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A man she would know anywhere.
He wore a black tux that fit him like a second skin.She could see the edge of the crisp, white dress shirt he wore underneath it.She wore a strapless black dress.One that flared near her thighs so that if she were to spin, it would flutter in the air around her.
She hadn’t been spinning anywhere.
She’d been walking through the hotel like a ghost.Barely feeling.Her heart cold.Wishing that she could see him again.
Eb.
He’d gone dark on her.Been pulled back into the CIA’s web.He’d rushed to the rescue with Henry and the man had said he loved her.Sheknewhe’d said those precious words because they replayed through her head on a taunting loop.
And then reality had exploded around them.Cops.Agents.Powerful people in the government who’d needed to control a major scandal that could have international implications.
Eb had held her.Too briefly.Promised her that he would come back to her as soon as he could.
And…
There he was.On the rooftop.Waiting.
Her high heels raced toward him.She reached out.Touched his shoulder.“Eb!”Joy broke in his name.
His head turned toward her.Those familiar topaz eyes stared back at her.
But the smile on her mouth froze.Because he wasn’t looking at her the right way.His stare—where was the hunger?The need?The craving?This man—this man looked at her like?—
“You’re not Eb,” she said, definite, and she snatched her hand back from him.
His eyes narrowed.No warmth.He seemed cold.Calculating.Dangerous.
Naomi knew she wasn’t staring at her Eb.“You’re Jake.”
“And you are my brother’s obsession.”His gaze slid over her.Assessed.“Did you enjoy breaking his heart?”
“What?”She took a hard step back.“You’re mistaken.”
“No.I’m never mistaken about my brother.”Then he pursed his lips.“Okay, fine.Once I very much was.About something pretty big, but that was my own damn jealousy blinding me.”
He’d lost her.“What is happening here?”
“I wanted to meet you.To see the woman who has obsessed Eb.”He nodded.“Saw the dog a few moments ago.Cute bowtie on him.Guessing that was your idea, seeing as how he’s your dog?”
She didn’t glance to the right.Henry was, indeed, decked out in a bowtie.“Where is Eb?If he’s so obsessed with me, shouldn’t he be here?”
“Do you hate him?”
Her mouth opened.Then closed.Then… “You’re a very direct individual.”
“I have a zero-bullshit tolerance.”
“Fair enough.So do I.”
Interest gleamed in his eyes.
“I do not hate Eb.”Those words needed to be stated, for the record.
“Even though he lied to you, betrayed you?Had sex with you while he was trying to wreck your world?”
Again, her mouth opened.Almost dropped to the floor.But Naomi recovered.“You don’t bother at all with tact, do you?”