His thighs made contact with her rump. His broad chest pressed
into her shoulder blades. That indescribable scent of his cocooned her, robbing
her of animus. She remembered how he’d touched her this way, taking her from
behind, following her instructions, both of them wild with lust—
The sudden intrusion of light had her flinching away. He
released her, but one glance at him had her ducking away from his knowing gaze.
Logan didn’t follow her, and he said nothing about her retreat, but she had no
doubt he’d been thinking the same thing.
She went to patio doors on the longest wall to look out. Rowdy
returned and put the flashlight back in its holder on the wall by the front
door.
He glanced around with interest at the fishing poles in
brackets in the dining area, the wood stove, the well-worn furniture. “This is
nice.”
“Thanks.” Logan pulled aside the drapes and opened the patio
doors, then two windows. “I don’t get out here as often as I’d like, but
whenever I do, it’s peaceful.”
They heard the approach of another car. Rowdy narrowed his
gaze, Pepper went still.
Logan touched her arm, saying, “Stay here,” and he went out the
door.
Rowdy went to the door and looked out, then came back to
Pepper. “You okay?”
Because she didn’t know what to say, she nodded. The last thing
her brother needed was more worry.
Still checking out every nook and corner of the house, he said,
“I don’t know Logan’s brother, but I’ve met Detective Bareden.”
“Reese.”
“Yeah.” He watched her. “You know him?”
“I met him when you did.” When he’d arrested Rowdy. God, she
couldn’t think about that right now. Never in her life had she felt more
exposed, or more helpless. “He was also at the station when I tried to see you.
He’s… I don’t know.”
“Yeah, that’s what I think, too.” Glancing over his shoulder
toward the front door, Rowdy kept watch for Logan’s return. “There’s something
about him.”
“He’s not entirely up front.” That didn’t necessarily mean that
Reese was bad, but he was…something.
“No, he’s not. I can’t get a fix on him, so I want you to be
extra careful around him.”
They heard Logan speaking quietly and the crunch of feet on
leaves and gravel.
“Stick close to Logan, okay?” Now in more of a rush, Rowdy
added, “Until I figure him out, avoid Reese as much as you can.”
Stick close to Logan? Surely he didn’t mean—
Logan came in, and right behind him was a man who had to be his
brother. Logan was six foot tall, but his brother looked more on par with Rowdy,
around six-four. Construction work had left him leanly muscled. Dash’s hair was
a little lighter, but he and Logan shared the same dark eyes. Except that Dash’s
gaze was more mischievous. He looked at Pepper and grinned like a scoundrel. She
had no doubt that Dash would be popular with the women.
He said, “Hi there.”
Before Pepper could reply, Reese pushed in behind him, all but
knocking Dash over. “Stop ogling her. She’s been through enough tonight, ya
know?”
Not in the least insulted, Dash went to the dining table to set
down three big bags of groceries and then came forward with his hand extended.
“And you must be Rowdy?”
Her brother accepted the handshake. “Nice place you have.”
“Yeah, it was plenty private till Logan decided he had to take
it over. I’ve never even brought a woman here.” He turned to Pepper. “I might
have to make him buy me a new place now. What do you think?”
Without censoring her thoughts, she asked, “Can he afford to do
that?”
“Shoot, yeah. He didn’t tell you that he’s loaded?”
He sort of had, but…
“Knock it off, Dash.” Logan closed and locked the door. “Make
yourself useful and show her a room to use.”
Dash grinned some more. “Any preferences?”
“Let her pick. I don’t care.”
“I’ll give her one next to the bathroom, then.” Dash opened a
closet to retrieve fresh bedding, then waited for her to join him.
Rowdy pulled her close first. “I’m going to take off. The
sooner I get on this, the sooner we can put it behind us.” She opened her mouth,
and he said, “No, don’t argue, kiddo. I know what I’m doing. Just remember what
I told you, okay?”
Logan scowled over that. Dash turned away to give them a
modicum of privacy. Reese just crossed his arms and leaned back on the
table.
“I won’t forget.”
“Yeah, well, this time it’d be great if you remember
and
follow along.”
Pepper couldn’t help but squeeze her brother tight. “I will, if
you promise to come back in one piece.”
“Guaranteed.”
In such a small and open space, with three big men listening
in, there could be no such thing as privacy.
At the moment, she didn’t care. “I love you, Rowdy.”
He hugged her right off her feet, stealing her breath for a
double beat of time. Then he turned away and headed for the door, saying to
Logan, “Walk me out.”
Pepper stood there, staring at the open door, until Reese said,
“I brought in the clothes you had in the trunk.”
That drew her from her melancholy thoughts. “So you went
through our belongings?” Jerk.
Reese just shrugged. “Looked to me like you were well
prepared.”
