close, I could see the specks of gold in them. Gold that flared with understanding. “You want me to get to know Lincoln Gaines?”
I nodded.
She scowled. “How well do you want me to get to know him?”
Before I’d walked into this office, I had no qualms about asking Jane to throw herself at this guy. I wasn’t talking sex. Just flirting and some kissing if she had to. On the back of her Devin confession, however, I couldn’t help but feel like a prick. “You don’t have to do it,” I said, my voice too gentle.
Jane harrumphed. “You going soft on me already?”
Brat.
“Fine. You have to do it.”
“I’m not having sex with a stranger for this, Jamie. That’s too far.”
That thought was more than a little nauseating. “Who said you needed to have sex with him? Flirt with him, go on a few dates, and maneuver things so you’re spending time with his friends.”
“With Ethan.”
“Exactly. You can be where he is. Watch what he’s doing. Maybe even get a hold of his phone.”
She considered this. And my heart raced like hell. Say no, a little voice whispered at the back of my mind.
“Okay, I’ll do it. How do we start this?”
I shoved my phone back in my pocket. “Wright and Gaines frequent a nightclub in downtown LA on their night off. That’s tomorrow night. You’ll make sure Gaines doesn’t leave the club without your number.”
“And where will you be?”
At the club, making sure no one touched her without her permission. “I’ll be there too, making sure you don’t fuck up.”
If looks could kill, I’d be dead.
However, the longer we stared at each other, the more the urge grew to kiss the attitude right out of her. “You like this, then?” I blurted out, gesturing around the room. “Miss Art Director.”
Jane sighed heavily. “It’s not what I intended to do with my life. I like things quieter than this. But I can’t say I hate it.”
“Why this?”
Her expression was incredulous. “Why do you think, Jamie?”
I frowned, not getting it.
“I needed an ‘in.’ This is Foster Steadman’s world, and I didn’t know how else to infiltrate it. So, I asked Nick to get me a job—he got me a job as a runner for the art department. Things escalated from there.”
Sweat dampened my palms as I remembered her conversation with Asher in his car. It was true. All this time she had been trying to find a way to bring that bastard down. I didn’t know how to feel about it.
“I loved her.” Tears glimmered in Jane’s eyes now. “I wanted him to pay.”
Trying to fight back the emotion she incited, I chuckled. “My bloodthirsty little Doe.”
She cut me a hard look. “I stopped being your anything a long time ago.” She marched over to the door and threw it open. “Text me the time and place for tomorrow. I have to get back to work.” She stalked off, leaving me alone in her office.
I stopped being your anything a long time ago.
She could be callous when she wanted to be.
Ignoring the ache in my chest, I moved back to her desk and picked up the second photo frame. It was a photo of Jane, Skye … and me.
My fingers tightened around the frame, a sense of satisfaction moving through me.
Maybe deep down, Jane Doe still had feelings for me.
23
JANE
Between the chartreuse dress and gold tones in my eyeshadow, my eyes appeared to be light green rather than hazel green. The body-con dress had a simple silhouette—thin straps and a sweetheart neckline, and it hit mid-thigh. It hugged my every curve, and admittedly the vibrancy of the color worked nicely against my tan skin. Asher had convinced me to buy the daring dress when we were on Rodeo one day. It was the most expensive item in my wardrobe, and I’d never worn it because I always thought it was too sexy for any of the events I attended with him.
Tonight felt like the right night to wear the dress, and I’d paired it with my sexiest gold strappy heels.
“I could come over and look after you if you’re feeling sick,” Asher offered as I gave myself a final once-over. He was on speakerphone, my phone on my bed.
Lying to Asher was my least favorite thing in the world. I winced as I grabbed a gold clutch out of my closet. “You know, I think I just want to go to bed early. But thank you.”