The Perfect Frame Read online

  “I could have done that, but I thought I could handle him myself.”

  “Famous last words. Look, if you want your things, you’re going to have to go to him and get them.”

  Toni chewed her bottom lip, not eager to face her boss at all, let alone by herself.

  Noticing that the fear was back in her eyes, Mack stood up.

  “If you want me to, I’ll go upstairs with you.”

  Even if she got her belongings from Clifford and he didn’t try anything, there was no guarantee she’d be safe from him once she got home. Toni shivered at the thought of what he might do.

  She gazed at the tall, ruggedly handsome man standing before her. He looked completely professional in his perfect-fitting dark blue suit. Again she wondered if she could trust him. He had an aura of danger about him that she couldn’t put her finger on, but knew it existed.

  “Or you could come home with me.”

  Toni balked at that suggestion.

  “Mr. Jessup, I—”

  He grinned. “Please, call me Mack.”

  “Mack, I don’t really know you.”

  “We can easily remedy that. I’m Mackinsey Jessup,” he introduced himself, “and I run Jessup Financial Investigations.” He added to get a reaction, “We specialize in corporate theft.”

  He noted how her dark eyes momentarily widened before returning to normal. He wondered what the look meant. In their last meeting John Townsend Jr. had said he strongly believed that she was their thief. Mack wasn’t convinced, though. Too many things just didn’t add up. He’d have to get Ms. Toni Carlton to open up to him. When he took her hand in his, the contact was electric.

  Toni’s lips parted in shock and her body instantly came alive with sensual awareness.

  Mack felt her reaction to his touch. It was similar to his own for her. This wasn’t at all what he’d expected, and he didn’t like how she made him feel. Admittedly, an aura of innocent vulnerability surrounded this woman, drawing his protective instincts to the fore.

  Her eyes were like pools of black gold. And her lips reminded him of dark cherries swollen tight with juice. Her hair, black as his own, had felt like silk when he brushed it back from her forehead after she’d fainted. He shook his head to clear it. Why was he waxing poetic all of a sudden?

  Mack mentally strove to free himself from his arousing thoughts to concentrate on the present situation. He knew he would have to be careful around this sexy lady. Mack had an idea that it wouldn’t take much for her to turn a man’s mind to mush. Although he could believe that Clifford had tried to get her into his bed, Mack had a gut feeling that it wasn’t the reason for her fear of the man.

  Mack smiled. “Antonia sounds so formal. Do you mind if I call you Toni?”

  “No, that’s what people at the office call me.”

  “Isn’t that what your folks call you?”

  She laughed. “No, to them I’ll always be their little Antonia.”

  “You must be an only child.”

  “Yes, I am. How did you know?”

  Mack shrugged. “Just a lucky guess.” He could feel the tension in her ease. “Well, Toni, what do you want to do?”

  Something about this man encouraged Toni to confide in him. He had an underlying honesty and a unique brand of charm. She was sure it helped him in his line of work as well as his personal life.

  “Don’t you have an extra set of keys?”

  “Yes, but they’re at home.”

  “Not much use to you right now, are they?”

  “No.”

  “It looks like we’ll have to get your things from your boss tonight.”

  Toni moved uneasily in her chair.

  “Don’t sweat it.” Mack held out his hand. “Come on, let’s go.”

  Toni rose reluctantly to her feet and squared her shoulders. Pretending a composure she was far from feeling, she took Mack’s hand and they left the office and headed for the elevators.

  “How long have you worked for Townsend’s?” Mack asked conversationally, as they waited for the elevator.

  “A few months short of four years.”

  “All of them working for Frank Clifford?”

  “No, only the last two.”

  “Listen, Toni, I’m asking these questions to draw you out of your shell. Clifford has obviously frightened you into clamming up. Won’t you tell me what’s really wrong?”

  The elevator came and they stepped inside. Toni pressed the number seven up button, then moved back against the wall. She stood, nerves taut, eyes aimed at the doors. “I don’t know quite how to begin.”

