Bare It All

chapter FIVE

THE DISGRUNTLED LOOK on Alice’s face didn’t deter Reese. He ignored it, just as he ignored Rowdy’s smug amusement and rapt attention.

Because he wanted to, because for whatever reason, she was too damn tempting, he put his mouth to hers again. This time he kept it light, brief to the point of frustration, and when he lifted his head he smoothed her plump bottom lip with his thumb. “Where can I store my stuff?”

Somewhat dazed and definitely flustered, she looked around as if she didn’t know her own apartment.

“I can hang my change of clothes in the hall closet, if that’s okay.”

She didn’t look at Rowdy. She didn’t really look at Reese either.

“Alice?”

“Mmm? Oh.” After a deep shuddering breath, she pulled herself together. “Why don’t I put your shaving kit in the bathroom? I, ah, have a shelf in there, so it’ll be handy when you need it...tomorrow I guess. To shave.” Pained, she did a verbal push to get beyond her stumbling speech. “Please do feel free to use the hall closet for your clothing. It’s mostly empty, so there should be plenty of room.”

“Right.” Empty for now—but when she got her gun back from Logan, she’d have yet another weapon stored there. “Thanks.”

With a dismissive smile, she hurried off. Reese shot a suspicious frown at Rowdy—and saw him watching Alice’s retreat.

No f*cking way. Was that interest in Rowdy’s gaze? It better not be. It damn well better be something else—what, Reese had no idea.

Turning to fully face him, Reese waited until he gained Rowdy’s complete attention. To ensure Alice wouldn’t hear, he kept his voice low. “What are you doing here? And don’t give me that bullshit about visiting.”

Rowdy followed his lead and spoke in a near whisper. “She’s scary.”

“Alice? Don’t be stupid.”

“A dog that doesn’t bark is always the most dangerous.”

“You’re calling her a dog?” Reese knew that wasn’t his point at all.

“I’m saying she’s too quiet, and too proper.” Rowdy took a seat again, and Cash abandoned Reese to join him. “She’s also putting on a brave front, almost like she’s been doing it so long she doesn’t even realize it now.”

No kidding. He’d figured that one out on his own. “What do you know of it?”

“Only that it bothers me.”

So Alice hadn’t confided in Rowdy either? Good. He wanted her to trust him first and foremost, not any other man. “Don’t worry about it.” Reese took his clothes to the closet. “I’ve got it covered.”

“Somehow, Reese, I don’t think you do.”

Reese was ready to take him apart, but Alice reentered with forced cheer.

“Where are my manners? Rowdy, would you like something to drink?”

“No,” Reese said, “he doesn’t.”

Confusion tripped her up. “You already asked him?”

“No.”

Alice frowned at him.

Rowdy just smirked. “I’m good, Alice, thanks, anyway.”

Before Alice could protest, Reese asked him, “So, you saw Logan? He’s doing okay?”

“He’s surly and complaining that Pepper keeps trying to shove a pain pill down his throat.”

“He isn’t taking his meds?”

“The antibiotics, sure. But the pain pills make him sleepy, so he’d rather suffer the discomfort. Thing is, if he so much as flickers an eyelid, Pepper can’t bear it. She wants to ‘comfort’ him.”

Imagining that, Reese grinned. Like him, Logan wasn’t big on being coddled. It emasculated a man, especially a man who wanted to do the coddling. “I can see why that’d make him surly. At least he has a reason to stay in bed.” Then, just to tweak Rowdy, he added, “With Pepper.”

Rowdy slanted him a look. “If Alice weren’t present, I’d tell you what to do with that sentiment.”

That seemed to startle Alice out of some heavy-duty daydreaming. “What does it matter if I’m—”

He pushed to his feet. “I don’t want to singe your ears, hon.”

“Oh.”

Hon? Reese collected her to his side again. “I was going to check in with Logan today, anyway. Maybe I can run some interference for him.” And thinking that gave him an idea.

He looked down at Alice. “What do you have planned for the day?”

“Nothing much. I finished my work while you were—” she waved a hand at the couch “—sleeping. I thought I might give Cash a bath.”

