Love & Compromise (Agents in Love Book 3) Read online

  She sighed. “I don’t really understand my job here. Besides, I usually work in a safe office behind my computer, not out in the field.”

  Nick said Jenessa could handle this assignment, but that didn’t sound promising. “You have worked in the field before, haven’t you? Just how green are you? I can’t have you impeding my investigation.”

  “Twice,” she confirmed, not allaying his worries.

  She was the agent he had to work with though. No one else could get into personal files of computers as easily as she could, and that’s what he really needed her for. Besides, lonely men would say things to a beautiful woman that they’d never tell Kole. Now that she’d dressed up, Jenessa was beautiful.

  “Your job is to convince everyone you’re a money grubbing fool who’s pretending to be in love with me. If whoever’s killing people suspects you’re anything other than a new floozy after my money and fame, then it’s game over.” He hoped she really heard him. He knew Jenessa didn’t like him much, but that wasn’t important.

  “People should know I’m only pretending to be in love with you?”

  Kole nodded. “No one will suspect you’re anything more than Clarissa was, a husband hunter looking to marry high up the political chain. They expect me with women like that.”

  She started to say something, and he cut her off by holding up his hand.

  “What they won’t expect, Jenessa, is for you to challenge my authority. For now, I’m the only man you look at, and you’re totally into me. At least until something richer and in power comes along and I’m not around, then, you’ll flirt your ass off. When you’re with me, you stroke my ego to make me think you really love me as much as I love you. That’s what people have to see when they look at us.”

  Her lips pouted for a moment, but then she nodded. “Okay, I’ll do my best. It’s not too hard when you’re pretending to be nice to me.”

  There wasn’t much he could say to that. Jenessa wasn’t a stupid woman. She’d caught on right away that when he turned on the charm it was fake. Truly falling for someone again was out of the question, but he’d damn well better start treating her right.

  “Okay, let’s go meet my dad.” He opened the door and smiled at the valet worker. “Be careful with her.” He nodded to the black Jaguar. “She’s got a lot of power.”

  A happy grin graced the man’s face. “Of course, sir. I’ll take special care of her.”

  Kole rounded to the passenger side and opened Jenessa’s door, extending his hand. “Ready for this?”

  She raised her brows with a slight shake of her head. “Do I have a choice?” She took his hand and allowed him to help her up, slipping her arm through his and clinging closely to him, flashing a smile as she flipped back her long, newly dark-brown hair.

  If nothing else, she was a fast learner. Whether she liked him or not, it didn’t seem to be an issue of what she could pretend—which he’d found was the case for most women.

  He pushed that thought away. It wasn’t fair to lump Jenessa in with Clarissa and the many women who’d come before her. Jenessa hadn’t grown up in a world where marriages were mostly bargaining chips and ways to gain media attention.

  When they walked into Le Bistro Petite, the maître d’ greeted them with a partial bow. “Monsieur Sharp, it is a pleasure. How long has it been?” His thick French accent might have been feigned, Kole couldn’t tell, but it certainly added to the overall experience of the five-star restaurant.

  “Too long,” Kole replied. “Has my father arrived?”

  “Oui, Monsieur. He is awaiting your and mademoiselle’s arrival. Suivez-moi à la Salle Blanche.” He took off through the richly appointed dining room, leading the way.

  Because she held onto Kole’s arm Jenessa walked with him, but she glanced up. “Where are we headed? I don’t know a drop of French.”

  “Not to worry.” Kole felt a real smile touching his lips as other diners watched them pass. Maybe his language ability could make a better impression on her than his poor manners had. “We’re headed to the White Room, a private dining area my family reserves when we eat here. He said to follow him.”

  “Wow, impressive, Mr. Sharp.” Her fingers curled a bit tighter around the forearm of his jacket. “You have skills I didn’t dream you possessed.”

  He laughed. “Only the best education for my mother’s children, but those aren’t the only skills I have.”

  “Oh?” He glanced down to see her arch one thin eyebrow. “Being a rude bully isn’t what you’re talking about, is it? Did you learn that in private school?”