  “Or whether you even want to. Am I right? I can understand that. You don’t know me from Adam. I could be worse than the person you’re afraid of.”

  “I never said that I was afraid of anybody.”

  The elevator bell dinged, the car came to a stop and the doors slid open. Toni swallowed the rest of her reply and looked up at Mack. He cupped her elbow, and smiling at her, gently guided her in the direction of the Townsend offices. Mack tried the door and, finding it locked, knocked. They heard no answering reply.

  Toni realized that her boss had purposely left with her keys and purse. What was she going to do now? Suddenly this latest complication proved too much and her knees buckled. Mack offered support.

  “You’re coming home with me.”

  It wasn’t a request; it was more like an order. She was too shaken to call him on it. Toni wasn’t sure how she knew it, but she felt she could trust him not to take advantage of her, given the circumstances. Without a word she let him lead her back to the elevators.

  When they reached the parking level, Bill Watkins walked up to them.

  “I’m glad to see you’re all right, Miss Carlton. Mr. Clifford left a little while ago.”

  Toni cleared her throat and smiled. “Mr. Jessup has kindly offered to take me home. I’m not feeling well enough to drive so…” She let her voice fade, purposely encouraging him to draw his own conclusions.

  Bill smiled at Toni. “You couldn’t be in better hands. You do look a little peaked. Better take it easy when you get home. Good night now.”

  Mack escorted Toni over to his silver-blue Jag parked a few feet away. She looked back longingly at her car for a moment, then let Mack help her into his car.

  “Better fasten your seat belt.”

  Toni sighed as the warm concern she heard in his deep rich voice poured over her senses like heated syrup.

  Mack glanced at Toni. “I’m sure Clifford guessed you were in my private office. I wonder why he didn’t leave your things with security?”

  Toni hunched her shoulders. “I don’t know.” But that wasn’t true. She had an idea why. It was Frank Clifford’s way of letting her know he held her future in his hands. Although they were at a stalemate of sorts, he was no doubt reveling in her helplessness.

  Mack could tell by her expression that Toni knew exactly why, but she wasn’t going to tell him, and it irritated the hell out of him. He had to find out all he could about her.

  For business reasons, or for more personal ones, Jessup? an inner voice taunted.

  As he drove Mack noticed how Toni quietly gazed out the side window. He remembered how appealing her expressive eyes had been when her attention was focused on him. And the graceful way she swept the errant strands of hair back from her face made him wonder how long her hair was when it was down. He mentally shook himself. He had to stop doing this and keep an objective mind.

  When they came to a traffic light, Mack glanced at Toni’s profile. His gaze slid down her face and throat to her chest. Her breasts were voluptuous, considering her slender build. He remembered how her hour-glass figure molded into slim thighs, tapering into a pair of long lovely legs that ended at her delicate ankles had aroused him. Yes, she was definitely dynamite to a man’s senses.

  He was attracted to this woman and definitely didn’t want to be. He had a job to do and he felt sure she was somehow involved in the Townsend problem.
Until he knew her role, he would proceed with caution, stay alert and not allow her beautiful face and luscious body to distract him from his purpose.

  Toni sneaked sidelong looks at Mack. She guessed his age to be somewhere around thirty-four or five. He had impossibly long lashes that were at variance with his ruggedly handsome features.

  “Why are you inviting me to your place? I could be Jill-the-Ripper for all you know.”

  “Yeah, right. I bet you can’t step on a bug without feeling guilty.”

  She laughed. “You’re right, but I still want an answer to my question.”

  “Contrary to popular belief there are modern-day knights who rescue damsels in distress.”

  “Oh, really?” She pretended to consider what he’d said. “Are you saying you’re one of the scarce few who do?”

  He grinned. “I am, my lady.”

  “You haven’t answered my question.”

  “Oh, didn’t I?”

  Toni shook her head. She had a feeling she wasn’t going to get an answer that would completely satisfy her. Mackinsey Jessup was a mystery man. She would have to play it by ear and see what happened.

