Page 62 of Under His Touch

‘You know who I mean—Jess.’

I throw back the shot and wince. The harsh hit douses the burn of her—my ex, the woman who left the second my family lost it all. ‘Yeah, well, I’d take a woman out of my local over one from here any day.’

‘That’s not what your face was telling me a few seconds ago.’

I glower at him—but, hell, he’s right.

I drag my mind back to the job, to what I should be focusing on.

Coco is clearly at home here, her open affection with the other girl and the show they’re putting on for the guy across from them makes that obvious. Nothing in my research suggested she swung that way, but Philip Lauren—my client, her half-brother—had suspected it.

‘I’m not sure I’m her type.’

Jackson grinned. ‘Everyone’s her type if they can deliver in the bedroom.’

Heat unfurls deep within my gut. I can’t pinpoint the cause. Desire, envy, anger... She’s just like my ex, I try to tell myself. Only, Jess’s vice was money. Coco’s is sex. Just as her brother had said.

‘How often does she come in here?’

‘Depends. You asking for you, or for work?’

‘Does it matter?’

It really didn’t. It wasn’t like I’d put his livelihood at stake. It was the reason her brother was giving me shit. He expected me to have uncovered something by now, and the one thing I’d uncovered was the one thing I couldn’t divulge.

‘I’ve promised I’m taking your secrets to the grave regardless.’

‘Glad to hear it.’

He’s talking to me but his eyes are on her, just as mine were. His expression is thoughtful, almost concerned. And I’m listening, my ears attuned to whatever has him looking so intent.

‘It used to be once a fortnight, occasionally once a week, but lately it’s been more.’

‘More?’

‘Yeah.’ He looks back to me. ‘She’s probably been here twice this past week alone.’

‘And that bothers you?’

‘Not so much bothers me, but you know... This place serves a purpose, and whatever that is for her seems to me she’s needing it more and more.’

‘It’s sex, Jackson. Perhaps she’s just on heat.’

I’m purposefully harsh, flippant, but I don’t want his concern. It doesn’t pay for me to care, to soften towards her, but I can feel it happening. As each day goes by, each new discovery only adds to the appealing enigma that is Coco Lauren.

‘It’s more than that for people like her.’

Jackson’s like a dog with a bone. He’s not letting this go. Maybe she’s ensnared him too. Not that I’m ensnared—unable to douse the attraction more like.

‘They come here to get away from it all, and if she’s upping her visits, something’s bothering her.’

‘You sound like you care.’

‘She’s nice, that’s all.’ He gives a shrug and his eyes drift back in her direction. I let mine do the same, watching as she walks in the direction of the ladies’ room, her hips swaying provocatively. I feel the telltale ripple of heat through my groin and clench my jaw.

‘You could be good for her, you know.’

Jackson’s tone has a sincere ring to it that makes my blood run cold, as effective as a cold shower ever would be. Never would I go back to a woman like that. They have a knack for taking you to your knees and I’ve no interest in risking that again.

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