Chapter Seventeen

Once they cleared the building, Mackenzie whipped out her Blackberry and punched in David’s number. She was surprised that they had infiltrated such a place as this, even if it was obvious it was a scare tactic. She stood just out of ear shot from Jon as he said his goodbyes and pleasantries in the foyer, but her eyes were fixed on him and those around him as she talked.

“Mac I don’t know what to tell you, I didn’t expect them to approach you in such a public domain.”

“I didn’t either, but it was clever. No one could make a scene and they got to threaten him, even if it was just verbally. We need to alert a few people about this.”

“I couldn’t agree with you more, you’ll have to notify the security where you are. That was one of the clauses for your clearance to carry a weapon there.”

She nodded, “yes I’m about to that now. Can you run some profiles on the invite list, look for anything Puerto-Rican and do background checks on them. See if we can’t dig anything up.”

“Got it. Have you thought about the possibility that they could be using Jon to make a statement of another kind to the community?”

She blew out her breath, “yeah I have. I can’t work out why they’re so twisted up about the kid being dropped, maybe they were going to infiltrate through his football team.” She quickly pondered and offered Jon a small reassuring smile when he glanced over at her.

“Quite possible. I’ll check with Sam and see if there have been any more intelligence on their movements in Jersey and Philly.”

“Thanks David. Email me anything useful that I should know. Oh, can you get his ex-wife and kids watched? I want to make sure they’re not compromised.”

“Already on the list. His parents?”

“They live down in Florida right? I don’t think so. They’ll go for the kids if anything.”

“Ok, got it. Anything else?”

She chuckled, “you miss me don’t you?” She missed him, they worked fabulously together, like Moulder and Scully, or Bones and Booth, and they too had the team work gene.

“I do actually, it’s far too quiet around here for my liking. You’re heading home right? How is he holding up from all this?”

Mac scanned the room before landing back on Jon. He was smiling, not the one that quite met his eyes. Oh Jesus, you know his smiles now? “He’s holding it together, he’s shaken up but I’ll get him home and see how he is. I better go, email me the deets.”

“Atta-girl. Ok, we’ll talk later. Be careful Mac.”

She tucked her Blackberry back in her purse and re-joined Jon. “Ready to go?” she whispered as she looped her arm through his.

He nodded, keeping the smile widening. “Sure.” Part of this job, he’d learnt to compartmentalize. When something was happening at home and he had to be on stage, at his very best, he’d compartmentalize it so he knew that was the best way to deal with this. He’d had his brush with unpleasant people before but the drilling brown eyes of that Puerto-Rican man and his twisted grin, had his belly in knots.

He hadn’t thought up to this point, about the what-ifs of this situation until it slapped him in the face. What if he had been out there alone? Would the man have tried something a little more sinister? He slipped into the car behind MacKenzie, “are you ok?” It was habitual, he wasn’t used to this being the other way around.

She rested her hand on his knee as the car pulled into traffic. “I’m fine Jon, we’ve got it under control.” She didn’t say much more, as they had to be careful even if it was just the driver. “What about you?”

He put his hand over hers and linked them, and nodded. “I’m alright.” He glanced out the window as the city night whizzed by. “How’s the feet?” He turned and met her gaze, her perfect slicked lips curving into a smile.

“I’m very much looking forward to that foot rub.” The last place she needed to be was near him, touching him, after this. MacKenzie realized quickly, that Jon probably needed the distraction and an opportunity to talk about this, if he needed to. She’d learned quickly he wasn’t a man of many words at times but she’d also learned quickly when he was internalizing things. And he did that often.

He gave her a small smile, “magic hands. Remember?” He tightened his grip on her hand, but he wasn’t sure if it was to reiterate the comment or the need for contact.

They pulled up outside Mercer and were shown to the door, within minutes they were safely inside the apartment and Mackenzie kicked her shoes off. “Mama Mia, that feels good. I don’t know why it’s necessary for such heels, it’s more a guy thing isn’t it?” She glanced behind her, but he was gone and the sliding door to the balcony was a few inches open.

“Dammit,” he flicked his lighter three times before it bloomed. His arm trembled as he held the cigarette into the flame. This was crazy, he was a rock star, not some kind of Sopranos wannabe. All he did was cut a kid from the team, not hustle a drug ring. The city traffic hummed under the twinkling lights and Jon blew out a long slow breath. Were the people around him in danger?

MacKenzie had assured him his family would be looked out for, could he trust her? Could he trust the gang not to try something dodgy there? His hands gripped the iron railing, he was out of his league, and this was out of his control. That’s what the hardest thing about this was, MacKenzie could do her job, and he didn’t doubt that.
He just hadn’t expected her to actually have to do it.

