Love Bites (6 page)

With her head resting against his chest, she said, “I guess it’s safe for me to use my own apartment now.”

He went still, but not for long. “Come on. We need to talk.” They reached the patio doors before Cinder realized that both Brick and Jesse had followed, too.

Jesse opened the door and waited for her to enter. Doug leaped ahead, met by Cate. Evan unleashed him. “It’s amazing how they communicate.”

“They love each other,” Cinder said, then bit her lip because that
L
word landed like a thunderclap in the otherwise quiet apartment.

Brick closed the door, then stood there, arms crossed as if barring escape. “Yeah, they do.”

Unsure what else to do, Cinder went to the couch, but sat on the floor in front of it. She scooped up Cate, and Doug crawled across her lap.

Evan dropped down to sit beside her. “I couldn’t stand the idea of that creep still out there, possibly showing up again.”

“Always a threat.” She swallowed hard. “I know.”

“He’s gone now, though.” Evan touched her hair, brushed it back behind her ear. “So yeah, you don’t need to stay here to be safe.”

Blast. It wasn’t easy fashioning a smile past her regret, but she got her lips to move. “Thanks to you guys.”

“Thanks to Doug,” Evan corrected.

Brick stepped forward. “Cate and Doug are used to being together now.”

Evan said, “They see each other daily anyway.” He brought her face around to his. “You don’t need to live with me for the animals to stay together.”

“Very true.” With her heart aching, she looked down at his mouth rather than meet his steady gaze. “They were together long before we brought them home.”

Jesse stood alongside Brick. “You guys aren’t just friends anymore.”

“No, we aren’t.” Evan slid his hand around and into her hair, his thumb brushing her jaw. “But she doesn’t need to live with me for us to keep dating.”

“You more than
date
, damn it.”

Why did Brick and Jesse sound so angry? She glanced at them both, and frowned at their identical expressions. “You guys could give us some privacy, you know.”

Brick snorted.

Jesse said, “I thought you were happy living here.”

Now even Doug and Cate looked at her, and she felt like a spectacle. “I haven’t actually moved in.” Sure, she slept with Evan every night and woke with him in the morning. They had amazing sexual chemistry together. They shared meals and they shared responsibilities.

But that wasn’t the same as actually living with him. It wasn’t a…commitment.

“I still have my apartment, filled with my belongings,” she pointed out. “Most of what I own is just across the hall at my place.”

Evan tipped up her chin so she had to meet his gaze. “You love them both.”

His mood, as with his statement, confused her. “Doug and Cate? Or do you mean Jesse and Brick?”

He looked comical for a moment, then determined. “All of them.”

Softening, she nodded. “I really do.”

Jesse and Brick held themselves silent and very still.

Evan’s breath came out. “And what about me?”

Whoa. He’d just dropped that out there like it was nothing. And now he watched her in that deep concentration, his gaze boring into hers as if he could read her thoughts before she voiced them.

She curled her fingers into his shirt and felt the furious pounding of his heart. Hers immediately matched it. “Yes.”

The tension lifted from his expression. His dark eyes brightened. “You love me?”

She wouldn’t lie to him, ever. “Hopelessly. Madly. Forever.”

He put his arms around her, and since she held the dog and cat, they got encompassed as well. “I love you, too.”

“So,” Brick said, his tone gruff, “guess I can go ahead and put on those steaks to cook.”

Softly, almost with reverence, Jesse said, “I’ll help.”

Doug stuck his head up between Cinder and Evan, pelting them both with doggy breath before stepping away to join Brick and Jesse in the kitchen. As always, Cate crawled up and out of the huddle to follow him.

With Cinder still locked close to his chest, Evan said, “You’ll give up the lease on your apartment?”

“Yes.”

He put his forehead to hers. “And will you marry me?”

Her heart felt so full, she thought she might burst. “I would love to.”

Around a satisfied smile, he said, “I’m probably rushing you, but how would you feel about us getting a house together? Maybe one with a nice, big backyard for Doug and Cate to play in.”

“That sounds wonderful.” Then, harking back to a comment he’d made long ago, she smiled up at him. “On one condition.”

Unconcerned, Evan pulled her up and into his lap. “And what’s that?”

