The Perfect Frame Page 6

  Mack smiled warmly at Toni. “You’ll have that house with the picket fence one day.”

  “And the husband and children to go with it, I hope.”

  “Listen, I didn’t want you to think that I didn’t believe you. It’s just that you took me by surprise when you said what you did about Clifford.”

  Now is the time to tell her about your part in the investigation. Yet if she knew, what would she think of him?

  “I know I probably overreacted,” Toni began, “but it seemed to me that you—oh never mind.” Sensing that she needed to put some distance between them, she walked over to the windows.

  Mack, picking up on her reaction to him, quickly came up behind her and pulled her back against his body, then nuzzled the space behind her ear. The rose-scented fragrance of her skin thoroughly intoxicated his senses. He felt desire for her rising inside him. All he had to do was be anywhere near her and his self-control threatened to desert him.

  Toni’s damp black hair glistened and her skin had a flushed attractive rosiness about it from her shower. When he turned her to face him, he became aware of how little there was between her naked body and himself. And the fact that the lapels on her robe had gaped open, revealing the enticing swell of her breasts, hadn’t escaped him.

  “Mack?”

  “Yes,” he groaned.

  She eased away from him and turned to look into his eyes.

  “Should we be doing this?”

  He kissed her deeply. “I want you, sweet Toni.”

  She wanted him too, but they hardly knew each other. Things were moving way too fast.

  When he kissed her throat and behind her ear again, the sensation nearly drove her out of her mind.

  “Mack, I think—”

  “Baby, don’t think, just feel,” he said, continuing his onslaught of desire-spiking kisses over her throat and next to her collarbone. When Mack felt Toni shudder and heard her moan, what little control he still possessed vanished completely and he pulled the belt to her robe loose, exposing her naked body.

  A shower of cold reality splashed Toni and she sought to maneuver her body out of his embrace, but Mack’s mouth found an aroused nipple and he sucked strongly, draining the last of her resistance. Her fingers took on a will of their own and rushed to unbutton his shirt, seeking the warmth of his bare skin.

  Mack groaned and started helping her undress him. In a matter of seconds his lean athletic body stood magnificently naked before Toni’s devouring gaze. She’d seen his bare chest at his house the night before, but seeing all of him this way made her insides dissolve like sugar dropped into a cup of hot coffee.

  “Oh, Mack, I want you so much.”

  “Don’t worry, baby, I intend to see that you get me.” He lowered her slender frame to the carpet and followed her down, kissing her again and again, urging his fingers to explore every curve, every hollow of her body. When he felt her quiver with need, he reached for his pants to get their protection. Seconds later, he moved between her thighs and thrust deeply into her femininity, glorying in the feel of her hot damp sheath clenching tightly around him. Desire took over and everything else melted away under the heat of his throbbing passion.

  Toni gasped, rocking the cradle of her hips against him again and again and yet again. Any reservation she had left about what she was doing vanished under the enveloping tide of ecstasy.

  * * *

  Toni reached for her robe. “I think we’d better get dressed.”

  Mack’s hand encircled her wrist, staying her movements. “I have a better idea. Why don’t we adjourn to your bedroom?”

  “Maybe later. Right now, I’m starved.”

  Mack flashed her a wicked smile.

  “I meant for food. I’ve made a salad and was about to fix myself a sandwich when you came. If you’re hungry, I’m sure there’s enough for two.”

  Conceding defeat, Mack shrugged his shoulders and reached for his pants. “Whatever you say, my little chickadee. I’ll make us some coffee.”

  “W. C. Fields.” She laughed.

  “I must have sounded like him if you recognized who I was imitating.”

  “I wouldn’t say that, exactly.”

  “What would you say exactly?”

  “Oh, Mack, you’re priceless.”

  “You really think so?”

  “Yes.” She gave him a sexy smile. “And I loved your imitation.”

