Falling Hard and Fast (22 page)

“Lilah.” Cage caught the waitress as she bustled by. “I'd consider it a personal favor if you'd seat those two fellas standing at the bar as quickly as you can.”

“What in blazes are you thinking, boy?” She waved a hand toward the crowded room. “Look at this place. We've got 'em stacked three deep as it is.”

“I'd consider it a favor.”

Her gaze sharpened when he repeated the words softly, and she threw another glance at the two. “I'll see what I can do.”

Zoey touched his hand as the woman hurried away. “That was a nice gesture.”

He shrugged. “No use leaving them to stand there attracting everyone's attention. Truth is, I'm downright fearful for them if Cindy Ann gets them in her sights. Like her mama, she can be a bit single-minded.”

She watched Lilah lead the men to a table that had suddenly been vacated. If Vince Segrem was annoyed by his sudden change of seating, it didn't show. He sidled up to Cindy Ann while he enjoyed a beer on the house.

“I'd like to meet them.”

He looked dismayed. “I'm not so sure that's a good idea. Things between us are a bit…tense.”

She eyed him, not without sympathy. “You're half brothers, Cage. The relationship isn't going to go away, even if they do.” When he didn't respond, only reached for his beer, she rose. “I can introduce myself.”

He practically tripped over his chair in his haste to follow her. The downside to strong women, he mused silently as he wove through the full tables in her path, was their stubbornness. There was something to be said for a woman who would smile sweetly and listen to reason.

It occurred to him then that such women had never held his interest for long. Being cursed with a gift for looking at the positive, he shoved his hands into his pockets and focused on the sway of her hips, which, his excellent memory reminded him, were bare beneath the dress. He might be slightly put out with her, but he wasn't blind.

“Gentlemen.” Since she had her hand stuck out, Jed had no choice but to take it. Both he and Sully stood, looked at her quizzically. “I'm Zoey Prescott, a…friend of Cage's.”

“Ma'am.”

Sully took her hand in turn, then looked over her shoulder. “Looks like he's caught up with you, ma'am.”

“It's a pleasure to meet his brothers.” It was, to her surprise, the truth. She studied both men carefully. There were few similarities among the three. Jed was darker and taller
than the others. Sully might be an inch or so shorter than Cage, and blond. There the resemblance stopped.

Or so she thought until she looked at their eyes. A breath trapped in her throat. Both men had gray eyes, the shade almost identical to Cage's. That single similarity was staggering.

An awkward silence fell when Cage joined them. Finally, Sully cleared his throat. “Didn't see many places to eat. What's good here?”

Rocking back on his heels a little, Cage took his time answering. “Steaks are all good. Rib-eye is the specialty.” Another silence stretched.

It was clear to Zoey that the men could use a little help. They reminded her of three wolves, circling warily, readying to pounce. In an unusually social act that had Cage widening his eyes comically, she pulled out a free chair. “Do you mind if we sit down for a while? We could get better acquainted.”

Jed and Sully exchanged a glance that was as cautious as Cage's tone when he spoke.

“Sweetheart, I think Lilah is serving our salads.”

Her gaze was as direct as her words. “It can wait.” Each of the three men seated themselves. And then Zoey, with, if not sweetness, enough charm to placate even Cage, began what could only be termed a “friendly inquisition.”

At the end of fifteen minutes there had been more information elicited, and returned, than in the entire two hours or so the three had spent together earlier that day. Of course, Cage justified silently, they'd gotten off to a rocky start this afternoon, and only a woman would be able to coax Jed, and the more taciturn Sully, to speak freely about their wives, even getting them to pull out their wallets to show her pictures. He shook his head in amazement when Zoey finally gave him a smug smile and said, “Please excuse me, gentlemen. I'll be right back.” Chairs scraped as the men scrambled up, all eyes fixed on her as she gracefully wended her way through the crowd to the ladies' room.

“Nice lady,” Sully said laconically, when they were seated again. “Wonder what she sees in you.”

“You mean other than charm, intelligence and outrageous good looks?” Cage shrugged. “You got me.”