He’d danced with danger back in the earlier days; when at the height of their fame they had the odd psycho fan. There had been some hairy moments, but they were ones that were more likely to see him manhandled than straight out killed. Killed? He lost his footing as the night lights spun before him. Would someone really kill me? For what?

“Thought you could use this,” He hadn’t even heard the sliding door. He looked down as she held out a glass of whiskey.

Please let it be his single malt. “Thanks,” he took a sip and wiped his mouth. “I just needed some air.”

“I know,” she slipped onto the oversized lounger and leaned back. “Now you can see why it was important you tell me where you are going,” she cringed at how “mom-like” it sounded.

“I know Mackenzie, I’ve got it. I’ll keep you informed of all movements in the future, even if I want to take a piss.” He took another swipe at his cigarette. “Can you get someone to check on my kids please?” Christ, he couldn’t even go and see them for god’s sake.

He was impossible sometimes, “That’s been taken care of, and when we’re out in public, yes I will have to know where you’re going. This is serious Jon, but as long as we work together we won’t have a problem.” She got up and joined him at the railing, “I promise you.”

He snorted, “This is all so new to me.” He flicked his ash off the side and took another draw.

“Yes it is, but you hired me to trust me with it, so you’re going to have to. No matter how hard that is.”

He turned and faced her, her hair was a little messy, and she still looked gorgeous in bare feet and the black dress that hugged her body in all the right places. “I’ll try MacKenzie. That’s all I can promise you. I’m not an easy man to live with, and I’m stuck in my own ways... but I’ll try. I have to.”

She nodded and grinned, “Not stuck in your old ways, just a control freak. Like me.”

He chuckled, “except I don’t get to win, you do. Playing is the fun part.” They’d been playing well too, but he quickly realized she did have quite the job he’d tasked her to do.

“Come play a little more, I need that foot rub.” She left him on the balcony and padded to the couch. She moaned in appreciation as she sank into luxury. She couldn’t be attracted to a man that she had to protect, already it had caused complications and a lack of concentration on her part. The two didn’t go well together, but she hadn’t counted on the ease of the attraction between them. He followed her back in a few minutes later and shrugged off his coat. “I really don’t know how you do it, smile that much in one night. Be all charming and polite.”

He snagged her bottle of lotionoff the table, he wasn’t keen to get her scent all over his hands. But he owed her this much, she’d blended in flawlessly tonight and no one had ever suspected a thing. Not even there would be attacker. He pumped a few squirts and sat at the other end of the couch and patted his knee.

She lifted her leg and groaned when his hands started to gently rub. His thumbs dug into the centre point at the bottom of her foot, and her spine tingled. “That is amazing. Why did your wife divorce you again? I would have kept you just for this.”

He laughed and slathered more ginger scented lotion on the top of her feet and smoothed it up her calves. Her legs were toned and silky, as he imagined, probably more than once. “I guess being a pain in the ass weighed too much against it.” He reached up to her knee, he could keep going, slide his hand up to her thigh...

“Yes you’re a pain in the ass, but seriously. I’d have kept you around,” she leaned back against the cushions and rested her eyes. She quickly worked out in her mind what she needed to do once she was back in her room, check her mail and email off some other possible leads, just so she had the bases covered on the movements of these gang guys.

He changed feet and lifted her dress, the split resting mid thigh. He had to respect her more than ever now, still didn’t mean he didn’t want to climb on top of her and bury himself deep. “Good to know Kenz.” When she didn’t answer he looked up, she was fast asleep, hair tumbling out over the cushions. Great, and now he smelled just like her. He needed a shower, more so after he watched the rise and fall of her breasts as she slept and found himself wondering what she tasted like. He stood up shifted his pants, and reached for the blanket above the couch.

“I’m awake, I’m awake.” She stretched and rubbed her eyes, “god I didn’t even realized I’d drifted off. “ She stood and brushed herself off, “I’ve got some paperwork to finish up before I head to bed so I might grab a coffee.”

He nodded, “ok –well I’ll see you in the morning then.” Part of him wanted to ask her to his room, it would make the perfect distraction but yet again, he’d be pounding out an orgasm in the shower.

“Thanks again for my feet, god they are soo much better.” She wiggled her toes and then reached in to kiss him on the cheek, without as much as a thought. She pulled back quickly, but he cupped her chin and dragged her back to his mouth. She let it happen, he was still wound up from the confrontation, his hands dragged up into her hair as he angled deeper.

God he wanted her, he was two seconds away from scooping her up and carrying her to his bed. He didn’t want to be alone, who knew how to after this happened to you? Her breasts pressed against his chest, making his cock twitch. Her hands were on him, she wanted it to, they slid up his belly and onto his chest, and the force of being pushed back startled him.