The dog flattened his ears, slunk off the couch and went behind a chair.

Bemused, Alice watched him. “Maybe instead I’ll make a run to the grocery.”

“Is there something you needed?”

She bit her lip. “I have a sweet tooth.”

Somehow, the way she said that felt like an admission. Reese saw the same confusion he felt mirrored on Rowdy’s face. “I do, too.”

“Me, three,” Rowdy said.

“Jelly beans are my favorite.” She looked at both men.

“Chocolate ice cream,” Rowdy said without hesitation.

Would he ever understand her? Reese wondered. “I’m up for anything, but I especially like caramels, and warm peach pie is always good.”

“Mmm, sounds delicious,” Alice agreed. “You’re both in such great shape, you can probably eat anything you want without worrying about it.”

“You’re slim,” Reese told her. “Surely you don’t—”

“Diet?” She shook her head. “No. But I’m bad, I use food as...” Her voice trailed off.

“Comfort,” Rowdy finished for her. “Pepper does the same thing. She says the worst for her was the evenings. But instead of a few jelly beans, she’d binge on an entire pizza.”

Alice smiled over that. “I go through a bag of jelly beans a week. Sometimes two bags.” She tipped her head at Rowdy. “Your sister is really beautiful.”

“Yeah, she is,” Reese agreed. “Logan is a lucky guy.” Reese paid little attention to what he said. He was too busy trying to figure out Alice’s thoughts. Was she making some sort of female-inspired comparison? He hoped not, because Pepper Yates was an extremely unique woman.

But then, so was Alice—only in a very different way.

“Maybe we can shop together on the way back from seeing Logan and Pepper.” Holding her hand in his, he rubbed a thumb over her knuckles. “You’ll come with me, won’t you?”

She couldn’t quite hide her pleasure. “You want me to?”

“I’m sure Pepper would like to see you again.” He could keep Alice close by taking her along, and while there she could give Pepper someone else to focus on. Whether or not Logan would thank him for that, Reese couldn’t say.

Touching her hair as if to straighten it, Alice asked, “When did you plan to leave?”

“I’m ready now if you are.” He sent a pointed look Rowdy’s way.

“And there’s my cue to hit the road.” As Rowdy walked to Alice, Reese saw the slight rise in her anxiety.

Rowdy, the dick, pretended that he didn’t. “Thanks again for everything.”

Everything? What the hell did that mean?

Alice stuck out a hand. “It was nice to see you again.”

Ignoring her impersonal gesture, Rowdy hauled her in for a big hug, lifting her right off her feet.

Which meant her hand was now caught between their bodies, against Rowdy’s midsection, and that had Reese seeing red.

She all but groped him. Unwillingly, sure. By accident even. But still...

He stepped forward—and Alice disengaged herself.

She didn’t go far. In a low, too-serious voice—as if Reese wasn’t right there and more than able to hear every single word—she said, “If you ever want to talk, I’m here.”

No, she was not. “What the hell does he have to talk about?”

“Not a thing,” Rowdy said, his good humor obliterated by her offer. And then with exasperation: “You stole my line again, hon.”

Reese stepped forward in warning. “You’re pushing your luck, Rowdy.”

Drolly, he said, “Yeah, wouldn’t want to do that.”

Reese started to fume, and Alice slipped forward to lead Rowdy to the door. “I’ll see you out.”

Cash launched into the fray, always excited by the idea of a trip outdoors.

As good an excuse as any, Reese decided. He took down the dog’s leash. “No, I’ll walk him out. I’ll take Cash with me, so as soon as you’re ready we can take off.”

“Thank you,” she said. “I only need a few minutes.”

Rowdy didn’t wait, so Reese had to hurry to get Cash hooked to the leash so he could follow.

He caught Rowdy in the parking lot. “Hold up, damn it.”

Rowdy paused, then with a shrug, walked into the grassy area.

They stood there in silence a moment, watching as Cash chased a bee while also trying to piddle. He hobbled along on three legs—the fourth in the air—before running out of leash and landing back on his tail.

Rowdy shook his head. “I do like that dog.”

