“It’d put a real crimp in my plans for you.”
“Plans?”
“Oh, I have plans.”
He wrapped his arms around her middle and pulled her back against him. The hot, steamy water cascading over their bodies sent Deanna into another, more carefree plane of existence with Jonas.
“Mmm, wicked plans?” he asked against the wet skin of her neck.
“Definitely wicked.”
“Ah, I can’t wait, kitten,” he whispered as he began to smooth his palms over her body, massaging her aches and effectively bringing her body back to life.
For the first time that Deanna could remember, she stopped trying to analyze Jonas’s intentions in favor of the dark-haired hunk loving her instead. When he moved away and poured soap into his hands, Deanna shuddered. As he started to wash her arms, shoulders, and all the parts in between, Deanna’s body stirred to life all over again.
Their shower took much longer than she’d anticipated.
11
It was the middle of the night—or super early in the morning, rather—and they were sitting at the kitchen table eating cheese puffs. The only thing she wore was one of Jonas’s old T-shirts, and all he’d pulled on was a pair of black boxers.
They’d both had the munchies after their shower, but Jonas hadn’t wanted to take the time for a meal, so he’d grabbed the first bag of snacks he’d come to when they’d entered the kitchen. Since Deanna was as anxious as he was to get back to the bedroom, she hadn’t complained. But the minute she’d told Jonas about her newest client, Terrance Valdez, Jonas had stopped eating, and she noticed his smile had turned into a dark, nasty frown.
“Is that supposed to be a joke, Deanna?”
She crossed her arms over her chest, beyond confused by his attitude. “What’s the problem? Why is that a big deal?”
Jonas pushed a hand through his hair and let out a heavy sigh. “Valdez is a known drug dealer. He’s bad news. Real bad news.”
No way were they talking about the same man. “Terrance is a businessman. He buys companies, not drugs.” Deanna thought of the little, gray-haired man with the kind eyes and shook her head. “Jonas, I really don’t think we’re talking about the same person here.”
Jonas was on his feet so fast the chair fell backward. Deanna stiffened. “Trust me, Deanna. We’re talking about the same guy. There’s only one man with that name, and he’s not even close to being a legitimate businessman. Christ, what the hell were you thinking taking him on as a client?”
Deanna’s good mood vanished. “Wait just a damn minute here.” She got to her feet and moved around the table to better confront him. “My clients are none of your business, Jonas Phoenix. Just who do you think you are to speak to me like this anyway?” He started to say something, but she poked him in the chest and shot right over him. “You do not have a say in it. This isn’t the Dark Ages, you dork. Women don’t have to ask their ... whatever you are, for permission.”
He took hold of her shoulders and pulled her close. “You and I are together, Deanna. That makes it my business. Especially when it comes to your safety. And trust me, you aren’t safe if you’re anywhere near Valdez.” He leaned down until they were nose to nose. “When we get back to Ohio, you’ll tell him to find a new decorator for his goddamn mansion.”
Her eyes shot wide. “Are you even listening to yourself?”
He dropped his hands and looked at her as if she’d grown two heads. “What?”
“Get this straight. I decide who my clients are, not you. If Terrance turns out to be a drug dealer, which I highly doubt, then I’ll tell him to get lost. Until then, back off!”
“You honestly believe there is more than one rich man named Terrance Valdez who lives in Zanesville, Ohio?”
Deanna rose up on her tiptoes and bit out, “Maybe, maybe not. All I know for sure is that I’ve spent a great deal of time and worked a lot of hours to build this business of mine. Don’t even think that you can come in and start making decisions for me just because we slept together.”
“It’s not because we slept together,” he ground out. “It’s because I care about what happens to you. I fucking care if you get shot!”
Deanna closed her eyes and counted to ten. When she opened them again and saw Jonas’s worry, she knew he wasn’t trying to dictate her life. He was genuinely concerned. “I get that you’re worried, I do, but you’re being unreasonable. I’ve had to deal with overprotective men my entire life, and it makes me crazy. Please, don’t treat me like some silly piece of fluff who needs to be coddled and looked after. I’m begging you, Jonas.”
Jonas’s arms came around her and he pulled her in close. He was stiff and unyielding, as if afraid to let her go. “I’m sorry.” He spoke against the top of her head. “I don’t mean to treat you that way. But the guy is a criminal, Deanna. There’s no telling what all he’s done.”
“If he’s a criminal,” she reminded him as she pushed back and looked up at him. “We don’t even know if it’s the same guy.”
“It’s my business to know these things, remember?”
“Yes, I remember. But how would you feel if I suddenly started telling you how to run your PI business? Which cases you could take and all that. You’d be okay with me walking in and taking over?”