She smiled, “night Jon.” And disappeared into the kitchen.

If he followed her, MacKenzie wasn’t sure she could ward him off again. It took every inch of a crazy person to push him back and stop. She sighed in relief when she heard the door click shut to the hall. She leaned back against the counter and put her hands in her face. “What am I doing? That was completely stupid Mac.”

Jon, miserable and now hard, disappeared to his bedroom.

Chapter Sixteen

MacKenzie looked down and wriggled her toes. It had been hours on her six inch heels and she swore to god if she had to smile at one more person, her mouth would stay cemented in that position forever. When she looked up back to Jon, who had been talking to Senator Clinton, he was gone. She whipped her head around and still he was nowhere in her radius. Crap.

She smoothed down her hands down the front of her dress and slowly circled around nodding and yes, smiling to the people she’d been introduced to all evening. He was still nowhere to be seen, bathroom maybe? He should have known to give her at least a heads up, but of course she knew he still hated being under her watchful eye. She made her way through the sea of people that spilled into the lobby.

She pretended to fuss with her hair, check her cell phone and still after ten minutes he didn’t come out. Shit. Where the hell was he? She’d taken her eye of him for no more than five minutes. Dammit Mac, that’s what happens when you have too much fun playing kissy-kissy. She jammed her hand on her hip and waited, and still he didn’t show or appear anywhere. She fired a text off her Blackberry to him, it was the only thing that could fit in the impractical sized purse for goodness sake, oh and a lipstick. Yup, practical.

She took a deep breath and walked into the men’s room and looked around, empty...nada. She walked straight into a distinguished looking man as she walked out, “oh sorry I wasn’t looking where I was going, silly me, didn’t even read the signs.” She flashed him a huge smile and walked away disgusted how ditzy she sounded. She checked her Blackberry and nothing, Jon, where are you?

Dammit, this could not be happening. They’d hardly been on the job and she’d already lost him. She circled the room again, and searched the myriad of faces hoping one of them would be staring back at her with recognition. What if someone had found him? Accosted him into a corner or something? What if- God, she didn’t smoke but if she did—The light bulb popped in her head as she made her way swiftly around to the back of the room, where the smoker’s balcony was. There standing, alone was Jon looking out to the skyline that poured out in front of them. If she was calm she would have commented how lovely the city looked tonight but no, that all vanished like a poof of smoke. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” She hissed and quickly scurried along the cobblestone terrace towards him.

Jon turned around, flicking his cherry red butt into the sky as he blew out a stream of smoke. "Getting some carbon monoxide filled air," he said. Catching the glint in her eyes, he paused. What the hell did he do now? "What's up?"

She looked over her shoulder and made sure they really were alone before heading towards him. "Oh gee I don't know Houdini. One minute you were there and the next you weren't.”

He frowned. "I just wanted to--"

She slammed her purse against the steel rail, “you don’t just vanish on me Jon. You tell me when you need to come out for a smoke and I come with you.” She huffed and quickly made sure they were still alone.

He crossed his arms over his chest. "You're my bodyguard not my jailer, MacKenzie." He held up his hand when she was ready to light into him again. "I'll let you know where I'm going next time, but you're not going to live inside my pockets for every little thing."

“How do you expect me to look out for you when you’re running off behind my back without telling me where you are going, what if there had been someone out here Jon?”

He shrugged and motioned around, “there’s no one here MacKenzie.”

“There isn’t now, but there could have been. You left me in there Jon, making hairdresser small talk with people.” She raked her hand through her hair, that wasn’t his fault and she knew it, her feet were pulsing and her manners had all but nearly ran out.

He sighed. "I'm sorry. I've gotten used to doing things alone. Escaping for a second, turned into a few more than I intended." He shrugged his shoulders, dropping his hands to his sides. "I feel closed in sometimes and need to just breathe for a second. I didn't mean to worry you."

Her shoulders eased and she sighed, this wasn’t his fault at all. It was hers, she was insanely attracted to the guy and she’d been crossing the line between reality and playing, more so in her head, than she should have. “It’s ok Jon, it’s just been a crazy night of adjustments, that’s all.”

He grinned. "I've never been one of those celebrities that really needed a bodyguard. This is all new to me."

She joined him at the railing as they both looked out to the city, now she could appreciate it all in its glory. The way the lights shimmered into the inky sky, she could almost feel herself getting mushy. “It’s a lifestyle change, I get that. But we’ve got to just be aware at all times, these guys are everywhere. They infiltrate everything, and we wouldn’t know it.”

He settled next to her, leaving them shoulder to shoulder. "Even in here?" He
frowned out into the darkening sky. He figured Mac was more for his on the way in and on the way out vulnerabilities.

