Bare It All (5 page)

“Everyone—except for your sister.” In deep thought, Alice
whispered, “He would have kept her alive so he could sell her.”

Rage ignited, so bright Rowdy couldn’t speak, couldn’t answer.
He gave a barely perceptible nod.

Attuned to him in a way that he wasn’t used to, Alice touched
his arm. “It’s a very good thing that he’s dead.”

And therein lay the crux of the matter: her easy approval of
such things, a mind-set that death could be the answer to a problem.

He decided to focus on Alice and tune out everything else.

Glad that she’d helped him with that, he covered her hand with
his own. “Hell of an outlook, honey.” With alacrity he moved on to the purpose
for his visit. “How does a buttoned-up gal like you get that indifferent about
death?”

She tipped her head. “Buttoned-up?”

“Prim. Proper.” At her look of confusion, he gave her a nudge.
“Come on, Alice. You’re a shrewd woman. I’m not telling you anything you don’t
know.”

Distracted, maybe even a little insulted, she moved away from
him to sit.

When Rowdy joined her, Cash crawled over to rest between them
and gave a lusty sigh of contentment. She pushed her fingers into the dog’s fur
in a gentle stroke that could mesmerize.

“I’m worried for you, Alice.”

Lost in thought, she said absently, “Don’t be.”

Not good enough. Yesterday, when she’d walked into the middle
of the chaos, the death and the blood, he’d perceived something damaged in her
persona, the same type of hopeless acceptance he’d seen in his sister—before
she’d hooked up with Logan.

It bothered him because, almost instantly, he’d recognized
Alice as a woman with dark secrets and a fair store of fear. How could any man
turn a blind eye to that?

Measuring his words, hoping to reach her, Rowdy said with
utmost seriousness, “The thing is, Alice, I know women, so I know—

She laughed.
At him.

A little irate, he waited for her humor to subside. “That’s
funny?”

“Absolutely.” Her smile was teasing—and made her look really
pretty. “You’re so incorrigible and untamed.”

“Untamed, huh?” What the hell did that mean? She made him sound
like a wild animal.

“Definitely.” Leaning closer, looking into his eyes, she
pretended to share a secret. “You’re also incredibly big and undeniably
handsome.”

Ears burning a little, he tried to lean away from her without
looking too obvious. It wasn’t often he dodged a woman. Like maybe never. But
this couldn’t happen, so he tried to be gentle but up front. “You know I’m only
here as a friend, right?”

Another of her silly laughs escaped, and damn, it sounded so
sweet, it almost made him smile.

Her chastising look forewarned him. “We’re hardly friends,
Rowdy.”

“We could be.”
If she’d stop laughing at
me.

Now she sighed. “I’d like that, actually. Thank you.”

The truth struck him. He was both relieved and a little
embarrassed. “You weren’t coming on to me, were you?”

“No, I wasn’t. I’m sorry, but honestly, I wouldn’t even know
how.”

He wouldn’t tell her that she’d done a damn good job without
trying.

She rubbed the dog’s neck, then around and under his chin. “You
and Reese share a similar look.”

“Yeah?” Since Reese was polished, with a witty perspective on
life, Rowdy didn’t see it. Well, except that they were both blond and tall.

“You’re big.”

Since a statement like that had all kinds of connotations, he
had to cough to keep from making a joke. With any other woman...but, yeah, this
was Alice.

“And you really are handsome.” This time it was his hair she
tunneled her fingers into. “I’m sure women appreciate the ‘bad boy’ guise you’ve
cultivated.”

Bad boy?
Guise?
His neck stiffened.
“I haven’t cultivated—”

“But Reese is also big.” Dropping her hand, she smiled off at
nothing in particular. “And incredibly handsome. And he’s...” Her voice faded.
“He’s
sooo...
”

Curiosity got the better of him. “What?”

She licked her lips and inhaled a deep breath, only to let it
out in a long sigh.

Put off, Rowdy scowled at her. “If you start purring, I’m outta
here.”

A blush warmed her cheeks. She straightened her shoulders and
refocused on him. “My point is that you and Reese might have similarities, but
you also have differences. Like that giant chip on your shoulder and that cocky
swagger—”

“I do
not
swagger.” Did he?

“—that proclaims you a rebel.” With a mere glance, she shared
her sympathy. “You like butting heads with the law, walking that narrow path
between saint and sinner, and we both know it. I think you enjoy it.”

The sinner part he could attest to, but where the hell had she
gotten the saint angle? “Sorry, doll, you don’t really know me at all. What I do
or don’t enjoy. Who I enjoy it with.” He warmed to his subject, ready to wrest
the upper hand from her velvet grip. “In fact—”

Suddenly Alice stiffened, lifted her head as if she heard
something.

