Love's Protector: A Maverick's Shield Novel (4 page)

“Really?”
Jason said. “Where are you from?”

“Nebraska.”

“I didn’t know they made them like
you
in Nebraska,” Mack said flirtatiously. Chandra shot him angry look that told him she did not appreciate his libidinous remark.

“How about this,” Jason said. “We’ll wait for the tow to arrive and by that time Chandra will be off work. We’ll follow you to the rental car place and home to drop your car off, then you can ride with us to the bar. That way you won’t have to worry about trying to find it.”

She seemed hesitant at first and rightfully so. She was in a strange city and she didn’t know any of them. But he’d hoped she would go for it. Perhaps she would feel a little more at ease knowing Chandra was a cop and she’d be with them the whole time…hopefully. For some strange reason, he didn’t want to part with this woman.

After a few seconds of contemplating, she finally responded. “Ok, we can do that. Just let me get my things out of the car.”

“You sir, are now on my kick ass list,” Jason said to Mack as they watched Amour walked away.

“What? I’m just trying to add a little spice in your life man.”

“Why?”

“Because you need to hang out with someone other than us!”
Mack looked into Jason’s eyes. “Have you ever stopped to think that’s probably why you’re so uptight and angry all the time?”

“Is sex your answer to
everything
Mack?” Chandra’s eyes went back and forth as the two of them bickered.

“No, I didn’t say you had to have sex with her, although you really need to get laid; I’m just saying that you need to at least be in the company of the opposite sex. It wouldn’t kill you to go out on a date or two. This chick’s hot, she wants to do you a favor, so let her. Come on, you know you want to. ”

“Actually, I don’t. You forced me into it.”

“No he didn’t.” Chandra said through a laugh. “You’ve been horny every since we came back out here, I can tell. Your body is all stiff and you could barely talk to her.”

Jason took in a deep breath and scratched his head. “Alright, leave me alone about it will you?”

“Great!” Mack said. “Now will you please call Triple A so we can get the hell out of here?”

The unuttered drive to the bar created a slight tension between the four of them. Amour was still a little nervous about being at the mercy of the three of them with whom she didn’t even know. But it wasn’t fear she felt surprisingly, it was more so that she just wasn’t sure what to say. No one else was talking at that point so she just remained silent next to Jason in the back seat who just stared out of the window.

After what seemed like an eternity, Chandra asked, “So what part of Nebraska are you from Amour? That’s a beautiful name by the way.”

“Thanks, I’m from Omaha.”

“Oh, I’ve never been there before. What’s it like?”

Amour raked her windblown hair out of her face. “It’s beautiful. It has a lot of beautiful landmarks and greenery. When you’re there, you get a real sense of peace and serenity that you probably wouldn’t get in a lot of other places.”

“I’ll have to visit there one day.”

“You should, the Midwest is a wonderful part of the country. It’s a great place to raise a family.” Mack stopped at a red light as she and Chandra finished their conversation. When it turned green and he gave his car some gas, the roar of the powerful engine made her take notice. “This is quite a car you have Mack.”

“Thanks. It was my
pop’s. He left it to me when he passed away.”

“He had great taste in cars. A sixty-seven Pontiac GTO is a hell of a muscle car.”

Mack looked at her briefly through the rear view mirror and his forehead wrinkled. “You know what year this car is just by looking at it?”

“Yep, I love these cars; they’re the perfect classic muscle cars. I’ll take a GTO over any other classic any day of the week.”

“Same here, that’s why I still have it.”

She placed her hand on the back of Mack’s seat and leaned forward as much as her seat belt would allow her to. “I’ve noticed you didn’t alter the inside like most people who own these cars do. I see you’ve kept it clean and original. No air conditioning or power. I’m impressed; most people mess them up by putting all the modern conveniences inside of them. I’m all for keeping it old school.”

Mack quickly looked back at Jason mockingly and said, “Exactly.”

Jason looked up at him. “Whatever man, still need air in this oven.”

“Here here!” Chandra said while fanning herself with her hand. “I’ve been telling him that every since I’ve known him. He also needs a heating system in here. It gets very cold in this car in the winter.”

“Don’t listen to them Mack,” Amour said jokingly. “They don’t seem to understand what it’s like to have a classic beauty such as this.”

Mack raised his hand in a salute. “That’s right!”

“The paint job on this car is sweet. Does this one have a three eighty-nine or an XS? I’m guessing an XS from the sound of it.”