“Not for a bomb.”
That gave him pause. “No, I guess not.” He handed her
overloaded bag to Dash.
If he wanted a “thank you” he was doomed to disappointment.
But he said only, “Go on with Dash. While you settle in your
room, I’ll put together some food. You have to be getting hungry.”
Damn it. She could go on disliking him more easily if he’d stop
trying to be nice. Grudgingly, she nodded. “Thanks.”
Dash smiled at her. “If your brother is anything like mine,
he’s probably unstoppable. Try not to worry too much.”
It’d be easier not to breathe.
Rather than follow Dash into the bedroom he opened, she looked
at each door. “Where does Logan usually sleep?”
“The room here in the center. It’s a security thing for him. He
can’t turn it off even when he’s sleeping.”
“What about you?”
“I’ll take whatever room you don’t use. Reese will use the
couch.”
So Reese was not only sticking around, but he’d be near the
front door, ensuring she couldn’t sneak away? Not that she’d planned to anyway,
but it bugged her all the same.
“Fine. I’ll take the room closest to Logan.”
Dash bit off a smile. “There’s a bathroom through here. The
water heater is miniscule, so if you want a hot shower, you have to make it
fast.”
The bedrooms were spacious but sparsely furnished. Twin-size
beds, one dresser, one nightstand, one small lamp.
Dash set a couple of plain quilts, sheets and a single pillow
on the bed. “Want me to make it up for you?”
“I can do it.” She took the bag from him, gave him a pointed
look so that he’d leave, and then shut the door behind him. Dropping down to the
bed, she wondered what to do now.
She was hungry, damn Reese. But with the windows now open, she
could smell the lake—and that made up her mind for her. Forget the shower. As
soon as she got the bed together, she’d freshen herself with a late-night
swim.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
R
EESE
STEPPED
OUT
to the front deck. He had to move around a bit before he finally got
reception on his cell. No calls from Alice something-or-other. But she had to
wonder why he hadn’t returned yet.
Disgruntled, he punched her number and waited past four rings
before she answered in a very sleepy voice.
“Hello?”
“I woke you?” Where the hell was his dog?
“Who is this?”
He heard the uncertainty in her voice, but he didn’t understand
it. “It’s Reese.”
Silence.
“You have my dog?”
“Oh. Yes.”
He looked around, but Logan was still with Rowdy, and Dash was
inside keeping watch over Pepper Yates. Hoping the fresh, cooler night air off
the lake would revive him a little, Reese filled his lungs. “I hate to ask this,
but do you think you could keep him overnight?”
“Okay.”
He waited. And waited some more. But she didn’t ask a single
question. He cracked first. “I have a situation with work.”
“It’s all right. We’d already gone to bed anyway.”
We? No, he wouldn’t pry. “Is Cash behaving?”
“He snores, but he’s very sweet.”
“Snores? You have him in bed with you?”
A longer pause, and then, “Since he joined me there, I assumed
that was where you let him sleep.”
Ah, she’d allowed Cash to stick close. Nice. He did do the
same, but then, it was his dog. “I really appreciate this. I should be able to
get him sometime in the afternoon.” Or not, depending on how things went with
this whole exercise in idiocy. “But let me know if anything comes up, okay?”
“He’s fine. I’m off tomorrow, so it’s not a problem.”
It occurred to Reese that he didn’t know enough about her—like
where she worked. But maybe they could set up an arrangement. She appeared to
like Cash, and he was gone too damn much to be a really good pet owner. Maybe he
could pay her as a pet sitter or something—
“Is there anything else, Detective Bareden?”
“Yeah. Call me Reese.”
More silence.
He gave up. “I’ll let you get back to bed, then. Again, thank
you.”
“You’re welcome.” And she hung up.
Frustrating. Confounding. A little annoying…
So then, why was he smiling?
* * *
L
OGAN
WAITED
while Rowdy went through the belongings in his trunk. Though
he’d had a motel room, he obviously lived out of his car.
Always ready to bolt at a moment’s notice.
Logan made note of the clothes, food, water, first aid and
shaving kit, a few weapons with additional ammo…and a stuffed bear?
While Rowdy rearranged things, Logan lifted the tattered bear.
A faded red ribbon remained around the brown bear’s neck. One ear hung loose.
Certain spots were worn thin.
A sick feeling twisted his heart.
Glancing at him, Rowdy said quietly, “That’s Pepper’s.”
He’d assumed as much. “She’s kept it?”
Rowdy shrugged. “She wanted me to keep it for her.”
In the trunk, ready to go…in case they had to leave.
What if Rowdy had gotten spooked by his presence? What if he’d
uprooted Pepper and taken off? Logan could have lost her before he’d even
realized how much she meant to him.