“What is it?”

She put a finger to her lips as if in warning, then shook her
head.

Cash watched her with the same confusion Rowdy felt.

As she rose silently from the couch, her gaze on the front
door, she said, “So you saw your sister today? How is Detective Riske
feeling?”

What the hell was she up to? She made not a single sound as she
inched toward her door. “He’s grouchy.” Fascinated, Rowdy watched as she stopped
to study the door a moment. “I don’t think he likes being pampered any more than
I would.”

She gestured for him to continue. He obliged, but in case
trouble intruded, he also stood. “Pepper isn’t the typical mother hen. Far from
it. Her efforts at coddling are as likely to drive Logan nuts as anything
else.”

As he spoke, Alice went on tiptoe to look out the door’s
peephole. Apprehension dropped her back to her heels.

With a huff, she jerked the door open. “You scared me.”

There stood Reese, and it was obvious he’d been eavesdropping.
It took him only a second to find his aplomb. “Sorry. I was about to knock.”

She snorted.

That particular sound coming from that particular woman might
have amused Rowdy. But under the circumstances, it didn’t penetrate past his
annoyance. “Damn it.” He hadn’t heard a thing, hadn’t even realized that Alice
had left the door unsecured. “I’m slipping.”

“No, you’re fine.” Alice waved off his disgruntlement. “It’s
just that I’m familiar with the sounds in my apartment.”

“He wasn’t in your apartment,” Rowdy pointed out. “He was
lurking around the hallway.”

“Lurking?” Reese asked with a raised brow, but he couldn’t very
well deny it.

“I’m familiar with those sounds, as well.”

Chagrined, Reese looked at Alice, gave her a half smile and
then zeroed in on Rowdy.

Well, hell. He had hoped to be long gone before Reese realized
he’d come to call, but too late for subterfuge now. Rowdy lifted his hands in
surrender. “Busted.”

Carrying a stuffed overnight bag and some clothes over his arm,
Reese strode in, all the while letting Rowdy feel his discontent. “Care to tell
me what you’re doing here?”

“I’m just visiting.” Rowdy nodded at Reese’s load. “But it
looks like you’re moving in.”

As if someone had goosed her, Alice jumped. “What? No.”

Dismissing that reaction, Rowdy whistled low. “Fast work,
Reese. I had no idea.”

Alice started to speak again, but Reese cut her off. “So, now
you know. Make note of it, okay?”

Alice subsided with a wide-eyed look of surprise.

So, it was like that, huh? Rowdy saluted him. Sure, there was
no denying Alice’s interest in Reese. Hell, she’d spelled it out, all the while
going moony-eyed. Granted, he didn’t know Reese that well. But he hadn’t quite
figured Alice as his type. Still, stranger things had happened.

Cash showered Reese with the same enthusiastic welcome Rowdy
had received. Fickle mutt. “That dog loves everyone.”

“No,” Alice said, “he doesn’t.” Hands on her hips, she
addressed Reese with accusation. “You were listening in.”

“I’m a cop, Alice, remember? I’m trained to eavesdrop.”
Catching the back of her neck, Reese held her still as he lowered his mouth to
hers. Alice froze, but she allowed it.

That
was
fast work.

The kiss lingered, and Rowdy lifted both brows. He meant what
he’d said: he knew women, so he knew it wasn’t in Alice’s nature to get involved
easily. Reese must’ve conjured some magic.

It wasn’t any of his business, but damn it, he felt
protective—maybe of both of them. And wasn’t that a bunch of bullshit? Hell,
Reese was a well-trained, astute, hulk of a cop.

Alice needed a gentle hand, but Reese...well, Alice hid
something dark and dangerous. Rowdy saw it there in her eyes, the same shadows
he faced every time he looked in a mirror. Would Alice’s past cause problems for
a reputable cop?

Tired of being a voyeur, Rowdy said, “You’re going to make her
faint.”

With clear reluctance, Reese pulled back, and Alice struggled
to get it together. It was amusing to watch, and her blush was as pretty as her
smile, as uplifting as her laugh.

“Behave, Rowdy.” She licked her lips, realized what she’d done
and glared at both men.

Rowdy fought off a grin. The lady had grit—which meant she
wouldn’t easily give into fears or intimidation. Whatever she had in her past,
it had to be something substantial.

It was nice that she had Reese’s attention, but that wouldn’t
keep Rowdy from giving protection of his own. After all, Reese was limited by
legalities.

Rowdy...not so much.

Judging by Reese’s possessive posture—with both the dog and
Alice—things were about to get real interesting.

That was just the way Rowdy liked it.

CHAPTER FIVE

T
HE
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 fucking 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.”