  “You’re just saying that. My brothers claim the imitations I do don’t even come close to being good; in fact they say they suck.” His expression turned serious. “We need to talk about Frank Clifford, Toni.”

  Her smile faded and she let out a sharp breath. “I told you how he was acting.”

  Mack arched a dark brow. “And you have no clue what he could be up to?”

  “Not a one.” When she saw the skeptical twist to his mouth, she added, “I thought at first that he would use certain accounts that I’ve worked on, but when I checked the files I saw nothing to indicate that he had. I found no mistakes or inconsistencies.”

  Mack thought about what he had already managed to uncover when he examined the company files. Whoever was doing the tampering hadn’t done as good a job of covering their tracks as they had assumed. Or maybe it could be deliberate. And judging from what he’d seen, he was beginning to believe Toni might be innocent. God only knew how much he wanted to believe that. Especially now that they had been intimate.

  Mack swept Toni up in his arms with the intention of taking up where they had left off. Then the phone rang.

  She reached down and picked up the receiver and said hello.

  “You think you’ve got it all figured out, don’t you, sweetheart?”

  “Who is this? Hank?” She signaled for Mack to put her down.

  “Yeah, it’s me, baby. You and Clifford think you’re going to edge me out of that promotion. But I’ve got a news flash for you. It ain’t gonna happen.”

  “Hank, I—” Toni heard the sharp click, followed by the hum of the dial tone, and pulled the phone away from her ear as though it were a snake shaking its rattle. She stood wondering what the call was all about. What could Frank Clifford have possibly said to Hank?

  “What is it, Toni?” Mack asked, carefully monitoring her reaction.

  “Oh, it’s nothing important, just somebody from work.”

  His doubts began to resurface. Hank Warren was as much a suspect as anyone else. Could they be in on the embezzlement scam together? Mack’s insides churned at the thought of Toni’s possible involvement with the man. He didn’t know if it was because of the theft or Hank Warren. What did he mean to Toni?

  Mack felt damned confused right now. He realized only too well that he’d done what he’d promised himself he would never do again—get emotionally involved with a suspect. And to make matters worse, he had complicated things by taking her to bed. He quickly finished dressing, his ardor having completely disappeared.

  Toni and Mack ate their dinner in silence. Then, afterward, he helped with the cleanup.

  He bent his head to kiss her lips when they were done. “I’d better go. I’ll call you. Oh, and don’t forget to get your locks changed,” he reminded her.

  “I won’t.” Disappointment filled her at his sudden eagerness to leave. The effect he had on her was mind-altering and she couldn’t understand it. She had been unable to control her reaction to him. And that realization had scared the hell out of her. How could she feel so connected to this man so fast? And you’ve allowed him to make love to you, her conscience nagged.

  Mack kissed her good night and then left. None of the passion they’d shared earlier was evident in that kiss. He had wanted to stay at first. She had certainly wanted him to. What had made him change his mind?

  Had Hank’s call cooled Mack’s desire? Maybe he thought that something was going on between her and Hank. He had no idea how much she despised the man.

  * * *

  That night, as Toni sat in bed reading, it dawned on
her that Mack knew where she lived. She hadn’t told him, so how had he found out? She thought about it for a moment. He could have gotten the address, along with her phone number, from Pat, the eternal matchmaker, she supposed.

  And another thing: Hank Warren, of all people, had called her. She’d never in a million years give him her phone number, yet he had it. But if he’d really wanted it, all he had to do was hack into the personnel files. Although those files were presumably confidential, for someone as well versed in computers and determined to find out certain information as he was, it wouldn’t be a problem.

  She was more puzzled than ever since that phone call. Why had he called her and said what he did? A few minutes later she put her book down, turned off the light and closed her eyes, but sleep didn’t come right away. When it did, she was still no nearer to finding the answers she sought.

