My hand is shaking as I try to reach into my pocket.
“I got it.” He digs into my pocket, and flames lick at me. His fingers brush against my denim clad legs, and I shudder.
He growls as he steers me toward my car. “You don’t know how tempting you are right now.” He bends down, brushes my lips with his. I open my mouth, seeking more. He slips his tongue into my mouth. Our tongues circle and I press my body against his. He tugs at my ponytail, and I gasp. No one’s ever handled me that way. He bites my lower lip. “You like that, B?”
“Oh, yes,” I whisper, stunned by the things he’s awakening inside me.
“Oh, girl, you and I are going to have so much fun together.” He kisses my forehead and steps away. Despite the age difference, he’s got plenty to teach me. I’ve been sheltered and stunted. I want to experience all the things I’ve missed out on. “Come on.” He unlocks the door and helps me into my seat before he walks around to the driver’s side.
“Why are you so nice to me, Jagger?”
“I have to be nice to someone.”
I cluck my tongue. “I’m serious.”
“So am I. When I bring you around the club, you’ll see what I mean.”
“Jagger? What do you do for your club?” I ask softly.
“Mostly I work in our medical marijuana dispensary.”
“And other times?” My stomach clenches.
“Whatever else needs to be done.”
I grip the seat. He’s not going to incriminate himself, but I can hear the things he’s not saying. We’re not talking about anything legal. Does it really matter? I don’t have an answer to that question. He’s the first ray of sunshine I’ve seen. I’m not ready to let that go.
“Is that going to be a problem?”
“Not yet.”
“You asked a question. So that means I get to ask one.”
“Okay.”
“Are you hiding from someone? Your ex maybe? I notice you always do things to hide your identity.”
“My divorce was extremely high profile.”
He whistles. “Couldn’t have been easy.”
“It’s wasn’t. It still isn’t. I’m constantly afraid they’re going to find me again. I avoid most places.”
“Was he famous?”
“He is now, before he was a wealthy doctor from a family with old money, so the minute he fell from grace, the press was on it like vultures with a carcass. I used to go, and yes, I always try to downplay who I am. I’m not worried about my husband. He has his own problems not being caught. Coming back here for me would be idiotic. He’s many things, but stupid isn’t one of them.”
“Until he went off the deep end.”
I pause. “No, I think that too was part of a bigger plan. What scares me most is not knowing what that was, or if he’s finished with the destruction of the life, we once built together.”
“You think he’s hanging around here?”
“I have no clue, I know he must’ve had an idea of what he was going to do after they found my body, and a catalyst for his rash behavior.”
“You think he had a partner?” Jagger asks.
He speaks the words I’ve been afraid to admit to myself. I close my eyes as the