to make this firm millions of dollars a year, you and say anything?"
can hate my guts. Now if you'll excuse me, I have work to do."
"Because you weren't going to do it, and I will do
"This isn't over, Bob."
anything I have to do to protect this firm."
Bob smiled, his lips curling in an ugly grin. "Yes, my Jack clenched his fists at his sides. He so wanted to hit son. It is."
the smug bastard right now. "Callie is no threat to the firm."
177
Jaci Burton/ Wild, Wicked & Wanton/Unedited Advance Reading Copy Berkley Heat/May, 2007
Jack pivoted and left the office before he decided to do better start minding your own perversions instead of worrying something he regretted. Like smashing his fist right through the about what everyone else is doing."
son of a bitch's face. As he rode the elevator back down to the Bob tore open the envelope and pulled out the photos, parking garage, he had to satisfy himself with imagined visuals his face going pale. He looked up at Jack. "What do you of Bob's shattered nose and blood spattered all over his legal want?"
brief. Not quite as satisfying as the real thing, but it would have
"You breathe one word of my personal life anywhere to to do for now.
anyone and these pictures will not only be delivered to your Bob thought he had won. But he was wrong. It wasn't home, but to every other competing law firm and newspaper over. Not by a long shot. He might think he had the last word, and legal publication in town. You take me down, I take you but Jack was a shark in this business too, and he knew a few down."
things. Things Bob wasn't aware he knew.
Bob's face was turning now, going from stark white to All he needed now was proof. In a few days, he'd be an ugly mottled shade of red. "You dirty son of a bitch."
back in Bob's office, and this time, the senior partner wouldn't Jack shrugged. "Hey, I learned from the best, Bob."
be smiling.
"I'll have you disbarred for this."
Bob had just challenged the wrong guy.
Jack laughed. "You aren't going to do a goddamn thing to me. You leave me alone and I'm going to leave you alone.
One week later Jack was back in Bob's office, a thick And you leave Callie alone too." He placed his palms down envelope in his hand. He tossed it on Bob's desk.
hard on Bob's desk. So hard in fact that Bob pushed back, fear Bob looked up at him. "What's this?"
showing on his sweating face.
"You can open it if you'd like, but I'll tell you right
"If I find out you've gone anywhere near her, I will now what's in it. First is my letter of resignation, effective personally come up here and beat the living shit out of you. I immediately. Second is a packet of pictures of you engaged in grew up on a farm, Bob. Remember my roots? I'm not a lily a little oral sex with your mistress."
white rich boy. I can get my hands dirty when I need to, and Bob gasped.
don't you ever forget that. And I know where to hide the
"Oh, yeah, Bob, did you think I didn't know about you bodies."
and Janet? I've known for a long time about your three times a Bob's eyes widened, but before he could speak, Jack week trysts with that hot little number. The pictures are nice.
leaned in and said "Don't you ever challenge me again."
I'm sure your wife would love to know about them. Or, shall He pushed back from Bob's desk and started to walk we say, her attorney would love to know about these pictures.
out, then stopped, paused and turned around. "Oh, and by the And yes, they're just copies. I have the originals. Maybe you'd way. I'm opening up my own firm, where I'll be competing with this so called top notch firm of yours. Get ready for it, 178
Jaci Burton/ Wild, Wicked & Wanton/Unedited Advance Reading Copy Berkley Heat/May, 2007
Bob, because I'm about to go head to head with you. And Because even though she and Jack had only been frankly, I think I'm better than you."
together one weekend, they'd been working at this a lot longer.
He turned and walked out, feeling better tonight than he They were destined to be together, and she'd let his asshole had in the past week.
boss dictate that they should break up.
One major project down, one to go.
What was wrong with her anyway? Did she think so It was time to see Callie.
little of herself that she bowed down to the dictates of some bigwig corporate lawyer just because he thought she wasn't Callie sat out on her front porch and tried to enjoy the good enough for Jack? Why hadn't she trusted in Jack enough summer breeze that drew in the scent of gardenias from her to at least tell him what that Bob Walters guy had said? Why garden and ruffled the hem of her sundress. But no matter how hadn't she left it up to Jack to decide if she wasn't good hard she tried, she couldn't take any pleasure from the things enough for him?
that used to make her smile.