  Kole’s face grew hot, and he struggled to keep his mouth turned in a smile. Why did she insist on badgering him? He’d apologized and explained how important this act was. “Jenessa, I thought—”

  “Relax, preppy. You’re too uptight. I was teasing.”

  Before he could respond, they reached the doorway to the White Room. His dad’s secret service agents stood guard, flanking the entry. The maître d’ wished them a good meal and left.

  “Good to see you, Mr. Sharp,” the agent on the left said. “I hope you understand that we need to search you and your date.”

  “Of course,” he answered, disentangling his arm from Jenessa’s grasp.

  She looked rather indignant when the agent in front of her searched the small bag that matched the dress she wore and patted her down, but she tolerated it without comment.

  When they were satisfied, the agents opened the doorway and stepped back. “Enjoy your meal.”

  They entered and Jenessa let out a small gasp. “This is beautiful.”

  Kole glanced at the low-lit room. Flickering candlelight set the mood with small white holiday lights wrapped down the wooden picture frames and running across the ceiling. A large Christmas tree dominated the back wall, partially obscuring the view of the window to the patio beyond. His father stood next to the tree, his back to them and a glass of champagne in his hand.

  Kole reclaimed Jenessa’s arm, tucking it into his elbow. “You’ve been in awe of every light we passed tonight. Do you like Christmas decorations?”

  “I love them,” she answered. “I’d really like to go see the National Tree sometime. Maybe you could take me on a date.”

  That seemed rather forward, her asking for a date. Maybe she wasn’t as different from other women as he hoped. “We’ll be too busy working to indulge in nonsense like that.”

  His father chose that moment to turn around. “Son, it’s good to see you.”

  Kole dragged Jenessa across the room, releasing her arm so he could shake his father’s hand. “Good to see you, too, Dad. I wish circumstances were better.”

  The elder Sharp shook his head with seeming regret. “Well, yes. So do I. If only we could catch Paul and put an end to all this S.A.T.O. business. I don’t want my legacy as President of this country to be that I left office with a home-grown killer on the loose.” He turned his attention to Jenessa. “It’s nice to see you again, Agent Jones.”

  Jenessa made an awkward curtsey, seeming overwhelmed. “It’s a pleasure, Mister President.”

  It’d be nice if she showed that much deference to Kole. What was it about his father that commanded her respect?

  His dad took her hand, bowing over it with a kiss. “No need to be so formal, Jenessa. We are, after all, about to be family.” He winked. “Call me William.”

  Jenessa shook her head. “I don’t think I can, sir.”

  William laughed. “Let’s get down to business. Lynnette and Carter will join us soon, and we need to talk first.”

  Kole hadn’t know his mother and brother were attending. “Do they know about the murderers and Jenessa’s role in all this?”

  “That I’ve set you up with a fake girlfriend?” William shook his head. “Afraid not, and they can’t know. The two of you, myself, and Nick are the only ones in on the secret. The less people know, the less chance the truth can slip out. I sense tension between the two of you. It needs to be gone
when your mother arrives. She believes you’ve found someone special, and she’s over the moon with happiness.”

  Not welcomed information. Kole had assumed around the family he would be able to let down his guard. “Why aren’t you at least telling Carter?” Kole’s brother was in line to be the next President, if the early conversations about candidates held. Kole had assumed Carter would help in the investigation. If he took over the presidency in a few years, he’d need to know everything about S.A.T.O. if the organization wasn’t stopped before then.

  William led them to the table in the center of the room and stood in front of his chair.

  Kole picked the seat directly across from him, pulling Jenessa’s out for her.

  She sat and glanced over her shoulder. “Thank you.”

  “See?” His dad smiled. “That’s much better. Kindness and longing looks, that’s what you need.” Both men sat after Jenessa was settled in her seat. “As far as Carter not knowing,” William continued, “I’ve put him on the secret board in the last five months, grooming him to take over if he wins the next election. However, I think the less people who know about you and Jenessa, the better.”

