Angel: A Linear Tactical Romantic Suspense Standalone Page 14

  Admittedly, she didn’t have much basis for comparison, but the plush seats and champagne in her hand, provided by the first mate who served as both flight attendant and backup pilot, made her almost giddy. Even if Gabriel wouldn’t tell her where they were going.

  She’d never dreamed it would be Los Angeles.

  Actually, a small airport outside of Los Angeles. It was a long way to go for just a few hours, less than a full day, but since this was a business trip for him, she just let herself enjoy it.

  Because she was in LA!

  They drove around downtown in the rental car before Gabe parked and announced that everyone should have a couple hours on the Hollywood Walk of Fame their first time in LA.

  She’d been a little nervous that he would take her to some office or business dinner where she would feel out of place and underdressed. But instead, he just played tour guide, dragging her from one place to another in the balmy sunshine. The skirt really was perfect for the location.

  “I never knew how empty my life was without a picture of Elvis standing next to Predator,” she said as they drank a frozen lemonade and headed back to the car.

  He shrugged. “Yeah, well, you’re young. So it’s to be expected that you wouldn’t actually know the truly fine things in life yet.”

  He snickered at his own joke as he opened the car door for her. Jordan knew she was in trouble. How was she supposed to not fall in love with this man? He used his strength to protect her. His wealth to spoil her. His intellect to challenge and engage her.

  But what did she have to offer in return?

  He went around and started the car. “Okay, to make this a legit business expense, I’ve got to stash you somewhere for a few minutes so I can have my meeting.”

  “Sure. I can hang out at a coffee shop, or heck, I can just sit in the car and enjoy the sunshine. God knows I’m not going to see temperatures in the seventies in Oak Creek anytime soon.”

  “Don’t worry, I’ve got just the place. And then we’ll go on our date.”

  “This isn’t the date?”

  “Elvis impersonators and frozen lemonades?” He huffed as he raised one dark brow. “No, this is not the date. I’m offended.” He returned his attention to driving, and she couldn’t help but giggle.

  “Sorry I offended you.”

  “You did. You really did.” He winked at her.

  Yeah, she was in so much trouble.

  When she saw the signs for where they were going, her eyes filled up with tears.

  Santa Monica Pier.

  “Gabriel . . .” She couldn’t even get any other words out.

  “I thought maybe you could dip your toes in the Pacific while I had my meeting. It won’t take me too long, then we can have dinner on the pier itself.”

  Her throat seized; she couldn’t even speak, but she grabbed his hand and squeezed.

  A few minutes later they were pulling up to a parking lot near the Santa Monica Pier.

  “Are you okay on your own or do you want me to help get you situated?”

  All she could do was stare out at the ocean she’d never dreamed she’d be looking at today. She finally found her voice. “I am more than okay.”

  He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. “I’ll come find you when I’m done. Will probably be about an hour.”

  “Take all the time you need.”

  Gabe watched as Jordan walked through the small parking lot until her feet hit sand. She stopped, obviously unsure what to do, then did what anyone in her position would: crouched down and took off her shoes.

  When, miracle of all miracles, a parking spot opened up right there in the tiny lot, Gabe didn’t question it, he just pulled the rental into the spot. His phone was in his hand a second later, and he was texting Ian DeRose. The location of their meeting—a coffee shop a couple of miles away—needed to be changed.

  Because there was no way in hell he was going to miss seeing Jordan touch the ocean for the first time. He and Ian could damn well have their meeting right here in the parking lot.

  A few minutes later, Gabe was still watching her from a distance, watching her reach down to trail her fingers in the sand or to pick up a shell that had caught her interest, when his friend walked up beside him.

  “You know I would’ve come out to Idaho Falls, right?” Ian slapped him on the shoulder. “One of these days, I’m going to get your sister to go out with me.”