With practiced ease, Rowdy dropped the clip in his Glock,
checked that it was loaded, then put it in again. “That shabby little bear is
the only toy she’s ever had. She used to sleep with it when she was little.
Every so often our folks would…overimbibe, and Pepper would hide the bear.”
“Why?”
“She didn’t want them to take it away from her.”
Meaning they did things like that? Most of the stuffing had
settled in the bear’s legs and arms. The middle felt empty, almost flat. “You
bought it for her?”
Without looking up, Rowdy gave a crooked grin. “Stole it for
her, actually. The folks weren’t big on gifts. Hell, if we got socks or
underwear, it felt like Christmas.” He paused, put his hands on the open trunk
and looked off in the distance.
Logan understood his mood. “She’ll be safe with me.” It was
important for Rowdy to know that.
“Hurt her again,” Rowdy said, “and we’re going to have
problems.” Finally he straightened. He took the bear and placed it in a corner,
behind the ammo, then covered it with the edge of a spare blanket. After handing
Logan three prepaid cell phones, he slammed the trunk and went around to the
driver’s seat. “Just so you know, I don’t trust your buddy, Reese, so I’ll be
boosting a new car. If you’d thought to track me, think again.”
“Understood.” Logan kept him from closing the door. He leaned
in. “And just so you know—I’m trusting you to be as honorable as Pepper thinks
you are.”
That made Rowdy laugh with derision.
“Share any info you get before you act on it.” Logan continued
to lean into the car. “If you can find out who planted the bomb, if Morton is
dead or alive, anything at all, let me know. Under no circumstances will you
play vigilante.”
“Sure thing.” Rowdy started the car. “You have my sister, so
I’ll call often to check in. And when I do, I’ll want to talk to Pepper, so keep
her close.”
That suited Logan just fine. Maybe if he told her Rowdy wanted
it that way, she wouldn’t protest too much. “All right.”
Rowdy rested his wrists over the steering wheel and tipped his
head at Logan. “You might want to get back inside now. If I know my sister,
she’s probably already stirring the pot.”
It seemed with every minute he got a better understanding of
the siblings. And with each of those minutes, he gained new respect for Rowdy
and a deeper fondness for Pepper. “Drive safe.” He closed the car door and stood
back as Rowdy drove away.
The night sky felt like a heavy, oppressive weight on his
shoulders. He hoped he was doing the right thing, but he just couldn’t be sure.
Since meeting Pepper Yates, the “right thing” seemed more and more like an
open-ended idea.
* * *
B
AREFOOT
,
WEARING
ONLY
an oversize T-shirt that fit like a short dress, Pepper stepped out of the
bedroom. She felt both men staring at her, but so what? Since Rowdy stored only
the basic necessities at the safe location, she didn’t have the advantage of a
big wardrobe. She didn’t even have a swimsuit.
She wanted a swim, she wasn’t a prisoner, so they could stuff
their disapproval.
She didn’t care.
Veering into the bathroom, she grabbed a white towel off a
shelf and a bar of soap from the sink. When she emerged again, Reese and Dash
were both standing, a little incredulous, a lot undecided on how to “handle”
her.
Ha! Let them try. “I’m going for a swim.”
Dash sidestepped into her path. “It’s dark.” As if he couldn’t
help himself, he dipped his gaze down her body, then shot it right back up to
her face again.
“So?” She’d grown up swimming in the river, night and day. More
often than not she’d taken her baths in the cool river water. She stepped around
him—and almost ran into Reese.
With a roll of her eyes, she said, “Move.”
He did but then kept pace alongside her. “Why don’t you wait
for Logan?”
“I don’t like him very much right now, that’s why.”
“Okay, fine. Then—”
“I don’t like either of you all that much, either.”
“What did I do?” Dash asked with comical affront. He had a look
similar to Logan’s, but his disposition couldn’t have been more different.
Reese made a sound of impatience. “It’s not all that safe
to—”
“Sure it is. I know how to swim, and I don’t need anyone’s
supervision or help.” She looked back and caught Dash staring at her butt. He
gave her a rascal’s grin that she dismissed. “Just so you both know, I’ll be
skinny-dipping, so you can keep your peepers up here and out of my
business.”
They both went mute, which worked for her.
As soon as she opened the patio doors, they were both with her
again.
“Swimming at night is a lousy idea.” Dash spoke loudly—no doubt
hoping Logan would hear. “There are snakes in the water.”
She laughed. “Is that your attempt to scare a girl? Get real.
The only pets I ever had growing up were rodents and snakes, so try again.”
“Seriously?” Dash stepped in front of her once more.
“That’s…well, really sad.”
With a loud snarl, Reese took a position next to Dash. “Be
reasonable, Pepper. This is a bad idea.”
“Screw you.” She made to shove past him, but he blocked her.