She turned around and glanced behind her as she was about to continue and realized they were not alone. A Puerto Rican man stood tall, and crossed his arms. Her heart jumped into her throat, but she shoved down the suspicion as she turned. “Good evening.”

Jon glanced over his shoulder and smiled. He didn’t recognize the man and didn’t think anything of it as he leaned back on the rail, his elbows propped on the cool iron. But she didn’t. And in that moment he knew why.

“Rich man?”

The blood rush leaving his head left him a little dizzy as he turned around to face the man. “Can I help you?”

MacKenzie closed her eyes, gathering all her gumption as the man reached into his jacket pulling out a cigar. “I believe we have some business to discuss.” She looped one arm through Jon’s and smiled, “no business tonight baby, remember?” She whispered, but loud enough for the man to hear as she kissed Jon on the cheek. We’ll see how far you want to push bastard.

Jon followed her lead, and shakily wrapped his arm around her waist, kissing the top of her head. “Gotta love her, I talk business so much that I’m banned from talking about it on dates.”

He took a long puff from his cigar, “really? That’s funny. I could have sworn I heard you talking about your AFL team back in there, so ever proud.” The smirk sent chills right to the core of his spine. They were in a public place, surely they were safe?

Jon forced a chuckle. “Well, AFL is more a hobby to me than my business, or so I tell her.” He winked at the gentleman, but his face remained still as stone. Fuck.
MacKenzie knew she had to take control of the situation, when the man moved closer her hand automatically went for her gun, but stopped. They were public, he wasn’t going to try anything drastic here, and he’d be stupid too. “We really must be getting going, my poor little feet are aching.”

The man raised his brow and Jon felt sick as his eyes ran down the length of Kenzie and puffed out another ring of cigar smoke. He took another step forward, just inches away from them and leaned in. His steely grey eyes locked with his, and Jon’s grip tightened around MacKenzie.

MacKenzie watched him like a hawk, she was five seconds away from pulling out her gun. Cover or no cover, her instincts said he was just threatening them and then he’d leave. Jon’s arm quivered against her back, but she was relieved he held his ground.

“You’ll be sorry rich man, let me make that clear. Wes is a good kid. So I suggest that you re-think your actions.” He flicked his gaze back to MacKenzie and ran the tips of his fingers down her arm. “Or just maybe, your little girlfriend here might be the one feeling...”Jon coughed as he puffed out a plume of smoke into his face. “The pain.” And then he was gone.

“Stay right there,” she commanded as she followed the man to the doorway back into the venue, and watched him disappear back into the crowd. Holy shit. If she hadn’t have been out here with him, god knows what would have happened to him. She looked back and he as expected, was lighting a cigarette, shakily.

“You ok?” She asked as she walked back towards him.

He nodded and took a long pull. No he wasn’t fucking ok, but he wasn’t about to cry like a baby about it. This whole thing just suddenly had become real. He was at a function with politicians, and they had someone here? He hated when he underestimated something, he didn’t take to that well at all. And now he felt stupid for running off without her, and evidently she was right. He hated when he wasn’t
right.

She didn’t push him, he clearly was shaken but he didn’t need to be mothered about it. “Ok, the best thing to do, is we stay a little longer, calm ourselves down and it gives them anytime to disappear. I don’t think they’ll try anything else.”

“Ok, sounds good.”

“Let’s Dance, I love this song.” Iris from the Goo Goo Dolls had started drifting out to where they were. It would give them a moment, to regroup.
Dance? She wanted to dance? Jon turned around, smiling. "Ahh, Johnny. They toured with us a few years ago. Really great guys." Just how out of the way had they really stayed? And how much didn't he know about that side of life in general? Obviously a lot.

She nodded over his shoulder, as she tugged him gently back inside, “he’s kind of hot, introduce me?” The moment called for some lightness.

He smiled, “not your type. He let his shoulders relax, and had to believe they were safe again. But were they?

She chuckled "Oh really..." She looked up, "And what is my type Jon?”
He leaned in, worry slipping off his shoulders as their noses brushed. "You need someone that can entice your brain as much as your hormones.”
She nodded, wishing that they could stay out here, it was her idea for the dance but now she had to touch him again. This time she’d make no mistake of falling into that all too familiar groove. “Did your wife enjoy these parties?” She needed to keep him calm and distracted.

Jon forced himself not to stiffen. "No, she actually detested them."

"Sorry, just curious. And I so need a foot rub when I get home, FYI.”

He glanced at her as they walked into the room, off balance. Was this part of the game? The playful talk in case someone overheard them? Or was she just teasing? "I have magic hands," he said with an easy smile.

She didn't doubt it either, but now wasn’t the time to think about those damn hands. She was on the job. And now, more than ever she had to pay attention. “Good, my shoes are killin me.”