  Kole took his seat. “You think Carter would tell someone?”

  William shook his head. “Not intentionally, no, but he’s having a hard time dealing with Ross’s murder. They had become quite close. Carter’s dating Ross’s daughter. I don’t want to complicate things right now. He might tell his girlfriend your real purpose for being here, trying to comfort her with the thought that we’re doing something to find her father’s killer. She might talk.”

  “Keeping it secret is smart, sir.” Jenessa nodded. “The less people who know the better. Besides, Kole and I need to stay in character all the time. It’ll make things more authentic and we won’t slip up in front of the wrong people.”

  “See? I told you, son.” William grinned. “I picked a smart woman to help you. And, if I may say so, you look lovely, Jenessa.”

  Thanks to me. Kole kept his mouth shut, wondering at the crafty look in his father’s eyes. Did he set this thing up hoping Kole would fall for Jenessa for real? His parents had expressed concern that he wasn’t dating much after Clarissa ripped his heart out. If true romance between him and Jenessa was what his dad expected, the man would be sorely disappointed at the end of the case.

  Jenessa murmured her thanks, but William had already moved on to business.

  “Here’s a new driver’s license and social security card.” William slid the cards over the white tablecloth toward Jenessa. “You are now Jennifer Fleming, but you go by Jen. Hopefully this will keep you from getting confused and not responding to your name, but will also fool Paul Billings when the person working for him describes you. With all the makeup, change in hair color, and new name, Paul won’t connect Jennifer Fleming to Jenessa Jones.”

  “You’re sure that there’s a mole working with your board members?” Jenessa asked. “What could Paul offer that they don’t get working for you?”

  William shrugged. “That’s what you and Kole are here to figure out.”

  Jenessa nervously watched Kole’s mother, the First Lady, enter the room. Carter Sharp walked in right behind her, his date by his side. When comparing the two brothers, Carter had the all-American, boy-next-door look that voters ate up. While Carter was fourteen years older than Kole and had spent his life as a constitutional lawyer, he didn’t look his forty-three years. Jenessa would have guessed him closer to her own age.

  His girlfriend, the apparent daughter of the late Mr. Ross Jenkins, looked like a red jewel on his arm in her flowing dress. She smiled radiantly at Kole and President Sharp, giving a passing glance to Jenessa herself. The disdain she held for Jenessa was obvious and surprising. What could she have possibly done to make an enemy of the girl?

  Lynnette Sharp walked straight to Kole, a smile on her lips. “Son, thank goodness you came to your senses.”

  Kole stood, kissing his mother on the cheek. “My senses?”

  Lynnette nodded at Jenessa. “I was so happy when your father said you’d met someone and wanted to bring her home to meet us. I was afraid you’d completely given up.”

  Jenessa hopped to her feet as Lynnette extended her hand, shaking it, though Lynnette’s shake was much looser than those Jenessa was used to. Apparently, a lady didn’t grasp firmly. Jenessa struggled to emulate her, hoping Lynnette didn’t notice the awkwardness. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, ma’am.”

  “So formal?” Lynnette asked. “Please, call me Lynn. All my friends do, and from what I hear, you’re practically family.”

  Before Jenessa could respond, William was at Lynnette’s side, taking her arm to help her into the seat next to Jenessa’s.

  Jenessa didn’t know what to think. She was a nobody—a secret agent for Nick who happened to be good at hacking, but not a particularly good field agent. She was surprised Nick even gave her this job after the mistakes she made early in the spring, but it sounded like President Sharp had specifically requested she work the case.

  Now, he wanted her to call him William and his wife wanted to be called Lynn. How could Jenessa handle this? They were the leaders of the country, and she was just a regular person.

  Before the rest of the family had arrived, President Sharp went over Jenessa’s story with her. He told her what her new history was and instructed her to avoid any people in Washington who she’d had contact with before. That shouldn’t be too hard, considering she was mostly an office worker when she had been stationed at the FBI Headquarters. Her circle of acquaintances was small. Most people talked to her on the phone and didn’t know what she looked like. President Sharp agreed that should be enough to keep their true mission secret. As long as Paul Billings didn’t put two and two together. She had to make people believe she was nothing more than a social climber, just as Kole had said.

