Chapter 22

Jackson turned to leave.

"HEY." All the frustration and fear inside screamed for release and Lisa knew just the person to blast it with. "Don't you dare walk away from me like that."

"What are you going to do about it?"

She stalked over and stopped just an inch or two before him, fire in her eyes.

Jackson looked down on her, the corners of his mouth comfortably settled in a provocative grin. "Don't start something you can't finish, Leese."

"What makes you think I can't finish this?"

"Past experience."

"That's funny, Jackson." Her smirk was a dead ringer for his. "But wasn't that you though that was lying on the floor at my dad's house? Or do I have you confused with someone else?"

"No pen, no heels, no hockey stick. But hey, I got a weapon, look here." Deliberately, Jackson lifted one side of his suit jacket to reveal the knife sheath attached to his belt. Lisa froze and with a patronizing snort Jackson took her by the shoulders and started walking her into the closet backwards.

Lisa pushed at his chest. "Stop it."

"So the no-pushing-policy is a one way street?"

Once more, Jackson reached out for her, but Lisa shoved him - a lot harder this time. "What is wrong with you! Stop it."

"Why the hell do you insist on forcing me to prove my point?" With one swift move, he grabbed her by her wrist, yanked her around and twisted her arm. When Lisa kicked him, he grunted and crashed his knee into the inside of her thigh, forcing her legs apart. His free hand snaked around her throat until he had her in a loose stranglehold. Jackson breathed into her neck. "I say I won this fair and square."

No fear, just anger. "I say you let me go right now."

"I highly doubt you -"

"Right. Now. Jackson." Lisa was seething with barely controlled temper.

"Or you'll do what to me?" He was almost singing the words. "Maybe you're not mad enough this time - let me think about what I can do for you there. Always out to help, you see, that's just the kind of person I am."

Jackson chuckled softly. Like a feather, his mouth brushed the tender spot right behind her ear once … twice. He lingered on it with slightly parted lips and Lisa could feel his smile spread against her skin. Clicking his tongue, Jackson nudged her with his nose, cheek buried in her hair. "Tell me, Lisa, when was the last time someone has ever gotten this close to you to?" He nipped at her earlobe.

It ignited a ball of bright fury in her chest that avalanched with lightening speed. Cursing, Lisa pushed herself backwards with all her might. The move sent them both tumbling against the wall and the momentum of her weight drove the air out of Jackson's lungs. She immediately knocked her head back up into his chin and heard his teeth chatter with grim satisfaction. Lisa pulled away, twisting out of his grasp and turned to face him with raised fists like a boxer in the ring. Alright then.

Jackson's laughter gave her a jolt. He was leaning casually against the wall, bleeding from his lip, but his expression confused her. If anybody else had looked at her that way, Lisa would have called it reluctant pride, but surely Jackson wasn't proud of her, was he?

Her jaw was so clenched, it hurt. "What the hell was that, Jackson?"

"Curiosity." He, on the other hand, sounded hardly strained.

"You did this to me because you were curious!"

Jackson tilted his head and his smile broadened. "Always wanted to know."

Lisa wasn't sure what to say to that and damnit, she actually blushed. Instinctively, her hand went up to wipe at the spot where he had touched her.

Jackson was now beaming like the Cheshire Cat. "Come on, let's agree on an hour out, then back into your room."

"No." Her knuckles turned white. "I want to know what's going on first."

"Jesus, Leese!" Finally, even Jackson seemed to lose his cool. "Has it ever occurred to you that maybe there's a reason to what I'm doing? That maybe – and here's a thought – it would actually really be better for you to know less?"

"Don't do that, Jackson, don't try and paint me as the victim."

"I'm not! Leese, you -"

"We made a deal, I'm your partner. Treat me like one! I'm not asking about your past, I'm not asking for trade secrets. All I want is to know what's going on."

Jackson smoothed down his shirt. "I could just knock you out and that would be the end of it."

"You probably could, but I'd make your life a living hell. If you thought Leese on the plane was demanding, better strap on your seatbelt, honey, because it's gonna be a wild ride." Jay would have loved this, bless him.

"Did you just call me 'honey'?"

"I believe I did, sweetie."

He stepped forward. "Danger zone, Leese."

Lisa stayed right where she was. "Aww, that was nothing but a taste, baby."

Another step. "Stop that."

"Tell me, Jackson, just tell me. Don't reduce me to 'the victim' here, I can't stand it!"

For a moment the two merely stared at each other without another word and Lisa continued to reason with him through her eyes. Apparently, something in Jackson understood.

He nodded curtly into the direction of the kitchen and went ahead, not looking back at her. Lisa followed and sat down on one of the bar stools, watching him wash the blood off his lip. Jackson then tossed the towel aside and turned to her, leaning against the counter on outstretched arms, fingers tapping.

"My associates are interested, but want to check me out to see if I'm still any good."

"How?"

"Basically, I have to go through a job interview. They'll grill me about the Keefe job, about my absence, about what happened since."

"And what if you fail the interview?"

"They'll kill me … us." Jackson ran his hand through his hair. "This afternoon I will have the first of many business meetings. If everything goes as planned, I will be able to update my contact list, hand it over to Whitley and get out."

Lisa entwined her fingers so he couldn't see her trembling. "And today, who's -"

"My ex trainer. If we manage to convince him, everything else might just fall into place." Jackson exhaled slowly and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "The thing is, that guy is an almost preternaturally gifted judge of character. We better be good."

"What do I do?"

"That's hard to tell in advance, I don't know yet what he'll require me to do. All I can say is follow my lead under any circumstances. Get yourself worked up, so you're nice and terrified when he sees you. And for heaven's sake, don't talk."

He told her the cover up story he had prepared and fiddling with her ring, Lisa memorized it, eternally grateful for her training as a hotel manager whose life depended on miniscule details. When he was done, she nodded and got up.

It obviously took him by surprise. "Where are you going?"

"To my room."

Jackson shot her a long sidelong glance, an unfamiliar glitter in his eyes. "My proposal still stands. You don't have to … yet."