“So does Alice. Good old Cash was my icebreaker.” Dark clouds rolled over the sun, and a breeze carried the scent of rain. Reese surveyed the sky with interest. “It wasn’t until she saw the dog that she stopped snubbing me.”

“But she has stopped.”

It gave Reese great satisfaction to confirm it. “I’ll be staying with her a few days while they clean my apartment.”

“Bragging? Hell, Reese, you may as well use a branding iron on her.” Thunder rumbled, announcing a threat of storms to come. “Calm it down a little, why don’t you.”

Advice from another man, a man who’d just been in Alice’s apartment, didn’t go down smooth. “What’s your interest?”

“Hell, I don’t know.” Rowdy leaned over to pluck a dandelion. “There’s something about her. It’s like she’s guarded. Even hurt. Unlike most people, she’s too alert, too intuitive, like maybe she’s waiting for something to happen.”

“Something bad.”

“Yeah. And the way she rolled with that shit yesterday? A dead body doesn’t shake her. And the stuff she says, how she says it...”

“I know.” It unnerved Reese, as well, and made him determined to shield her.

“I want to find out what happened to cause her to be that way.”

Reese wanted the same. “I’ll handle it.”

“So will I.” Rowdy tossed aside the weed. “Don’t start huffing, Reese. It doesn’t suit you. Sarcasm, sharp wit, that’s more your speed.”

Reese held silent, not a single bit of sharp wit coming to mind.

“You know I can find out things you can’t. No, not by grilling Alice. I won’t do that to her.” When the stiffening breeze blew his hair, Rowdy shoved it back with both hands. “Hell, if I tried, she’d probably put me through the inquisition, all while showering me with concern.”

Interesting. “That’s what she did?”

“Totally threw me. Not even my sister tries that hard to get in my head.” He narrowed his eyes at Reese. “She treated me like some damned abused mutt she wanted to heal.”

As Reese knew, Rowdy had plenty of demons to deal with. He and Pepper had not had easy lives. Apparently, Alice saw it, too.

But was that her only interest in Rowdy?

“What did you tell her?”

“I denied everything.” The baring of Rowdy’s teeth didn’t come close to resembling a smile. “Something’s up with her, and we both know it. My guess is that you’ve already made plans to check into it, but your legal channels are limited.”

“Duly noted.” Sticking to legal channels had almost gotten him and his friends killed, in his own damned apartment.

Rowdy eyed him. “Give it a rest, Reese. That wasn’t your fault. No one blames you.” He stared toward the dog, now digging at a root. “I’m glad it’s over.”

But it wasn’t, not yet. One scumbag might’ve died, but others remained. The tentacles of evil reached far and wide. “You know, I figured you’d be Lieutenant Peterson’s problem right about now. Yesterday we rounded up parts of the human trafficking ring, but there are more connections, others to pull out of hiding.”

“And you thought I’d be following leads?” He examined a few raindrops that landed on his forearm. “Now, Reese, would I ignore a direct order from your lieutenant to stay out of that?”

Yeah, he absolutely would. Where innocent women were concerned, few men could stand aside and do nothing. A man like Rowdy? No way would he stay uninvolved.

“If you trip up,” Reese said, “Peterson will have your head.”

“My head and my balls—at least that’s what she told me.”

They shared a quick smile before Rowdy sobered again.

“One advantage to living under the radar is that I made contacts on the street. And before you say it, yes, I know how to ask around without drawing too much attention. There won’t be any blowback for Alice.”

“If she’s not from around here, you won’t find jack shit.” Rowdy had cultivated many friends in high and low places, but he didn’t have unlimited boundaries.

“True enough. The thing is, I’m more concerned with any remaining threat against her. If she has legitimate reason to worry, I’ll be able to find out.”

Reese hated to have another man poking into Alice’s business. Yet he knew it was true; Rowdy did have connections that might elude the law.

And if she was only skittish thanks to a traumatic past? Well, then, he’d deal with it. “Report to me.”

“I don’t report to anyone.”

Temper spiking, Reese stood his ground. “Maybe now is a good time for you to start.”

