He kissed the side of her mouth and slipped off her, not looking at her, afraid she'd see him--see too much.
EMMA poured Jake a second cup of coffee as he finished his breakfast. Susan had remained very silent throughout the meal. Emma wasn't certain if she was so intimidated by Jake that she couldn't speak, or if she was bursting with questions and was afraid one might slip out before she could stop herself.
Emma frowned at Jake and tossed her head toward Susan. He made a face at her, took a fortifying gulp of coffee and tried.
"How long are you staying with us, Susan?"
She dropped her fork and turned bright red. "Not very much longer."
Jake gave a long-suffering sigh. "I wasn't implying I wanted you to leave, I was merely trying to be pleasant."
Emma kicked him under the table--hard.
"Ow!" He jerked his injured shin out of reach and looked down at his immaculate shirt. He'd managed to keep his arm steady and no coffee had spilled. He let Emma see the promise of a later retaliation in his eyes. Okay, maybe his tone had been a little condescending, but he'd talked to the girl, hadn't he?
Emma leaned forward. "I forgot to tell you, Jake. Susan's father is sending her calculus tutor, Harold Givens, here this morning. Would you add him to the list at the gate for Jerico's men?"
"How long will he be here?" There was a bite in his voice he couldn't quite hide. He didn't like strangers in his home at all.
A regular security sweep was conducted once a week, varying the day and hour, but it didn't matter to him anymore, not after the small microchip was discovered. Anyone coming on the property was now suspect, particularly Harold Givens, as he'd been one of the two suspects they had. As a rule he had his employees sign an ironclad privacy contract before he hired them, insisting on complete silence during and after employment. He couldn't very well do that with unwanted visitors, as much as he would like to.
"I can ask him not to come," Susan said hastily, lowering her eyes.
Jake scowled at her. "Did I say I didn't want him here?"
That earned him another kick. He moved his legs out of harm's way once again, and this time reached under the table and put his hand on Emma's inner thigh. High. Her gaze flicked to him, but the warning in his eyes kept her from pulling away.
"He's just going to stay a few hours, Jake," Emma said. "We told Evan and Joshua to meet us at the stables at one. He'll be gone by then. And of course he has to come, Susan. I promised your father we'd make certain you continued with your studies."
"Maybe he should stay home and pay more attention to his daughter instead of pawning her off on other people and having them make certain she does her school work."
Susan burst into tears, jumped up, knocking her chair over, and rushed out of the room.
Jake swore.
Emma glared at him. "Of anyone, Jake, you should have empathy for that child. Do you have any idea how utterly alone and isolated she is? She has a father who is never home. Her mother's dead and she's turned over to strangers all the time. Strangers like Dana Anderson, who has no interest in her at all and does everything she can to make her feel small and miserable. She's highly intelligent and can't relate to other teens her age. She's too young to be taken seriously by adults."
"I get it, Emma." Jake stood up and picked up the chair. "I'm working here at home instead of at the downtown office today. When her tutor gets here, bring in Joshua and Drake." He felt like a fucking monster.
He knew what it was to be different, to spend his childhood alone--if one could call what he'd endured a childhood. He planted both hands on the table, caging Emma in as he leaned down. "I'll talk to her, honey, but I'll retaliate later for the reprimands." His gaze burned into hers, hot, sexy, a promise of things to come.
"You deserved them," she pointed out, looking a little wary, but her eyes clouded with desire.
"I know I did." He leaned closer to lick the corner of her mouth. "I need you to go into town later and pick up a dress for the Bingley thing."
She pulled back to stare up at him, wide-eyed. Distressed. "What Bingley thing?"
"It's an important party, Emma. I hate those things and this one will be particularly difficult, so I'll need you there."
She shook her head. "No way. Parties aren't my thing, especially in that circle. No way, Jake, not even for you."
She actually looked scared. Jake brushed his mouth against hers. Soft. Tender. Coaxing. "I need you, honey. The enemies will be there. I want someone I can trust with me, someone to watch my back."
