A Perfect Storm (33 page)

She loved the gifts, all of them, but that knife…it was as if Chris actually knew her, really knew her—and liked her anyway.

He chuckled at her tight hold. “I take it it’s the right one?”

“I was saving for it!”

“Now you can spend your money on something else.”

She hugged him so fiercely that he groaned and pretended to collapse, so she levered back and grabbed his face. Despite his look of surprise at her intent, she planted a big, five-second smooching kiss right on his handsome mouth, ending with a loud, “Mmmwwah!”

“Whoa,” Chris said once she freed him. “Try that with any other guy and you’d probably find yourself hauled off to bed.”

“No other guy could be you.” Joy clogged her throat. “You’re amazing, Chris. Just…amazing.”

“Like the knife?”

“Yes, amazing like the knife.” Arizona released him to beam at the others.

Jackson stared. Trace cleared his throat. Dare rubbed his mouth. The women watched wide-eyed.

But so what? For once, she didn’t give a damn what any of them thought.

And then she saw Spencer’s dark expression. So he didn’t like her kissing Chris?

Or was it the knife he didn’t like?

Well, tough titty. She didn’t care what he thought, either. “It’s
the
knife,” she told him. “The one I told you I was saving for. I showed it to you in a magazine, remember?”

“Yes, I remember.”

Chris paid no more attention to his disapproval than she did. “There’s a sheath to go with it, but I didn’t get that. Sorry.”

“I have one that’ll do.” She reached back, realized she’d left the knife at home, and shrugged. “I left it at Spencer’s, but really, this is already too much. Too extravagant, too—”

“I can afford it,” Chris told her, sounding serious for the first time. “And you deserve it.”

Why she would deserve such a gift, she couldn’t imagine. But then, she knew she didn’t deserve any of it.

Yet here she was, in the middle of her very first birthday party, surrounded by gifts.

Any second now, the dampness filling her eyes would fall. She held the knife to her chest, a cherished gift. “Thank you. Everyone. Seriously. It’s all great. I’m just…” Overwhelmed, she let out a shaky breath. “I’m floored. I never expected…”

They smiled at her.

Crap. One more second of their kindness, and she’d be a goner. “Yeah, so, thanks. Again. A lot.” Her throat felt tighter. “So…I’m going to take this stuff to Spencer’s truck. You know, to make sure nothing happens to any of it.”

Feeling like the biggest coward alive, she turned and literally ran so fast that Tai and Sargie perked up. Excited by a possible game, the dogs chased after her.

Arizona knew she’d have to return, and very soon, otherwise they’d all come looking for her. But God willing, she’d get her emotions under control before then.

She’d rather be thrown into another river than let everyone see her weeping like a girl.

* * *

H
ARRY
’
S
H
OCKS
HAD
SHUT
down weeks ago, but that only made it cheap to rent.

For a few hours.

He needed no more time than that.

After she’d been made…
suitably pliable,
he’d move her. He’d get her settled in, and he’d enjoy her at his leisure.

Thinking about it, imagining how she’d be, how he’d make her be, he rubbed his hands together. She might not be grateful at first, but eventually she’d be thanking him, maybe even begging him.

He laughed with pleasure at that image. Once he explained to her how he’d saved her, taking her from a worse situation, accepting her when no one else would want her, then she’d show proper gratitude. Now, with him, she wouldn’t be sold.

He would offer her comfort, and in return, she would give him…everything.

He would demand nothing less.

* * *

S
PENCER
WANTED
TO
GO
after Arizona, but he knew she wouldn’t appreciate that. It was bad enough, watching her draw comparisons, knowing she thought she didn’t fit in. But seeing that wealth of emotion in her expression had nearly leveled him.

All because of a knife.

And not just any knife, but a knife meant to do damage. A knife meant for a skilled combatant.

A knife she knew how to use and had wanted for just that purpose.

A gift that damn near brought her to tears.

He didn’t know what to do.

Chris began gathering up the torn and discarded wrapping paper.

Jackson stood to scowl at him. “What the hell, Chris?”

Spencer sat back, content to think about things, about Arizona’s reaction—and Chris’s obvious insight.

“Did you see her face? I’d say, so far, today has been a success.”

Dare shook his head. “You realize you just set us all back, right? We’re trying to get her away from danger.”

“Not encourage her into it,” Trace added.

“You’re trying to change her,” Chris pointed out but not with much accusation. He looked at Spencer. “She doesn’t want to change.”

“Just where the hell do you think she’ll use that knife?” Jackson asked.

Chris paused in his clean-up efforts to give Jackson a direct look. “She does not want to change.”

“What does that mean?” Trace asked. “You actually think it’s okay for her to get involved in this stuff?”

“I think she’s a very special girl with a unique background who can make her own decisions.”

“Chris has a point.” Spencer lifted a long, curling ribbon from the table. “Can you imagine how it makes her feel?”

Nodding, Molly whispered, “She is who she is, and yet we’ve all made it clear that she should be someone else.”

“But given what she’s been through, how life molded her…” Priss closed her eyes a moment. “Changing is probably impossible.”

His guts cramped at what he’d inadvertently put her through. “Disapproval isn’t easy for anyone.” Spencer crushed the ribbon in his fist. “She needs acceptance first.”

“Well, hallelujah. You get the prize.” Chris threw a balled up wad of paper at Spencer. “How can she trust that any of you care, when you don’t accept her for who she is?”

“There’s an order here,” Spencer agreed. He slouched in his chair with a groan. “And I for one have gone at it ass-backwards.”

