Tara lifted her lids slowly, not really wanting to wake up. If she opened her eyes, the slight belief that the past two days had all been a nightmare would fade away. And she would still be a prisoner in Jake’s house, forced to help him or go to jail—all while fighting off an insatiable desire to be his. But she recognized the guest room immediately. It hadn’t all been a dream.
She wasn’t sure how she felt about that just now.
The door opened, and in marched the man himself. Instead of the casual gear he’d put on yesterday, he wore a light gray button-down shirt and a black vest. All of his sexy ink was covered up, and he looked every part the businessman instead of the thief she’d once known. Black khakis completed the outfit, and her heart did a ridiculous pitter-patter at the sight of him.
He didn’t even remotely resemble the man who cuffed her to the bed last night. That man had been reckless and street-tough. This guy looked like a professional. Straitlaced and hot. Which one was the real Jake?
Last night, she’d thought he needed her. She’d felt such a bond with him when she’d given herself over to him…and then he’d metaphorically slapped her across the face with his actions afterward. He’d clearly gotten what he’d wanted from her.
And now he was ready to move on.
Just like the last time.
“Rise and shine,” Jake said, crossing the room and opening the curtains. “It’s Wednesday, and in my world? That’s a workday.”
Lifting on her elbows, she didn’t bother to hold blanket in place. It rested right above her breasts, showing cleavage. His attention immediately drifted down, then came hurtling back as if he didn’t want to see any more. She tilted her head to the side, ignoring the pain his slight rejection gave her. “I don’t work with you.”
“You do now.” He stared at her, and there was a heat that hadn’t been there earlier. He stepped toward her, but cut himself short, fisting his hands at his sides. “Until you crack the code, that is. Then you’re free to go.”
She swallowed hard and turned away. He expected her to go into the belly of the beast, and work with him? Hell to the no. “Can’t we work from here? I don’t want to go to your office.”
“No. We’re going to my office, and then we’re going on-site.”
“So, you want me to return to the site of my crime?” She snorted. “Yeah. Not happening.”
He grabbed hold of the blanket and tore it off of her. “You don’t have a choice. Now get up and get dressed, or I’ll drag you to jail naked today.”
“Fine.” She rolled out of bed and stood up. Holding her head high, she put her hands on her hips. “But I already told you that I don’t remember what I did. You’re wasting your time with me.”
He cursed under his breath and crossed the room, leaning into her face with anger written all over his expression. “I don’t think you realize how much trouble you’re in. The only way I got him to agree not to press charges against you was by promising him you would help me make his safe impenetrable by tomorrow morning.” He grasped her chin. “If you don’t help me, then I can’t save you.”
She blinked. “Who asked you to try in the first place?”
“No one. I did it because I had fond memories of you. And now, I have even more.” His gaze dipped down to her mouth, then shot back up. He shook his head slightly and let go of her, lurching back as if he hadn’t wanted to touch her in the first place. “So get your pretty little ass dressed before I do it for you, and put that brain into overdrive so you can remember what you did.”
She closed her fists at her sides, her body stiff. A part of her wanted to help him, to give him the answers he needed, but she couldn’t. She’d spent her entire life helping people like her clients get their rightful heirlooms back. Getting revenge on the bad guys, like the man who had killed her parents, and Jake’s foster father.
She couldn’t turn her back on her life’s work.
Not even to save herself.
“Wear something that covers more skin than last night.” He walked toward the door. His stride was purposeful, but she noticed his limp. Had last night taken a toll on him, physically? She’d seen the scars, and now knew the extent of his injuries a little better. He’d probably been in danger of losing his leg with a wound as serious as his. “I don’t want any other men seeing too much of your skin—not when you belong to me.”
The door shut behind him, and she blinked at it.
Wait a second, she didn’t belong to him.
She hadn’t agreed to that…had she? She hadn’t realized she would be expected to obey him outside of the bedroom. Only in it. If he thought he could boss her around all day long, he had another think coming. It was time for him to start asking her nicely.
Shaking her head, she opened her suitcase and pulled out her shortest skirt and a tight silk blouse. Muttering under her breath, she hopped in the shower that was connected to Jake’s room. Afterward, as she rolled black thigh-highs up her leg, she planned how best to appear truly stumped at this project.
By now, he knew her well enough. She’d have to lay it on thick enough to make it appear to be real, but not so thick that it was transparent.
She needed to make it seemingly genuine.
After taking five minutes to make her wavy brown hair a little less crazy, she applied some light makeup and stepped into a pair of red pumps. As she studied her reflection, something caught her attention on the top of the dresser.
Reaching over, she grabbed the picture of Jake.