“I love Doug and Cate. I love Jesse and Brick. And I most especially love you.” She gave him a quick kiss. “But we will not be adopting a horse to name Horace.” And because she knew anything with Evan would be perfection, she added, “At least, not anytime too soon.”

Their combined laughter filled the apartment, and though neither of them noticed, both Jesse and Brick, along with Cate and Doug, stood in the doorway, watching them, smiling, and very satisfied with the outcome.

LORI FOSTER
is a Waldenbooks,
USA TODAY
,
Publishers Weekly
and
New York Times
bestselling author with books from a variety of publishers, including Berkley/Jove, Kensington, St. Martin’s, Harlequin and Silhouette. Lori has been a recipient of the prestigious
RT Book Reviews
Career Achievement Award for Series Romantic Fantasy, and for Contemporary Romance. She’s had top-selling books for Amazon, Waldenbooks and the BGI Group. For more about Lori, visit her Web site at www.lorifoster.com. And look for
Run the Risk
, the first book in her new Love Undercover series, coming in October 2012 from Harlequin HQN!

Brenda Jackson

To everyone who enjoys reading a good romance story where the sexual chemistry is oozing all over the place, this one is for you.

Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

Proverbs 3:13

“Yes, may I help you?”

Raquel Capers swallowed as she gazed into the face of the man who leaned in the doorway. She’d heard that Quest Newman was a hottie, eye candy of the third degree. However, in light of why she was there, she’d shoved the information aside.

“Miss?”

She blinked. “Yes?”

“I asked if I can help you? However, if you’re here soliciting, this complex has a policy against it.”

Raquel stiffened her spine. “I’m Raquel Capers and that’s not why I’m here.”

“Then how can I help you?” Quest asked. She was a looker, and he could definitely come up with a few good ideas if she couldn’t. But unfortunately, he didn’t have the time. He was best man in his twin brother’s wedding and the rehearsal dinner was tonight, so he was in a hurry. Then, later, it was guys’ night out with a huge party planned. The last one his brother, Quincy, would enjoy as a single man.

“I’m here because of your dog.”

The woman’s words, spoken in a deep, sultry voice, reclaimed his attention. “Bandit?”

“If that’s what you call him.”

He straightened and placed his hands in the pockets of his jeans. “I do. What about Bandit?”

“My dog is Smookie.”

Quest lifted a brow, wondering why she felt that information was somehow vital to the conversation. “And?”

She crossed her arms over her chest, and his gaze automatically went to the uplifting of her breasts. Pressed against her pretty pink blouse, he could tell they were a nice, full and firm pair.

“
And
it seems your Bandit is about to be a father.”

He frowned, pretty damn certain he hadn’t heard her correctly. “Excuse me?”

“Let me spell it out for you, Mr. Newman. Your Bandit has knocked up my Smookie.”

“He did what!”

Quest Newman definitely had a good set of lungs, Raquel thought. And the shocked look on his face would have made her laugh outright if the business at hand wasn’t so darn serious. But she didn’t have time for amusement.

“That’s not possible.”

Raquel lifted her chin and glared at the man. “Trust me, it is.”

Quest sighed, getting annoyed. “Look, like I said, that’s not possible. I don’t know you or your Smookie, but I do know that whenever Bandit is out, he’s on a leash with me or my dog sitter.”

“Well, on this particular day, he wasn’t with your dog sitter.”

He narrowed his gaze. “And what particular day are you talking about, Ms. Capers?”

“Friday, May tenth.”

Quest knew immediately where he’d been that day. He’d gone camping with a couple of his frat brothers from college and had left Bandit, his Yorkie, with his nineteen-year-old cousin Tawny, who would dog sit whenever he traveled. While he was gone, it was customary for
Tawny to move into one of his guest rooms to take care of all Bandit’s needs, which included walking him on a leash—at least three times a day.

“What do you mean he wasn’t with my sitter?”

“Just what I said. I was out of town at the time and left Smookie with my elderly neighbor, Ms. Albright. Well, it seems on this particular day while Ms. Albright was at the doggy park, your sitter approached her and asked for a favor. She said an emergency had come up.”

Quest’s eyebrows lifted. “What sort of an emergency?”

