had occurred to her that it might just be him testing if she really was a criminal. If that was the case, she really didn’t want to give him the time of day, but it had all seemed spontaneous. If Kace was anything, he was a man who planned well.
She sat up and tossed the covers off. After a bit in the bathroom, she slipped on her silk robe and padded around her room. She stopped when she heard the front door open and close.
Hoping that Victoria had gone for lunch, Jessica hurried downstairs. She stopped at the bottom and stared at Kace. Once again, he was in jeans and a t-shirt that were especially nice and clean. She swallowed as she remembered how he had looked without the shirt. Her nipples peaked at the thought.
His eyes dropped to her chest, and she knew he had seen her excitement. She crossed her arms and looked to her sister who was standing behind Kace.
“So Officer Allen is here.” She smirked. “I didn’t know he was picking you up.”
Victoria mouthed O-M-G behind his back. Jessica had to agree. He was well worthy of an O-M-G.
“I didn’t know that was the plan,” she said and cleared her throat.
Kace ran a hand through his hair. “I didn’t really know what time you went in and thought it would be good if I started taking you.” He smiled.
Jessica leaned around the corner to look at the time on the stove. She nearly choked. It was nearly three.
“Shit,” she mumbled.
She turned to catch Kace staring at the back of her legs. The silk robe had ridden up and was nearly exposing her. He coughed when he looked up to her eyes.
“Just give me some time to hop in the shower and get ready. I can’t believe I slept this late.” Jessica started to climb the stairs.
“With the hit you took, I’m surprised you aren’t in the hospital,” Kace said.
Jessica winced.
“Was it really that bad?” Victoria’s voice trembled as she spoke.
Jessica turned around to glare at Kace. “I’m fine. They made a big deal for nothing.”
She thought about walking over and socking Kace in the stomach just to show how fine she was.
“Really. I’m okay.” Jessica stared at her sister until she looked up. She knew she could convince her. “I was with you all weekend. Did I seem any different?”
Victoria shook her head.
“Well okay. I’m fine,” she said. Her eyes shifted to Kace, who nodded his understanding.
“So, Victoria, what are you studying?” Kace turned and steered them into the living room.
She perked up at the chance to talk about classes. “Well I’m only a sophomore now, but I’m going to be a grade school teacher.”
Jessica smiled as she walked up the stairs. That was why she worked so hard. So her sister could see her dreams completed. Jessica had never really been all that good in school, and she was glad that one of them was getting to go. It wasn’t that she didn’t have her own dreams, but her top one was to see Victoria happy. If she did that, she was accomplishing her dream.
Besides, her goals were modest. Move into a house, have some kids and maybe open a business. She still wasn’t sure what she would do, but she was good with numbers, missing money aside, and could talk people into just about anything.
Jessica reached the top of the stairs and walked into her room. She let the robe fall to the bed and flipped through her clothes. She stopped on a deep purple backless dress that showed way too much skin. It wasn’t one she would normally wear to work, but her fingers lingered on the piece. She looked amazing in it. He would think so too. She was sure of it.
She shook those thoughts out and forced her hand past the dress. Something sensible would be better. Maybe she should wear pants. She groaned. It shouldn’t be so hard. Her hand jerked back to the purple dress and pulled it from the closet. Better to just choose and be done with, she told herself.
After grabbing a pair of black pumps, she made her way to the bathroom at the end of the hall. No hot water