  * * *

  On Saturday Toni had a locksmith come out and change her locks. For the rest of the day as she did her laundry and housecleaning, her thoughts swung from Mack to Frank Clifford and back again. Each posed a threat in his own way. Clifford was a danger to her professional life, and Mack her personal one.

  Toni knew by Sunday afternoon Mack wasn’t going to call. She couldn’t help wondering what was in his mind. All of the passion he’d displayed couldn’t have just evaporated overnight, could it? Why hadn’t he called? Surely he wasn’t a love-’em-and-leave-’em kind of man. He owed her an explanation, and she intended to get one.

  * * *

  One of the few times since she’d started working at Townsend’s, Toni was late getting to work. She’d stayed up most of the night thinking about her situation, worrying, wondering if she would be able to extricate herself from it without suffering too much. In addition, her relationship with Mack was bothering her. Where was it headed? Although she knew a little about his family life, she knew next to nothing about his personal side. He was a very enigmatic man where his private life was concerned.

  The moment Toni stepped off the elevator, a strange tension enveloped her. She felt much like an animal sensing danger, alert and ready for the predator’s attack. The first indication that her instincts were on target came when she saw Pat Davis. Her friend spoke to Toni in an oddly strained voice when she said good morning.

  “Is anything wrong, Pat?”

  “No.” She cleared her voice. “Mr. Townsend has called a staff meeting for ten o’clock.”

  “Do you know why?”

  “No, I don’t,” she said, looking away evasively, pretending an interest in the papers on her desk.

  Something was going on, but what?

  Hank came from behind his office cubicle with an evil gleam dancing in his eyes and said, “So you finally decided to grace us with your presence. Did your sugar daddy, our esteemed boss, say it was all right for you to be late?” he asked nastily.

  “You’re rude, crude and disgusting, Hanky Panky,” Toni answered. Without uttering another word she disappeared behind her own office cubicle.

  * * *

  The hands on the clock seemed to take forever to reach ten. When meeting time finally arrived, Toni eyed each employee speculatively as they filed into the conference room. After everyone was seated, Mr. Townsend called the meeting to order.

  “I’ve called you all here to discuss discrepancies in a number of our premier bond exchange accounts and the disappearance of negotiable securities this company is responsible for.”

  Murmurs of disbelief filled the room. Townsend cleared his throat and continued speaking.

  “We’ve hired an expert to help sort out the situation.”

  The murmuring stopped when he said those words. Toni read the look of satisfaction on the president’s face, sensing that it was some kind of major coup for him. She felt a sudden rush of pity for the man. His father was a hard act to follow. He had demanded respect, whereas his son had to practically beg for it.

  For a moment Toni had let her thoughts wander, and just as she returned her full attention to the proceedings, Mr. Townsend signaled for the side door to be opened.

  Mildred Frances, Townsend’s secretary, opened it and Mack Jessup strode into the room.

  Toni’s eyes widened and her mouth fell open in shock.

  Mack! What was he doing here?

  Townsend introduced Mack when he reached the podium. “This is financial investigator Mackinsey Jessup. His company specializes in theft and other corporate irregularities. Many of you may remember that he helped us with another problem five years ago. You also may have seen him in the elevator or the lobby. He has an office suite on the third floor of this building.”

  Mack searched the room until he found the face he sought. When he saw the stunned hurt and disbelief freeze-framed on Toni’s face, it felt like a barrage of hailstones pelting his conscience. Damn it, he should have told her the truth, but how could he have known that Townsend would call an emergency meeting to introduce him?

  Mack spoke in a firm, professional voice. “I’ll be talking to each and every one of you over the next few days. I’ll try not to disrupt your routine. If you think of anything that might be helpful to the investigation, I want you to feel free to discuss it with me.”

  Amidst the buzz of employee reaction, Toni blinked in confusion at the words ‘helpful to the investigation.’ What she’d told Mack could be used against her. That feeling of danger she’d felt when she first met Mack came back to haunt her.

  One burning question begged for an answer. How did he really feel about her?

