your employees, who also happens to be a friend of mine. Her husband was kidnapped by a crime group called Nexus. All we want is her husband back safely. Nexus wanted to use her to get close to you, but I made myself a better option. I’m a private investigator.”
Not Sure This is a Good Idea
Liam
What. The. Hell?
Penn’s revelation, or should he say, Aspen’s, rocketed through Liam.
She was a private investigator.
She wasn’t a criminal.
She wasn’t a blackmailer.
She hadn’t betrayed him.
“I’m undercover with Nexus, and—”
“Quiet.” He dragged in a breath. “You’re a private investigator?”
She nodded. “I’m working for Erica Knox. They abducted her husband, Jake.”
Liam was somehow angry and elated all at the same time.
“I am sorry, Liam.” Aspen’s eyes were earnest. “I never wanted to hurt you, but there’s a man’s life on the line—”
Liam lowered his head and kissed her.
She froze at the touch of his lips, then she moaned and her hands sank into his hair.
He yanked her closer, tongue plunging into her mouth. She tasted so, so good—sweet, with a touch of spice.
Nudging her legs apart, he stepped between them. He resented any distance between them.
Their mouths slanted together, and he slid an arm around her and pulled her closer. Her breasts were flush against his chest.
She gasped into his mouth. Damn, he wanted to hear that exact sound when he was deep inside her.
Their tongues tangled, a private little war, both of them trying to get as much of each other as they could. One of her hands tugged his tie loose, then her mouth was on his neck.
Damn.
Desire was like molten metal in his veins—scorching hot. It all headed south to his throbbing cock.
Aspen licked his skin, then bit down. Liam groaned, gripped her hips and pulled her closer. As his cock pressed against her core, she moaned.
He hated the layers of clothes between them.
That’s when the ringing sound registered. For a second, he thought it was just his overwhelmed senses.
Then he heard Penn curse.
She pushed him back a step, and pulled her cell phone out of her pocket.
“Erica, I’m here.”
Dragging in air, Liam stepped back.
Penn slipped off the table and started pacing. “Yes, I’m with him now.” She turned away, murmuring to her friend. No doubt updating Erica on what had happened.
Aspen Chandler.
Penn suited her, but so did Aspen. Liam leaned back against his desk, trying to get his raging erection under control.
“We’re at Liam’s office.” She flicked a glance his way, and her gaze dropped. When she noted the bulge in the front of his suit pants, her cheeks turned pink.
A private investigator who blushed. Fascinating.
“Are you going to mention what we were doing?” Liam asked.
She shot him a look. “Yes, I promise we’re fine. No, this isn’t your fault. Erica, you need to stay calm.”
Liam crossed his ankles. “Please ask her to come up here. We’ll discuss a path forward.”
Aspen turned to face him. “Liam wants you to come up here. Yes, we’ll see you soon.” She ended the call. “She’s on her way up.”
Liam inclined his head.
“We’ll bring you up to speed on the investigation, and then we need to decide on a path forward.”
“Penn… Or should I call you Aspen now?”
“It needs to be Penn in public.”
“So, Penn in public, and Aspen in private.” He pushed away from the desk. “We need to talk. About what just happened on my desk.”
Her cheeks went pink again. “That can’t happen again.”
“Oh, it’s going to happen again. Repeatedly.”
She held up a hand. “You are a person of interest in my investigation—”
“I’m not involved with this crime gang.”
“I know that, but you’re their focus. I need to get Jake back, all while I keep you safe, and bring down Nexus.”
“Bring down Nexus?”
She swallowed. “I never wanted to see you or your family get hurt, and if I can, I want to stop them from hurting anyone else. My first priority is getting Jake home safely, but in the meantime, I’ve been collecting everything I can on Nexus. My plan is to turn it over to the authorities.”
God, he’d been so wrong about her.
“I can’t afford to muddy the waters, or my head.” She blew out a breath. “And you’re a man designed to turn a woman’s head, and better judgment, to mush.”
He smiled. “Glad to see I’m not alone. You make my control evaporate with a single look.”
“Liam—”
“I get it, Aspen. A man’s in danger, and you have a job to do.” He stepped closer and heard her sharp breath. “But I know you