Lori Foster - Bare It All

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.

He looked down at Alice. “What do you have planned for the day?”

“Nothing much. I finished my work while you were—” she waved a hand at the couch “—sleeping. I thought I might give Cash a bath.”

The dog flattened his ears, slunk off the couch and went behind a chair.

Bemused, Alice watched him. “Maybe instead I’ll make a run to the grocery.”

“Is there something you needed?”

She bit her lip. “I have a sweet tooth.”

Somehow, the way she said that felt like an admission. Reese saw the same confusion he felt mirrored on Rowdy’s face. “I do, too.”

“Me, three,” Rowdy said.

“Jelly beans are my favorite.” She looked at both men.

“Chocolate ice cream,” Rowdy said without hesitation.

Would he ever understand her? Reese wondered. “I’m up for anything, but I especially like caramels, and warm peach pie is always good.”

“Mmm, sounds delicious,” Alice agreed. “You’re both in such great shape, you can probably eat anything you want without worrying about it.”

“You’re slim,” Reese told her. “Surely you don’t—”

“Diet?” She shook her head. “No. But I’m bad, I use food as...” Her voice trailed off.

“Comfort,” Rowdy finished for her. “Pepper does the same thing. She says the worst for her was the evenings. But instead of a few jelly beans, she’d binge on an entire pizza.”

Alice smiled over that. “I go through a bag of jelly beans a week. Sometimes two bags.” She tipped her head at Rowdy. “Your sister is really beautiful.”

“Yeah, she is,” Reese agreed. “Logan is a lucky guy.” Reese paid little attention to what he said. He was too busy trying to figure out Alice’s thoughts. Was she making some sort of female-inspired comparison? He hoped not, because Pepper Yates was an extremely unique woman.

But then, so was Alice—only in a very different way.

“Maybe we can shop together on the way back from seeing Logan and Pepper.” Holding her hand in his, he rubbed a thumb over her knuckles. “You’ll come with me, won’t you?”

She couldn’t quite hide her pleasure. “You want me to?”

“I’m sure Pepper would like to see you again.” He could keep Alice close by taking her along, and while there she could give Pepper someone else to focus on. Whether or not Logan would thank him for that, Reese couldn’t say.

Touching her hair as if to straighten it, Alice asked, “When did you plan to leave?”