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Ears burning a little, he tried to lean away from her without looking too obvious. It wasn’t often he dodged a woman. Like maybe never. But this couldn’t happen, so he tried to be gentle but up front. “You know I’m only here as a friend, right?”
Another of her silly laughs escaped, and damn, it sounded so sweet, it almost made him smile.
Her chastising look forewarned him. “We’re hardly friends, Rowdy.”
“We could be.” If she’d stop laughing at me.
Now she sighed. “I’d like that, actually. Thank you.”
The truth struck him. He was both relieved and a little embarrassed. “You weren’t coming on to me, were you?”
“No, I wasn’t. I’m sorry, but honestly, I wouldn’t even know how.”
He wouldn’t tell her that she’d done a damn good job without trying.
She rubbed the dog’s neck, then around and under his chin. “You and Reese share a similar look.”
“Yeah?” Since Reese was polished, with a witty perspective on life, Rowdy didn’t see it. Well, except that they were both blond and tall.
“You’re big.”
Since a statement like that had all kinds of connotations, he had to cough to keep from making a joke. With any other woman...but, yeah, this was Alice.
“And you really are handsome.” This time it was his hair she tunneled her fingers into. “I’m sure women appreciate the ‘bad boy’ guise you’ve cultivated.”
Bad boy? Guise? His neck stiffened. “I haven’t cultivated—”
“But Reese is also big.” Dropping her hand, she smiled off at nothing in particular. “And incredibly handsome. And he’s...” Her voice faded. “He’s sooo...”
Curiosity got the better of him. “What?”
She licked her lips and inhaled a deep breath, only to let it out in a long sigh.
Put off, Rowdy scowled at her. “If you start purring, I’m outta here.”
A blush warmed her cheeks. She straightened her shoulders and refocused on him. “My point is that you and Reese might have similarities, but you also have differences. Like that giant chip on your shoulder and that cocky swagger—”
“I do not swagger.” Did he?
“—that proclaims you a rebel.” With a mere glance, she shared her sympathy. “You like butting heads with the law, walking that narrow path between saint and sinner, and we both know it. I think you enjoy it.”
The sinner part he could attest to, but where the hell had she gotten the saint angle? “Sorry, doll, you don’t really know me at all. What I do or don’t enjoy. Who I enjoy it with.” He warmed to his subject, ready to wrest the upper hand from her velvet grip. “In fact—”
Suddenly Alice stiffened, lifted her head as if she heard something.
“What is it?”
She put a finger to her lips as if in warning, then shook her head.
Cash watched her with the same confusion Rowdy felt.
As she rose silently from the couch, her gaze on the front door, she said, “So you saw your sister today? How is Detective Riske feeling?”
What the hell was she up to? She made not a single sound as she inched toward her door. “He’s grouchy.” Fascinated, Rowdy watched as she stopped to study the door a moment. “I don’t think he likes being pampered any more than I would.”
She gestured for him to continue. He obliged, but in case trouble intruded, he also stood. “Pepper isn’t the typical mother hen. Far from it. Her efforts at coddling are as likely to drive Logan nuts as anything else.”
As he spoke, Alice went on tiptoe to look out the door’s peephole. Apprehension dropped her back to her heels.
With a huff, she jerked the door open. “You scared me.”
There stood Reese, and it was obvious he’d been eavesdropping. It took him only a second to find his aplomb. “Sorry. I was about to knock.”
She snorted.
That particular sound coming from that particular woman might have amused Rowdy. But under the circumstances, it didn’t penetrate past his annoyance. “Damn it.” He hadn’t heard a thing, hadn’t even realized that Alice had left the door unsecured. “I’m slipping.”
“No, you’re fine.” Alice waved off his disgruntlement. “It’s just that I’m familiar with the sounds in my apartment.”
“He wasn’t in your apartment,” Rowdy pointed out. “He was lurking around the hallway.”
“Lurking?” Reese asked with a raised brow, but he couldn’t very well deny it.
“I’m familiar with those sounds, as well.”
Chagrined, Reese looked at Alice, gave her a half smile and then zeroed in on Rowdy.
Well, hell. He had hoped to be long gone before Reese realized he’d come to call, but too late for subterfuge now. Rowdy lifted his hands in surrender. “Busted.”
Carrying a stuffed overnight bag and some clothes over his arm, Reese strode in, all the while letting Rowdy feel his discontent. “Care to tell me what you’re doing here?”
“I’m just visiting.” Rowdy nodded at Reese’s load. “But it looks like you’re moving in.”
As if someone had goosed her, Alice jumped. “What? No.”
Dismissing that reaction, Rowdy whistled low. “Fast work, Reese. I had no idea.”
Alice started to speak again, but Reese cut her off. “So, now you know. Make note of it, okay?”
Alice subsided with a wide-eyed look of surprise.
So, it was like that, huh? Rowdy saluted him. Sure, there was no denying Alice’s interest in Reese. Hell, she’d spelled it out, all the while going moony-eyed. Granted, he didn’t know Reese that well. But he hadn’t quite figured Alice as his type. Still, stranger things had happened.
Cash showered Reese with the same enthusiastic welcome Rowdy had received. Fickle mutt. “That dog loves everyone.”
“No,” Alice said, “he doesn’t.” Hands on her hips, she addressed Reese with accusation. “You were listening in.”
