Rebecca Zanetti - Sweet Revenge

He dug into his back pocket for the keys, which he dropped into her hand. “You’re very complicated.”

No kidding. “How did you get my keys?”

“I copied them one day when you were working.” He shrugged, his button-down shirt moving with the effort. “I apologize if I’ve upset you.”

“No problem.” She stuck the keys in her shirt pocket, planning to get new locks anyway. Then she turned toward the room she needed to finish getting ready. “Well, bye.”

Strong fingers wrapped around her wrist and pulled her back around. “Wait a minute,” Greg said.

Something slammed behind the bar, and they both looked toward Matt. Awareness prickled down Laney’s spine.

He leveled his gaze at Greg. “Release her arm.”

Greg straightened his six-foot frame. “Or what?”

“I’ll break yours.” The tone remained casual, but the smile Matt flashed promised pain.

Greg snorted air. “New bouncer?”

“New bouncer.” Laney extracted her wrist, sidling several feet away from Greg. Her instincts stretched awake and guaranteed Matt wasn’t a guy who bluffed. Greg was a puppy who wanted to be petted, while Matt was a German shepherd who wanted to bite. Now she was comparing men to dogs. Enough of this. “I believe you should probably go.”

“I wanted to invite you to dinner tomorrow night.” Greg tucked his hands in his dress-pants pockets. “Maybe to make up for my flower gaffe?” Good humor curved his lips, while his gaze remained focused on Matt.

“I don’t think so.” She tried to soften the rejection with a pat to his arm. Greg’s confidence in facing Matt actually impressed her, but it could be the guy was just clueless regarding self-preservation. Who knew? Either way, she was a master at protecting herself. “I’m not looking for romance right now, and I think we should remain friends.” Lame line, Laney.

He clucked his tongue. “Friendship is nice, but I’m not giving up. Plus, I’ll see you at the carnival, right?”

The town carnival was a huge moneymaker for the bar, and of course her doors would be open. “I’ll see you around.” Turning, she dismissed him. Waiting until he’d left and the outside door had closed, she put her hands on her hips and tried to sound professional. “You threatened bodily harm on somebody you don’t know.”

Matt lifted a shoulder in a way that flexed the muscles in his chest. “I didn’t like him grabbing you.”

Her chest peaked into action in response, her nipples pebbling. “Too fucking bad.” Yeah, she threw in the expletive to catch his attention, and by the firming of his jaw, she’d gotten it. “You’re an employee, and I can be sued for what you do while at work. So no more threatening anybody unless it’s necessary to protect the patrons.”

“You want to talk law? Grabbing a woman equals battery. Period.”

The man was trying to protect her, and a sweetness lived in the smooth soldier that tempted her far too much. She was touched that he’d tried to protect her, and the thought of someone actually being on her side intrigued her. But she couldn’t take the risk right now, and she had to draw clear lines. “I appreciate your concern, but my brother was a marine, and believe me, he trained me in self-defense. I can handle myself, Matt.”

“How tall are you?” Matt’s voice softened to a tone that licked across her skin.

“Five six.” She lifted her chin.

He cocked his head to the side.

“Fine. Five four, and if you ask me my weight, I’m going to throw something at you.” She bustled toward him to grasp the water pitcher and ignored her weakened knees. “I don’t see your point.”

He leaned over the bar, his intense gaze holding her captive. “You’re small and weigh nothing. Do you really think a few hours spent learning cross blocks and hold breaks from your brother would help you against somebody like me?”

Not a chance in hell. “Yes.”

His grin turned him into pure charm that turned him from intriguing to far too appealing. “Fine. How about I train you while I’m here? Say in exchange for rent?”

Grappling on the mat with that body? She’d want his clothes off within minutes. Swallowing, she tried to keep her voice level. “Thanks, but I’m set. I appreciate your intent to take over for my brother, but I think he did a good job already.”

Matt studied her, amusement dancing in his eyes. “If you say so. Just to be clear, I feel anything but brotherly toward you, Laney.”

Life would be easier if Matt could view the petite bar owner like a family member or even an employer, but as he watched her deliver another pitcher of tea to the women gathered around the table, he realized that was impossible. She laughed at something one of the women said, and his cock hardened. Again.

The woman had spunk, intelligence, and a heart-shaped ass. Of course he wanted her naked and sweating beneath him. That confused as much as irritated him. She was the exact opposite of what he usually looked for in a woman. Temporary, tough, and unemotional worked best, and the idea of being with someone soft and kind scared the shit out of him.

Laney was right to keep him at a distance.

The new phone he’d purchased early that morning buzzed, and he glanced down at his first text message of the day. Nate had texted that he was safe and would check in later. Relief relaxed Matt’s shoulders upon reading that his brother was all right. The guy hadn’t been out on a mission for years, and Matt had been worrying about him. Maybe Nate would finally heal from falling in love and being betrayed.

If anybody could throw a dose of cold water on Matt’s desire to pursue Laney, it’d be hard-assed Nate. He perceived only black and white, danger and safety. There was no safety in seducing Laney… for anybody. She wasn’t the woman Matt needed to find in Charmed.

Plus, as much as the idea turned Matt’s stomach, if he had to seduce the elusive Dr. Peters to secure her help, to save his brothers, he’d do it.

Of course, the family practitioner was the one woman who wasn’t sitting around the table. He’d paid special attention to the coroner and the veterinarian’s assistant, and the vet’s assistant was currently checking him out behind wire-rimmed glasses. Bright eyes showed intelligence and an interesting wariness. He shot her a smile.

Her cheeks pinkened, and she half turned to talk to the woman on her right.

Laney, sitting across from the vet, instantly shot a look his way, delicate eyebrow arched. He met her stare evenly, pleased when her high cheekbones filled with color. The fact that she kept his gaze with challenge in her eyes, even while blushing, pleased him even more. The polite thing to do would be to grant her a reprieve and look away.

Too bad he wasn’t a polite guy.

Laney should learn not to challenge him.

Her chair scraped back, and she muttered something to her friends and then calmly maneuvered around tables toward him, hips swaying… keeping his gaze the entire time. His shoulders went back, and his blood started to hum. Who was this woman so full of surprises?

She reached him, her eyes sparking in irritation. “Would you please stop turning the most successful businesswomen in town into simpering morons?” she whispered.

He blinked. Damn it. He focused down a foot at her irritated face. “What in the world are you talking about?”

Her body remained relaxed, but he could hear her heart thumping, and her expression was quickly transforming into anger. She kept her face angled away from the women at the table. “Stop smiling, stop flirting, and do your job.”

He lowered his face just enough to make her eyes widen. “You sound jealous.”

Ah. There was the fury. “I’m not, you jackass. Keep the charm in your pants, and stop flirting.”