“She claimed that one of her aunts had passed away and she needed to leave town immediately.”

Since he and Tawny shared the same aunts and all of them were alive and accounted for, he knew that wasn’t true. “And?”

“And she asked Ms. Albright if she would watch your dog for a couple of days while she left town to attend the funeral. Being the Christian woman that she is, and since Ms. Albright had seen your sitter at the park on more than one occasion, she agreed. And when questioned, your sitter assured Ms. Albright that your Bandit was fixed.”

Quest knew that part was far from the truth. He had meant to get it done but kept putting it off, mainly because he felt a pain between his own legs whenever he thought about it. “Bandit
isn’t
fixed.”

“Ms. Albright found that out later when she walked in on them. My Smookie and your Bandit. Needless to say, she was horrified.”

“I bet she was.”

“She told me what happened the moment I returned to town. I called the vet and she said there was nothing that could be done, but for me to watch for any signs that my Smookie was pregnant. I did. She is. And it’s your Bandit’s fault.”

Quest heard a sound and glanced over his shoulder. His Yorkie, who had finished his supper in the kitchen, strolled into the living room. Quest did recall that Bandit had been in a damn good mood when he’d returned from that camping trip. Now he knew why. Too bad there wasn’t such a thing as a doggy condom. And as far as Tawny was concerned, he’d seen her several times since then and not once had she mentioned anything about leaving his dog with anyone else while he’d been gone.

He glanced back at his visitor. “Look, Ms. Capers, I have no proof what you’re claiming is true. I will speak with the person responsible for taking care of my dog at that time.”

“Yes, you do that, Mr. Newman. And when she verifies my story, then you can give me a call.” She all but shoved a business card into his hand. “I think it’s only fair that you share the cost of Smookie’s vet expenses associated with this pregnancy.”

“Share the cost?”

“Yes, share the cost. After all, it was your dog who was someplace he shouldn’t have been,” she said, moving to get in his face.

“And if your story is true, it was
your
Ms. Albright who accepted the responsibility,” he said, moving closer to get in hers. He was so close he could see her hazel eyes clearly and thought they were beautiful.

“Need I remind you that if your sitter hadn’t lied, none of this would have happened.”

She had a point there, but at the moment he wouldn’t agree to it. “Like I said, that has yet to be proven.”

He took a step back. His mouth was too damn close to hers, and temptation was too high. It wouldn’t take much for him to be pushed to cop a taste.

Quest checked his watch. He needed to leave now if he wanted to be on time for the rehearsal dinner. Tawny was one of the bridesmaids, so he would talk to her then. He shoved the business card into his pocket. “I’ll get to the bottom of this and call you.”

“Yes, you do that.”

She turned and walked away. It was then he saw the full picture. Her cute little outfit consisted of a low-cut pink blouse, snug-fitting black miniskirt and a pair of black polka-dotted stilettos that could probably kill. And speaking of
kill
, her legs were a killer pair. And that voice of hers…he could get a boner just from hearing it. She had sounded good even when her words came out stinging.

He heard a doggy yawn and turned, catching Bandit in the act as he stretched across the floor, looking well fed and as if he didn’t have a care in the world. Little did the mutt know, all of that might be coming to an end. When you played, you had to pay.

“So Bandit, I understand you’ve been keeping secrets,” he said, closing the door and walking into the room. The dog, with his short tail wagging, moved toward him for the pat on the head he knew was coming

“You might have gotten laid that week, but in the end it might cost you…or should I say, cost
me
. If I end up getting stuck with puppy support payments, that’s a few less dog bones for you, my friend.” The dog, with his tongue lolling out, merely looked up at him with a silly dog grin.

Quest shook his head and moved toward the table to get his keys. He intended to see Ms. Capers again, even if it wasn’t for any purpose other than to tell her she had his mutt mixed up with another.

He glanced down at her business card.
Raquel Capers. Actress
. He really wasn’t surprised. She had the looks and the body for one, but what kind of work would an actress find in Talladega, Alabama? There was the Ritz Theater, which put on live shows on occasion, but was that enough for full-time work? And would it enable someone to afford a condo in Gresham Falls?

Umm, Ms. Capers was getting more interesting by the minute.