Page 101 of Perfect Vengeance

Deke slid off the desk. “About time.”

Jack eyed his brothers suspiciously. He wasn’t expecting anyone. Judging by the barely perceptible grin on Kyle and Deke’s faces, whatever was going on, both of them were in on it. Kyle stepped aside, extending an arm to whoever stood behind him.

Gina walked into his office. “Hi,” she said shyly, a tentative smile curving her lips.

Jack shot to his feet. Beyond that, he could only stare. She was even more beautiful than he remembered.

“Um, am I interrupting anything?” She looked nervously around the room.

“Nope.” Deke hauled Smitty from his chair. “C’mon, Smitty. We got that thing to take care of.”

“What thing?” Smitty’s features twisted in confusion.

“Hi, Gina,” Deke said. “This is Smitty, by the way.”

“Hi, Deke. Hi, Smitty.” She gave his partner a polite smile before Deke dragged him out the door.

Jack noticed she held a white Styrofoam box tied with a thick red bow.

Morrison stood. “Jack, are you going to introduce me?”

“Uh, sure.” He cleared his throat, coming around the desk. “Gina Perot, this is Special Agent in Charge Michael Morrison, my boss.”

“Pleased to meet you.” She held out her hand for Morrison to shake.

“Boss?” Kyle sent Morrison a meaningful look. “I need to update you on that case before you head out tonight.”

Jack couldn’t tear his eyes from Gina. Her coat was open, revealing a snug black skirt, sexy as all get-out black hose and heels, and a green blouse the same color as her satin bathrobe. He still couldn’t believe she was actually here. In his office. His palms began to sweat.

“Right,” he vaguely heard Morrison say as the man headed for the door.

“I’ll make sure you’re not disturbed.”

He glanced up in time to catch the spreading grin on his brother’s face and the stealthy way he twisted the lock on the handle before closing the door behind him.

For several seconds that felt like minutes, he and Gina stared at each other. Jack didn’t know what to say. The ball was in her court and he was merely a spectator.

Gina stepped farther into the room, looking around his office. Her knuckles were white where she clutched the Styrofoam box. “So, this is where you work.”

“Sometimes.” His throat had gone so dry he had to keep swallowing. “Mostly I’m in the field.”

“I see you got your cast off.” She glanced at his right hand. “That’s good.”

“Thanks.” He flexed his stiff fingers. “Looks like your finger’s doing okay too.”

“Barely a scar. See?” She held up her hand, giving him a glimpse of the pale pink scar below the knuckle of her thumb.

Jack ground his teeth together, much as he’d done after learning Tino had been seconds from cutting off her thumb for his collection.

Gina went to the fish tank, trailing her fingers along the glass. Annie Oakley swam gracefully to the surface, waiting for her gourmet meal of freeze-dried shrimp and seaweed. “Is this Annie Oakley?”

“It is.” When he stepped closer, he breathed in her sugary vanilla scent. She gripped the box tighter, looking up at him and biting her lower lip. For the first time since he’d met her, she seemed unsure of herself, not the kick-ass, shoot-from-the-hip woman he’d become accustomed to. He loved this softer side just as much.

“Hi, Annie.” She bent over until her face was even with the fish. “I’m Angelina Perotti. But you can call me Gina.”

To keep from taking her in his arms, Jack shoved his hands in his pockets. It didn’t take a trained criminal investigator to figure out whatever the reason for her impromptu visit, she wasn’t ready to clue him in. The waiting was killing him.

“I brought you something.” She held out the box.