  Gabe reached over and shook Ian’s hand, not taking his eyes off Jordan. “Afraid you’re too late. I think she’s gone and found herself a permanent-type guy.” After Aiden Teague had almost died to protect Violet, Gabe no longer had any problem with the man.

  “Damn it. That’s what I get for being a gentleman and waiting.”

  Gabe rolled his eyes. Ian DeRose, billionaire investor and philanthropist, had never been a gentleman a day in his life. And Gabe was glad he wouldn’t be sniffing around Violet anymore.

  Gabe asked the question that had allowed him to justify all this as a business trip. “You still interested in buying Collingwood Technology?”

  And then she did it. Something in Gabe’s heart clenched as Jordan took those final steps that put her feet in the waters of the Pacific. He smiled as she jumped back—that water was probably damn cold—but then she stepped back in again.

  He realized Ian was saying something.

  “What?”

  Ian’s eyes narrowed. “Is this because of what happened with Violet? The whole Stellman situation? Because you’re acting weird. Since when do you like the beach?”

  Gabe pointed to Jordan. “Since she wanted to put her toes in the Pacific.”

  Jordan was standing there now, long brown hair falling down her back, her face turned up toward the sun, that skirt floating gently around her knees.

  Jesus, he was in trouble.

  Ian gave a dramatic sigh. “Well, since we were on the same SEAL team together, I guess I won’t take advantage of your lovesick dopiness to offer you some obscenely low price for your company.”

  Gabe rolled his eyes. “Thanks. You’re a peach.”

  “I’ve been trying to get you to sell for years. Why now?”

  Gabe looked back out toward the ocean again. Jordan. “I’m just not sure my heart is in it anymore. My heart is . . . other places. Being hit so hard by someone I trusted has me rethinking everything. I’m not sure what I want, but I don’t think Collingwood Technology is it anymore.”

  “What are you going to do if you sell? I can’t see you just sitting around counting your money.”

  No, Gabe was well aware he needed something to keep him challenged and focused professionally. He thought of Jordan’s plan to open a cybersecurity consulting business.

  And suddenly he knew exactly what he needed to do.

  “Actually, I wouldn’t be selling you all of the company, just about eighty-five percent of it. I would keep the cyber division and clients. Focus only on that.”

  Because it was something he and Jordan could do together. Not just do, but thrive at. He could help Jordan get her damned $622,000, then get her to tell him what it was for.

  Get her.

  Ian leaned back against the car. “Yeah, brother. I’ve always been interested in acquiring CT. It’s a solid company that would be a great part of my portfolio. My people have to look over everything, of course, but as far as I’m concerned, I’m in.”

  Gabe had known this would be the case, and he could’ve confirmed it with a simple phone call to Ian. Ian knew that too but was wise enough not to point it out.

  The two of them had fought side by side on missions that were so top secret they would never be allowed to talk about them with another living soul. Those missions had formed a bond that wasn’t easily shaken.

  Ian would do anything to help Gabe, and the feeling was mutual. The fact that he was a billionaire and could buy Collingwood Technology multiple times over was just an added bonus.

  “I think you have better people to play with
than me,” Ian said. “So I’ll leave you to it.”

  “We’ll talk soon. Next time you can fly out to see me.”

  Ian slapped him on the shoulder. “And why do I have a feeling that might be in Wyoming rather than Idaho Falls?”

  Gabe shot him a grin. “Don’t worry, they have airports in Wyoming. Just not as big.”

  Ian shook Gabe’s hand and wished him luck before fading into the crowds of tourists and cars behind them.

  Gabe had no doubt if he turned now, he wouldn’t be able to find his friend. Ian had a way of disappearing even when surrounded by dozens of other people. It had made him invaluable as a SEAL.

  Gabe wasn’t exactly sure what his friend did now, but he knew it was way more than just sitting around counting his money and buying businesses every once in a while. It was dirty and it was dangerous.

  But Ian DeRose could take care of himself.