He slipped through the throng of people until they hit the dance floor. "Kick them off," he said into her ear. "I like dancing with a woman slightly shorter than me." He stared into her eyes as they were nearly the same height with the heels. "Makes me feel manly.”

She kicked them off, and the three inches pushed her right into the perfect curve of his body. Her thighs brushed his as Rzeznik's whispery voice faded into another croony song he couldn’t name. He sucked back a groan as her fingers slid up his back,

The game was back on and his cock was so confused it just decided to stay in the natural state of hardness she generally left him in. She fit him like few others ever had. The silky fall of her hair brushed over his fingers as he linked his fingers at her lower back. Her skin, was like sateen fire urging his thumb to glide up the dip in her spine.

She let herself enjoy it his touch, but knowing she couldn’t get lost in it like she had before. This sucked, but she’d underestimated the situation and possible danger he was in. She’d been distracted, so for now, she had to switch off any thoughts of taking their attraction to any other level than this.

He was talking, but she wasn’t listening. As he swayed her gently, her eyes were over his shoulder noticing everyone in the room.

The song faded, as he drew away to clap for his colleague, he watched MacKenzie shift to his side, clapping as the rest of the room did. She seemed completely at ease by his side, but those beautiful eyes kept scanning the room. Not quite meeting his.

Something had shifted between them. He just wasn't sure if it was actually in his favour.

Chapter Fifteen

Jon pasted on another smile for the shouts and catcalls that tried to get his attention. Over the years it had blended into a cacophony of background noise that he could ignore. He slid his hand along her lower back, stifling a groan at the silk of her skin. The dress dipped low in the back, the V hugging the line of her spine until it mimicked the heart-shaped curve of her ass. Not good. The line-up at the door, stilled and he had to stand there, with her. Chewing on his bottom lip, he slid his thumb along her spine familiarly. He knew the cameras caught everything--and he needed to be convincing. He pressed his lips to her ear. "Acting right?" he said on a low voice that only she could hear.

Hot breath tickled her ear, and the shiver sizzled down her skin. His hands against her skin, was harder to take than it looked. Shit. Her head had finally stopped racing from that ridiculous hump-a-thon she’d initiated in the backseat. She was behaving like a teenager on her first prom-date, not the body guard he was paying to serve and protect. Acting/Smachting. She flashed the cameras a large smile before turning to meet his eyes, like a couple in love, they certainly could play the part better than some Hollywood actors. She needed a few minutes before she kissed him again. “Absolutely.”

He swallowed at the teasing glint of heat in her eyes, his nose bumping hers, looking down at her mouth plainly before he smiled. The air fairly crackled between them. Part of him knew the cameras were catching every ounce of it, but the other part of him didn't care. He slid his hand down her arm, tangling their fingers together before he turned to walk ahead. He caught sight of Obama's security and smiled as he handed over the invitation. "Jon Bon Jovi and MacKenzie Cooper," he said for the list of approved names that the man needed to check off. They went inside and the schmoozing began. "They'll be blood thirsty. Just wanted to give you a head's up. I haven't had a woman on my arm in awhile.”

“I can handle them. Doesn’t it bother you that people are over you like this all time?” She tightened her grip on his hand as they started to weave their way through the crowd. People nodded, and she smiled back. She never was into the socialite scene, but she’d done corporate functions in her time to know what was what.

He waved to the state congressman to his left and Mrs. Clinton as she was trapped in the corner. "It's hard to remember a time when they didn't care," he said absently.

“Well, we’ll just have to make sure we give them something to talk about then.” She winked as they made their way into the dining area. A sharply dressed waiter offered a tray of wine out as they walked past. “Oh yes please.” She lifted a glass off the tray and took a sip. One glass wouldn’t hurt, and hell she needed it to settle her nerves.

"As the lady wants," he said and held his own glass. He carefully introduced her to dozens of people. Careful to use familiar words that didn't make him have to say girlfriend, but made sure it was known. She took care of herself, easily mixing with politicians to the wives, to the snobs. He took a little joy in watching her face go stony when Dawn Chanel asked her point blank--what her job was and she didn't have an answer. Of course Dawn was the gossip of all gossips, a busy body to the end actually. "She was my personal assistant, but you know how those things go."

MacKenzie smiled graciously at Dawn, who's eyes were already dancing with delight over the situation. As she walked away MacKenzie shook her head. "Sorry I didn't think of that one... good call," she took a long gulp of her wine. God, her face was going to ache by the end of the night. Dawn walked away in her three-sizes-too-small dress and MacKenzie snorted, “Stop looking at her ass, or I’ll get jealous.”

His hand lowered ever so much onto the curve of her ass. "Yours is far superior, schnookems."