“Well, damn.” Jackson stood, then rubbed the back of his neck. “I just wanted to protect her.”

“It’s what you do.” Alani took his hand. “But Arizona isn’t like most women.”

“Or most victims,” he agreed.

Amen to that. She was unlike…anyone. Stronger, thank God. More resilient. And so incredibly proud.

“Damn it, I still have to give her my gift.” Jackson started to go after her.

But Spencer said, “No, leave her be.”

Looking very put out by the idea that Spencer would dare try to give him an order, Jackson slowly pivoted to stare at him. “Come again?”

Not the least intimidated, Spencer rolled his eyes. “Give her the time she needs.”

Forestalling any hostilities, Chris said, “She’ll be back.”

“Her pride won’t let her dodge us for long.” Spencer stared toward where she’d gone. “But she won’t appreciate you seeing her upset.”

* * *

J
ACKSON
HAD
TO
ADMIT
that Spencer was probably right. Arizona could get real prickly over any perceived weakness. But damn, it went against the grain. Every instinct in his male-inspired repertoire told him to console her.

She’d probably have a fit if he tried that, though.

And she’d be more embarrassed. He couldn’t do that to her.

Patience was one of his strong suits. When necessary, he could wait for hours, even days, on a stakeout. But now, he had a hell of a time waiting for Arizona to return.

In his pocket, the keys jangled. He paced, constantly watching for her.

By silent agreement they had all decided to give her the space she needed. She’d return when she was ready. It had only been ten minutes. But still…

Finally she came back around the house, both dogs trailing her. She stroked Tai while talking to Sargie.

She liked dogs. Maybe that could be his next gift.

He wanted to take care of her for a very long time. He wanted to shower her with presents.

He wanted her to be in his life, for the rest of his life. As Alani had pointed out, she was like a sister to him. He felt responsible for her, loyal to her. He trusted her.

He loved her, damn it.

Hopefully his gift would help to convince her.

She stalled when she saw them all still lounging around the patio. “I figured you guys would go swimming or something.”

“That’s next,” Chris told her. “But Jackson has one more surprise for you.”

Jackson saw her bite off a groan, and it amused him. “None of that, now.” Throwing an arm around her shoulders, he brought her into the group. “Indulge me a little, will you?”

“Well, sure, but…” She let out a long breath. “Seriously, Jackson, it’s already so much. My trunk will be full!”

Alani, bless her beautiful heart, grinned hugely. “That’s the best part, Arizona.”

“The best part of what?”

“You’ll have more room. All the room you need.”

Seeing that she didn’t understand, Jackson added, “I don’t want you to live out of your trunk. Not anymore.”

Her gaze sought Spencer’s—why, Jackson didn’t know. Was she seeking additional support? Or was that look more about what she kept in her trunk?

He glanced at Spencer, but that sly dog kept all expression hidden.

Deciding that he’d check out her trunk at the first opportunity, Jackson withdrew the keys. “You know how Chris has a house here with Dare?”

Shock filled her features as Arizona took a step back. “No.”

It was an act of denial. She knew all about Chris’s house; in some ways, she was no different from him. Within minutes of her first trip to Dare’s, she’d taken in everything, including the property. She’d explored the boathouse, the dock, the shed, the garage…and Chris’s place.

Eyeing the keys in his hand, she shook her head. “No, you didn’t… You wouldn’t…”

Disbelief had her stammering.

Too bad. Eventually she’d get used to being loved.

At least, Jackson hoped that was true.

He pulled Alani into his side. “We did.”

Chris shrugged as if it were no big deal. “I have my own place for privacy, but I’m here, nearby, so I can keep up with everything Dare needs done.”

“He’s only a shout away,” Molly said. “It works out great.”

Arizona shook her head again, harder this time.

“I want you to continue working for me.” Ignoring her disbelief, her stricken expression, Jackson forged on. “You’re thorough. You catch on quick to the computer programs we use. And you get it.”

“It?” she asked.

“The whole biz. What to look for, what to consider. You put the pieces together.”

“You know what trafficking looks like,” Trace pointed out. “You recognize the signs.”

“Right.” Jackson jumped on that as a way to convince her. “I need you working with me.”

“You mean
for
you.” She couldn’t hide her sneer. “Like a secretary.”

Yeah…regardless of what Chris said, he wasn’t ready to toss her into the middle of it all; she’d spent too much time there already.

He looked to Spencer for help but got none. In fact, the poor dude looked pained. Jackson got it; Spencer might not want to admit it, but he’d been caught in Arizona’s web. Her special brand of vulnerability and bravado, the way she fought the world, just reeled a guy in.

Of course, Spencer looked at her in a way Jackson never had. At times, it made him uncomfortable and gave him just a hint of what Trace must’ve felt when he was hot and heavy on Alani’s tail.

Spencer wanted to do what was best for Arizona, which meant he had to fight his instincts—the gut-driven urge to protect her, even from herself.

Jackson could tell him that it’d be easier to give in, to redirect all that energy into loving Arizona instead. But he had a feeling Spencer needed to figure that one out on his own.

And if he didn’t…well, then, he didn’t deserve Arizona.

“I’d say as an assistant, actually, not a secretary—which you make sound like a dirty word.”

“I do assist,” Arizona said warily. “I’m not behind on anything, right? I went through all the files you sent my way.”

Alani hugged up to his arm. “You’ve been wonderful. Jackson told me so.”

Jackson nodded.

“But we’d also love to have you close.”