Lori Foster (32 page)

Insane.

She inched closer still—
just as she had in
his dream.

“You have some dark bruising.”

Reese followed her concerned gaze to his wrist and saw the ugly
marks there, testament to how he’d tried to free himself from the key-lock metal
cuffs—
his own friggin’ handcuffs
—that had been
used against him.

“It’s fine.” Never had he felt more helpless than when he’d
been in those restraints, knowing that his own failure could facilitate the
murder of others. Never again would he be caught unawares.

Once was more than enough.

Alice hesitated. “Are you hurt anywhere else?”

Other than his pride at being taken off guard in his own
apartment... “No.” He wanted nothing more than to move past it all.

She accepted that without an excess of coddling. “Your friend
will be all right?”

“Logan? He’s a detective, like me.”

“I thought so. When I saw him yesterday, I knew he was
safe.”

Safe? The things she said always had double meanings. “Just as
you knew the others were dangerous?” Alice had seen people come into the
apartment building, and somehow she’d known they weren’t friends. Not only was
she astute, but she also wasn’t afraid to react—thank God.

“Yes.” She gave him a level stare. “I can usually tell.”

How?
Reese wanted to know. It
wasn’t as if criminals walked around with a damn sign on their foreheads. God
knew, if they did, his job would be a hell of a lot easier.

As a detective, he’d dealt with enough shady characters that
he’d gained something of a sixth sense about them. He noticed things, slight
nuances that others missed.

But what had happened in Alice’s life to give her that edge?
“Logan is fine. You met Pepper?”

“Yes. She stayed in my apartment with me while Detective Riske
went to your aid.”

“Call him Logan—I’m sure he’d insist.” Reese thought of the
moment when he’d realized Logan had been shot. He hadn’t let the wound slow him
down, until blood loss had done that for him. “He’s home with Pepper now,
healing and no doubt being pampered.”

Because of Alice’s quick thinking, Reese and his friends were
all alive, and a very bad character dealing in every aspect of corruption,
including new ventures into human trafficking, was dead.

Reese had a lot of regrets for how things had gone down
yesterday, but he didn’t feel even a smidge of remorse over that.

Alice tipped her head. “Logan and Pepper are in love?”

“He is for sure.” It wasn’t like him to talk out of turn, but
he heard himself say, “And that added to the craziness of the sting. Cops going
undercover do
not
fall in love with key
witnesses.”

“Why not?”

“Complications, for one thing. Hard to think rationally when
you’re emotionally involved.”

“He didn’t seem emotional to me. As soon as I related my
suspicions, he took over. He stuffed Pepper into my apartment, prepared himself
the best he could and warned us—unnecessarily, I might add—to keep the doors
locked.”

“Knowing Pepper, that had to be a laugh a minute.”

She smiled at his sarcasm. “She was mostly silent, and very
worried. You do realize that Pepper is also in love with your friend?”

Alice sounded so sure about that, Reese shrugged. “Okay.”

“Rowdy is her brother?”

“Yes.” Reese stretched, felt too many kinks in his shoulders,
and winced while rubbing a hand over the back of his neck.

He saw Alice gaze in awe at his biceps, and it warmed him. He
left his arm up a few seconds longer—until he realized how absurd that was.

Damn it, she seduced him without trying, and in totally
unconventional ways. “You met Rowdy?” Reese couldn’t recall any introductions,
but then, he’d had his hands full dealing with everything else.

“Briefly.” Alice’s attention coasted over his chest, then down
to his abdomen.

His muscles constricted in reaction.

“I wasn’t so sure about Rowdy. He worried me at first. That’s
why I called you when he showed up. But he’s not as ruthless as the others. I
have a feeling he walks a very fine line between what’s lawful and what fits his
own moral code.”

Since that described Rowdy perfectly, Reese felt his own share
of awe. “Probably.”

“The lieutenant?”

Though Alice had entered the scene in the midst of pandemonium,
she had all the key players down. “When last I left her, she was running
roughshod over anyone who stood in her way, issuing orders like a general.” He
shook his head. “For such a petite woman, she rules with an iron fist.”

“I liked her.” Alice stared at his lap again.

“I figured you would.” Reese sat forward. “I need some caffeine
to kick-start my brain. How about I take Cash out and you put on a pot of
coffee?”

The dog, who had almost been asleep, bounded up in
agreement.

“If that’s what you want.”

That wasn’t even close to what he wanted, but for now it’d have
to do. “Thank you.” He waited, but when she continued to stand there watching
him, he shrugged and tossed the sheet aside to stand.

