Hiding Jessica by Alicia Scott Read Free Book Online Page A

behind her as she approached the stairs. She could feel the strength of his presence, the scent of his after-shave. And once again her stomach tightened with a myriad of sensations. She forced herself to walk in even steps, forced herself to keep her head up as if nothing at all was amiss.
    Now if only she could get her hands to stop shaking.
    At the top of the stairs, she turned, facing him as nonchalantly as possible.
    “Good night, Mr. Guiness,” she said coolly.
    He arched his eyebrow at her insistent use of his last name. God, but she was stubborn. He folded his arms across his chest, leaning casually against the railing.
    She was standing just two feet from him, looking as cool as a cucumber. But he could still catch the faint scent of freshly washed peaches, and it was driving him half-crazy.
    What was the Ice Angel doing smelling like peaches? How could one woman possibly be so sexy and so cold all at once? It really did play havoc with a man’s senses.
    And he wondered then if that wasn’t exactly why she did it. This evening she had displayed a keen, impressive intellect. Coupled with her uncanny ability to remain in control, he had a feeling there was very little she did that wasn’t carefully thought out ahead of time. But even now, he had no insight to her motives. What logic was driving her? And where would it all end?
    Oh, she was up to something. But he didn’t press just yet. He had a feeling Jessica Gavornée was used to having her own way and used to manipulating men, when necessary, to accomplish that. She would learn in time, Mitch promised himself, that this was one man she couldn’t play her little games with.
    The next two weeks were going to be very interesting.
    She was still watching him with her cool blue eyes and that faint hint of wariness. He pushed away from the railing, and she moved closer to her own doorway. He nodded to her, resting his hand on the doorknob of the second room.
    “Good night, Jess,” he drawled, putting emphasis on her new name.
    She had frozen in the doorway though, his words falling on deaf ears.
    “Where are you going?” she demanded suddenly, the suspicion obvious in her voice.
    “To my own room, of course.”
    He had the delight of watching her whole face freeze over, and he was beginning to learn about her well enough to understand the darkening of her eyes. Oh, the Ice Angel was mad. In fact, she was furious!
    “Aren’t there bedrooms downstairs?” she pointed out frigidly.
    He shrugged his shoulders. “‘Fraid they’re for Bill and Jamie. But don’t worry,” he said gallantly, not quite able to keep the teasing tone out of his voice, “you may use the bathroom first.”
    The look she gave him would have dropped another man dead in his tracks. But Mitch returned her icy blue anger with his own velvety grin.
    “Sweet dreams,” he told her, and disappeared into his room.
    From his room, he heard her shut her door with emphasis. Not quite slamming—she had too much self-control for that. But a definite, firm closure. The woman did know how to make a statement.
    He found himself grinning once more, but then abruptly his face sobered. He’d wanted her to know he was in the room next to hers, because he wanted her to know he was watching. Mitch was the best in his job because he knew people. And after just five minutes he could usually size up and relate to anyone he’d ever met. Jessica Gavornée was definitely more difficult; he’d never met another individual—man or woman—with more control than she had.
    But he was starting to catch on, starting to see the little signs. And right now, all the signs told him this woman was not as she seemed. People learned to control their emotions for a reason, and generally that reason was to hide something.
    He would be watching her very closely the next couple of days. Hell, by the time he was done, she’d think she had a shadow, because he had no intention of letting her out of his sight.
    What he’d