Kelsey Roberts - Handsome As Sin

“I didn’t see it that way,” he drawled in a sexy Southern accent that told her he wasn’t a native of the area. “My mama was real clear on protecting the fairer sex.”

Ellie felt her blood begin to boil and it had nothing to do with his display of even white teeth or those boyishly charming dimples on either side of his mouth. “Josh and I had things under control. Didn’t we, Josh?”

The bartender shrugged. “I could have taken him. No problem.”

The tall man said nothing. He didn’t have to. He had a full vocabulary of eloquent looks that easily communicated his doubts.

Chad came bouncing back into the room then, followed by Rose. The hat was still clutched in the little boy’s chubby fingers. He raced over to the tall man and thrust the hat forward. “Jake’s hat,” he announced.

Rose wasn’t as quick as the small child, possibly because of her stiletto heels, or then again, it might have had something to do with her skintight Lycra pants. Though her choice of clothing was showy, her smile was genuine.

“Are you the one dumb enough to let him get his hands on an expensive thing like this?” Rose asked as she wrestled the hat away from Chad.

“Guilty as charged,” he answered easily. “He’s a cute kid. Really bright.”

Ellie was gaping at the tall man, wondering where on earth the uneducated, good-ol’-boy drawl had gone. He was speaking to Rose in the polished voice of a professional.

“Rose Porter,” she introduced.

“Jake Devereaux,” he said as he shook the woman’s hand.

Then, turning slightly amused eyes on Ellie, he asked, “And you are?”

“Ellie Tanner.”

“And the guy with the neck the same size as his thigh?”

She tried not to smile. “Mike Avery. We work together back in Albany.”

“More than work,” Jake speculated. “I got the impression he wanted you home for the holidays.”

Jake was about six feet four inches of trouble. Ellie sensed it in the same way a small animal senses a predator. He was a lankier, smarter version of Mike, so she decided immediately to nip her own curiosity in the bud. It was fairly easy to accomplish, especially when she looked up and saw the smug look in his emerald eyes.

“Sorry to do this to you, Jake, but I’m closing the Tattoo, so you’ll have to be on your way,” Rose announced. “The roads are only supposed to get worse and I doubt we’ll be inundated with business.”

“We’re closing?” Beth asked. When Rose nodded, the waitress’s lower lip protruded in a definite pout. “But I need the tips. I’ve got a new coat on layaway that I—”

“You shouldn’t buy things you can’t afford,” Rose interrupted. “Besides, take a look outside. I don’t think the good people of Charleston will want to risk life and limb for a plate of grilled sea bass.”

“Hey, Ellie,” Josh began as he placed a hand at her waist. “How about giving me a lift home? I’m no good at driving in the snow.”

“I can take you,” Beth suggested. “You live on my way.”

Josh laughed. “You’re no better at driving in this stuff than I am. I think I’d rather put my life in the hands of a pro.”

“Organize yourselves quickly,” Rose insisted. “I want to get out of here as soon as possible.”

“What about Chad?” Ellie asked. “You want me to take him with me?”

Rose shook her head. Thanks to an abundance of hair spray, not a single teased curl came free. “The house is less than a mile away and I promised him we’d stop at the toy store to see if they have any sleds. This may be his one and only chance to go sledding.”

“Tell Shelby I’ll be home soon, then. Let’s get our coats,” she suggested. Ellie was careful not to make eye contact with Jake as she led the others toward the kitchen.

The coats were all piled in a small closet near the rear exit. Everyone bundled up, wrapping layer upon layer of mismatched winter gear on their bodies. Ellie smiled but said nothing. She guessed these Southerners would freeze to death inside a week back in Albany. This was a simple snow shower. They were dressing as if Charleston was about to experience a blizzard instead of the predicted inch and a half.

“The front door,” Rose said with a groan as soon as she’d hoisted Chad and his ten pounds of coat, hat, mittens and scarf into her arms. “I forgot to lock it after that Jake fellow.”

“I’ll lock it,” Ellie offered.

“Don’t be long,” Josh purred.

Rose gave him an admonishing look and Beth simply grunted at the lecherous suggestion behind the words.

Thanks to years as a criminologist for the New York State Police, Ellie was quite comfortable walking through a strange place in dim lighting.

There was, however, just enough light spilling through the windows for her to see him well. Too well. Jake Devereaux was behind the bar, with both hands inside the cash register.

Ellie let out a yell that brought Josh and Beth racing from the kitchen. The next few minutes went by in a flurry of arms, legs, punches and grunts.

Upon seeing the melee, Rose shielded Chad’s face from the violence as the two men tumbled out from behind the bar. The struggle continued as chairs were toppled and tables were upended.

“Watch the tree!” Rose called as the men skittered across the floor, dangerously close.

“Watch his right!” Beth called too late.

They grimaced in unison when Jake’s fist landed solidly against the other man’s cheek.

“Stop it,” Ellie heard Jake exclaim as he dodged blows as effortlessly as a professional. “I can explain.”

“Thief,” Josh growled as he butted Jake with his head.

The two men went sailing backward. Ellie heard Rose exclaim, “Oh my God,” a fraction of a second before the Christmas tree came crashing down.

Glass shattered and several of the lights exploded in a series of multicolored pops.

“Do something,” Beth whined.

Ellie, thinking this was not an appropriate thing for her nephew to see, went into the fray and grabbed Josh by the back of his coat. “Stop this right now,” she insisted as she gave a hard jerk. It wasn’t her strength but probably the fact that her action caused his shirt to act like a noose. Whatever the reason, it earned her Josh’s cooperation. Instinctively she knew Jake wouldn’t continue the fight. With the exception of a few punches meant to deter the aggressor, Jake had gone out of his way to keep from hurting the bartender. Still, seeing his readied stance and balled fists, Ellie had no doubt that this man could pound Josh into a bloody pulp with little or no effort.

“What is going on here?” she demanded as she watched Josh struggle for breath.

Jake tested his jaw by opening and closing his mouth in an exaggerated action. “I was looking for something.”

“Money?” Rose accused, one brow arched toward the mass of lacquered hair.

“My money,” Jake corrected. “I had a special coin with me that he must have—”

“Yeah, right,” Josh grumbled. “And to think I didn’t even charge you for the cup of coffee.”

“Thanks,” Jake answered wryly. “But the point remains that I had this item with me when I came in—”

“And you think that gives you the right to break into my register?” Rose said with a sneer.

“I was out the door before I realized I didn’t have it,” Jake explained. “I thought you all had left so I simply went looking for it on my own.”

“Call the police,” Beth insisted. “He’s probably wanted.”

Jake didn’t even flinch at the suggestion. Instead, he took a moment to pull several strands of tinsel from the front of his jeans. “I can assure you, I am not a thief and I was only looking for something that belonged to me. If you don’t believe me, I suggest you check the amount of cash in the drawer. You’ll probably find that your cash drawer is exactly one cent over.”