Chapter Two

The limo was practically a small apartment on wheels – precisely what one would expect for Oscar Goldman. The lushly upholstered, well-cushioned seats were separated from the driver's section by one clear glass window and a second pane of smoky glass that moved up and down by command, for the times when privacy counted. There was also a mini-bar, a small refrigerator and a full stereo system. Behind this section, hidden by another darkened window, was a mysterious third, unseen area.

Oscar helped Jaime climb inside then seated himself next to her, less than a cushion's distance away. She seemed calmer now, but whether it was due to his ministrations or if she was simply all cried out, he didn't know. He reached into the mini-fridge for a bottle of wine, produced two glasses seemingly out of nowhere, filled them and handed one to Jaime. "Maybe this'll help," he suggested.

Jaime was nearly struck dumb. How had he known exactly what she wanted? "Thank you," she told him, smiling just a little. "When did you learn to read minds?" Oscar's eyes seemed so different from his 'office' eyes. Jaime suddenly longed to dive in, delve deeper and discover what hid behind those eyes. She could feel man/woman trying to take over where boss/operative left off, and it felt...good.

"Jaime, I'm so sorry about you and Chris," Oscar said in a low, silk-like voice. "Is there anything I can do? If you need to talk, I'm a very good listener."

Jaime took a deep swallow of the wine. "Chris accused me of cheating," she admitted.

"There's no way; you couldn't -"

"No, I couldn't. He called it 'emotional cheating' – said I was really still in love with Steve."

"Are you?"

"No! Steve and I resolved things a long time ago. If I'd had even the slightest doubt, I never would've married Chris." She took another long drink before the next words came spilling out. "I...really loved him, Oscar."

"Past tense?"

"He pretty much killed those feelings for me."

Once again, Oscar saw tears form in Jaime's eyes. He reached over and gently brushed these away before they could fall. His hand lingered on her cheek, savoring the softness of her skin and the beauty in every curve of her face. Had her eyes always looked like that, with glowing flecks of emerald, blue and gold? He found himself locked into the gaze the same way that Jaime was, as surely as if they were both magnetized.

Jaime scarcely dared to breathe. Oscar's hand on her face sent shivers through her entire body, a feeling she knew she shouldn't allow, but she couldn't help herself and leaned her head just slightly into his touch, very subtly rubbing her cheek into the warmth of his palm.

Oscar felt her responding, and his heart skipped a beat. Oscar Goldman knew this shouldn't be happening – he shouldn't be giving in and allowing it – but Oscar couldn't resist a need that was growing stronger than both of them put together. His fingers drifted languidly through Jaime's hair as his hand slowly moved to her shoulder, resting there briefly before traveling down her arm with a touch so light and tender that Jaime sighed deeply and shifted her body closer to his. Oscar's hand made its way around her waist, and they seemed to be breathing in perfect unison.

"Jaime..." he whispered, unable to look away from eyes that he could feel all the way down to his soul. His other arm joined the first one, and he realized that – for the first time in far too long – he had a beautiful woman in his arms. He wanted her, needed her, and yet knew this was dangerous territory. When Jaime felt him really holding her, the space between them closed to a mere sliver and she couldn't stop her own hands from their journey across Oscar's strong shoulders, down onto his chest.

Oscar pulled back a bit – much more than he wanted to – and looked at Jaime with dark, serious eyes. "I brought you back here to talk," he said reluctantly. "I wanted to help, not take advantage of the situation and cause you more pain."

Jaime smiled, a real one this time, and traced his lips with the tip of her finger. "I wouldn't exactly call this painful..." She nestled deeper into his arms. "You know, I've always wanted to meet the real Oscar Goldman. Might even improve our working relationship," she added playfully, "if we were...better acquainted. It would feel awfully good to just relax, wouldn't it?" With a sly grin, she loosened Oscar's tie, removed it and fingered the collar of his dress shirt.

"You just lost your husband..." Oscar murmured, his resolve slipping quickly away as Jaime opened the top two buttons of his shirt.

"Which frees me to try something new...something I've wanted since the first time I saw you." Jaime's eyes were blazing with desire, and Oscar couldn't stand it a second longer.

Complications and consequences no longer mattered. Their faces were just inches apart, their eyes wide with the realization and excitement of what was now becoming inevitable. When their lips first met, the heat of the feather-light contact erased all further doubt. Soft nibbles soon gave way to ravenous exploration as the first kiss deepened into something far more serious.

"I think it's time for you to see what's behind door number two," he told Jaime when they surfaced for air. Oscar reached back and pressed a button, lowering the smoked glass that closed off the third section of the limo.

Jaime gasped at what she saw, and Oscar smiled.