  Mack parked his car beneath a stucco-arched carport beside a beautiful Spanish-style house. Toni was amazed. She had expected him to live in a suave bachelor apartment or condo. “You look surprised.” After switching off the ignition, he turned toward her. “I’ll bet you expected me to live in a different kind of place, didn’t you?”

  “I confess, I did.”

  “When I was a little boy, I promised myself that one day I would buy myself a house. You see, my two brothers, my sister and I grew up in the East L.A. projects. To live in a house holds a special appeal for me. I don’t know if you can understand that.”

  “Oh, I can and I do. To me a house represents stability, security, whatever you choose to call it. It’s something I’ve always wanted,” Toni confided. “You see, I’m a navy brat. My father met my mother when he was on shore leave in Italy. They were married and she followed him around the world. I was born in Australia and grew up moving from one country to another. I can’t even count the number or remember all the names of the schools I’ve attended.”

  “I see you understand what living in a house means,” Mack said, unlocking his front door.

  He turned on the lights and waved for her to precede him. Toni took in the decor of the room as she entered. She didn’t know what she expected but it wasn’t what she saw. The room, though tastefully done, had a lived in look and feel about it.

  The walls were a warm beige. On one, a collection of African landscape paintings and Spanish hangings woven in oranges, browns and reds dominated the room. A hearth-style fireplace was beneath one of the hangings. A chocolate-brown carpet with a deep rich pile that she knew would surely sink two inches if put to the test covered the floor. Large louvered windows took up the entire front wall. The mahogany furniture was modern, with a Spanish flare.

  Mack flashed her a pearl white smile. “Are you impressed with my house?”

  “Yes, very.” Toni returned the smile with an approving nod.

  “Look, are you hungry?”

  “I’m starved. Don’t tell me you’re a gourmet chef, too?”

  “No, I won’t tell you that, but I do know my way around a kitchen. Are you willing to take a chance on my culinary skills, Toni?”

  She knew he was asking more than that of her; he was asking her to trust him.

  “You need any help?” she volunteered.

  Mack saw the fatigue shadowing her eyes. “No. Sit down and let me take care of you.”

  At his words a feeling of warmth and security covered her like a blanket. The idea of someone taking care of her was nice. but she’d better not get used to it; after all, it was only a temporary situation.

  “Okay. I’m too tired to argue.” She yawned and dropped down on a beige and brown earth-toned, nubby-textured couch. Toni eased her head back and laid her cheek against the nubby surface, enjoying its softness.

  “You rest while I fix our dinner.”

  Toni let out a tired sigh and closed her eyes. Mack moved his lips into a wry, knowing smile. Miss Antonia Carlton would probably fall asleep before he finished making dinner. Striding to the kitchen, he headed straight for the fridge, took out the makings for a salad, and a plate of sliced turkey for the sandwiches. He decided to open a bottle of sparkling apple cider instead of making hot coffee. The last thing his houseguest needed was something that would keep her awake.

  All at once a scream rent the air and Mack ran out of the kitchen.

  CHAPTER THREE

  When Mack reached Toni’s side, tears were streaming down her face and she was shaking.

  “What’s wrong? Why…” his voice faded when he saw the stark terror in her eyes. She must have dozed off and had a bad dream. He sat down next to her and drew her into his arms and held her close, stroking her back until she calmed down. “It’s all right, I’m here for you, Toni. You had a bad dream, but it’s over.”

  She sniffed. He felt one last renegade shudder quiver through her body before she regained control.

  “Want to talk about it?”

  “I can’t. I don’t remember what it was about.”

  Another evasion, he thought. “Maybe you should come out to the kitchen with me while I prepare our dinner.”

  “I’d like that.”

  He looked right at home in his comfortable kitchen. It was painted a bright lemon yellow. An island cooking range with a butcher-block preparation surface occupied the center of the room. Copper-bottom pots hung suspended from a rack on the ceiling.

  As she looked around she couldn’t help admiring the clean, shiny red brick tiles on the floor and the wood cabinets of varnished oak. She appreciated that he had a latest state-of-the-art dishwasher and other labor saving devices.

