The ride up to his friends’ place was quick. Too damn quick. He felt so exposed knowing he’d have to admit why he wanted Lizzy’s help. The elevator opened up into an airy, open entryway. There was only one door ahead of him and before he’d taken two steps it opened.
Porter strode out, looking exhausted—likely from being a new parent—but he also looked worried. “Everything okay? We didn’t realize our phones were even off until security buzzed us.”
Another reason Vincent felt like a jackass showing up at their place unannounced. They could have been catching up on sleep. “Yeah, everything’s fine. I, uh, I would never ask this unless it was important. I need Lizzy’s expertise finding someone.” He rubbed the back of his neck.
“This isn’t work related.” Not a question.
Vincent shook his head. “It’s…personal.”
Porter’s blue eyes widened. “Holy shit, is this about a woman?”
Vincent’s jaw clenched, but he didn’t respond.
To his surprise, Porter grinned, his smile wide and almost mocking. For a man who rarely smiled except at his wife, the action took Vincent off guard. It also pissed him off. “This is funny to you?”
Porter shrugged. “It’s a little funny. Come on. We just put the little guy to sleep. Probably won’t stay down long but you have good timing.”
Moments later he found Lizzy in the kitchen sitting at the counter with her laptop and a bottle of water. Wearing one of Porter’s old Marine T-shirts and pajama pants that were also likely her husband’s, she glanced up when she saw him and the same concern he’d witnessed on Porter’s face was etched on her pretty features. “Vincent, is—”
He nodded, cutting her off. “I’m good, I just need a huge favor and only you can do it. I swear I wouldn’t have bugged you guys, especially with the new baby, but I didn’t know who else to ask.” And he wouldn’t have had to come to his friends if he hadn’t kicked Jordan out of his house. He shoved that thought down as he tried to push away the memory of her tears. Right now he wanted to kick his own ass.
He should have stayed and hashed things out. And found out exactly what she wanted from him other than forgiveness. Because he wasn’t sure he could let her walk away again. That thought pissed him off more than anything. It was just a reminder of how much power the petite woman wielded over him.
Lizzy’s dark eyes lit up. “I’ve just been catching up on work emails so a chance to do something fun… Will any of this be illegal?” She sounded practically gleeful as she asked.
Vincent shrugged and despite his dark mood, he grinned. “I need to track a woman down by any means necessary. Tracking her credit cards, whatever it takes.”
Lizzy started to speak, but the sound of Maddox wailing made them all pause. “I thought he was down for good this time,” she murmured, exhaustion creeping into her gaze.
When she started to get up and Porter moved into action with her, Vincent shook his head as he pulled out the envelope that contained everything he knew about Jordan and laid it on the counter. Having worked with Lizzy before many times, he’d known what kind of questions she’d have so he was prepared. “Unless he’s hungry I can take care of him and give you guys a break.”
Porter and Lizzy looked at each other, both unsure.
Vincent had been over a few times since the birth so it wasn’t as if he was a complete stranger to their baby. Plus, he had more than his fair share of experience with his two married sisters’ kids. “My sisters call me the baby whisperer. Trust me.” Without waiting for a response he headed for Maddox’s room. Sure enough, the moment he picked up the tiny bundle of flailing fists and feet, the baby quieted down, giggling softly. Babies just liked to be held and made to feel secure most of the time. One of his sisters had told him it was because it reminded them of being in the womb.
Sitting in the rocking chair in the corner of the room, Vincent rocked back and forth in a steady rhythm, holding Maddox close to his chest. He had no clue what it was but babies just loved him. And he really loved them too. They smelled good most of the time and had such open, adorable expressions. Right now, he could sure use the distraction.
At one point Porter popped his head in the room and gave him an incredulous look, but just as quickly backed out again. Vincent wasn’t sure how much time had passed because he started to doze too, but eventually Lizzy walked in looking very proud of herself.
Smiling at her sleeping baby, she gently took him from Vincent’s arms. “I think I found your girl.”
* * * * *
Jordan wrapped her beach towel tighter around her waist before gathering up everything she’d brought to the pool and dumping it in her red and white striped beach bag. Her worn paperback book, phone and sunscreen were all she needed today. After seven years of living in a state of fear and feeling like a giant liar to everyone she became friends with, she finally felt free. If a little lost.