* * *

A
T
THE
SIGHT
of Reese’s big strong
body, Alice sucked in a breath and all but fled to the kitchen. Reese thought
he’d embarrassed her, and yes, he had. A little.

But it was so much more than that, more complex than mere
embarrassment. It was...something she hadn’t felt in far too long.

And she relished it.

After two deep breaths, she called out to him, “I’ll have this
ready in ten minutes.”

When he finally replied, his voice came from close behind her.
“That works.”

Startled, she turned to see him and almost dropped the
carafe.

Shirtless and barefoot, he leaned in the kitchen doorway, only
a few feet away. He’d pulled on rumpled slacks, zipped but unbuttoned so that
they hung low, showing off his taut abdomen and that silky line of dark blond
hair that disappeared into his boxers.

Boy. The pants helped a little, but not much. He still looked
indescribably awesome.

Sighing in resignation at her distraction, Reese said again,
“Up here, Alice.”

Mute, she performed the near-impossible feat of lifting her
attention to his face. She had a feeling that with Reese so uninhibited, his
reminders were going to come fast and furious.

Really, how could any woman
not
stare at him?

The very first time she’d seen him, she’d recognized him as a
prime physical specimen. Her past had damaged her, sure, but she wasn’t blind or
stupid.

It had taken a lot of effort to remember her need for privacy,
to look past him, to ignore his friendly smiles and polite greetings.

Then, seeing him with the dog...well, that had sealed her fate.
Alice knew she’d lost a small part of her heart to him the moment she’d seen his
patience with Cash. Reese stood over six and a half feet tall, but he wasn’t
lanky. He had a honed body that drew everyone’s attention. No one could mistake
his strength. Yet he’d been so gentle with Cash.

And yesterday, watching him in hero mode as he’d not only taken
charge of the deadly situation but also tended to his injured friend... How
could
anyone
be immune to him?

Fully dressed, Detective Reese Bareden was a heart-stopper.
Half-naked, he was enough to turn her stupid with lust.

Amusement showed in the glitter of his green eyes. “I like it
strong.”

“What?” Oh, Lord, she’d been visually devouring him again. She
swallowed and tried to get it together.

“The coffee.”

“Oh.” How could she have forgotten? She held the carafe with
both hands and summoned a smile. “All right.”

New concern eased his smile away. “What is it, Alice?”

“Nothing.” She couldn’t very well tell him that he was one of
the most impressive males she’d ever known—and that was saying something, given
that she’d met some truly remarkable men.

Men from her past.
Good
men...who’d
been there to counter the depraved.

Even thinking about it caused her to tighten, to close in on
herself protectively—

“Alice?”

That deep, gentle voice brought her out of dark memories. Her
racing heart slowed, her muscles uncoiled. She let out a tense breath and tried
to sound casual. “Yes?”

“You and I are going to have that talk today.”

He made it sound almost like a threat, but she’d known real
threats, and Reese didn’t scare her. Not that way. Not in any way, really. “Yes,
we will.”

Her quick compliance seemed to surprise him. Had he expected
her to refuse him? To get defensive?

Truthfully, there were times when even she didn’t know how
she’d react. Ugly memories had a way of surfacing when she least expected
them.

When it came to men, most of the time she steered clear of
them. She definitely hadn’t planned on being drawn to Reese. But she enjoyed
talking with him, so why avoid it? He wouldn’t get the information he wanted
because it was information she couldn’t share, but she’d tell him enough to keep
him satisfied.

For a little while, anyway.

Cash strained the length of the leash, impatient with the
delay. The adorable dog, still more a puppy than not, was notorious for piddling
on the floor when he got excited, curious, when he had to go...pretty much for
any reason at all, really.

Luckily both of their apartments had hardwood floors, which
made cleanups easier.

After another long look, Reese nodded at her and led the dog
away. Moving out of the kitchen, warm with admiration, Alice watched him go. His
disheveled blond hair and darker beard shadow only made him more gorgeous. Sleek
muscles flexed...everywhere. Over his very wide shoulders, his back, down the
length of those thick arms and thicker thighs...

He pulled the door open.

Breath strangled in her chest. “You’re going outside like
that?
”

He glanced down at himself and shrugged as if he didn’t have a
body that could stop traffic and hearts alike. “Why not?”

The man was all but naked! He hadn’t even buttoned his pants.
“You’re...indecent.”

“I won’t be long.” He checked that the door wouldn’t lock when
he closed it, and out he went.

ISBN: 9781460319550

GETTING ROWDY

Copyright © 2013 by Lori Foster

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