Agent S5: Jaydan Read online

  Glancing around, she spotted him outside on the walk, talking with Jaydan.

  A deep breath escaped her, a smile blossoming on her face. She’d forgotten how handsome Jaydan was, with his dark good looks and incredible build. His hair had grown even longer in the days apart, his backside in jeans still the best thing since peach smoothies.

  What bothered her was the conversation. Both men stood with their arms crossed over their chests, their brows drawn. Whatever they talked about, worry and antagonism laced it.

  On the way in from the island, Booker had told her about her father’s phone call to Jaydan. Fuming, she’d taken it upon herself to set her father and his misaligned temper, straight. Jaydan had nearly made the ultimate sacrifice for her.

  So, why wasn’t he anxious to see her?

  Frustration drove her from her seat. If he hadn’t missed her as much as she’d missed him, maybe he didn’t love her like she loved him.

  The thought nearly buckled her knees.

  Grasping the back of a nearby chair, she stopped in her tracks when he stepped through the door. His anxious gaze met hers across the room.

  Swallowing hard, her queasy stomach told her it couldn’t be good. After a week away, if he didn’t want to run across the room and sweep her into his arms, he didn’t love her.

  Doing an about face, she walked over to the bar and ordered a cosmopolitan. She wouldn’t cry here and ruin Riordan and Natalie’s party. She’d act like it didn’t hurt, that seeing him didn’t mean as much to her as she’d told herself over the last several days.

  “Hi, sweetheart.” Her father placed a hand on her back, his voice tired and worn. “We finally got into Dad’s files tonight.”

  Hope whipped around. Deep lines of grief streaked her father’s face, his blue eyes ringed with dark circles.

  “Well?”

  He slid into the chair beside her. “It’s all true. Every freaking word that Cyrus told you.” He held his forehead in the heel of both hands. “God Hope, everything has been a lie. Everything. Annie, Riordan, Kim, Cyrus, Dad…” He shook his head. “We’ll go over it all later. I don’t want to put a damper on the party. I just… feel like such an idiot. I thought I was one of the most successful men in the world but I’ve just been a pawn in Dad’s schemes.”

  The tears she’d held in check for Jaydan, built in her eyes. She’d never seen her father so downtrodden. He looked like he’d taken a beating from Jaydan.

  Rubbing his back, she stared at her wrist where she once wore her mother’s bracelets. Though she couldn’t bear to part with them, she also couldn’t bear to get rid of them.

  “You are one of the most successful men in the world, despite what Granddad did to you. I’d say you’re quite a success.”

  He spoke as if she hadn’t said a word. “He loved your damned mother and never said a word.”

  Hope had no response to that. After they learned he’d paid Naylor to send away Riordan, neither of them should be surprised at Seth Powers’ actions.

  The bartender set a drink in front of Luke. He poured it back in one swallow. Riordan appeared between them, his troubled gaze connecting with Hope’s. She told him what Luke had found.

  “All the more reason to value family.” Riordan held out his hand to Luke. “Let’s enjoy tonight. We’ll deal with this tomorrow after we interrogate Cyrus, okay?”

  Hope wondered how Cyrus was managing in the imperfect world behind bars…

  Luke accepted Riordan’s hand before pulling him into a brief embrace. Hope smiled at their rare affection, her eyes seeking out Jaydan.

  He stood on the adjacent side of the bar, staring at her. Taking a drink of his beer, he left it on the counter and headed over to her. He stopped by her chair, his chocolate eyes intense and somber. Gazing at her a long moment, he didn’t speak or move.

  Her heart pounded against her ribs, his nearness springing her body to life in a masterpiece of awareness. Clenching her fists in her lap, gooseflesh sprouted on her skin, her need to touch him, overwhelming. His familiar scent enveloped her in a sense of security, his silence…

  So unlike him.

  He clutched her face in both hands. A shower of tingles rained along her spine. Pressing his lips to hers, he kissed with longing and restlessness, his mouth hungry.

  Wrapping her arms around his neck, she clung to him, pouring all of the loneliness of the last week into her embrace.

  Taunts and whistles pierced the air, bringing back memories of their dance in Texas.

  Her father’s voice intruded into her slice of heaven. “Rose, I told you to give me time to get used to the idea.”

  Jaydan pulled away to smile down into her eyes. “Sorry, sir. I couldn’t contain myself.”

  Straightening in his chair, Luke held up a hand. “I don’t need to hear that, either.”