Her heart tumbled before she snapped herself back to alert. She smiled into his eyes and ran her finger across his top lip. “That might just get you lucky tonight,” she teased. Christ, what was she doing? She seemed to have verbal flirtatious disorder around the man.

His fingers splayed over her back, dragging her in close. "Careful what you ask for," he said hovering just a breath away from her lips. "I'm not above broom closets Kenzie."

Her eyes widened letting as she let out a gasp. He wouldn't? They narrowed again as she pressed herself harder against him. Why did this feel too natural? It was supposed to be a game, maybe she was just a good player. Her eyes fell to his lips again as she dusted hers lightly across them. "Standing up sex huh?” Shit, there we go again.

His fingers dug into her lower back. "You have an evil streak, woman," he said against her mouth. "If you're pushing boundaries, don't be surprised when I push back," he said darkly and stepped back before his damn cock busted out of his dress pants.

Part of her wanted to push the boundaries and see what happened. She figured a man like Jon, when he lost control, was devastating. She had to focus, and keep her eyes on the people in the room. She had to give him credit, he really did know how to work a crowd, make someone feel special just by a few words, or a simple touch to the arm. When he tugged her in closer, she smiled and whispered. “You’re good at this by the way, but tell me...” She smiled again as another couple passed them.

“Does your face ache at the end of the night?”

"I have ibuprofen in every single room in my house, Kenz." He wound his fingers through hers and eased her a little in front of him. She fit along side of him perfectly. Like she was made for him. He liked the way she thought--linear but with biting humor. She read him well, keeping it light when necessary and serious when it was warranted. He let go of her hand, pulling out her chair as they got to their assigned tables.

“Well put me down for a double when we get home.” She chuckled and waiting for him to join him as she sat down. She glanced around the room, everything was as it should. Social climbers, politicians, and wait staff. Nothing TOO dangerous, as far as she could tell. She reached and straightened his tie. “Sorry, it was off to the left.” She laughed, “But we already know you’re a lefty.”

He stifled a chuckle and sat down. "I guess you do." He leaned in close. "That reminds me, just wear are you hiding a certain something extra in that indecent dress of yours?"

She ran the tip of her finger lightly down the silverware at her place setting. “You really want to know? Some things are just better left to the imagination aren’t they?” When he raised his brow she moved in closer, her nose brushed against his jaw. God, that rich spice of him was almost too much to take. “Let’s just say. Tonight I have thighs of steel.”

He closed his eyes, his fingers fisting into his napkin on his lap. "I think I might just hate you, MacKenzie Cooper," he muttered. The image of the gun holster that had to be strapped to her thigh was far sexier than it should have been. His cock stirred in his pants, as every tacky porn movie that involved a cop, flashed through his mind. Except they were all MacKenzie.

She smiled, secretly she was glad to make him suffer for a little. God knows she had so far. “It’s been a long time since I had a firm piece of steel between my legs.” She bit down on her lip to stop the ridiculous grin spreading. She was evil.
He chewed on the inside of his cheek until he cracked only half a grin. "We'll have to correct that, now won't we?"

If only. But no, she was here to serve and protect him. And not from STD’s. Why couldn’t she have met him in another situation, one where it was moral to go back to her bed after they went home? “You know,” she toyed with her napkin as the first course was served. “If I wasn’t your-“she stopped, he didn’t need to know that. It wasn’t as if it would change anything would it?

He leaned in, sealing their lips in a light kiss. They'd been playing far too well with the acting tonight. He was hard as stone and twice as miserable with it. He'd wanted her since the first night he'd met her. If she told him one more time what and where and how he could get her naked, he was fairly sure he'd drag her to the nearest empty room and show her exactly what he thought of her teasing. "What ifs are a little deep tonight, don't you think?"

The half smile she managed was almost sad. Mackenzie loved her life, and she wouldn't trade it for the world. But like anyone she always wondered if she'd find that someone that was just like her. The long nights at work coming home alone to the meal-for-ones did wear thin at times. But this was the life she chose and hadn't regretted it till now. In the few days she'd spent with him she'd realized he was just the same as her. "You're right it is, I'm sorry, this looks delicious,” she picked up her salad fork and speared a prawn.

Part of him wanted to lean in and tell her that he felt the same way. The lines of the game and reality were blurring already. He wanted her. It was a fierce ache that he hadn't been prepared for. Attraction was easy to deal with. It happened every day in his job. Sometimes it was acted upon, but mostly he just enjoyed the pop and zing, moving on with a smile. This--between them--it was more than a little cajun flavored popcorn. He wasn't sure what it was yet, but he already felt singed. So he just sat back in his chair, staring at the shrimp in front of him instead of reassuring the woman beside him.

