Dawn Autumn (7 page)

She gave him a warning look.

White teeth flashed in a lethal smile. “Relax, sweetheart. We won’t do anything you’re uncomfortable with.”

She exhaled forcefully. “I’m going to regret this, aren’t I?” It wasn’t a question.

He didn’t ask her to do anything kinky, though. As he’d promised, she posed with her guitar, played for him some. The process was painless, and she could hardly believe he was paying for her time. Even better, when they went shopping, he bought her a cropped leather jacket in sky blue, black jeans, cute black boots and blue sunglasses. “What? No bustier?” She was only half joking. She’d expected him to try and get her into something skimpy.

Fred turned from a rack of men’s jeans and looked at her for a long moment. “I don’t think you realize the look I’m after. This is all about you...
all
you. If I’d wanted a biker babe, I’d have gone out to a bar and brought one home.”

The confidence that he could made her shiver. She’d seen him dressed to kill. Maybe he had more of an idea of his attractions than she thought?

He dropped a pair of jeans in their basket and stepped closer. Looking down at her, he said softly, “You have no idea what you do to me, do you?”

She lowered her eyes, unsure of herself, and then slanted him a reckless look, surprising herself. “And what is that?”

He didn’t move, but a restless, hungry energy made the air around him sizzle. “I could show you.”

Unable to stand the tension, she looked aside and drew a deep, slow breath. “I think this is one of those times a smart girl would go slowly.” She tried to think of further arguments and couldn’t. Admitting that she was scared wasn’t an option.

As if he understood, his mouth softened into a curve. “We don’t have to rush this. What do you think about this shirt?”

He bought her more clothes over her objections, insisting that he needed them for photo shoots. Of course, she’d keep them when they were done. He wouldn’t need them again. The things he picked for her were stylish, too. The man had good taste, which made her even more suspicious about the clown costume he usually wore. When she quizzed him about it, he just laughed.

“It keeps the women off me,” he said with a wink.

She wasn’t so sure he was joking.

He took her to dinner at a fun Irish pub. Dollar bills signed with the names of former patrons were stapled all over the ceiling. A stuffed moose’s head hung in a place of honor, its nose worn thin from ‘lucky kisses’. Signs hung on the bathroom doors saying ‘Women’ and ‘Men’. In small print underneath, there were arrows saying, ‘This way’. The men’s room had the women’s sign and the women’s door had a men’s sign. She grinned, imagining the mischief those signs had caused. She was pleased to see pump bottles of lotion and hairspray on the counters for the patrons, along with spotless bathrooms.

The place had delicious food, and she fell in love with the steak and mushroom pie. Filled with red wine gravy and tender meat, the thing was wrapped in a flaky pastry and served with beer that even she liked, die hard wine lover that she was. She didn’t have room for dessert, so Fred ordered three different desserts to go. They didn’t leave immediately, though, but lingered over Irish coffees, enjoying the fire in the stone hearth and listening to the Irish band.

Jay smiled dreamily. She didn’t usually drink, and the spiked coffee combined with the beer made the world a little rosy. “You know, I don’t need to be rich and famous. If I could just play and have fun like these guys are doing, I’d be happy.”

Fred looked at her with a tender, indulgent smile. “Sounds like a good goal.”

She grinned at him. “Can’t make a living at it, though.”

He almost said he’d take care of that, and then thought better of it. Now wasn’t the time. He might be a goner, but there was no telling where she was now. Besides, his date had had too much to drink. “Why don’t we head home? You’ve got to work tomorrow, right?”

Jay giggled as he juggled her keys, trying to open her door while keeping one arm around her waist. Not that he minded her snuggling, but she was a little unsteady and needed the support.

Coal wandered down the stairs on his way out, saw them, and stopped. He smirked. “Well, well. What have you two been up to?”

Jay peeked around Fred’s back and waved cheerfully. “Hell-o, Coal.”

Coal waggled his brows at her. “Finally letting Fred in, are we? I’d stick around to chaperone, but I’ve got a hot date myself.”

Fred glowered at him.

Coal just grinned and waved. “Bye, now. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t.” He swaggered out the door.

“Ignore him,” Fred advised as he settled her on the couch and brought in the bags. He took them to her room, then returned to stare at her, undecided. “Are you going to be okay?”

She smiled saucily at him and took his hand, tugging him down to the couch. “Come here and kiss me.”

He raised his brows in amusement, not adverse to the idea. Another day, another woman, and he wouldn’t have hesitated to take everything he wanted. This woman was special, though, so he tempered the kiss, refusing to be drawn in farther than he could handle. It mattered what she thought about him in the morning, and he’d had enough morning after scenes to know what her reaction would be if he took her now. He wanted her smiling softly in the daylight, not slapping his face and calling him a bastard.