Pepper leveled an evil gaze on him. “I would suggest you get out of my way.”
“It’s all right, Reese.”
Logan.
Pepper didn’t look back at
him. She’d have rather been in the water before he returned, but she was nothing
if not adaptable. With her life, she’d had to be in order to survive.
Reese made a great fanfare of moving aside, and Pepper stepped
around Dash to continue on down the hill toward the water. Beneath her feet, the
grass was cool and dewy. She knew Logan was behind her. She’d felt Dash’s stare,
but it was nothing like this. When Logan watched her, she more than felt it.
She experienced it.
“You might want to stay on the path,” he said from right behind
her. “There are twigs and rocks everywhere that can cut your feet.”
The “path” wasn’t all that defined in the dark, but she
navigated carefully, each step measured.
“The dock is sturdy, but the floodlights don’t reach all the
way.” He didn’t quite touch her, but she knew he was
right
there.
“When we fish, we usually bring down a lantern.”
“I’ve been swimming off sunken stumps, often in the middle of
the night, since I was three. I think I can handle it.”
“All right.”
His calm tone and reasonable manner irked her. She walked out
on the wooden dock, stopped and pulled her top off over her head. “You gonna
skin out of your clothes and swim with me?” Refusing to show any modesty, she
pushed down her panties.
Palpable expectation throbbed in the damp evening air. “If you
want me to.”
Most definitely, but she wouldn’t admit that to him. “Suit
yourself.”
“Then I will.”
Her heart rapped against her ribs. Stars glittered overhead,
and the wash of moonlight left murky, blue-tinged shadows everywhere. “My shirt
and panties are on the dock. Don’t kick them in.”
“I saw.”
She felt him getting nearer. He could see? More than the faint
outlines that she detected?
“There’s a ladder off the front right side of the dock. Don’t
dive in until you judge the depth. It can get pretty low in dry seasons.”
“You think?” She heard the quiet hiss of his zipper being
lowered, and it left her far too warm. “Until Rowdy and I had to take off, I
spent more of my summers in the water than out.”
“You mean before your parents died?”
No, she wouldn’t discuss this with him. Moving away from him,
she stared through the inky darkness until she found the top of the ladder
jutting above the dock. Little by little, her eyes adjusted.
She looked out at the lake. Starry diamonds sprinkled the black
velvet water, disturbed only by the occasional ripple of a fish. She went down
the flat rungs until the water lapped at her waist.
“Cold?” Logan stood over her.
Her face was probably even with his knees. Could he see her?
She wished she could better see him.
“Not bad.” She pushed back and into the water, submerging her
head and coming up several feet away. If she dunked herself a foot or so, she
could touch bottom. Not deep at all.
Something bumped her foot, and she knew it was Logan. He tread
water near her. Sticking close. Being protective.
Being male.
A frog began croaking somewhere along the shore. She loved the
sound, just as she loved the water. “You have a boat?”
“Rowboat, and a little fishing boat with a trolling motor.
Nothing fancy.”
“Dash said you’re rich.”
He went under, then came up a few feet away. It felt so
intimate, being here with him like this. The moon played peekaboo with his dark,
wet hair, sometimes shining down on him, sometimes concealing him. The night sky
surrounded them, cozy, sort of sexy.
Other than the undulation of the water, Logan stayed still and
quiet.
She wouldn’t ask again. If he didn’t want to talk, then fine.
She’d bathe in silence.
She swam over to the dock. Water sluiced down her body as she
went up the ladder to get the soap. While she lathered herself, she glanced up
at the house. Someone stepped out onto the deck with the lantern Logan had
mentioned earlier.
Since she preferred not to be ogled by the others, she got back
in to rinse.
Halfway down the hill, Dash called out to them. “All
clear?”
Logan said, “Leave the lantern on the bench.”
“Sure thing.” The light bobbed as he walked, dancing over the
dew-wet ground and the occasional tree trunk, and casting an eerie wash of
yellow over Dash’s face.
He put the lantern on a big stone bench that she hadn’t even
noticed on the shore. A warm glowing light expanded out to the end of the dock,
exaggerating shadows and showing their twin piles of clothes.
Which meant when she got out, anyone looking would see it
all.
“Reese said the hash will be done in another five minutes if
you want to eat. He cooked canned green beans and rolls with it.”
“Thanks,” Logan said quietly.
Keeping her gaze on Dash, Pepper watched him go back up the
hill. At the patio doors, he met with Reese. The two of them looked back down to
the lake before going in and closing the door.
Her thoughts scuttled about; worry for her brother tried to dig
in, but she fended it off. If she started down that path, she’d be bawling like
an infant.
Going to her back, she floated lazily—well aware that the
moonlight combined with the lantern would show her body.