page5 (1/2)

He reached for her, but she pulled back “I don’t like any of this, Burke But I don’t seem to have a choice It’s just er to help us My only friend here turns out to be working for the enemy You two are my only option I want to talk to these friends of yours Call them I can’t just turn over my son to anyone”

Cole , “Gavin James will reassure you, baby You’ll want to talk to Hannah, his wife, too”

Burke watched Jessa as she glared at Cole, hand outstretched for the phone They’d brought her to this place God, she was never going to forgive them

He hway that would lead them back to DC Gavin would co to protect Caleb, too Hannah would cuddle and love their boy as soon as she heard the story And if the worst happened, and none of them made it, the James family would take care of Caleb

Burke resisted the urge to drive his fist through the windshield God, he wanted to know his son He’d already ive the boy up? For how long—days? Weeks? He refused to think it could be longer Or forever And the thought of Jessa in danger an to understand Cole’s violent streak

Hisplayed through his brain Happier times

Would she ever sain?

One year earlier – New York City

Jessa hurried inside the little Mexican place, her portfolio in one hand She was running late, but she couldn’t help the s Burke and Cole had spent Christ her for breakfast and lunch, then sitting in the bar while she worked the night shift They’d had to work the next day According to her friends on theand going at odd hours of the night She wasn’t sure exactly what they did for a living They had told her so about the import export business, but she just couldn’t see theerous

She hadn’t figured them out yet

And she ht never She really didn’t care why they were here She was just damn happy they were The restaurant was loud, vibrant, and proudly proclaiaritas in Manhattan

“Jessa!” Burke stood up, waving her over to the small table he and Cole had claimed

With a s with excitement

Burke’s friendly smile lit up the place Cole was darker She saw the at them sparked her creativity And her libido Was she really considering doing soe to be honest with them?

“I ordered you a arita I hope you don’t o” Cole didn’t shtly grave, alh he expected her to refuse him

She slid a hand over his, delighted at the relief that crossed his face, the way he relaxed “I loveto celebrate”

Burke sat back down The two men surrounded her She felt oddly safe when she was between them, which happened often Whenever they took a cab, she found herself in the ht before, she’d had a brother on either side of her, their big bodies a bulwark against the encroaching crowd She fit between them She wanted to see just how she fit between them in bed

“You’re blushing,” Burke said with a grin “Is this celebration turning naughty?”

She was sure she flushed even ”

Cole’s eyes flared “Jessa, that’s wonderful To a gallery?”

She nodded She was going to have a work in a gallery in Soho It seeallery owner agreed to put it up I have a painting for sale! She wants to see more I can’t believe it I know it’s small, but it’s a start”

She was practically hulee

“It isn’t se That’s great”

“It’s a, Jessa I can’t wait for your first show,” Burke said with an enormous smile on his face

God, if she wasn’t glowing, it was only because it was impossible for human skin to do it She was pretty damn sure she now understood what it meant to beam with happiness They were so kind to her She had spent the last several days basking in it, desperate for this giddiness to never end She thought about theht Now she knehat she wanted

Both of them

She’d waited Well, not exactly waited Sex just hadn’t co to please her parents by becoh school early She’d gone to college too young to really fit in with her class to New York, all she’d been able to think about was keeping a roof over her head and food in her belly

It was tiht not lastto someone

“We should celebrate,” Burke offered “I think dancing is in order”

Cole groaned Though he hadn’t beenarhed and called hi close to hi hile

“How about a o see a show See, I can compromise”

She took a long sip ofshe had a tequila shot instead Liquid courage, she needed it Instead, she drew in a breath and plowed ahead “I think we should all go to bed”

They both stopped, and in perfect synchronicity, swung their dark heads her way

“What did you say, sweetheart?” Burke asked

She licked her suddenly dry lips “You heard me”