Page 215 of Under Her Skin

Theo’s eyebrows shot up. ‘What?Max…’

‘He’s toxic,Theo, he’s dangerous. I spoke to the housekeeper at the Gachet mansion, the place Jess grew up. She more or less told me that Jules had been molesting Jess from when she was young. Very young. I didn’t want to ruin your holiday or bring up painful memories for Jess so I arrange to meet him.’ The words were flooding out of Max now. ‘Something need to be done, something to try and stop what he’s doing, something to let him know that Jess is protectednow.’

‘Whathappened?’

‘When?’

‘When you metGachet.’

Max looked Theo dead in the eye, his gaze confident. ‘I threatened him. Told him if he knew what was good for him, he’d renounce all claim on Jess and her rightful inheritance. Told him his manipulation and bullying of her stops now or we would go to theauthorities.’

Theo gotthe feeling Max wasn’t telling him everything but instead of being angry, he was grateful for his friend. Unbelievably moved that his very best friend would go to bat for the woman he loved. Theo nodded, smiled and could see the relief in Max’seyes.

‘Thank you, buddy,’ Theo said softly, ‘I mean it. Well, we’ll see what his next move is. He won’t get near Jess again, that’s for damnsure.’

‘How is she,really?’

Theo hesitated. ‘Best if we don’t tell her about this. For now. Keep this between the two ofus.’

Max nodded. ‘Deal.’ The two men silent for a long moment then Max shook his head. ‘Man, the things men do towomen.’

Theo had no answer tothat.

Camilla tuggedher coat around her as the Seattle skies opened with a vengeance. The car was parked all the way over on Fifth and now she wished she’d ordered her clothes from the internet rather than go shopping in this monsoon. The evening had crept up on her, her much-longed-for day off was coming to an end and she was exhausted. She walked quickly to the parking garage and got the lift to herlevel.

He grabbed her as soon as she exited the lift. Camilla felt her body being lifted and slammed down to the hard concrete of the floor and a man bent over her. In the dim light and through her fear, she couldn’t make out who it was – until hespoke.

‘You shouldn’t have opened your big mouth, Camilla. It won’t save Jessica and it won’t saveyou.’

Camilla had no time to scream before her killer cut herthroat.

Jess was waitingfor him when he got back to the apartment and Theo realized how much he loved that she was there. She had an old t-shirt on and raggedy jeans and looked aboutnineteen.

‘Hey pretty girl,’ Theo pulled his tie off as she came to him, standing on her tip-toes to kiss himhello.

‘Hey, gorgeous. I hope you’re hungry, I’ve been making my signature mac-and-cheese.’

‘From thebox?’

‘You bet your ass,’ and she laughed. Theo tightened his arms around her, nuzzling herneck.

‘You smell so good,’ he murmured and felt herchuckle.

‘If cheese sauce is your thing,’ she replied but kissed him tenderly. ‘Why don’t you grab a shower, dinner will be about twentyminutes.’

‘Twenty minutes huh?’ and she grinned, knowing what he wanted. She pulled her t-shirt over herhead.

‘Fuck me quick then, soldier,’ and she skipped away from him, laughing. Theo shook his head in mockdisapproval.

‘I’ve turned you into a wanton woman, Jessica Wood,’ but within seconds they were naked in his shower, and he was lifting her so he could plunge insideher.

After, they ate their pasta in front the television with Jess in her underwear, Theo in just a pair of jog pants. Theo grinned over at her as she dropped herfood.

‘You have mac-and-cheese.on your belly,’ he waggled his eyebrows, ‘lucky mac-and-cheese.’ He leaned over and scooped up the food with his mouth, kissing the soft skin of her stomach, making hergiggle.

‘Loon,’ she swiped her hand at his head then started as her cell-phone rang. She grinned at him as she answered thecall.

‘Yes? This isshe?’