Static collected in the air as Rowdy continued to study Reese, until finally he flashed a genuine grin. “Yeah, all right. Don’t implode. I just wanted to test the water.”

“Keep out of the water.”

Laughing again, Rowdy clapped him on the shoulder. Hard. “If I find out anything, I’ll clue you in. You’ll do the same?”

Damn it, he didn’t want to. But maybe an alliance with Rowdy would be a good thing. He could think of him as a snitch, utilize his talents in different ways....

“We’re on the same side in this, Reese. She’s a hell of an actress, and she’s putting up a brave front, but she’s scared. I want to know why, you want to know why, and we both want to ensure that no matter what it is, it never touches her again.”

Reese watched as Cash rolled to his back in a patch of clover. “All right. I’ll tell you what I know so far. But understand this, Rowdy. She’s off-limits.”

“To me?”

God, he despised declaring himself. If this wasn’t so important, he wouldn’t. “It’s nothing personal against you,” Reese clarified. “Far as I’m concerned, she’s off-limits to every guy other than me.”

After Rowdy finished laughing, Reese told him about the kidnapping. They were both grim as death when they parted ways.

* * *

ALICE STARED OUT the passenger window, watching the wind bend trees, the rain flood the streets. The windshield wipers beat a frantic rhythm, and the defroster worked overtime.

She’d been halfway to Reese’s car when the skies opened up and sent a deluge to soak her before she could even attempt to open an umbrella. Combing her hair now would be pointless. Already it started to curl.

Luckily she didn’t wear makeup, or it’d be everywhere.

She’d changed into simple, plain ballet flats and a dark print summer dress that should have been modest and comfortable. But now wet, it kept trying to cling to her breasts, her belly, her thighs. Chills rose on her arms despite the warmth of the interior.

She loved it.

Often when out and about, she couldn’t relax. She stayed too busy watching for threats, observing everyone and everything. She wondered how those people could be so different from her.

And she wondered if evil blended in with the mundane.

Right beneath the noses of the unsuspecting public, people were grabbed. Taken away. Mistreated. Abused.

Forced to do things they didn’t want to do.

Never again would she be unaware of her surroundings. She stayed vigilant, for herself and for others.

Right now, though, on this stormy afternoon, few people could be seen. Even better, she was safe and sound in a car with the impressive Detective Reese Bareden.

Lightning seared the sky ahead of them, ramping up the downpour from a shower to a thunderstorm.

Feeling content, a little lazy and all too comfortable despite the weather and her drenched appearance, she sighed. “I love storms.” She’d always found them sexy. Peaceful. A sign of fresh renewal.

Strung too tight, Reese muttered, “Me, too.”

He slowed as a woman, holding a little boy’s hand, dashed across the street. She almost lost her umbrella beneath a gust of wind. The kid laughed as he deliberately stomped in deep puddles. The poor woman was not amused.

Alice watched them hurry into a restaurant. She realized she was smiling.

“You like children?”

She redirected her smile at Reese. He, too, had gotten soaked to the skin. His dark polo shirt stuck to his broad, solid shoulders and chest. He’d pushed back his wet hair, leaving it in sexy disarray. His lashes clumped together over his bright green eyes.

“I love them.” What would Reese’s children look like? They’d be tall and no doubt blond. Surely confident and happy, like their dad.

“You don’t have any?”

She shook off fanciful daydreams. “No, of course not.” What did he think? That she’d abandoned a child somewhere? That she would live apart from her child? “I’ve never been married, or even in a serious relationship. I mean, not that serious.” Not since the kidnapping had she even looked at a man with interest. “One day I’d like to have kids of my own, though.”

“Boys or girls?”

“It wouldn’t matter to me.” The skies darkened with the storm so that it felt like early evening. Headlights danced over the rain-washed road and reflected off the wet surfaces of signs, buildings and other cars. “I thought men didn’t like to talk about stuff like that.”

“Stuff like what?”

He’d turned that back around on her, so she sought the right words. “You know what I mean. Things so personal. So...intimate.”

“Intimate?” Reese kept his gaze on the road.

If he wanted to discuss it, fine. “Talking about children usually suggests a committed, caring relationship.”