She leaned over holding her fork in front of his mouth, which he accepted with a smile. She had to get over this, whatever the hell it was. Yes he was attractive and yes he pushed all her right buttons but she was protecting him. She was employed to save his life if necessary. So for now she had to make sure she kept it that way. As much as it sucked.

Chapter Fourteen

She wrapped a large towel around and dried her hair with another, before she padded back into her bedroom. Time to get all spruced up, she thought as she whizzed through the hangers in the closet. She frowned when she couldn't find the dress she wanted she panicked for a minute thinking she hadn't bought it with her. Then she remembered, it was in his room where she’d put a few of her things.

She slathered some body butter on and made her way there. God knows what the night would bring, all she knew was she had to be on her best game of make believe and on high alert. She tapped her knuckles against the door and made sure her towel was securely tucked in.

"Jon?"

Jon opened the door, tugging on his shirt, checking to see if he'd fully zippered his pants before opening the door. "What's up..." his words died off as that scent wafted through the door as she stood slick and near naked, her dark hair falling in around her shoulders. A towel held on for dear life, cinched between her breasts. Fucking hell.

She'd hoped he hadn't been naked but she decided when he did finally open the door, this was worse. She swallowed hard. "Uhhh,” He was half dressed, his feet bare and the buckle of his black dress pants dangled out in front. The white buttoned down shirt was half done up exposing half of the fine splattering of chest hair. She snapped her eyes up to meet his realizing she was still in mid sentence "Dress...my dress..." shit wake up Mackenzie you're going to have to do better than this. “My dress is in your closet,” she managed a small smile.

"Oh," he stood back as she passed him by. The end of the towel hovered over the curve of her ass and he looked away. No way in hell was he looking at that right now. Watching her twitch through his closet hit him low and hard. It had been a long time since he'd shared his closet with a woman. Seeing her clothes mingled in with his held an intimacy far more potent than even her wisp of a towel.

She found the one she needed tugging the garment bag off the rack. “Ah, here we go. Have to tell you it’s been a long time since I’ve been in one of these things, but I’m sure I can still do it justice.” She winked and her fingers curled when the scent of spice and freshly showered Jon wafted past her. The glint of his buckle caught her eye, “you know you’re pants seem to be complete. Just let me know if you need a hand.” She laughed and slipped out of the room, her heart beating in her ears. What? She was flirting with him now? Good Christ.

He looked down at his flapping buckle and up again at her retreating back. "Shit," he muttered and slammed the door. He shifted his semi-hard on and tucked his shirt in with a wince. He was so sick of being on the ready around her. How the hell was he supposed to live with her and not want her? Especially when she walked around in a towel like he was her fucking roommate. Did she even realize what it did to a man to have a woman smelling of a clean shower and not want to tug that towel off? Christ, what kind of saint did she think he was? He quickly donned the rest of his suit, cursing as it required a tie instead of his normally open collar dress up. He'd grown used to the tie over the years, but he still felt half strangled.

He walked into the living room to use the large mirror in the dining room, his fingers sliding away as she stood in the same spot, snapping drops into her ears. The dress crisscrossed low on her back leaving the dusky skin looking soft as silk and twice as tempting. Silver and black vied for the most attention. The black hugged her perfectly and the silver glinted, calling to his nomadic soul.

"God, Kenzie," he said before he caught himself.

Her eyes locked with his, no one called her that, except him. And it was becoming a habit and a bad one for her hormones. Once the earrings were in, she let her hair tumble around her shoulders. He looked slick, with his dinner jacket cinched neatly at the waist. The black Armani suited him, and made him every more bit as sexy as it could. God damn it. "Not bad huh?" She turned, over her shoulder in an attempt to keep the mood light.

He just nodded in approval.

Her mile high heels were something else. Who wore these on a daily basis? Impracticality 101. But lucky for her, stupid college beauty pageants had taught her to walk in them, and well. "Who wears these things? Seriously?" She tilted her shoe out letting the fabric from her dress slide upward revealing a little more leg than she possibly intended to.

Women trying to kill me slowly. "I don't know, but Jimmy Choo makes a fortune on just that sort of deal," he said, trying to keep his voice even. If he wasn't careful he was going to sound like a strangled adolescent boy with a cracking voice all damn night. "But you look amazing." He glanced down the heart shaped V of her ass and the clinging fabric that hugged her close. His gaze rested on the small purse on the dining room chair then back to her second skin outfit. Where the hell was the gun going to go?

She did look good, but hell so did he. "Thanks Jon," she straightened herself up feeling the cool steel on her inner thigh. David had taken a good old laugh when she'd spoke to him on the phone earlier than day and told him her little plan for the gun to be strapped to her inner thigh. The things I do, she thought. She flattened out the lapels on his jacket and smiled. "For the record you look pretty sharp, now I think I'm ready. Oh," she pressed her finger against her lips. "I need lip-gloss... And then we can go."