Why couldn't she decide if she was good enough for Then again, for the past week she'd taken no pleasure Jack? Where had her backbone gone, the grit and determination from anything at all.
that had withstood the death of Bobby, the startup of her own Since the night she'd thrown Jack out of her house, company? Why hadn't she stood up to Bob Walters? Why she'd lived like a robot, doing her job during the day and hadn't she gone toe to toe with him and argued that she was coming home at night, wandering listlessly around her house good enough for Jack?
until bedtime, then lying there staring at the ceiling unable to Fuck Bob Walters. Or rather, Bob Walters could go sleep. She didn't even want to see Abby and Blair, couldn't fuck himself. That's what was wrong with her. She'd made the bring herself to tell them what she'd done to Jack.
wrong damn decision. She'd let someone else decide for her, God, she missed him so much, mourned him like she'd and it wasn't the right decision. She owed it to Jack to tell him mourned Bobby. Oh, she knew it wasn't the same. Bobby had the truth.
died. He'd been her husband, her soulmate, the man she'd lived And then she owed it to him to tell him how she felt with for years. Jack had been a fling, a weekend thing, and about him. If he walked away after that, then at least she'd nothing more. He still lived, and her life should just go on. It know it was honest.
was an experiment, a bet, a dalliance that simply hadn't worked She stood and went inside to grab her phone, hesitating out.
for only a second before dialing Jack's cell phone number. He So why did it hurt so damn much? Why did she feel picked it up on the first ring.
like there was a hole in her stomach, a gnawing ache that
"Jack?"
wouldn't go away?
"Callie?"
179
Jaci Burton/ Wild, Wicked & Wanton/Unedited Advance Reading Copy Berkley Heat/May, 2007
Her heart slammed against her ribs at the sound of his perverted and you continuing to see me could jeopardize your voice. Would he even want to talk to her? "I need to see you."
future with the firm."
"Is that right?"
"I know."
"Yes. I need to explain about the other nigh
t. The things
"Then he said--you know?"
I said to you...the reasons for them...oh, this is so hard to say
"I figured it out after I went to talk to Blair and Abby."
by phone."
"You talked to Blair and Abby?"
"Then why don't you say them in person?"
"After you threw me out. I knew something wasn't She whirled around, nearly jumping out of her skin at right. That's just not you, Callie. You don't act that way."
the sight of him standing in her doorway with the phone at his He knew her. He really did know her. Tears welled in ear. She hung up her phone. "You're here."
her eyes and she blinked them back. "I'm sorry, Jack. I'm so He smiled and pocketed his phone. "Was on my way to sorry I said all those hateful things to you. They hurt me as see you, actually."
much as they hurt you."
"You were?" She smoothed her sweaty palms down the He cupped her cheek and she nearly died at the warmth side of her sundress.
and love she felt in his touch. "I know they hurt you, baby. I
"Yeah."
know he hurt you, too. But that son of a bitch isn't going to
"Why?"
come anywhere near you, or me, again."
"Because I have a lot of things to tell you." He stepped Her eyes widened. "What did you do?"
into her house and closed the door.
"I quit the firm."
She moved toward him. "I have things to tell you, too."
"What?" She grasped his hand. "Why?"
"You do?"
"Because I won't be blackmailed. Besides, what we do
"Yes. About the night I threw you out of my house. I isn't perverted, Callie. It's our business and no one else's. It lied."
doesn't hurt anyone and it sure as hell doesn't affect my work They were only inches apart now. She inhaled his scent, performance. Besides, Bob Walters has been boinking his nearly crying because she missed his smell. She wanted to secretary for the past five years."
reach out for him, to jump into his arms and wrap her legs
"No!"
around him and just breathe him in.
Jack nodded. "Yeah, and I got the pictures to prove it.
"You did?"
Dumped those on his desk tonight after he threatened to go
"Yes. One of your senior partners came to see me and public with my so called perversions if I didn't toe the line and told me I shouldn't see you anymore. He was in the movie do exactly what he said."
theater the night you and I were there. He saw us, said we were 180