Page 4 of Hidden With You

“No need,” Jasper said. “Quincy and I go way back.”

“There you go,” Jamie said. “You two have something in common. Do I know how to do hostess duty, or what?”

As Nikki laughed, Ollie gave Jamie a sideways squeeze. “You’re the Hostess Queen,” he assured her. “But I think the queen is supposed to mingle.”

“He has a point,” Nikki said, her face alight with amusement.

“I suppose I could use another drink and a fresh round of gossip. Come on, Nicholas. Let’s go find our husbands. These two can talk manly things.”

With a smirk, Nikki followed her friend into the depth of the party. “So what’ll it be?” Ollie asked. “Cigars? Car racing? We could stand around scratching our balls, nothing more manly than that.”

Despite himself, Jasper laughed. Then even harder when Trevor, an agent he recognized from Stark Security, joined them. Trevor’s brows rose as he put his hand on Ollie’s shoulder and asked, “Did you really just say that? And way too loud?”

“I was being an ass,” Ollie said, taking a casual step to the side and breaking contact. “It’s my hobby.”

“I’m going to go find a Scotch,” Jasper said. “Because that’s damn manly. Then I’m going to track down this writer—Zelda?—and congratulate her. Then I’m heading to my hotel and turning in. I’m still on London time.” He wasn’t, but he’d had enough socializing for the month. Sandra had been the one who loved parties. She’d made them fun. Now if he enjoyed himself for an hour, he considered it a stellar function. Beyond that, it was nothing but grueling work.

Tonight, Jamie and Nikki and the architecture itself had made the evening enjoyable. Better to leave on an up note.

“I saw her by the bar a few moments ago.” Ollie grinned. “You can’t miss her. She’s wearing a gold mini dress. Like something out of an old James Bond movie.”

Anticipation tightened Jasper’s chest as the woman in gold filled his mind. Zelda. “Well,” he said, “I look forward to meeting her.” He shouldn’t. He wasn’t at this party—hell, he wasn’t in this town—looking to get laid. And yet the first emotion—the only emotion—that had filled his head when he’d seen her was desire.

Not good.

He was in the States for one reason only. To locate and kill the man who’d murdered his family. He needed to stay focused, not fuck around or get distracted by women. Not even if a fast fling might take the edge off. Not even if the woman had piqued his interest in a way he hadn’t felt in over a decade.

The woman was trouble, and if he knew what was good for him, he’d give Zelda Clayton a very wide berth.

“—she wouldn’t come.”

Jasper frowned, unable to play back Ollie’s words. “Sorry,” he said. “I missed that. What were you saying?”

“That I’m glad Zelda came. When Ryan suggested to the two of them that they should co-host a celebratory party, she almost said no.”

“I suppose some authors are uncomfortable in crowds,” Jasper said.

“True,” Ollie said. “But that wasn’t the reason for Zelda. I think she was afraid her stepfather would be here.”

“Ollie…” There was a hint of warning in Trevor’s voice. “You really shouldn’t—”

“It’s not a secret,” Ollie retorted, then shrugged. “But okay, yeah. It is gossip. Sorry.”

“No problem,” Jasper said. “But I admit I’m curious.” He shouldn’t be, dammit. He should excuse himself and go get a drink. Chatting about the lovely author was an absurd exercise.

Ollie eyed Trevor. “Fine,” Trevor said. “Like you said, it’s hardly a state secret. Zelda’s stepfather is a Stark Security client. Carter Malloy. He’s former CIA, and he runs a private security company.”

“A client? Sounds like a competitor.”

“Not really. Stark Security tends to do more investigative work, providing support for government agencies, stepping in to help private citizens when the authorities have turned away. That type of thing. We do take on protective services, but usually there’s a personal connection between someone at the agency and the client. And those clients are usually smaller, whereas Malloy provides coverage for royalty and politicos on a regular basis.”

Jasper nodded. “Got it. But what does that have to do with Zelda?”

“She can’t stand him,” Ollie said. “She’s never said so publicly, but it’s obvious. And he’s a client, so Ryan couldn’t not invite him.”

“So where is he?”

“Europe somewhere,” Trevor said. “He and Zelda’s mom. That’s when it changed from a party for Jamie landing the role to a party for the two of them. I’m glad, honestly. Zelda’s pretty cool. Malloy’s an ass, but he’s an ass who pays the bills, and—”

“And now you really are in gossip territory.” Ollie frowned at his friend.

Trevor shrugged it off. “Hey, Jasper’s one of us now, right?” he asked, his inclusion of Ollie making Jasper wonder if the FBI agent was also working with the SSA. He didn’t ask, though. Not now. Not when Zelda was filling his thoughts. A woman whose vibrant presence had grabbed his attention and whose tragic story had twisted his heart.

A woman he really needed to avoid.

Which begged the question of why he was suddenly excusing himself, then walking across the decking as he searched for a flash of gold in the crowd.