I SEE the four meatheads hustling out of the Grand Cherokee parked in front of Senator Flack’s house, weapons in clear view. They’re private mercenaries by the look. Military trained. Probably from a high-profile, top-secret security company.Hopefully, their presence means Jasmine’s still alive. I race around the side of the manor, climbing up to look in each window.Oh God.Jasmine’s on the living room floor, her wrists, ankles, and mouth taped with duct tape. The four goons stand around her, jawing with Senator Flack. I’m going to kill them all.There are bars on the windows or I’d bust through this one right now.I need a distraction. I grab a grenade from the duffel Otis packed for me, light it, and throw it into the front yard, then race to the back of the house. The grenade explodes, and the men inside the house shout and run out the front door. It takes me thirty-five seconds to pick the lock on the back

JASMINE and I slide in behind Bryce and Johnson on the Space Mountain ride. Taking them to Disneyland was the first thing Jasmine wanted to do when we left D.C. I guess she’s been promising a family trip for years.I’m loving it. Every slice of apple pie Americana I get feels like I’ve won the lottery. It’s the life I never thought I’d have—the cotton candy, the girl, the kid. Well, he’s not ours, but a nephew is close enough.And I’m all about getting to know Jasmine’s family. I want to absorb everything that is Jasmine for the rest of my life.After this, we’re going to Kentucky to visit my mom. Hopefully, she won’t have a heart attack when she finds out I’m still alive. I want to hear from her the story about my dad—everything she knows. And I want to make up for the years I stole from her. Well, I probably can’t ever do that, but I’m going to try my best.The ride

“YOU’RE SO HARD.” Tom grunts under me. His big body splays out on my massage table, his face hidden, resting on rigid biceps. I’ve been kneading his shoulders for a half an hour and he hasn’t relaxed once. If anything, he’s gotten more tense.I run a hand over the breathtaking expanse of his back, tracing the black vines of his tribal tattoos, scratching lightly. A breath rattles out of him, half growl and half something softer, gentle. A purr. “You can turn over now,” I suggest delicately, and hold up the towel to help him turn with modesty. I never sneak a peek with clients, but with Tom, I can’t stop myself. The solid curve of his buttocks, the ridge of his hip, the barest glimpse of something fat and long nestled in a base of wiry hair—He flops on his back and the source of his tension becomes clear.“My. You are hard.” He’s eithe

OH LORDY. I forgot how attractive Tom is. Huge, masculine, muscular goodness. Immovable as a wall, both physically and emotionally.But he’s an alpha male, so when Chas asked about yoga, he couldn’t stop himself from throwing his dick in the ring. Yeah, mixed metaphor. My specialty.How emotionally immature.And slightly flattering.Well, it might have been flattering if he hadn’t pretty much given me the brush off. So now it’s just annoying. Like he doesn’t want me, but no one else is allowed to have me either? I don’t think so. I’m not playing that game, big boy.I’m not playing any game with you. If you want me, come and get it. But if you’re still not ready, don’t waste my time. I have a life to live. I head back to my tables and start packing things up for the evening. I haven’t sold a single piece today. Which is ho

I DON’T KNOW what possessed me to invite Tom for cocktails. This isn’t his crowd. Definitely isn’t his scene. But I guess I’m not willing to say goodbye yet. Not when being near him lights my whole body up like a Christmas pole. I mean tree. I take his hand and lead him into the restaurant. I don’t know why I grabbed his hand—maybe to send a message to Chas, whose attention is getting way too annoying. Maybe it’s to send a message to Tom that I’m still interested.Either way, it’s too intimate of a gesture. The air between us charges. He chokes on a breath. My nipples go taut.Chas looks back and takes it in, expression falling.Tom growls like a wild beast.It’s Animal Kingdom weird and hot as hell.I slide into the giant circular booth seat where Adele, Charlie, Sadie, Chas and a few other random yogis are gathered and scoot over to make room for Tom.He frown