With a regretful groan, he drew back just before she would have flashed over.

She whimpered and tried to draw him back. He gave her a fast kiss, and then drew her to her feet. “Hmm, not tonight, sweetheart.” She pouted, but he knew she didn’t mean it—not yet, anyway. He’d make sure she got there, though. When she started ripping his clothes off and threatening handcuffs, he’d know she’d come far enough. Hiding his wolfish smile under a quick hug, he turned her toward the bedroom and patted her butt to get her moving. “Sweet dreams, baby.”

* * * *

Later the next day, he was still feeling mellow as he answered Cole’s inquisition with the truth.

“You just let her go?” Cole shook his head incredulously and bopped Fred on the back of his head.

Fred shot him a dangerous look. Even Cole didn’t get away with that kind of playfulness. “Watch yourself.”

A tad sobered, Cole still complained, “Man, you had her in your hands! What are you doing?”

Turning his attention back to the screen in front of him, Fred typed in some words, his fingers flying as he finished his report. “You don’t understand how it is with us.”

Eyes thoughtfully narrowed as he chugged his wine cooler, Cole considered him. “You lovesick fool. You want to take her back home.”

Fred’s fingers stilled, then flew again. “Yes.”

Cole whistled. “Nobody falls harder than a former rake, huh? That’ll be a neat trick, though. Too bad you can’t just grab her and go. Things might get sticky if she protests to the agency.”

“It’ll be her choice. I’m just...preparing her to make the right one.” Fred’s teeth flashed in a predator’s smile. Maybe he was a former rake, but he hadn’t forgotten the moves. Jay was poised for a fall, and he planned to give her a hard push over the edge. He’d never wanted women to fall in love with him, but they all did. The one time he wanted it to happen, he didn’t doubt he could make it. There was something in a woman that equaled opening her body with opening her heart. Jay would be the same, and for once, he was fiercely glad.

She was the one. He’d made his choice, and he’d make the rest happen, too. She’d be wed and in his bed within the month and thrilled about it.

“Seducing her mindless, you mean.” Coal tsked in mock disapproval. “You want her too weak to protest any claims once you get her home.”

“Well, I could simply tell her the truth, but that’s going to backfire unless I lay a little groundwork. A little blinding passion can be a good thing when you announce to your prospective bride that you’re an alien.” His glasses were off, and he glanced at Cole ironically, his naked eyes glinting silver like two smoky mirrors. He gestured to his room, to the elaborate archway that had appeared in place of his wall of pictures. “A traffic cop, no less. If it wasn’t for my paintings, I wouldn’t even be able to afford a wife on the salary I make.” There wasn’t much traffic through Fred’s portal. Maybe one or two aliens a month used the portal here, then the adjoining ones in Coal’s and Mr. & Mrs. Fadious’ rooms that lead to their respective worlds. No aliens stayed on earth. Who’d want to? The place had its charms, but it was a backward planet at best, useful only as a way station.

It made a handy place to exile out of favor cops, too. Fred’s current assignment proved that. If Jay hadn’t come along and distracted him, Fred might have gone crazy with boredom.

Fred had been the best of the best. A cross between a bounty hunter and a federal agent, he’d brought down enough notorious criminals for the Federation that his place should have been secure forever. Instead, he’d gotten involved with the wrong woman and found himself exiled. It had either been that or compulsory retirement, and at the time he couldn’t stomach the idea of being forced out.

Some days, he regretted that decision.

Perhaps guessing his thoughts, Coal said soothingly, “Instant travel compensates for a lot. At least there’s a chance of adventure guarding the frontier.”

“Less everyday,” Fred said grimly, reviewing his report. Satisfied, he sent it off. “I’m ready to take that investigative position, Cole. Working with a private company has got to beat being a monkey for the government. The pay’s a lot better, too. As soon as I wrap things up with Jay, this place will be yours to handle.”

Cole frowned. “You know I hate bureaucracy.”

“Welcome to the real world.” Fred unhooked his new glasses from his black t-shirt and slipped them on. Jay had just gotten home.

* * * *

Jay left her door open when she got in. Fred had a habit of seeking her out, and tonight was no exception. It was still a shock to see him in his new jeans and stylish new glasses. The man did look good, even better than the sack of takeout he carried.

Her stomach rumbled its disagreement.

“Do you like Mexican? I cooked,” he said with a smile. He set the bag on the counter and started unpacking boxes.

“I should start paying for some of that,” she said, grateful not to have to think about dinner.