Mack hesitated a little before answering. She guessed probably because like most people she met, he was surprised she knew so much about cars. “Thanks. The paint is actually the only thing I’ve changed on the car. The engine is an XS. My dad wanted the best one at the time so he paid a little more to this model.”

“Nice,” she said nodding her head.

“Are you a mechanic or something?” Chandra asked begrudgingly.

Amour chuckled. “No, I’m a race car driver.”

Her reply caught Jason’s attention. He turned to her and said, “Really? Professional?”

“Yes, I race in the RED STRIPES competitions.”

“How come I’ve never heard of you? I watch the REDS quite often,” Mack said. Chandra chuckled from Mack’s reply. Amour got the feeling that it had less to do with what he said being funny, and more to do with making her look bad because she wasn’t too thrilled with the two of them bonding in such a way, however innocent. From what she could tell, Chandra seemed like the jealous type. “Well, probably because most people only watch during the REDS 500 race. I have yet to qualify; that could be the reason.”

“Have you competed in any of the smaller races?” Jason asked.

“Yeah, five to be exact. I’ve placed first in two of them.”

“Nice,” Mack said.

“Why would you want to do that?” Chandra asked. “That doesn’t seem too lady like.”

Jason shot her an angry look. “You’re a cop Chandra. There weren’t many female cops at one point in time either. She’s not the only female racer. I would think you of all people would be excited to hear of a woman doing what some would call man’s work.”

Amour smiled when her eyes met Jason’s, giving him a silent “Thank you.” She’d wondered why he was so quiet. Was he uncomfortable? He didn’t seem to want to be here with her but she’d hoped that wasn’t the case. The last thing she wanted was for any of them to be uncomfortable around her. When he smiled back at her, she felt more at ease. She wondered where this sudden burst of emotion in her behalf came from, especially considering an hour ago it didn’t seem like he even wanted to talk to her.

“I guess,” Chandra said with a shrug.

“We’re here,” Mack blurted out as he pulled into the parking lot of Jakes. It was obvious he didn’t want this conversation to go any further.

“Great!”
Thank God
. Amour thought to herself. She was happy to be at their destination, the car ride was beginning to get rather awkward.

Jake’s Bar and Grill was in the middle of downtown surrounded by lots of tall buildings and shops. From what she could tell during the drive there, this city’s downtown area wasn’t quite as nice as most places but from the looks of this particular area along with a few others, it seemed to be getting a major overhaul. The part of it in which the bar was located had a nice urban feel to it that reminded her of when she visited Manhattan a few years back. As they entered the bar they immediately headed towards two other men; one blonde and one brunette, at a table towards the back and joined them.

“Hey!” the blonde man said as the four of them approached.

“What’s up?”  Mack said shortly after.

“Chandra! Long time no see,” the brunette man said before sipping his bottle of beer.

“I know it’s been a while. How are you guys?”

“We’re good,” the two men replied simultaneously. “And you?”

“Great,” Chandra said as Mack pulled out her chair before sitting himself and then the two of them studied the menu.

“Everyone, this is Amour. She’s joining us for lunch today,” Jason announced while attempting to pull out her chair as well but she grabbed it before he could get the chance. “Amour this is Alex Demarco and Jackson Blake, my other two friends and co-workers.”

“Hello,” she said. She wasn’t aware that there would be other people besides the four of them; that made her a little uneasy again.

The two other men greeted her as the waitress approached them to take their orders. “Hey guys! What will it be today?” she asked holding an empty tray.

The six of them gave her their orders but she barely comprehended them. She seemed to have been distracted by Mack and Chandra’s interaction. Her eyes

lowered
onto Mack especially and her jaw clenched. Amour wasn’t sure what was going on between them exactly but from what she could tell, the waitress was not happy with what she was observing.

“Shyla?”
Alex said trying to get her attention.

After his second time calling her name, she finally responded. “What is it?”

“This is Amour, Jason’s friend.”

“Oh, hi I’m Shyla, his sister,” she said while nodding her head towards Alex.

Amour had come to that conclusion when she’d noticed how much the two of them favored one another. They both had the same honey blond hair and sapphire blue eyes. “Nice to meet you.”

“Likewise,” Shyla replied and then left to fill their orders.

“So where on earth did
you
manage to meet a lovely lady such as this Jason?” Jackson asked with a sarcastic smirk and his eyes lowered.