Sure, lip gloss...just great. So he could stare at her mouth all night, just as shiny as the straps that floated along her shoulders. Awesome. He tried to control his rioting hormones that screamed--rip off the damn dress--and cinched the tie tighter than he intended. "Fuck," he muttered.

She quickly found her lip gloss and applied a generous coat before fluffing her hair one more time. "Not bad Mac," she teased herself before she tightened her gun strap around her thigh and joined him by the door with her purse. "Ready, time to go and play"

He held his arm out to her, "All right, let's get this done." When she slid her hand through the crook of his arm, he led her out of the apartment and into the elevator. "I suppose we need to show we're a couple to the doorman and staff downstairs too, to keep our cover.'

She nodded, no turning back now. This is where it began. Good god what are you about to get yourself into Mac? "I agree, come on then," when the lift doors pinged open she shifted her body into his feeling the wool of his suit press against the skin of her arm. She flashed the doorman a huge smile as they walked passed.

Her hand itched to move as they made their way to the car waiting outside the double doors. This was either going to go really bad, or really good. She took the lead and slipped her hand lower sliding over his ass giving it a gentle squeeze just in view for the doorman to see as they walked through.

"Yup just as I thought... hard as steel," she teased lowering her voice.

His eyebrow quirked, as he dragged her closer. "I won't forget that," he warned and tucked her hand back into the bend of his arm. Retribution simmered in his eyes as he opened the car door to his town car. "In you go," he said and slid his own hand down her ass.

Her heart hammered into her throat as she climbed across the soft leather interior. She sat back and crossed her legs, "You so don't want to start something with me Mr Bongiovi.” Well hell, this didn't feel so bad so far. Apart from the fact she wanted to rip that Versace suit right off him and suck him dry in the back seat, it wasn't going bad at all. He soon slipped in beside her and held his arm out for her to tuck in beside him. Right, the driver. She did so and crossed her legs further over one of his.

The intimacy was strangely comfortable with him and that scared her. She looked up her chin resting on his shoulder as he curled his spare hand around hers. "So got any moves?" she whispered.

"Baby, I don't need moves--so this will be a learning process for both of us." He said it, not with ego, but with fact. He had women fall into his lap, not the other way around.

She nodded, "I'm sure you don't but what if I'm not prepared to live up to your ego?" She walked her fingers up his shirt to his chin. His penetrating gaze surprised her, she'd gone in and now she couldn’t exactly run back out.

He leaned down enough to drag in that spicy, soft scent. "Ego be damned," he said and caught her glossy mouth in a kiss. The peppermint flavor of the gloss burned as his fingertips drifted into her hair, tipping her head up to deepen the kiss. His thumb traced her jaw line, as the kiss went from teasing to intense. She opened beneath him, her tongue as greedy as his. He fought to keep to his side of the seat, but his hand slid around to her lower back, tracing over the indent of her spine that had teased him. He pulled her in, her fingers sliding into his hair as well, gripping tight as the kiss spiralled from hot to blazing.

The moan slipped from her mouth and was swallowed by his. Her fingers loosened in his hair and her palms flattened on his cheeks turning his mouth for more. God she wanted more, it'd been so long since she was kissed and wanted by a man. A man she was attracted to. She pressed her body into his, her nipples ached beneath her dress desperate to know what it would feel like if....

Her mind derailed on that thought. Her ass had left the seat as she twisted herself into him. Her lips finally broke free from his but she didn't stop there. She needed more of a taste. Her teeth scraped down over his chin and across the bump of his Adam's apple as the groan left his throat. "Jon," she breathed. Her fingers curled around his collar as she looked back up, his eyes matched the heat of her breath on him.

The car rolled to a stop, and his regular driver, Joey, cleared his throat. Their eyes locked and his gaze returned to her mouth. The gloss was gone, but it still burned on his. Whether it was the heat of the kiss or the peppermint on his lips he didn't know. He met her eyes once more, watching her back away from him by degrees. "We're here."

She pulled away as the driver opened her side of the door. She blinked. What just happened here? The erratic pounding of her heart against her chest told her exactly what happened. She indulged. The first fucking night and she indulged and couldn’t take it back. She clutched for her purse. "Right," she said climbing out the car, the now warm steel between her legs reminding her that this was her job NOT her pleasure. She waited for him to climb out beside her and hook his arm through hers. The only way to save yourself, was to lie. "See, and here you didn’t think I could act."

"Right," he swallowed down the acid. "You aught to get an Oscar," he said under his breath and smiled for the cameras.