From Sanctum with Love (Masters and Mercenaries #10)(14)

“Kori Williamson. Wow. Now, see, that is a brilliant coincidence.”

“How do you know her last name?” It wasn’t like Kori had a nameplate on her desk. “Or is this more of your creepy stalking shit? Don’t play it with her. She’s off limits. She’s a very nice lady who happens to care about the people around her, and I’m not going to let you play games with her.”

“With Kori? I wouldn’t dream of it. I owe that woman,” Jared said with a grin. “It seems like I owe her a lot. I always wondered where she went.”

“Went?”

Jared turned around, settling his bag over his big chest. “You do know her story, right? I know that woman. Five years has not made her any less luscious.”

Kai shook his head. “How do you know her? From LA? She was a secretary out there before she made the move to Dallas.”

His stomach twisted at the thought of Kori in his brother’s arms. Was that why she’d walked away? Had she been one of Jared’s conquests?

“She was not a secretary and I never slept with her. Though I had plans to because again with the hotness.” Jared had his Cheshire cat grin on his face. “Looks like I know something you don’t know. Maybe we will talk about something besides BDSM. I’ll see you at the club tonight. Unless you’re planning on coming home before you head to Sanctum.”

“Why would that matter to you?”

He walked to the door. “Because I’m staying upstairs at your place. I already set myself up in the spare bedroom. I snuck in after that big guy in the suit. Needs a decorator, by the way. You know it all kind of looks like this. You need a little color in your life, brother.”

“You are not staying with me.”

“Sure I am. I always bunk with my mentor. It’s how I work. Maybe you should have read that contract better. My friends will be staying at the Anatole, but I’m with you. And don’t worry about a key. I did this film last year where I played a cat burglar. Like I said, I’m already in. And when you’re ready to talk, I’ll tell you all about your office manager. I think you’ll find it fascinating.” He stopped and looked back. “And Kai? It really is good to see you.”

He stood and watched Jared walk out.

Fuck a duck.





Kori had to stop and take a deep breath. Her hands were shaking. What had happened? Why the hell had Jared Johns been standing in her boss’s office?

She should go to her car and get inside and drive away. Maybe Florida would be nice this time of year. Anything was better than having to confront her past.

Anything was better than explaining to Kai that she’d lied to him.

She stopped at the front of the building. From the doors she could see Sanctum. It wasn’t dark yet so the lights hadn’t come on. Sanctum was now surrounded by a privacy fence since it had been reconstructed after some * had blown it up.

With Kai inside.

That had been one of the worst days of her life. She’d gotten the call from Eve, who wanted to know if Kori had copies of Kai’s health insurance cards since the originals had been blown up.

Kai was fine, but she’d known that day that she was the idiot who fell in love with her boss. By the time she’d gotten to the hospital, Kai had been ready to be released. He’d been joking around and cursing a blue streak at the loss of the building where he’d lived. She’d been crying. He’d stopped and stared and for a second she’d thought he would walk right up to her and take her in his arms.

Nothing. She’d gotten nothing more than him clearing his throat and asking if she was all right.

So she’d known then and there that whatever she felt for him wasn’t reciprocated. It was fine and good and they’d never mentioned it again, but god she hated feeling humiliated.

She opened the doors and stepped out. Their building wasn’t protected by a fence. Big Tag had offered to include their three-story building, but Kai hadn’t wanted his patients to feel like they were walking into a guard tower. Getting through security apparently didn’t go with Kai’s peaceful vibe.

When she saw the limo parked in the front drive, she kind of wished Kai had changed his mind about that.

The limo door opened and a young brunette in a sheath dress stepped out. She was wearing ridiculously high heels and sunglasses that had enough bling to outshine the sun. “Are you the person who runs this…place?”

“Nope.”

She started for her car, which was parked in the back. It was a piece of shit sedan, but it still worked and she didn’t have to make payments on it. Her phone vibrated in her bag but she was ignoring that for the time.

“Hey, I was talking to you.”

Kori could hear the sound of designer shoes hitting the pavement. “No hablo inglés.”

“Yeah, like I’m buying that with the pasty white skin.”

Kori turned. It seemed to catch Designer Shoes off guard. She stopped suddenly and wobbled for a moment. “If you’re looking for Jared, he’s upstairs. You should go find him.”

“I’m well aware of where Jared is at all times, thank you very much. I’m his personal assistant and…well, we’re very close.”

Sure they were. “Good for you both. I hope you’re very happy together.”