“At the police station actually.”

Alex put his drink down on the table and then faced Amour. “The police station?” He wasn’t bailing you out was he?” he asked with a smirk.

She laughed. “No sir, I was there getting some information and my car broke down. Jason and Mack were kind enough to help me out.”

“Cool,” Jackson said with a nod and then focused his attention on the large flat screened television hanging on the wall.

Shyla returned fifteen minutes later with their drink and food orders and placed them on the table in from of them; she seemed angry. Amour was positive that something was going on between her and Mack, although if that were the case, she didn’t understand why Mack would parade another woman around right in front of her.

“Would you guys like anything else?” Shyla said dryly with her eyes never leaving Mack and Chandra.

“No sis, we’re good,” Alex replied.

“Is your sister ok?” Amour asked while watching Shyla walk away.

“She’s fine. She’s just a little weird.”

“So how long are you going to be in L.A. Amour?” Mack asked, clearly trying to change the subject.

“I’m not sure yet. I have a couple of loose ends to tie up and it could take me a while so I have an open ended ticket home.”

“Here on business?” Alex asked.

“Sort of, it’s…family business. I’m looking for some information that I’m finding to be rather difficult to obtain.” She stared at Chandra hoping she wouldn’t reveal to everyone exactly why she was in town.

“Anything we can help you with?” Jackson asked inquisitively. “We have a lot of resources and access to other people who have even more if you need them.”

“What do you guys do?” she asked.

“We’re bodyguards slash private detectives,” Mack replied with a proud grin.

She could definitely see that. All four of them were tall, lean, muscular and tattooed. She didn’t know any of them well enough to know if they were the relationship type, but from what she could tell so far, they were definitely the “every woman’s fantasy” type. They were all quite gorgeous.

“Really, you guys have done enough for me already. I don’t want to impose.”

“There’s no imposition, we would be glad to help. Any friend of Jason’s is a friend of ours,” Jackson said.

“Well, as long as you don’t mind, I certainly can use all the help I can get. Thank you Jackson.”

“Call me Jax, everyone else does,” he said with a wink.

“Okay Jax, thanks again.”

“Jason can even be at your disposal,” Mack said with a smirk and one raised eyebrow. “He’s been suspended from work, so he’s got all the time in the world. You need something to do to pass the time anyway, don’t you Jason?”

Jason narrowed his eyes and spoke in a corrosive voice. “Sure Mack thanks. I owe you one.”

Mack raised his glass in the air. “No problem, anytime.”

Amour turned to Jason wondering what was up with his fluctuating attitude towards her. One minute he was nice to her, defending her; the next, he was barely acknowledging her presence. She sensed that he was attracted to her, but she wasn’t completely sure. It could be that maybe he just wasn’t all that comfortable around women. That could also be the reason Mack was so insistent on the two of them getting to know each other.

“Why did you get suspended?” she asked after sipping her beer.

“My boss seems to think I have a little attitude problem.”

“Little? Ha!” Alex said with a chuckle.

“What happened?” Amour asked.

“Nothing,” Jason replied in a low voice.

She could tell he didn’t want to talk about it any further so she let it go. But she couldn’t help but wonder what the mystery was behind that rough exterior and those hazel eyes. Whatever it was, she could tell he wasn’t a huge fan of discussing it.

“Well, I appreciate any help you can give me Jason. The faster I get all the information I need, the faster I can get home to my father. I don’t want to be away from him for too long. I’ll make it worth your while; I can pay you for your trouble.”

Jason looked down at the table. “I can’t help you, I’m sorry.”

“Why not Jason?”
Mack asked. “You won’t be working for the next two weeks and you know Ace doesn’t pay us very much when we’re off so you could use the money. Why are you being such an ass?”

Jason stared up a Mack. “I’m not, I…”

“That’s alright,” she interrupted. “You have no obligation to help me, you don’t even know me. I understand, thanks anyway.”

Mack rolled his eyes and shook his head then turned to Alex and Jax. “Amour here is drives for RED STRIPES.” It was obvious he was trying to combat the sudden awkwardness in the room.

“Is that right?” Alex said. “For how long?”

“Eight years now.”

“RED’S 500 trophy yet?” Jax asked.

“Not yet. Hopefully one day though. I try out every year but I have yet to qualify. But I’m pretty confident I can do it; I just need a little more practice.”

“That is so hot when women have jobs like that,” Jax said.