“I’m a cop, Alice, remember? I’m trained to eavesdrop.” Catching the back of her neck, Reese held her still as he lowered his mouth to hers. Alice froze, but she allowed it.
That was fast work.
The kiss lingered, and Rowdy lifted both brows. He meant what he’d said: he knew women, so he knew it wasn’t in Alice’s nature to get involved easily. Reese must’ve conjured some magic.
It wasn’t any of his business, but damn it, he felt protective—maybe of both of them. And wasn’t that a bunch of bullshit? Hell, Reese was a well-trained, astute, hulk of a cop.
Alice needed a gentle hand, but Reese...well, Alice hid something dark and dangerous. Rowdy saw it there in her eyes, the same shadows he faced every time he looked in a mirror. Would Alice’s past cause problems for a reputable cop?
Tired of being a voyeur, Rowdy said, “You’re going to make her faint.”
With clear reluctance, Reese pulled back, and Alice struggled to get it together. It was amusing to watch, and her blush was as pretty as her smile, as uplifting as her laugh.
“Behave, Rowdy.” She licked her lips, realized what she’d done and glared at both men.
Rowdy fought off a grin. The lady had grit—which meant she wouldn’t easily give into fears or intimidation. Whatever she had in her past, it had to be something substantial.
It was nice that she had Reese’s attention, but that wouldn’t keep Rowdy from giving protection of his own. After all, Reese was limited by legalities.
Rowdy...not so much.
Judging by Reese’s possessive posture—with both the dog and Alice—things were about to get real interesting.
That was just the way Rowdy liked it.
CHAPTER FIVE
THE DISGRUNTLED LOOK on Alice’s face didn’t deter Reese. He ignored it, just as he ignored Rowdy’s smug amusement and rapt attention.
Because he wanted to, because for whatever reason, she was too damn tempting, he put his mouth to hers again. This time he kept it light, brief to the point of frustration, and when he lifted his head he smoothed her plump bottom lip with his thumb. “Where can I store my stuff?”
Somewhat dazed and definitely flustered, she looked around as if she didn’t know her own apartment.
“I can hang my change of clothes in the hall closet, if that’s okay.”
She didn’t look at Rowdy. She didn’t really look at Reese either.
“Alice?”
“Mmm? Oh.” After a deep shuddering breath, she pulled herself together. “Why don’t I put your shaving kit in the bathroom? I, ah, have a shelf in there, so it’ll be handy when you need it...tomorrow I guess. To shave.” Pained, she did a verbal push to get beyond her stumbling speech. “Please do feel free to use the hall closet for your clothing. It’s mostly empty, so there should be plenty of room.”
“Right.” Empty for now—but when she got her gun back from Logan, she’d have yet another weapon stored there. “Thanks.”
With a dismissive smile, she hurried off. Reese shot a suspicious frown at Rowdy—and saw him watching Alice’s retreat.
No fucking way. Was that interest in Rowdy’s gaze? It better not be. It damn well better be something else—what, Reese had no idea.
Turning to fully face him, Reese waited until he gained Rowdy’s complete attention. To ensure Alice wouldn’t hear, he kept his voice low. “What are you doing here? And don’t give me that bullshit about visiting.”
Rowdy followed his lead and spoke in a near whisper. “She’s scary.”
“Alice? Don’t be stupid.”
“A dog that doesn’t bark is always the most dangerous.”
“You’re calling her a dog?” Reese knew that wasn’t his point at all.
“I’m saying she’s too quiet, and too proper.” Rowdy took a seat again, and Cash abandoned Reese to join him. “She’s also putting on a brave front, almost like she’s been doing it so long she doesn’t even realize it now.”
No kidding. He’d figured that one out on his own. “What do you know of it?”
“Only that it bothers me.”
So Alice hadn’t confided in Rowdy either? Good. He wanted her to trust him first and foremost, not any other man. “Don’t worry about it.” Reese took his clothes to the closet. “I’ve got it covered.”
“Somehow, Reese, I don’t think you do.”
Reese was ready to take him apart, but Alice reentered with forced cheer.
“Where are my manners? Rowdy, would you like something to drink?”
“No,” Reese said, “he doesn’t.”
Confusion tripped her up. “You already asked him?”
“No.”
Alice frowned at him.
Rowdy just smirked. “I’m good, Alice, thanks, anyway.”
Before Alice could protest, Reese asked him, “So, you saw Logan? He’s doing okay?”
“He’s surly and complaining that Pepper keeps trying to shove a pain pill down his throat.”
“He isn’t taking his meds?”
“The antibiotics, sure. But the pain pills make him sleepy, so he’d rather suffer the discomfort. Thing is, if he so much as flickers an eyelid, Pepper can’t bear it. She wants to ‘comfort’ him.”
Imagining that, Reese grinned. Like him, Logan wasn’t big on being coddled. It emasculated a man, especially a man who wanted to do the coddling. “I can see why that’d make him surly. At least he has a reason to stay in bed.” Then, just to tweak Rowdy, he added, “With Pepper.”
Rowdy slanted him a look. “If Alice weren’t present, I’d tell you what to do with that sentiment.”
That seemed to startle Alice out of some heavy-duty daydreaming. “What does it matter if I’m—”
He pushed to his feet. “I don’t want to singe your ears, hon.”
“Oh.”
Hon? Reese collected her to his side again. “I was going to check in with Logan today, anyway. Maybe I can run some interference for him.” And thinking that gave him an idea.