  She glanced back and forth between her father and Jaydan. “You two discussed me while I wasn’t around?”

  Riordan turned away with a grin. “Oh, hell. Here we go…”

  Slapping Jaydan on the back, Luke climbed down from the barstool. “She’s all yours.”

  Watching her family skitter away like roaches, she turned back to Jaydan. His voice came out just above a whisper.

  “I missed you.”

  “Nice try, Rose. Don’t think you can distract me from my question.”

  Planting his hands against the bar on either side of her, he pinned her on the stool and nuzzled the hair behind her ear. “Bet I can.”

  Laughing aloud, she knew better. He would make her forget all about it, and the people in the room.

  He’d already started.

  His lips brushed against her ear. “I love you, Hope.”

  Shock stilled her on the seat. Shoving him away, she searched his somber eyes, uncertainty reigning in their black depths.

  He said, “This week away from you has been pure hell. And, to walk in here and have you turn away from me like that, just about killed me.”

  Her mouth fell open, joy spreading inside her like a warm fire.

  “Oh, so me suffering like that, makes you smile?” he said. “You take joy in the fact that I have it so bad for you I can’t function?”

  Throwing her arms around his neck, she kissed him hard on the mouth. “Well, yeah. I kinda like having the strongest man in the world wrapped around my finger.”

  His hands rested at her waist, his smile arrogant and so smoking hot, she wanted to drag him behind the bar and take care of business.

  She said, “When you walked in, I expected you to be happy. Instead, you looked so nervous, I knew the past week had given you time to realize you didn’t love me.”

  He shook his head with adamancy. “No, the past week made me realize that I didn’t want to be away from you like that again. So, I went to your father and explained what had happened in Texas because I didn’t want that to stand between us once I asked you to marry me.”

  She gasped aloud, her heart soaring. “What?”

  Reaching into his front jeans pocket, he pulled out a box. Opening it, he took the ring from the slot and held it up between them.

  Swallowing hard, he spoke in a soft voice. “I thought you might be over diamonds, so I opted for an emerald.”

  The large, square stone sparkled in the overhead light, the band a twisted vine of white gold leaves. It had to be the most beautiful ring she’d ever seen. From the most beautiful man she’d ever met.

  She sat there, waiting for him to propose. He stared at her expectantly. When several seconds passed, she couldn’t hold her tongue any longer.

  “Are you going to ask me?”

  He shook his head once. “Not until you tell me you love me.”

  She straightened on her stool. “What? Is that a prerequisite, or something? You know I love you.”

  He shook his head again. “No, I don’t. You’ve never told me. And, I refuse to ask a woman to marry me unless I’m absolutely certain she loves me.”

  She couldn’t keep
the grin from her face. “Really? So, let me think about this. You’ve told me you love me. You bought a ring, but won’t ask me to marry you until I say I love you. What if I don’t? What happens then?” Wrapping her arms around his waist, she said, “Can I just string you along and keep you around for sex, without ever saying the L word?”

  “Oh, hell yeah.”

  Laughing, she smoothed her hands up his back. “You make me happy, Jaydan Jonathan Rose. I love you.”

  A brilliant smile flashed on his handsome face. “Marry me, princess.”

  “Yes.”

  Hands shaking, he placed the ring on her finger. They shared another smile before he gave her a sweet kiss – and let out a rebel yell.

  She laughed aloud. “You’re such a redneck, Rose.”

  ***

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  About the Author

  By day, award-winning author, Joni Hahn keeps her secret decoder ring hidden while she works as a mild-mannered HR manager and accounting generalist. She believes the world can never have too many superheroes, and anxiously waits for the call when one will need help saving the world… or getting into his costume. Joni was born with a hopelessly tender heart and believes there is nothing on earth more exhilarating than falling in love (other than the rear shot of Chris Evans in The Avengers - that was pretty darn exhilarating). A native Texan, she thinks cowboys are the epitome of masculinity, and that country music is the other soul music.

  You can find Joni online at: JoniHahn.com, on Facebook, and Twitter.

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  The D.I.R.E. Agency Series:

  Book 1: Agent I1: Tristan

  Book 2: Agent E2: Aidan

  Book 3: Agent T3: d’Artagnan

  Book 4: Agent M4: Riordan

  Book 5: Agent S5: Jaydan

  Coming Soon:

  Book 6: Agent N6: Dylan

  Book 7: Agent U7: Keegan