  Carter approached, kissing Jenessa’s hand just as his father had earlier. “Nice to meet you, Jennifer.”

  She nodded her head, trying to look as regal and confident as the other women. “Likewise.”

  “This is my...” Carter paused, glancing at the beauty on his arm. “...my friend, Tanya Jenkins.”

  “A pleasure,” Jenessa said.

  Tanya smirked. “Is it?”

  Kole did the bowing over Tanya’s hand thing, something Jenessa had found charming when President Sharp did it, but the novelty was wearing thin.

  “I’m sorry about your father,” Kole said in a grave tone.

  Tanya sniffled and blinked rapidly. “Thank you.”

  Something about the woman didn’t seem genuine, and Jenessa wondered if this was the type of person she was supposed to mimic. If Tanya truly cared one whit about Carter, it would shock the heck out of Jenessa.

  With the introductions made, they took their seats. Jenessa thought that would get her out of the spotlight, but after a waiter dropped off their menus, Lynn turned to her.

  “I want to hear every detail, Jen. How did you and Kole meet?” Lynnette beamed with the pride of a happy momma. Although Jenessa had heard rumors that Carter was the favored son because of his wish to be in politics, the truth seemed far different. Lynn wanted her youngest to find true love and happiness. Too bad this was all a farce and Lynn would be disappointed when the case ended.

  However, that was President Sharp’s problem. He was the one lying to his wife.

  Jenessa glanced quickly at Kole, but he didn’t seem inclined to come to her rescue. “How we met? Well, you see, we uhhh...” Jenessa toyed with the edge of her menu, and decided to truth would be best. “We had attended a mutual friend’s wedding. Kole walked over and said I was the most beautiful woman in the room, and that he knew I’d fall madly in love with him.” She forced a soft laugh, one she imagined Tanya would make.

  Carter sputtered, spitting the water he’d just sipped onto the tablecloth. He quickly wiped his mouth and used a cloth napkin to clean the mess. “Sorry about that. I just never imagined
Kole being that forward. He’s usually so timid around women.”

  “Timid?” Jenessa shook her head and stared at Kole in what she hoped was a loving manner. Longing looks, that’s what President Sharp said to do. “He’s definitely not timid.”

  Downright pigheaded and rude, but not timid.

  Kole stroked the back of his hand down her bare arm, staring deeply into her eyes before turning to his brother. “I decided to try something new. I wanted someone different than the usual hangers on you find here in Washington.”

  Carter’s girlfriend narrowed her eyes, but she didn’t say anything.

  “I couldn’t take my eyes off Jen the whole night,” Kole continued. “She really is intriguing, the way she stands out in a crowd.”

  He slipped his hand into hers without looking at her, and Jenessa tolerated it. He had said money-grubbing women were good actors, but he deserved an Academy Award for his performance right now.

  “How romantic.” Lynn sighed. “Remember when you first asked me out, honey?”

  William laughed. “How could I forget? You turned me down flat.”

  “You forgot your manners. I didn’t date hooligans.”

  Kole laughed. “Mom dumped a drink on Dad’s head. They were in college at the same party, and he was too drunk to be smooth.”

  “Hey, now,” William protested. “Don’t tell all my secrets the first night we meet Jen.”

  Jenessa tried to relax. Obviously, the Sharps were normal people, just like anyone else she met. They had a life outside of the presidency and running the country, and from the way Lynn and William acted toward each other, they had a lot of love. It wouldn’t be so bad spending time with Kole’s family.

  The waiter returned, and Jen realized she’d been so caught up in the conversation, she hadn’t even looked at the menu. The very French menu. To her dismay, she realized she couldn’t order. She didn’t know what anything was. She fidgeted uncomfortably, wondering if she should just point at the page and hope she received something edible.

  When the waiter got to her, she sputtered for a moment and finally pointed at a random item.