  Why hadn’t he been honest with her from the beginning?

  It had to mean she was just a part of the job.

  She closed her eyes after that distressing thought. When she opened them again, eyes were riveted on her. Frank Clifford was studying her as if she were a butterfly staked to canvas. A sly look of triumph glittered in his eyes. Toni glanced at Mack, who was conversing with Mr. Townsend. Surely he wasn’t reporting what she had told him!

  She noticed that her boss wasn’t the only person watching her. Toni caught Pat Davis and Hank Warren eyeing her strangely, too. She could only guess what was on their minds.

  Minutes later, Mr. Townsend adjourned the meeting and everyone moved to leave the conference room and return to their respective jobs. At the door Joe Davis stopped and gave Toni a hard, sidelong glance before walking out.

  What was going on? Why had Pat’s husband looked at her like that? Was everyone suspicious of her?

  The room was soon empty of people, except for Mack. Toni had hoped to avoid a confrontation with him by lagging behind. Resigned to the fact that he wasn’t going to leave, she rose and headed for the door. Mack stepped in front of her, blocking her only avenue of escape.

  “We need to talk, Toni.”

  “I think we’ve ‘talked’ enough, thank you very much.”

  “Damn it, would you listen to me, please. It’s not what you think.”

  “Oh, isn’t it?”

  “No, it isn’t, and you damn well know it.” Suddenly he was all business. “I’ll be in your office in an hour.”

  She glared at him. “Why? So you can officially grill me?”

  His facade faltered and his jaw tensed. “Don’t be like this, Toni.”

  “What other way do you expect me to be, Mack? I confided in you, trusted you and gave you a special part of myself.”

  “I know that. You can still trust me, baby. Believe me, I would never do anything to hurt you.”

  “You already have.”

  “If I did, I’m sorry.” He sighed deeply. “I didn’t know how to tell you who I was at first without—”

  “Without revealing your part in the investigation? Are you sure you aren’t in league with my esteemed boss?”

  “A question like that doesn’t deserve an answer.”

  She shifted her gaze uncomfortably. “I’m sorry.”

  A sharp jab of pain seared through his gut when he saw the unhappy, disillusioned look on her face. It was his
fault for not being straight with her from the jump. He hadn’t wanted to reveal himself until he was sure…Sure of what? Right now he wasn’t sure of anything.

  “I was hired to find a very clever thief. If you’re not that thief you have nothing to worry about.”

  “If?” She laughed humorlessly. “That’s the million dollar question, isn’t it?”

  “Don’t say that. Give me a chance, will you?

  “A chance? A chance to do what? Lie to me again? Use me again?”

  “I never lied to you. And I certainly didn’t use you. What happened between us was mutual.”

  “Maybe you didn’t mean to lie, at least not outright. But there is such a thing as a lie by omission, you know. And about what we did on Friday—”

  “It had nothing to do with this, no matter what you think of me right now. I have a job to do and I’m going to do it.”

  “Like the Northwest Mounties who always get their man, in this case, woman.” She shot him a hard, contemptuous look. “And some people say I’m obsessed with my job.”

  Seeing the obstinate expression on her face, Mack moved out of Toni’s way and watched her leave the room.

  * * *

  Every time she heard her office door open, Toni tensed, expecting it to be Mack. She might as well prepare herself for his visit, because he would be there just as he said. The thought of him questioning her in his official capacity shook her. What did he know that she didn’t? The object of her thoughts suddenly appeared.

  “I have to talk to the CEO first, Toni. Be here when I come out,” Mack said, his tone determined, threatening retribution if his wishes were ignored.

  Before she could answer, he was knocking on Frank Clifford’s door. After he’d gone in, Hank Warren appeared.

  “No man is safe around you, is he, sweetheart?”

  “You certainly have nothing to worry about, Hanky.”

  His grin faded. “Why you—One day you’re going to pay for talking to me like that.” That said, he stalked away.