Say No To Joe? (21 page)

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Authors: Lori Foster

BOOK: Say No To Joe?
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There was that suspicion again. Luna knew it'd take time for him to trust her, to relax with her. But when she thought of all he'd been through, it hurt and made her impatient to help put his worries behind him. “Great. Then that's what we'll do.”
Willow propped her elbows on the table. “So you used to be a bounty hunter?”
With both kids watching, Joe casually kissed the side of Luna's neck. She stiffened, but he patted her back, whispered, “It'll be all right,” and then went to the table. “I gave it up a year or so ago.”
“How come?”
“Lots of reasons, but mostly because I got tired of traveling so much. Bounty hunters run anywhere from five to fifteen cases at a time, which meant I was always on the road.”
“Tracking?” Austin asked with wide eyes.
“That's right. And when you're working, you don't have any set hours. Because you can't turn your phone or pager off, you get calls—tips—in the middle of the night. When a tip is good, you follow up on it, even if that means crawling out of bed after only two hours of sleep. I got to where I wanted some personal time to myself. So I quit.”
Luna poured perfect circles of batter onto a hot griddle while listening. So Joe wanted personal time? Alone? And here she'd dragged him to Visitation with her, right into the middle of two troubled kids and mass chaos. Worse, he was still injured and not up to snuff. She'd been incredibly selfish, and it made her stomach churn.
“What do you do now?” Willow asked.
“I was acting as a bodyguard. Luckily I'd finished a job before I got beat up, and then your cousin showed up at my door and invited me along to meet you two, so here I am, hanging out in Visitation.”
“Do bodyguards carry guns?” Austin asked.
“They do. But only to protect the person they're working for. I'm good with my hands,” Joe bragged, holding them up and flexing his fingers. His fists were enormous, his arms bulging with strength. Austin's eyes widened even more.
“Make a muscle,” Austin insisted, and Joe, with a grin, did just that. Austin used both hands and still couldn't encircle Joe's biceps. “Wow.”
Luna's reaction was different, more feminine. She remembered how Joe had tackled that intruder in his apartment, the ease with which he'd gained the upper hand, and she sighed in awe. Joe Winston was all superior male, and as a woman, she couldn't remain immune to him.
“Strong and in shape is important,” Joe said, “because whenever possible, I use nonlethal force.”
“Meaning you don't shoot people?”
“Meaning I don't even like to hurt people if I can help it. Other times . . .” He shrugged. “My last case was to protect a young woman who was turning evidence on her husband.”
Willow tipped her head. “Turning evidence. What does that mean?”
“It means her husband was a really bad man who mistreated her and other people.” Luna heard a distinct edge in Joe's tone now. She glanced at him—and found him watching her with too much intensity.
“In order to put him in jail, she had to testify in court against him. He didn't want her to do that, so he tried to intimidate her.”
Willow leaned forward, engrossed in the story. “How?”
“By threatening her, intimidating her physically. Hurting her.” Joe's voice roughened. He gave his attention back to the kids, releasing Luna. “He tried to sneak into her house one night.” Joe paused, flexing his knuckles, building the expectation. And then, with satisfaction, “I caught him.”
Austin blinked in awe, and his voice lowered to a reverent whisper. “What did you do?”
Luna was rather curious about that herself. She forgot the breakfast long enough to turn and listen.
Joe bared his teeth in that familiar, triumphant smile, but she knew his reply was censored for the kids. “I . . .
detained
him until the cops showed up.”
Willow snorted. “What'd you do to him?”
“In my mind, he was about the lowest scum imaginable. He liked to hurt anyone smaller than him, including women.”
“I bet you were bigger than him, huh?”
Not averse to bragging, Joe said, “A lot bigger. I trussed him up in handcuffs, leg irons and a belly chain.” Before the questions could commence, Joe explained that a belly chain connected the restraints between hands and feet. “All he could really do was flop around on the floor and whine. I gave him to the cops that way. They locked him up. After that the trial went smooth and he got eight years in jail.”
“Wow.”
Joe laughed. “Now, if you want to hear about an interesting job, you should talk to Luna. Do you know what she does for a living?”
Both kids shook their heads.
Grinning, Joe leaned back in his chair and put his arms behind his head. Prominent muscles swelled and bunched, making Luna sigh again. No man should be so mouth-watering in so many ways.
“Well, kids, let me tell you about Luna, Goddess of the Moon.” He sent Luna a wink and said in a ridiculously theatrical voice accompanied by wiggling fingers, “Luna knows all, sees all.”
Luna hadn't seen this
, she thought, amused at Joe's antics and amazed at the ease with which he dealt with the kids. She'd known that he'd be better with them than she was, if for no other reason than that he had more experience dealing with children because of his extended family.
But she hadn't counted on Joe being so comfortable in the role or apparently enjoying it so much. For a confirmed bachelor, for a bounty hunter ex-traordinaire and bodyguard badass, he'd taken right to the company of children.
