Triple Diamonds (Mystic Nights #2)(36)

“No, nothing,” he lied. “But we definitely need our blind spots covered with surveillance.”

“Agreed,” Tom added. “I’m going to do a walk through and then send my recommendations up to you for approval on where we need those new cameras.”

“Good,” Tawny praised her chief of security. “I’d like to see that report as well.” Tom nodded curtly and then headed into his own office.

Leaving security, Jonathan, Joseph, and Tawny headed back upstairs. It was going to be another long day. But his worries about these thefts kept leading him back to the twins and wondering just what had happened to them last night. Where had they been? He wanted to ask Jewel about it. But just how to do that without making her worry or question his motives perplexed him. But it was too important not to. He would bide his time until Jewel started her shift at four, he decided. And then he’d pay her a little visit downstairs and see if he could think of a way to bring it up. He could always ask her why she left, and if something had happened to the twins this morning. It was as good an idea as any.

*

The day flew in a flurry of activity. The installation of the cameras was arranged. And he’d managed to get an extra fifteen cameras with motion detectors for the stairwells. Tom had suggested them. They would be activated by movement and that would save them valuable time in any future investigations.

When Joseph glanced up after assuring they were sent out the next day, he noticed it was nearly four and jumped out of his seat. He wanted to have that conversation with Jewel before it got too busy in the kitchens. He had done a quick inspection of the boys on Facebook and had been slightly relieved to see no masks on display. But still he remained somewhat concerned. Doubt was a killer.

*

The moment Jewel saw him enter the double doors of the kitchen through one of the dining rooms, she smiled. Joseph took her breath away. She didn’t know where this was going, but after she’d left this morning to pick her brothers up from their overnight trip, she had decided to just go with it. See where it lead. She had regretted leaving so early, but her brothers had made arrangements to come back early after the field trip so they could retake their SAT test. They had scored well, but both had been studying hard to improve their math scores. She had picked them up at the high school where one of the chaperones had dropped them off and drove them home to get the truck they shared. They had a quick breakfast after telling her about the play they had seen in Manhattan, and then they left to head to Meriden where they were taking the test.

Joseph saw her smile as he approached, and he took that as a good sign. From the corner of his eye he saw Louis frown so he approached him first. He didn’t want to be seen as a nuisance, knowing chefs could be peculiar about things of that nature in their kitchens. They tended to be predatory when it came to interruptions at work. Giving her a wink, he bypassed her and headed to see the Frenchman. He conversed with Louis about the upcoming convention, discussing the menu, and then when the man was in good spirits, asked if he could have a brief word with Jewel.

Louis gave him a quick nod and went back to his own work of supervising the kitchen with an eagle eye.

When Joseph turned in her direction, Jewel felt suddenly nervous. He wasn’t smiling. After last night, she had felt things were going pretty well. She regretted slipping out without leaving a note, but she had to rush in order to meet Mr. Travis at school, and she didn’t want to wake him either. They had a long night and she didn’t know his home well enough to look around for paper and something to write with. She had meant to text him too, but then after dropping her brothers off, her grandmother called needing her to drive her to a doctor’s appointment as her car had stalled. Time had gotten away from her then.

By the time she got home, her brothers had arrived and she had been busy with them hearing about the test, and making lunch. When they asked about her date, she had gotten shy not wanting to share too much, and so instead of calling him with them around she had decided to wait on him to call her. And here he was. She let out the breath she hadn’t known she had been holding.

Joseph reached her position, saw her eyes dilate, and saw the rise and fall of her chest. It brought back memories of last night. The woman was a true beauty and she didn’t know it. Not wanting an audience, he could already feel the stares from the kitchen staff, he softly placed his hand on the small of her back and directed her to the office she and Louis used for keeping track of inventory and ordering supplies.

The simple act had Jewel’s heart racing. She could feel that hand guiding her, and it sent shivers down her spine. When she turned around to face him, that amazingly sexy smile of his that gave her goosebumps was in place, and when he shut the door behind him she giggled like a school girl.

“I have a bone to pick with you,” he teased like he had some kind of big secret. He pulled her towards him planting a kiss on her lips, and then pulled back his head so he could see her face.

“A bone, huh?” she remarked as he pressed her closer to his body so he could feel every inch of her.

“I know how busy you are, but damn I would have liked to wake up with you.” He tilted his head to the side and nuzzled her neck before planting a soft kiss there. He could feel her pulse beneath the skin. Her scent enveloped him and her nearness almost made him forget why he’d come. “I woke up so hard. I was hoping you could have helped me with that.”