  And right now, Gabe had more interesting things to focus on than an old team member.

  Jordan was surprised to see him this early, but he distracted her with a few splashes, and soon they were walking up on the pier itself.

  He bought them hotdogs, and they went to the end of the pier to eat them, sitting on a bench, surrounded by fishermen and seagulls and a briny smell that was unique to the ocean. He turned to her.

  “This,” he reached over and wiped a smidge of mustard at the corner of her mouth, “is a date.”

  Her smile rivaled the California sun. “I dare say it’s the best date that I’ve ever had.”

  He poked her in the side. “By that measure, it’s also the worst date you’ve ever had.”

  But those worry lines that often took root between her brows were completely gone. This really was a good time for her.

  She tucked a strand of her long brown hair behind her ear. “The cost of chartering that flight notwithstanding, I like this more than I would eating at a fancy restaurant. That just intimidates me. Eating hot dogs on a bench, on the other hand . . .”

  “Well, we might have to go to a few fancy places, but I’ve found that some of the best food in the world is from tiny spots where you’re welcome in your jeans and a T-shirt. That’s my kind of place.” And he wanted to take her to all of them. All over the world.

  They made their way back along the pier, to the car and back to the regional airport. Once they were in the air, the first mate reported he would be up front unless they needed him, leaving them alone.

  “So does this first date end with a kiss?” she asked.

  “Maybe.” He wagged a brow at her. “Maybe if you’re lucky, a lot more than that.”

  “Actually, I think it’s your turn to get lucky.”

  “Is that so?”

  She unbuckled her seatbelt and was soon straddling his thighs. “I don’t know what you’ve heard about me, but I definitely put out on the first date.”

  He’d always been the more sexually aggressive one. But not now. Jordan wanted to be in charge, and he was more than willing to let her.

  “I want to taste you,” she whispered, voice husky, as she reached underneath to unbutton his jeans.

  They’d never done that, first because of the injuries to her hands, and then because he just hadn’t been able to keep his hands off her body. But he didn’t want her to feel like he expected that.

  “Rainfall.” He hoped he would get a special spot in heaven for what he was about to say. “You don’t have to do this. As sure as I am that your hot little mouth would have me coming apart in an embarrassingly short amount of time, I don’t want you to feel like I expect it.”

  She licked her lips, a smile of feminine confidence lighting her features. “Oh, I know you don’t expect it. I want it.”

  She slid down until she was on her knees between his spread legs. Normally that sight would be one of the sexiest things he could think of. But not right now, not with Jordan.

  He reached down to pull her up. “I don’t want you on your knees in front of me. You’ve had too much of your power taken away from you. I don’t want to be another person who does that.”

  She shook her head and slid down his zipper. He couldn’t stop the groan that fell from his lips as her hand wrapped around him and pulled him out from his boxers.

  “You’re not taking my power.” She licked him from base to tip; his hips jerked of their own volition.

  He watched, mesmerized as her small pink tongue began to lick around his head, exploring, learning, playing.

  “Who really has the power here, Gabriel?”

  Those gray eyes blinked up at him as she took him deep in her mouth. She was right; physical positioning had nothing to do with power in this situation.

  Jordan was the one kneeling at his feet, but she very definitely had all the power.

  Her hand wrapped around the base of his cock. She licked him like he was her favorite-flavored lollipop. “Fuck, Jordan.” He nearly shot off the seat. The sight of her with that dark hair falling around his thighs, her hungry mouth working him—exuberance making up for any lack of experience—meant he wasn’t going to last long.

  He threaded his fist in her hair as she rubbed against his shin and knew this was turning her on too. And fuck if that didn’t just turn him on even more.

  He would make sure she got hers too.

  He forced himself to let her set the pace, to explore as much as she wanted, but soon he was sweating with the need for release.

  “Take me deep, Rainfall. Hard.”