With a snort, the other man reached for his beer. “Well, you are a pretty boy, there's no doubt about that.” There was no mistaking the gibe in the words. “Isn't he a pretty boy, Jed? Got a face like a choirboy.”

Cage studied him over the top of his bottle. “You know, I'm beginning to think it's a shame that we weren't all raised together. You could have used a pounding or two along the way to cure that attitude.”

“Yeah, it's too bad you landed instead in that cushy plantation house and a big pile of money,” Sully retorted. “Did Daddy's cash buy your job, too?”

Watching Cage's gaze heat and narrow had Jed intervening. “Knock it off.” The man—
his brother,
he corrected himself with a lingering sense of astonishment—had a much longer fuse than either he or Sully. But something in his eyes said the explosion at its end was something to be wary of. They weren't here to exchange insults, regardless. “We didn't exactly plan to spring the information on you like we did.” What they had planned was to check him out carefully before contacting him at all, but they'd failed to take into account small-town gossip.

After a glance at his brother, Sully added grudgingly, “Yeah. It's a lot to get used to.” Both he and Jed at least had had some forewarning before they'd met the first time. Sully wasn't willing to give Cage Gauthier much credit—not yet—but he'd answer to his wife, Ellie, if he didn't at least give the man a chance.

“How long will you be in town?” Cage asked.

“We'll drive the car back to the airport and take planes out on Sunday.”

Cage nodded and stood. “I'll be in touch before then.”

Zoey rejoined Cage at their table, placed her napkin on her lap with a flourish, and began stabbing at her now dry
salad. “What'd you do, cut and run the minute I turned my back?”

“It was more like five minutes. And you did the Potter sisters proud, honey. At least, I assume that's where you learned those interrogation techniques.”

She refused to take offense. “What good is being taught by masters if you don't take the time to practice?”

He reached over and smoothed a finger across her hand. “I know what you tried to do, but something like this can't be rushed.” He fell silent when Lilah put their steaming steaks in front of them. When she'd left he continued, “If—” he gently emphasized the word “—I decide to pursue any kind of relationship with…the Sullivans, it's going to take some time. Some careful consideration.”

Her voice softened. She knew what it was to take things slowly and cautiously. “Just so you give it consideration.”

The front door of Jonesy's suddenly burst open and several men entered, their voices raucous. Elbowing each other and guffawing loudly, they made places for themselves at the bar and called for service.

Cage didn't have to turn around to recognize their voices. “Perfect,” he muttered. Deliberately, he sawed at his steak, brought a piece to his mouth. “This isn't exactly the evening I had planned for us.”

She was frowning over his shoulder. “Does it always get this rowdy in here?”

“It does when the Rutherfords come to town.”

Her fork paused halfway to her mouth. “The ones who shot at your house?”

Imperturbably, he continued eating. “I expect so. They're like rats—like to travel in packs.” He glanced up, recognized the look in her eye and uttered a warning. “Don't even think about it.”

With effort, she returned her attention to her meal. “What?”

“Save the innocent act. If you're planning on going up there…saying anything…” Just the thought sent a cold chill
down his spine. He didn't want Zoey anywhere near that clan, and especially not when they'd been drinking. Even sitting across the room was too damn close. “I could get Lilah to wrap up our steaks. We could finish them at home.”

“And pass up the chance to dance with you later?” She nodded at the couples who were moving about the tiny dance floor in front of the jukebox. “No way.”

“All my best moves are better suited for privacy.”

Wanting to smile, she brought her wineglass to her lips. “I'll be the judge of that. I like to be very…thorough…in my research.”

He had, she discovered later, more moves than she'd expected. He guided her around the postage-stamp-size dance floor with a fluidity that spoke of practice. The crowded space forced them to dance close. The heat of his gaze urged her even closer. She rested her head against his chest, let her eyelids droop. She could hear his heart thudding in her ear, feel the subtle play of muscles beneath his skin. He had one hand at the base of her spine, lightly caressing. The fingers of his other hand were wrapped around her palm, occasionally brushing against her bare shoulder. Molten warmth suffused her veins and every pulse point jumped in time to the song's backbeat. She was aware that they were doing little more than swaying together. She was also aware of an intense desire to be alone with him.