If a woman didn't know better, she might think Joe Winston enjoyed playing house. She might even be led to think he would enjoy playing husband to a loony ex-assistant and father to two needy children.
Luna did know better, though.
Feeling touched, she listened with only half an ear as Joe entertained Austin and Willow with stories of where she used to work at a popular psychic shop. He included tales of his outrageous cousin Zane and his gypsy wife, Tamara, who owned the shop. With Austin and Willow hanging on his every word, he expounded on some of the more colorful characters that frequented the shop. He shared stories of Tamara's relatives, who all claimed to be free spirits.
Both kids were again filled with endless questions, so over pancakes and bacon, Luna read palms, explained about astrology, and shared some trade secrets to the psychic business. Despite the rocky start to the morning, the meal was fun and filled with camaraderie.
They were just finishing up when Austin surprised her by asking, “Are you like Jamie?”
Joe stiffened. “You know Jamie Creed?”
“Of course we do. He visits sometimes,” Willow explained. “Patricia liked him and always tried to get him to stay, like some of the other men would.”
A frown of concern passed between Joe and Luna.
“But Jamie would only stop in every now and then, and he never stayed long.” Willow bit her lip, undecided about something, then shrugged. “You should probably know something, Luna.”
Now that sounded serious. Luna tilted her head at Willow, encouraging her. “And what's that?”
“Jamie . . . Well, he's the one who told me to call you.”
Chapter Ten
L
una dropped her fork. “But . . . I don't know him.”
“Jamie knows everyone.” Austin nodded hard when both Joe and Luna stared at him in disbelief. “He does. And everyone around here knows Jamie. Some of the people are afraid of him cuz he's so quiet and he doesn't act like everyone else.”
“But most like him.” Willow grinned toward Joe. “The guys are sometimes jealous because the women all get moony-eyed over him. I've heard Patricia say that he's so mysterious and quiet he gives her chills.”
Joe scowled at Luna as if he'd just caught
her
being moony-eyed.
“He's an interesting man,” Luna said with as much detachment as she could muster, given the fact she found Jamie more than merely interesting.
“He came here one day when Patricia was talking to Mr. Owen. Patricia sent us out to the lake so we wouldn't bother her, she said. We'd taken the canoe and were just rowing around, looking for turtles and stuff, and then suddenly Jamie was there, standing on the shore. When we came in, he crouched down on the dock to talk real quietlike to us. He told me that Patricia would leave soon, but I shouldn't worry. I should just call my mother's cousin. I didn't know who he meant, but he told me that if I started calling relatives, someone would remember a name.”
Austin nodded. “And sure 'nuff, Patricia told us she was leavin'. She said we'd have to move away, to a foster home or something because she couldn't stay here anymore.”
“She said it'd be best for us, because the town doesn't like us.” Willow looked down at her hands. “It wasn't easy to not be upset. Especially since Austin was really scared.”
“Was not!”
“But I did what Jamie told me to do. I called everyone I could think of to ask them if they'd want to come here and live. No one did.” She drew a deep breath and looked back up at Luna. Her eyes were big and sad and far too serious, making Luna's throat tight with emotion. “They kept giving me numbers of other family members, and finally someone mentioned you and . . . Here you are, just as Jamie said.”
Luna wasn't a weepy woman. She was strong and decisive, and she prided herself on living life to her own specifications. Much like Tamara's relatives, she considered herself a free spirit. She liked to tease and laugh, and she didn't believe in wasting time on things she couldn't change.
Despite all that, she had a hell of a time swallowing down her tears. If only she had come to Austin and Willow sooner. If only they'd been spared . . .
She jumped when Joe laced his fingers through hers and held her hand tight. He teased her about being a psychic, yet at that moment, he was the one reading minds to know that she needed his touch so much.
Luna drew strength from his touch, enough to keep her voice steady. “You don't know for sure that Jamie meant me.”
“He did.” Austin nodded. “Jamie knows everyone.”
“He said you'd be here, and you are.” Willow sounded very philosophical about it.
Deciding the kids wouldn't be swayed otherwise, Luna broached a new topic. “You said Patricia had men over?”
“She flirted with everyone. I think she liked every man she met.”
“She was always slobbering on them,” Austin interjected with exaggerated disgust. “Like Joe was slobbering on you.”
“I do not slobber,” Joe said.
He sounded so indignant, Luna laughed.
Willow nearly shoved her little brother off his chair. He quickly righted himself, and Willow, while casting glares at Austin, continued. “I guess most of them liked her, too, because they came back often enough. But not Jamie.”
“And not Deputy Royal.” Austin made a face. “I saw Patricia licking his ear once, but he pushed her away. She was real mad about that.”
Joe narrowed his eyes. “What about Quincy Owen? Did Patricia ever kiss him?”