Her first reaction was disbelief--he saw that in her eyes--but she kept staring up at him, her fingers plucking nervously at his sleeve.
"Do you mean that?"
"I want you there with me." He wasn't going to ask again.
She took a breath and his heart turned over at the capitulation he saw in her eyes. She squared her shoulders, overcoming her fear and revulsion of such an event. She knew they would try to embarrass and humiliate her, but she would put herself in that position for him. It was another victory--a big one. Another proof that she cared about him, was committed to him. How many times would she have to prove herself before he believed? How many ways?
"How dressy?"
"Wear something sophisticated but sexy for me. A cocktail dress. I'll have jewelry. High heels, Emma. I know you don't like them, but I'll love the way your legs will look in them. I've fantasized over that more often than I should have." He brushed several kisses over her soft, upturned lips before putting his lips against her ear. "Make it a little swingy and longer, just above the knee so you can just wear a garter belt and stockings and leave off your panties."
She went crimson, just as he knew she would. "I'm not leaving off my panties."
"We'll see," he said, deliberately wicked, tracing her ear with the tip of his tongue. "Are you wet for me?" he whispered. "If I buried my finger inside you, would I find you aching and hot for me?"
She pushed at the wall of his chest, laughing. Blushing. "Yes. Now go away."
Satisfaction swept through him as he sauntered out. Emma. No matter how outrageous, she would struggle to accommodate his needs, even when it was a little frightening to her. He had to be careful not to let his need for control and assurance push her too far. Those were two of his greatest failings. He would want--no, need--constant affirmation of her loyalty, of her complete commitment to him, because he wouldn't be able to fully believe and trust in her.
He made his way to the guest room where he knew Susan was staying. With his acute hearing, even through the solid oak door, he could hear her sniffling. His radio crackled.
"Mr. Bannaconni. The tutor's here and he's brought Miss Hindman's governess with him." The disembodied voice held a note of disgust. Drake obviously didn't like either of the strangers.
"Let them through, but don't leave the children or Emma alone with them. Conner can watch the two of them in the house." He slipped his radio back on his belt loop and resolutely knocked on Susan's door. He'd promised Emma. He smirked to himself. He'd promised her retaliation as well for the two hard kicks she'd given him--and he always kept his promises. There was silence, nose blowing, and then Susan timidly opened the door.
Jake smiled at her. "Come on out of there and talk to me for a minute, Susan." He held out his hand, his voice gentle but commanding. Susan hesitated, but she put her hand in his and followed him over to the long, wide stairway. He sank down and patted the step beside him, waiting until she sat. "I was careless this morning when I spoke to you. I spend so much time rushing through my work, I sometimes forget how to talk to people. I'm grateful that you're here to help Emma. She says you're great with our children and I really appreciate that."
Susan sniffed again but smiled shyly. "They're so sweet. And Emma's been so good to me. She talks to me . . ." She trailed off.
He nodded, pretending not to notice the tears welling up again. "She's like that. Did she show you the ring?"
Susan's eyes lit up. "I sa
w the ring on her finger but I was afraid to ask. You're getting married?"
"We have two children. I'd say it's about time. I want more, so we'd better make certain we're married before I get her pregnant again, don't you think?" At her nod, he stood up. "You'll have to come to the wedding." Jake held out his hand to her. When she put her hand in his, he drew her up. "I'm glad Emma has such a good friend in you, Susan. You're welcome here anytime and you can stay as long as you like. Hopefully, over time, you'll get used to how abrupt I can be."
"Thank you, Mr. Bannoconni."
"Jake," he corrected, keeping his voice gentle. He walked away from her but turned back at the door. "I really appreciate you speaking other languages to the children. We're trying to give them as much exposure as possible. You're very fluent."
She beamed, raised her hand until he was out of sight and ran back into the kitchen to find Emma. "Emma! Let me see the ring! Jake said--" She skidded to halt when she saw the company waiting for her, the joy fading from her face.