Page 24 of The Playboy Meets His Match
A chill raced down her spine as she thought about how much she had already antagonized Dorian. “So we’re on our own.”
“Basically. Sebastian will come out tomorrow and bring a map of the offices and building. He’ll go over everything with us and he’s going to unlock a back gate, but we have to get ourselves in and out of the building. Sebastian said you’ll never get into the files. They have a highly sophisticated, hacker-proof system.”
Eagerness bubbled in her to get her fingers on Dorian’s computer. “I’ll bet you a steak dinner that I get in.”
“Deal,” he said, studying her. “You’re sure of yourself.”
“When it comes to computers.”
“I know computer types—you’ll get engrossed in what you’re doing and lose all sense of time. You can have twenty minutes to get into his files. If you can’t access them during that time, we’re getting out of there.”
“If we get past the guard, we should have plenty of time.”
“I don’t want to take that chance. Twenty minutes. That’s it.” Jason lifted locks of her hair and curled them around his fingers. “Still game?”
“Yes, I am. If Dorian’s guilty of murder, I want him caught,” she said forcefully.
“You have strong feelings, Merry.”
“I shouldn’t have done what I did to him. It was foolish, but I hate how he hurt my little sister. I couldn’t watch her suffer and not do anything.”
“You have to let go. She’s all grown up now.”
“I know, but it’s hard,” she said, thinking of Holly. Jason pulled her into a gentle embrace and Merry looked up at him, relishing his arms around her, knowing he was right. She had to let go. Holly was a grown woman. As Merry gazed into Jason’s eyes, all thoughts of Dorian or breaking into Wescott Oil fled.
What had been a comforting hug transformed. Sparks ignited, and her breath caught.
Jason’s green eyes darkened, desire as easy to see as if he had spoken his feelings. Her pulse drummed. She wanted him desperately with a need she had never known before. This man was special, incredibly appealing no matter how dangerous he was to her well-being.
As he watched her, Jason wrapped his hand behind her head and pulled her closer, leaning toward her while her heart jumped. Her hands went up to rest on his arms and then his mouth was on hers and he was kissing her.
Heat swept over her, and she leaned into him, kissing him in return while his strong arm banded her waist and he shifted her to his lap. His tongue stroked hers, and her roaring pulse shut out all other sounds. When her hand drifted to his chest, she felt his pounding heart. She wanted this tall, strong Texan, but she knew it was impossible and a threat to her future happiness. She would end up like her sister, with a broken heart and hopeless longings. Jason had made clear his feelings on commitment and Merry knew, even as she kissed him back passionately, that the only kind of relationship she wanted was one that would be permanent.
She pushed against Jason’s chest and slipped off his lap. “Jason, you’ll complicate my life, and we’re not remotely compatible. You and I can’t date each other.”
“I don’t know why not,” he said gruffly, looking at her with so much scalding desire in his eyes that her will turned to slush.
“I want one thing. You want another. You don’t want commitment. I do.”
A shuttered look altered his expression, she could feel him withdrawing from her even though he hadn’t moved a muscle. “Whatever you want, Merry,” he said roughly. “I never go where I’m not wanted.”
“I’m sure that’s the truth,” she stated, thinking it was a sin for him to be so handsome and charming when his attitude was so solitary.
“We’ll talk tomorrow,” she said, standing and leaving the room in a rush, afraid if she stayed any longer to talk, she would be right back in his lap.
The following night, butterflies danced in Merry’s stomach as Jason slowed the truck behind the block that held the Wescott Oil building.
Landscaped grounds spread in front of the building and there were parking lots along one side and in the back. At the deserted side of the building, they stepped out of Jason’s truck and crept to a locked chain-link gate. Jason reached through and carefully removed the partially open padlock.
Sebastian had said the back gate was rarely used and he would unfasten the padlock, certain the guard would merely give it a cursory glance when he did his rounds.
They slid through the gate, hurried to the dark shadows by the building and crept around to the front, which was well lit. They were both dressed in black. Merry’s first glimpse of Jason in the dark shirt, black jeans and boots that emphasized his black hair, and made his blue-green eyes seem deep green had sent her heart hammering overtime.
In spite of the danger, it was difficult to keep her attention focused on their mission.
“You stay here,” he directed, leaving Merry in the shadows near the front door.
Jason had purchased a cheap, noisy horn that he could easily activate. He had set it up with a battery operated timer, and she watched as he disappeared behind a car in the almost deserted lot. In minutes he came sprinting to join her.
