Jake laughed. He brushed her hair away from her face as she looked up at him, her expression genuinely distraught. Fuck, he wanted to kiss her, take that anxiety away. “No, Angel. Never apologize for being who you are when you’re that incredible.” She rewarded him with a growing smile. “Just pay it forward someday. Help out someone else who’s unsure about themselves. Should be easy for a kind person like you.”
Rachael’s smile faltered. Her eyes filled with pain.
No, no, please don’t show me that. Don’t make me doubt you, Angel. Jake made himself remember all the times he’d watched her help Elena in the copy room, or stop and converse with one of the Mexican dudes in Spanish when he looked discouraged. Or the time she ran for the first aid kit when the guy who’d called her a stupid bitch earlier in the day nearly cut his finger off. She didn’t hesitate to help—instead she faced down Hank when he tried to keep her from calling 911 which would ensure the guy could claim workman’s comp. She just went on with her day, sad smile in place.
She bit her lower lip. “You don’t know me. I’m not that great,” she nearly whispered.
“I see you being great all the time when no one else does, Rachael.” He gestured around the bar. “You deservethisfor a change.”
Bill came over with a beer for Rachael and another glass of water for Jake, who had switched over an hour before so he could drive home.
“On the house,” Bill said. “And I’ll tell you what. If you promise to come back tomorrow night or next week, or hell, anytime, I’ll comp tonight’s tab and the rest of your tabs for all eternity.” He turned to Jake. “Yours too, if you promise to bring her back.”
Rachael’s face lit up. “I’d love to come sing again,” she quickly glanced at Jake, “if you’re willing to bring me.” She graced Jake with the most beautiful smile he’d ever seen.
“Try and stop me.” Jake’s smile threatened to stretch from ear to ear.
Rachael turned back to Bill. “But you don’t have to pay my tab, Bill.”
The bar owner shook his head. “I insist. It’s that or pay you directly, because you’re going to bring in the crowds.”
“Looks like you’re already doing that.”
“They’ll double, once word gets out. Then I’ll be saying, ‘I knew her when.’” Bill’s face clouded. “Except I don’t know your name. This rude dude never properly introduced us.”
Shit. Bill knew Rachael by reputation, but didn’t recognize her in person. What would he think now? Would he freak out and rescind his offer?
“I’m Raquel,” Rachael lied smoothly as she offered her hand.
Jake’s heart fell at that. How often did she lie to get that good?
“A pleasure. I will happily rearrange the schedule for you at any point. Damn, I’ll give you a whole night, you want it.”
“I’m not sure I’m ready for that.”
Bill winked. “Let me know when you are.” He gave Jake a chin lift and headed back to the bar.
Bill’s offer was totally unplanned but worked out better than Jake’s wildest expectations. He wanted to get Rachael back again in the hopes that she’d relax away from Deal’s town and let something slip. Rarely did the job come this easily, so he savored it. And the thought of listening to Rachael sing for a crowd, even as she kept her eyes only on him... He shivered.
I’ve got to focus on the job. He could pretend all the affection in the world in order to get close to Rachael, but he couldn’t cross the line into truth. This wasn’t Hollywood, wasn’t one of his mom’s scripts. Getting emotionally involved with a source would end his career with the FBI. Granted, there were days…
As the couple on stage played the first notes of Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain”, Rachael broke Jake from his reverie as she motioned for them to sit. She leaned forward and Jake couldn’t stop the thought that the recorder he wore would pick her voice up nicely over the music at this close range.
“I hope you don’t think I’m a terrible person for lying to Bill. I hate doing it, but,” she paused, “if word gets back that I’m spending time here…” She bit her lip. “That I’m spending time with you…it wouldn’t go over well. Even as just friends.”
Friends. Ouch. Jake decided to push. “What do you mean? You’re a grown woman, Rachael, not a teenager. You get to make your own decisions.”
Rachael took a long swig of beer. “No, I don’t.” She stared long into his eyes. “You know I don’t.”
Shit, I might be getting somewhere. Jake fought the urge to stop and protect Rachael from saying something that might incriminate her and kept pushing. “Why not? What keeps you stuck here under your dad’s thumb?”
She took another drink and considered him. “What did…what did Daddy hire you for, really?”
Oh no no no, shit. Is she asking because she doesn’t know Ernest Deal wants me to bash heads for him eventually, or because she’s testing me?
Jake realized he’d done a crap job of hiding his dismay when she looked down and said, “I thought so.”
He instinctively reached out and cupped her cheek. “I applied for this job because I got into trouble back in California. I had a temper and I used to fight, a lot. And win. Which put me behind bars a couple of times. I needed a place where I could start over. The meatpacking industry is all I know. All I wanted was a quiet job, some peace for once.” The lie flowed freer than he liked. “I guess my reputation preceded me. Your dad called me in to talk about…expanding my duties.”