  “Come sit down on this stool.” He indicated one near the butcher-block counter and pulled it closer to him. “I’ll do all the work while you do all the relaxing. All right?”

  “All right.” She flashed him an agreeable smile. A girl could get used to a handsome attentive man and a wonderful place like this and become as spoiled as a pampered cat. Toni shook her head to clear it. She’d been in Mack Jessup’s house all of twenty minutes and here she was fantasizing.

  Mack watched the play of emotions on Toni’s face and made a guess as to what was going through her mind. He felt as though she belonged here. But how could that be? They’d only just met a matter of hours ago. In the past he’d made the mistake of caring too much too soon about a woman, and lived to regret it. He wasn’t about to repeat that mistake.

  Toni observed Mack as he rinsed fresh vegetables, chopped them up and put them in the juicer for the soup. Then he opened a can of broth and poured it into a saucepan, added thickener and seasoning, then waited as it simmered on the range. While it was cooking, he fixed sliced turkey sandwiches. The way he deftly moved about in his kitchen fascinated her.

  “Don’t look so shocked. My mother made sure all us little Jessups knew our way around a kitchen. She’s Spanish, and very practical. She used to tell me and my brothers that we had better learn to cook because in this day and age no woman would allow herself to be chained to the stove.”

  He shot her a solemn glance. “Don’t laugh, I’m serious.” Then he laughed, spoiling the effect. “Now, what would you like? A soda or sparkling apple cider to go with dinner?”

  “Cider.”

  “I thought that would be your choice.”

  Humor sparkled in her eyes. “Think you’re coming to know me, do you?”

  “The way to a woman’s heart is through her stomach.”

  “Haven’t you got that turned around? I thought it was the way to a man’s heart.”

  “You could be right.” He gave her a crooked smile.

  They ate their meal in silence, both attempting to analyze the other.

  Toni wanted to tell Mack everything, but she hesitated.

>   “Now that I’ve fed you, I think it’s time we organized the sleeping arrangements.” He watched her reaction. “Don’t look at me like that, Red Riding Hood. I only eat little girls every Tuesday and third Thursday of the month.” He glanced at the calendar on the wall and gave it an exaggerated look of realization. “So it’s the third Thursday. What can I say?” He grinned wolfishly.

  She laughed, shaking her head. “You’re crazy, Mackinsey Jessup.”

  They pushed away from the table and Toni followed Mack into the living room, then down a hall to the bedrooms. When they came to a very masculine bedroom, she slowed her steps, taking in at a glance the king-size bed with its unusual Hollywood style headboard of padded forest green leather inset with slivers of mirrors. A comforter, the same forest green, was folded back, revealing striped forest green and cream satin sheets which seemed to conjure up some particularly tempting sensual images. She cleared her throat and quickly hurried after Mack.

  They moved on down the hall to a room Toni assumed was a guest room. The flowered drapes, comforter and sheets matched the blue, cream and mauve color scheme of the room. The final distinctively feminine touch to the room was the creamy white wall-to-wall carpet.

  “So, what do you think? Does it pass inspection?”

  “It more than passes. I like it. Do you do your own decorating?”

  “Mostly. My sister and mother helped. Actually, this room is their creation.” He noticed the tired slump of Toni’s shoulders. “Hey, you must be dead on your feet. To your right you’ll find an en suite bathroom. I’ll get you some towels and something to sleep in.” He turned and quickly left the room.

  As she waited for Mack to return, Toni took a deep, rejuvenating breath, walked over to the bed and wearily sank down on it. Easing her shoes off, she wiggled her toes. She gazed at her reflection in the mirror on the dresser. Her face showed signs of strain and her eyes had a haunted look. Her mouth trembled. She saw that her hair had partially come undone.

  Her navy blue linen jacket was rumpled. And the collar of her white blouse lay limp and blotched with makeup stains. Toni glanced down at her skirt, equally unappealing in its wrinkled state. What was she going to do for a change of clothes? She didn’t much care at the moment; she was just too wiped out.