Page 28 of Special Agent Jennie

Chapter Twenty-one

Jennie made sure the doors were closed between the kitchen and Baba’s bedroom because she had full intentions of driving her fist into the stomach of the man who’d lately made her life a living hell. And she didn’t want the sounds of his anger to wake up the tired old lady who’d finally retired.

With stiff fingers rubbing her forehead, hoping to relieve the annoying headache that suddenly appeared, she rampaged again. Why in God’s name did Kane have to come back into her world and disrupt everything she’d worked so hard to control?

It had taken her years of overcoming self-pity to gain enough strength to become the woman she was today. Years and quite a few shrink visits before she could make sense of everything and move on.

Now, the one aspect of that time… the feelings that had never faded or healed completely, had reappeared and terrified her. Though hatred kept her anger sizzling, she still ran to her room to make sure her hair looked normal and her clothes were flattering this time. Then she waited to wave him around the back so he could come in undetected.

After he’d hung up on her earlier, she’d tried calling back and had even texted him not to come to the house but there’d been no reply. Not that she expected any. When Kane made up his mind, he didn’t often change it. That she remembered from their previous relationship. In those days, she’d thought that an admirable quality in one so young.

Not now.

She watched as the headlights appeared in the yard and the truck door closed without the usual banging sounds accompanying it. He’s concerned about the noise and the time. How thoughtful! The bastard’s consideration made her even madder.

She opened the door and with her finger over her lips, she ushered him into the porch, pointing to the farthest end of the house from her grandmother. When he slid into the doorway, his body so close to hers that they touched, she shivered.

Of course, the prick had to look hot as hell. Worried expression, flattering beard, and wearing a pair of tight-fitting taupe slacks and a royal blue golf shirt that highlighted his muscular frame, he pulled away from her as if shocked by an electric current. Itching to slug him like in her fantasies, she refrained, using a huge amount of willpower.

Instead, she closed them into the veranda, letting him open the conversation. Softly, he asked, “Did Lisa contact you?”

“No. I tried calling her, but you answered her phone.” With hands on her hips, she demanded, “How the hell did you get it anyway?”

“It’s a long story.”

“We’ve got time to pass until she gets here. Might as well bring me into what’s going on with you two.”

She watched Kane’s expression harden before he turned away. “Not gonna happen. I’ll let her tell you. Look, do you know where she might have gone? A friend’s place or a hangout she likes?”

“Seriously? You sound worried. Should I be too?” Suddenly, Jennie picked up on the stiffness in Kane’s whole attitude and fear began to form. “Okay, now you’re scaring me. What the hell are you two up to?”

Kane rubbed at his eyes and then suck his hands on his hips. He stood with his head down as if contemplating the pros and cons of saying more. He didn’t turn her way until she pushed him. “Don’t do that. You can’t shut me out after scaring the shit outta me. What’s going on?”

Kane took her arms in his hands and held her gently. “It’s probably nothing. Look, she came to my place again and dropped her phone.”

“Why in the hell would she leave her phone? Baba says it’s like the extension of her hand. She’d never forget it.”

“I don’t think she realized it had fallen. Maybe she still hasn’t noticed it’s missing.”

“How long ago did this happen?”

Kane looked at his watch and shrugged. “A couple of hours.”

“Jesus, Kane. Unless she’s with someone who’s so compelling that she’d leave her phone… and I’d say he’d either have to be God himself… or his son, she’d never have left that blasted thing for so long without trying to retrieve it. Are you sure she didn’t go back to get it?”

“If she did, I’d get the security message on my cell, and no one’s been near my place since I left.” He sat down on the nearest chair as if his legs gave out. “Do me a favor and call around for her. I need to know she’s safe.”

“You need to know. Lordy, that’s a joke. You never cared before.”

Instantly, he flared back at her, his face raised so she saw the worried expression in his hard blue eyes. “I never knew about her before.”

Calming herself, not wanting to get into a screaming match and wake up Baba, Jennie eased off the guilting and admitted, “I tried to find you to tell you about her.”

He softened, and she felt the easing of his tension. If she didn’t know better, she’d swear that sorrow filled him. “About that, one day I’ll tell you what happened, but for now, I need to concentrate on what’s going to happen… and finding a missing daughter.”

Just then, he felt the vibrating of his phone, knowing a text had just landed. He stood and moved away from Jennie. Checking the message, the words drilled into his conscience and his breath came out as a harsh groan.

“What is it?”

“Nothing. It’s fine. Look, I have to go.”

“No… don’t leave me to worry alone. Not now. It isn’t fair.” She pushed herself into his wide chest and hit with both fists. “You can’t just abandon me again.”

He pulled her close and rocked her for scant seconds before she felt him kiss her hair and then put her aside.

Before he could escape, she wrenched him back in her direction to berate him for being a son of a bitch, and the next thing she knew, she was in his arms, and he was kissing her like she ruled his whole world. His lips singed hers and she found herself melting, her legs weakening, and her arms clinging.

Then he thrust her aside and left her standing there, vibrating like a sapling in a strong wind.

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