“I guess we’re ready to determine my future.”
Jackson watches me. “It’s not your forever future. It’s just for your safety until things get figured out.”
Ben pulls into an underground garage and stops at a door. We get out and take the elevator to the PH level.
We step out of the elevator just off the kitchen of a substantial loft-like space with floor-to-ceiling windows. Despite the gray outside, it’s quite bright. The apartment is nothing like I expected. It’s full of warm colors and doesn’t seem like it’s above what I suspect are high-tech offices on the building’s other floors.
Kate is standing next to the stove, stirring a pot. “Welcome to Casa Adelson.”
Jim steps forward. “Welcome.”
Kate walks over and opens her arms. “Hi. It’s great to see you again, and under much better circumstances than Cecelia Lancaster’s funeral. Welcome to our apartment.” Her smile is warm.”
I hand her the bouquet. “Thank you for inviting us and going to so much trouble.”
Jackson hands her the bottle of wine. “We thought you might like this. You’re welcome to open it now or save it for another time.”
Jim looks at the bottle. “I think this is perfect with lunch.”
“Lunch will be a few minutes,” Kate says. “Jackson, I think Jim wants to show you the new spy toys he got for his collection.”
“Thanks.” Jackson disappears.
“Jim collects spy toys?” I ask, trying to discern what a spy toy might be.
Kate laughs. “He kept it from me when we were dating, but he collects old-time spy gadgets. Stuff like you would have seen on Get Smart or James Bond—cool toys that do hidden spy things.”
“That’s kind of cool,” I say, picturing lipstick microphones and rings that release poison.
“Some of it is pretty lame, but some of it is neat. You can check it out, if you’d like.”
“That’s okay. I can help you.”
“I’m good. I’m not necessarily a good cook, but I can make a decent clam linguine. I want to take a cooking class and learn how to make other things.”
“That sounds fun. I wouldn’t mind doing that. I can make fajitas and a few other Tex-Mex things, but mostly I order well.”
“Me, too.” She checks her pasta. “So, I understand you have a stalker.”
I shrug. “Apparently they don’t like that I dated my previous boyfriend.”
“Why do you think that?”
“The first threat included his football jersey.”
“He played football?”
I nod. “For the Goldminers.”
She pours the noodles into a colander in the sink. “Wow, that’s a serious football player.”
“He dumped me for a cheerleader on the news,” I say, trying not to sound bitter.
“Some men have no class.”
I knew I liked Kate.
“They don’t. But I haven’t seen Bobby in a while, so they worry it’s a crazy stalker I don’t know—maybe someone even Bobby has never met.”
“Are you seeing Jackson?”
“Not really. He’s my boss.”
Her brows crease. “Jackson’s not your current boyfriend?”
“No,” I say, because he’s not. But Kate’s so easy to talk to, after a moment I’m telling her everything. “We went on a trip to one of his properties in Hawaii last weekend, and we fell into bed together. But I’ve seen the way his love life works. So, I’ve decided I can’t work for him anymore and watch him eventually move on to other women.”
“I can’t even imagine. Needless to say, the women who work for Jim could kick my ass, but they are all married to other guys who could probably kick Jim’s ass.”
“That’s not true,” Jim says. He puts his arm around Kate’s waist and kisses her forehead.
This is a side of him I’ve never seen before. He’s always so firm and professional. Nothing ruffles his feathers, and God knows he knows all about Jackson and me and doesn’t flinch. But with Kate, he’s all smiles and flirty. It’s the exact opposite of his professional kick-ass disposition.
Jackson stands next to me a little possessively, and I’m secretly grateful. With all this abundant love, it feels a tiny bit awkward.
I watch Kate mix the pasta and sauce, and I’m in awe. As she plates our lunch, she says to Jim. “Oh, I forgot the bread. Can you grab it from the oven?”
Jim jumps up and when he opens the oven, smoke escapes. “I don’t know if this is going to work.”
“Shit! I burned the bread again.”
We laugh as we watch the blackened loaf smoke.
“It’s perfect. Bring it over to the table,” Jackson says.
We have a pleasant lunch, even without bread. I enjoy the way the guys take off on a conversation, and Kate and I do the same with a completely different topic. When we’ve finished eating, Jim moves Jackson and me to the living room while Kate cleans up. I offer to help, but she refuses. I wouldn’t mind putting off this conversation.
“Thank you for lunch,” I say as I take a seat on the couch.
“I’m glad you came. Kate likes to meet the people I spend so much time with. I am getting a bit round in the middle, though.” Jim smiles, and while I haven’t seen him without a shirt, I don’t think he has an ounce of fat on him.
“I presented Jackson with an idea this morning for a job in Austin,” I tell him.
“I have a counterproposal.” Jackson sits next to me on the couch and takes my hand. “I would be lost without you. I never would have made it through the patent application or getting funding for the solar film without your help and expertise.”
I shake my head. “I can’t stay,” I whisper.
“How about a compromise?” Jim offers. I look at him and feel Jackson’s grip on my hand become tighter. “The estate in Hawaii needs some overseeing.”
“What about the majordomo?”
“Jason Crier was wooed
