Say It Again (First Wives, #5)(54)

“You really speak seven languages?”

“You brought me out here to clarify that?”

“There you go again, asking a question instead of answering me. No. I wanted to ask about the A-team in there. You said Neil was in security.”

“He is.”

“Those guys all look like they do more than watch monitors and eat donuts.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen Neil eat a donut.” She found the thought strangely fascinating.

“Not my point.”

“Neil recruits retired military service. That’s why they all look like they can take care of themselves in a fight. I’ve seen a couple of them in action, so I can vouch for them. They’re men who liked the adrenaline but not the drama of working under military orders. They want to work for what they believe in and not whatever political power is in office.”

“You trust them.”

“And they trust me. What are you getting at, AJ?”

He moved beside her, close enough for her to feel the warmth of his body, and leaned against the fence. “The last bit you and Claire were saying about being orphaned and the words emotionally vulnerable—words you said to Pohl: these things might have pertained to you at one point, but not now. I look around and I see family. I see an organized army working intelligence as if they’re in a situation room looking for a mole in the Middle East. I do not see a profile of what Pohl needs. Yeah, you check off all the other boxes, but the one where you need him? No, not you.”

Sasha leaned back. “When I went back to Richter, I told Linette I was searching for something. Direction. Maybe she thought that meant I was all that you mentioned.”

“She’s the one who invited him to come and see you.”

“For a finder’s fee.” The thought still made her sick.

“Right. What does Linette do with her finder’s fee? She lives on campus, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Does she have family?”

Sasha shrugged. “I wouldn’t know.”

“Husband, kids?”

“Are you suggesting she works for Pohl?”

“I’m suggesting those guys in there look into her a little more. She runs the school, but who runs her? Board of directors for the school? Is there an advisory committee?”

Sasha thought of her parting conversation with Linette. Her defensiveness for inviting Pohl and the odd feeling inside of Sasha, hearing the woman act as if sacrificing a normal life for a few students was a small price to pay for all the other graduates that went on to do great things. “You’re right. I think we do need to look harder at Linette.”

AJ looked pleased with himself. “I may not be retired military, but I’m good for something.”

She looked him up and down.

His grin brightened. “I’m good for that, too.”

Sasha squeezed her eyes shut. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

He laughed.

“I have a question,” she said as it surfaced in her head.

“Ask away.”

“Your address in Florida is in a pretty nice part of town. Did you support that with criminal activity?”

He scooted closer until their shoulders touched. “I have a trust fund. Grandma Hofmann set Amelia and I up. Amelia didn’t have to work, but it fulfilled her. Or that’s what she said, anyway. I haven’t found the kind of job, legal job, that keeps my interest for long. I skip around with a lot of blue-collar stuff to keep my other activities off the radar, but I don’t depend on them to live.”

“Hmmm.”

“Does that worry you?”

“I’m no angel, Junior. I don’t know very many people that don’t have something to hide.” The truth was, she probably wouldn’t be attracted to the guy if he made an honest living as an accountant or some such mediocre job. The edge of danger always did something for her. It wasn’t like she picked up the men in her past at the coffee shop while discussing the difference between the African roasted blends and those harvested in Mexico.

AJ twisted around until he was standing in front of her and his hands rested on the fence supporting her back.

She glanced to the side to see if anyone spotted them. “What are you doing?”

He pressed his body against hers, his intentions clear. “I’m going to kiss you and remind my senses how you taste.”

There was a smile on her face at the sheer unexpectedness of his pursuit. “And if I don’t want this kiss?” She wanted the kiss . . . shifted her legs in anticipation.

“You would have already removed my balls if you wanted me to stop.”

She looked at his lips. “You’ve been paying close attention.”

“And you like that.”

He leaned closer but didn’t touch her.

She pushed her chest into his. “Is this kiss going to happen sometime today, or do I have to wait?”

“The anticipation kills you, doesn’t it?”

His lower lip brushed against hers.

Her body sparked and quickly simmered.

His laughing smile told her all she needed to know. He was taking control.

Something she wasn’t used to.

“If you’re going to kiss me, do it like you mean it.”