A muscle ticked in his jaw. “I like talking with you about anything.”

Could that possibly be true? She couldn’t miss the stiff set of his shoulders, how his hands gripped the wheel. Something wasn’t right, but unlike with most people, she often had difficulty reading his moods and thoughts. “You’re upset?”

“What? No.” He shifted, trying to relax.

Alice studied him. “Would you fib to me, Reese?”

The seconds ticked by. It almost felt like he held his breath—and then he admitted, “If necessary, yeah, I would.”

His honesty pleased her. She smiled at him to let him know.

Confused, he worked his jaw. “You want me to lie to you?”

“I don’t think you would, not about anything important.” She tipped her head. “You say you’re not upset?”

“I’m not.”

How wonderful would it be to totally trust another man? Did she dare? “Then what’s wrong?”

His laugh was short and rough. “Nothing.”

Something. Maybe she needed more information to figure him out. “Reese?”

“Hmm?”

“You’ve kissed me a few times now.”

“Yeah.” His voice went deep and dark. “And you liked it.”

Such confidence, and such knowledge of women. Could a man be any sexier? “I did,” she admitted. “I hope you’ll want to kiss me again.”

“Count on it.” He glanced her way. “But next time, it’ll be more.”

He said that with so much heat, it stole her breath. “The thing is...I’m not sure I’m ready for more than that. Not yet, anyway.”

He shook his head. “No, I meant... The way I kissed you was hardly a kiss at all.” Again he glanced at her, then down over her body before giving his attention back to the slick road. “I want to really taste you, Alice. I want to feel your tongue...” He inhaled, shifted. “I want more of a kiss.”

“Oh.” The damp dress suddenly felt restrictive, especially over her breasts. She had the awful suspicion that Reese could see the outline of her stiffened nipples. “Yes, I’d like that.” A lot.

“Good to know.”

Thinking about it now, she wondered why steam didn’t rise in the car. She plucked at the material of her dress, trying to rearrange it a little, but it was a futile effort, so she gave up. “I need you to understand, though. If you want to sleep with me—”

“No way can you have a doubt about that.”

Her heart swelled. No, she didn’t really have any doubts. “Thank you.” Her eyes rounded after she uttered those absurd words. Had she really thanked him for wanting her? Oh, God, yes, she had.

Reese grinned. “You’re welcome.”

She had to clear her throat twice before speaking again. “The thing is, I’ll need some time. I’ve already made it clear that I’m interested—”

“You are? Great. I thought so, but I appreciate the confirmation all the same.”

Worse and worse. Get to the point, Alice. “I didn’t want to confuse things, or lead you on.”

“Okay.”

His easy compliance only rattled her more. “I’d understand if you’d rather not wait for me. For me...to be ready, I mean.” With every word, she sounded more ridiculous. “I don’t know how long it’ll take me, if it’ll be tomorrow, or next week, or maybe even a month from now—”

All humor fled his expression. “Alice.”

“—and I know you have other options. Pam and Nikki made that clear enough. You’re obviously a very...sexual man.”

“Like all men, sure. But that doesn’t mean—”

Unwilling to hear him make excuses for her, she rushed on. “I don’t mean to make things uncomfortable. I wish I was different, but I’m not.”

“Alice.” He reached for her hand, but she pulled away.

Lacing her fingers together in her lap, she stared out the windshield and tried to get it all said. “Even though you seem to have some interest in me now—”

“A lot of interest, actually.”

“I’m not like most women.” And she was glad other women were different, because she wouldn’t wish her ordeals on anyone. “I can’t just—”

“Be quiet, Alice.”

The order got her back up, and pretty much guaranteed she couldn’t go quiet. “I don’t take orders from anyone!” Here she was, doing her best to be clear and up front with him, and he—

“Think of it as a request,” he snarled.

He dared to sound angry! That annoyed her enough that she forgot her disjointed explanations on her possible hang-ups. “Maybe I would if you couched it that way.”

“Please be still a moment, Alice. Let me think.”

She pressed her lips together, but it wasn’t easy to stay silent, especially when more than a full minute passed.