And a little heartbroken. Not that she had anyone to blame but herself. Maybe she should have told Vincent the truth all those years ago, but she’d just loved him so damn much she hadn’t been willing to shred his life apart. The thought of pushing him into a situation against his will like that had been too much to bear. She thought she’d been ready to give him up too. Until the reality of her new life had set in, but by then it had been too late.
As she headed for the stone stairs that led to the condo where she was staying, she rubbed the back of her neck and shoved those thoughts away. Seeing him two days ago had seriously messed with her mind.
She wasn’t sure what she’d hoped to gain from seeing him. Forgiveness, for sure. Also, a little closure. She should have expected his anger, but for some reason she hadn’t been prepared for the depth of it. After months of working up the courage to go see him, she still hadn’t been ready to face him when he’d taken the decision out of her hands. She’d been so startled when he’d come up on her car like that she’d just opened the door without a thought.
Then when he’d kissed her… It had been like no time had passed between them. She swore the man had gotten even sexier.
The US Marshal who had been her handler had given Jordan all the information she’d requested on Vincent’s current whereabouts when she’d left the program, including a recent picture of him. Jordan wasn’t sure if it was even legal, but her handler had said she wanted to do it as a favor, so Jordan had taken all the information on Vincent and devoured it.
The photo hadn’t done him justice. It had been one of those employee ones, like people took for passports. Seeing him—and feeling him—up close and in person was like being doused in all that sexuality he exuded.
Tall, dark and handsome. That was Vincent. When he smiled, that bit of wicked charm glinted in his eyes, guaranteed to melt any woman with a pulse. And those eyes. A pale blue that had made her heart skip a beat the first time she’d seen him. She hated that she still reacted so much to him. Time and space should have dulled her response, but it seemed stronger now.
Sighing, she slid the key into the lock of the condo. She needed to get her head on straight and figure out what the hell she wanted to do with the rest of her life, not focus on things she couldn’t change. Her friend Barbara, who she’d met while in WITSEC, had given Jordan free use of her condo in Key West for as long as she wanted this summer. She’d been worried about all her friends’ reactions when she’d left the program and they learned the truth about her. But everyone had been great, even if it had been hard for them to get used to calling her by her real name.
The name Jordan had never wanted to part with in the first place. It had been her mother’s name and pretty much the only thing Jordan had gotten from the woman who died giving birth to her. She’d been so happy to reclaim it even if it meant starting over again.
The cool air from the condo rushed over her as she stepped inside and shut the door. It was a sharp contrast from the humidity outside. Even though her bikini was almost dry after her last swim in the pool, her nipples beaded against the cloth triangles. The July heat here was brutal but she loved the sun and sand.
Stripping off her towel, she tossed it into the small laundry room as she made her way down the tiled hallway. As she stepped into the open area where the living room and kitchen joined, she froze.
With his back to her, Vincent stood staring out the sliding glass doors that led to the small balcony. The pale green and yellow ceiling-to-floor length curtains had been pulled back, letting the afternoon sunlight spill in. His hands were shoved in his pockets and he was dressed casually in cargo shorts and a fitted T-shirt that showed off all his muscles.
She swallowed hard, her gaze traveling over his back, his very tight ass and—wait a minute. “What the hell are you doing here?” She blinked, making sure she hadn’t imagined him and sure enough, he was still standing there.
He turned to face her, his eyes piercing as they took in her appearance. Wearing just her bikini, she felt vulnerable and exposed so she held her small beach bag up against her chest and looked at him with raised eyebrows. “Well?” After the way he’d kicked her out she’d been certain she’d never see him again.
“Your security here is shit,” he finally said, as if he had every right in the world to be standing in front of her without invitation.
Not that she actually minded him standing there. She felt as if she was starving for just the sight of him as she devoured him with her eyes. Maybe she should be embarrassed about staring, but it was hard to stop herself.
“Don’t look at me like that,” he finally growled.
“Or what?”
“You really want to push me after it took two days—and seven fucking years—to find you again?” He took a step forward, looking like a sleek panther stalking his prey.
Jordan stood her ground even though her first instinct was to retreat. “Two days ago you told me to leave.” Even though she hadn’t wanted to, she also hadn’t wanted to break down into a crying mess in front of him. Because that’s what she’d done as soon as she’d left his house. Then she’d gone back to her hotel, packed all her stuff and headed to Key West.