She opened her eyes, tipped her head back, and saw her desire reflected on his face. Her heart stuttered in her chest. Without a word, they turned and began making their way toward the door.

They were no more than halfway when a voice rang out, “Well, lookee, here, boys, it's the high-and-mighty sheriff of St. Augustine parish.”

Zoey glanced at Cage, concerned when his face hardened. “Let it go. They're all as drunk as skunks.”

He might have been able to do as she advised. He'd never know—because the next thing that came out of Lonny Rutherford's mouth had his fingers clenching. “Don't blame him
for leaving early. I wouldn't mind going home and plowing into that one myself.” Shoulders set, Cage turned.

“Go on outside and wait in the car, Zoey.”

She didn't know whether to be outraged or amazed at the order. “Not unless you come with me.”

He seemed not to have heard her. Sauntering closer to the bar, he faced four of the Rutherfords, all cackling at their brother's witticism. “I believe I must have misunderstood you, Lonny. Even low-down scum like you know better than to talk like that about a lady. But seein' as how you're probably under a lot of stress and all, lately, I'm going to allow you the chance to apologize.”

Lonny snorted and spat on the floor. “Stress? What stress?”

“Well, there's your younger brother still in jail. Your worthless other brother on the run. Takes a miserable excuse for a man to pound on a woman, doesn't it?” The gaze he flicked over the group was derisive. “Of course, that's about what I'd expect from your family.”

His words effectively wiped the grin from Lonny's face. It was replaced by a mask of pure mean. “Both of them was your fault, Gauthier. First you framed Carver, then you poked your nose into Donny Ray's business, too. What goes on between a man and his wife ain't no one else's never mind.”

“It is when that man is a cowardly drunk who uses his wife for a punching bag.” With the smell of trouble in the air, the patrons at the bar sidled away, most choosing a place across the room with a good vantage point.

Zoey watched money exchange hands and realized with amazement that some of the men were betting on the outcome of the altercation. Determinedly, she moved forward. “Cage, please take me home now.”

Without turning his head, he said mildly, “Zoey, if you take one step closer, I'm going to be mighty put out with you.”

Strong hands captured both of her elbows, guiding her
away from the bar. Looking up, she was relieved to see Jed and Sully. “Thank God you're still here. Let go of me and get Cage out of this place before somebody gets hurt.”

They deposited her in a safe corner and turned back to the dispute. “Doesn't look like that's going to be possible, ma'am.”

She looked at Jed impatiently. “Of course it's possible—”

“You've been asking for this for a long time, Gauthier.” Lonny's words had her attention snapping back to Cage. The four men had pushed away from the bar and were slowly encircling him. “It's about time you found out what happens to people who mess with us.”

Cage ducked the fist that Lonny sent his way and punched the man twice in the gut.

“Nice move,” Jed said in an aside.

“Not bad,” Sully agreed.

Astonished, Zoey yanked at their sleeves. “What on earth is wrong with you both? Get out there and put a stop to this!”

As Lonny doubled over, another Rutherford spun Cage around and sent a right jab into his face.

Sully winced. “That's gonna leave a mark.”

“You imbeciles!” Zoey seethed. She pushed at them both, but they were as immovable as brick walls. “Do something!”

Jed glanced at Sully. “Care to make a little wager?”

Sully dug into his pocket for a bill. “Twenty says they wipe the floor with him.”

Jed watched consideringly as a third Rutherford jumped on Cage's back with his forearm pressed across Cage's throat. “Okay, but you have to give me two-to-one odds. There are four of them.”

“Men! You're all morons!” Zoey pushed between them and started toward the fray. Four hands grabbed for her, pulled her back.

“Now, ma'am, that's certainly no place for a woman.”
As they watched, Lonny recovered his breath and motioned to his brothers. Two of them wrestled Cage's arms behind his back and endeavored to hold him still while Lonny wound up. Cage let the two men take his weight and kicked out, catching the eldest Rutherford square in the chin before he could land the punch. He dropped like a giant redwood.