Finally he said, “If we’re laying it all out there, then fine, I want you. You know that. Every damned time I’m near you I get hard, so it’d be impossible for you to miss.”

She was just irked enough to say, “Braggart.” The accusation came out before she could censor herself.

“I wasn’t...” He scowled at her, but the scowl lifted into a crooked smile. “It is noticeable, and you know it.”

More subdued—and on the verge of grinning herself—Alice nodded. “Yes.” Most definitely, very noticeable.

“It’s insane.” This time when he reached for her hand, she accepted the gesture. His hand was big and warm, holding hers securely. “There’s something unique, something very special about you.”

She would have called it odd.

“But I’m not a kid who can’t control himself. And now, knowing you were kidnapped...” His hand tightened. “The last thing I ever want to do is pressure you, or make you uneasy.”

There went her grin. Ice expanded inside her, cramping her stomach. “Please don’t pity me, Reese.” She could take just about anything but that.

He made a rude sound. “Trust me, Alice, pity for a woman doesn’t get me jacked.” He released her to steer around a corner, onto a quieter, more suburban street. “I see you and I react. Can’t help it. I also can’t ignore what you told me.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“That you were kidnapped? The hell it doesn’t. I need to know what happened, if that’s the reason you’re reserved now. If it’s something else—”

“I wasn’t raped.” She startled him with that blurted statement.

He swallowed hard, nodded. “I’m glad.”

“But it was ugly, and awful and...” How much should she tell him? As a cop, he could find out some details on his own, so maybe she could just expand on that. She lifted a hand toward him and realized she was shaking. She tucked it back toward her lap. “It was a while before I managed to get away.”

“Days?” He worked his jaw. “Weeks?”

She shook her head, unable to admit the truth. “The important thing is that I did get freed, and now...I don’t know. If I’m hesitant, it’s because I haven’t felt like a woman for a very long time, and I haven’t been that aware of men except to avoid them.” She studied his strong profile and whispered, “Until you.”

“And my dog.”

Humor wormed its way in past her bleak memories. “Yes, and your dog.”

“Thank God for Cash.”

That sentiment nearly brought tears to her eyes. “I’m sure he feels the same way about you.” After all, Reese had rescued Cash from sure death. But she didn’t want him to rescue her from her self-imposed isolation and uncertainty.

She would rescue herself.

Putting her shoulders back, she faced him. “I might need a little time to adjust, but I want to give you whatever you want from me.”

He accepted that with a nod. “I want everything.”

Her mouth opened twice before she managed to squeak out, “Oh. Okay, then.”

“While we get things back in order, I’m going to stay with you.” He pulled up to a stop sign. “I want to have sex, Alice, that’s a given, but I also want you to want it.”

Never had she imagined this conversation. But then, never had she imagined wanting a man again. Not after everything else that had happened in her life. “Okay.”

“While you’re being so agreeable...” He pulled the car away again. “I don’t want anything to do with Pam or Nikki or, currently, any other woman. So, get that out of your head.” He gave her a hard glance. “And I don’t want you involved with any other guys either.”

That struck her as hilarious, and the laugh bubbled out before she could stop it. When he looked more murderous, she pursed her mouth to hold in the humor.

“Promise me.”

“You have my word.”

“Good.” The car slowed again. “We can work on everything else, take it one step at a time. Starting with that deeper kiss. Sound good?”

Better than good. Her breathing hitched. “I... Yes.”

He stopped the car, turned in the seat to face her. His gaze went all over her, narrowing on her breasts, her belly. Reaching out, he touched her cheek, smoothed back a hank of damp hair.

Breath bated, she waited for the promised kiss.

“Alice?”

“Hmm?”

“It sucks, believe me, but we’re here.”

“Here?” She looked up, and sure enough, he’d pulled into the drive of an impressive house, right up next to an expansive three-car garage. Only a few feet separated her from a nice overhang.

She’d forgotten where they were going!

“Buck up, sweetheart. We won’t stay long.” And then, while the rain continued to pound down, Reese took the umbrella from the floor, opened it as he left the car and circled around to her side.