  She did, and within just a few moments he shouted her name and exploded into her mouth. She swallowed every drop before slowly releasing him and easing her head down to rest against his thigh.

  His hand was still wrapped in her hair as he began to stroke it. She gave him a sleepy, satisfied smile, as if she were the one who’d just had a mind-blowing orgasm.

  He reached down and scooped her up into his lap, more than ready to make sure she did. “Your turn.”

  “Just hold me,” she whispered into his neck. “This has been the single most fantastic day of my life, and I just want to end it right here.”

  “You sure? I certainly don’t mind returning the favor.”

  “You already have.”

  Chapter 22

  “You’re going steady with my brother,” Violet said in a singsong voice. She wagged her eyebrows at Jordan as she walked from the back kitchen of the newly reopened Fancy Pants through the swinging door—the same one that had been blocked and almost gotten them killed a little over two months ago.

  Jordan nearly dropped the tray of pastries she was boxing, trying to think of a response before Violet returned to the kitchen as they both completed their Thursday afternoon closing duties.

  Over the past few weeks she’d done her best to keep her relationship with Gabriel under wraps, although she hadn’t been successful at all in keeping her happiness under wraps. The time since Los Angeles had flown by in a sort of daze of contentment and passion.

  Everything had seemed to fall into a beautiful sort of balance. Gabriel went back and forth between Idaho Falls and Oak Creek, balancing his work there with time with her. In her bed.

  And shower. And couch. And kitchen table.

  And Jordan had loved every second of it.

  But was Violet mad at the thought of Jordan and Gabriel as a couple? The bakery had only reopened a couple of weeks ago, so they hadn’t had much chance to talk.

  Not that Jordan would know exactly what to say, anyway. She and Gabriel hadn’t mentioned anything permanent. Stuff was going on with his business—he’d mentioned selling part of it. But neither of them had talked about where their relationship was going, if anywhere.

  “I only mention it because he asked a couple of weeks ago about you using a computer with system access to CT,” Violet continued as she came back through the swinging door and began wiping down the counters.

  “Oh. Is that okay with you?”

  “Of course. You’ve been holding out on me on how good you are with
computers. I knew you had skills after you modified the bakery accounting software. But Gabe says you’re impressive. And for him to use the word ‘impressive’? Well, that means something.”

  It meant everything to Jordan.

  There were multiple Collingwood Technology computers at her house now. Some were for his use since he was there so often.

  He’d explained to her that he was considering selling off most of the company and focusing on what interested him professionally, some of which happened to be cybersecurity. And he was amazing at it. Between the two of them, him with his years of experience and her with her new eyes and perspective, they made a pretty daunting team.

  But he was also letting her enhance and develop her skills on her own. When he’d offered her the use of one of the CT computers, with functionality far greater than anything she could afford, she’d been in awe.

  And she didn’t take it lightly. The operating system was proprietary to Collingwood Technology, and the computer itself probably cost more than her house. Moreover, it was a huge measure of trust on his part. Not even all his employees had access to what she did.

  When he’d shown her the desk where he’d set up the computer in her living room, she’d just stared. “I’m not sure I know what to do with this.”

  “I think you know exactly what to do with it.”

  She tore her eyes away from the system to stare at him. “I don’t understand why you’re giving me access to this.”

  He bent forward and kissed her on the nose. “Maybe I want to see what you’re capable of when given the right tools. You’re pretty fantastic even on that crappy system you were using. Let’s see what you can do with non-crap. Maybe we can get you closer to your $622,000.”

  He wanted to know what that money was for, but she couldn’t bring herself to tell him. She’d told Charlie when she’d lived with her, but that was all. Charlie hadn’t really understood and had tried to talk Jordan out of it. But Jordan didn’t really expect anyone to be able to understand The Plan.

  It wasn’t something anyone could understand unless they’d lived it. Gabriel wouldn’t understand either. That’s why she evaded him every time he asked, trying to make it seem like it wasn’t a big deal.