Luna gulped. Owen was obviously married, but perhaps that wouldn't have mattered to a woman like Patricia.
With the mention of Clay Owen's father, Willow clammed up. Austin eyed his sister, shrugged without much sympathy, and picked up the verbal ball. “He visits here lots. Sometimes just to complain about me or Willow, but sometimes he's here when we haven't done anything. I haven't seen them smoochin', but probably they have. Patricia smooches on everyone.”
Willow heaved a breath. “And when Patricia wasn't mauling a man, Dinah was.”
Joe rubbed his chin. “Interesting.”
“No, it's gross.”
Pulled from his ruminations, Joe surveyed Austin. “So, Luna, what do you think should be Austin's punishment for not staying in his bed last night?”
Austin drew up, both afraid and defiant.
Willow slid out of her chair to stand beside her brother. Seconds ago she'd been shoving him out of his chair, but now she put one hand on his shoulder, providing a united front.
They amazed her. They'd been emotionally neglected yet were still so loyal to each other. To her mind, that said a lot about her cousin Chloe and the loving job she'd done raising them before her death.
Luna watched Austin while speaking to Joe. “I think maybe Deputy Royal's visit might have helped Austin to see the error of his ways. If he's out at night and more vandalism happens . . . Well, as Scott said, Austin might be a prime suspect, even if he's innocent. But, Joe, you're the one who has experience dealing with criminals. What do you think?”
Austin turned such a woeful look on Joe, Luna knew he wouldn't be able to resist it. Big and tough as Joe might be, he wasn't immune to a little boy's silent plea—and that only made him more loveable in her mind.
Joe put on a stern expression. “I think a man is only as good as his word. If Austin tells me he won't do any more sneaking around, I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Austin?”
He ducked his head, silent and withdrawn.
Tilting up his chin, Joe made him look at him. “Austin, you don't ever, for any reason, have to be afraid of me or Luna, okay?”
“You were gonna punish me.”
“Yeah, that means maybe doing yard work or being grounded in your room.” Austin seemed confused by that. “What did you think we'd do?”
“Send me away. Or maybe give me to Deputy Royal.”
Luna's heart hit her feet. “Oh, Austin, honey, no. I will never send you away, I swear.”
Austin puckered up even more. Joe sighed. “Well, in the first place, Deputy Royal doesn't want the likes of you. He'd have to be forever checking his seat for dog dung.”
Austin's mouth quirked at that, but he remained silent.
“He only takes criminals, and as Luna said, I know all about them, so I can safely say you aren't one.”
Austin peered up at Joe, still a little disbelieving.
“Scott likes you. Willow, too. When I told him about Clay and the other boys, he promised he'd keep an eye out for you, to make sure the boys don't bother you or Willow again.”
“He did?”
“Of course he did. Scott is a lawman, and that means he dislikes bullies as much as I do.”
Luna slipped her arm around Willow. “Austin, do you understand that I'm here to stay and that I care about you?”
Austin glanced at Luna, shrugged, and said, “I guess so.”
Joe crouched down in front of him. “It's okay to be cautious. I'm a cautious sort myself. In time, you'll trust Luna, just like I trust her. But until then, it'd sure make things easier on everyone if we didn't give Deputy Royal any reason to call other than a friendly visit. Agreed?”
“Yeah.”
“So will you give me your word that you won't leave the house without our permission?”
Finally he nodded. “I promise.”
“Great.” Joe straightened. “I'm going to shower and get ready to go. Maybe later on today we can go for another swim?”
Austin brightened like a Christmas light. “I can show you how to get mussels off the bottom of the lake.”
“Really? I can hardly wait.”
Luna's heart swelled. “Kids, go on upstairs and get washed up and dressed. We've got some work to do today.”
They went off with smiles and a lighter step, filling Luna with hope that maybe, with time, things would work out.
Joe caught Luna's hand and brought her around to him. “Mad at me?”
“For what?”
“Eavesdropping.”
Oh, shoot, she was, but she'd forgotten about it in the middle of the other confusion. “You shouldn't have listened in, Joe.”
His hand curved around her nape beneath her hair. She felt his warm, hard fingers stroking, and that, combined with the interest in his heated gaze, made her tingle.
He brought her mouth up close to his. “If I say I'm sorry, will it help?”
“Maybe.” She was already half breathless and he hadn't even kissed her yet. “If you promise not to do it again.”
Awry smile tilted his sexy mouth. “No can do. It seems the only way I can figure you out is to listen in on private conversations.” His voice lowered and he touched his mouth to hers. “I would never deliberately hurt you, honey.”
Her face burned. Damn him, she wanted to push him away, but she could feel his heavy heartbeat against her breasts and feel the gentleness of his hold. “Hurt is hurt, Joe, doesn't matter if it's deliberate or not.”
His hand slid from her nape to her chin, and his thumb kept her face still for a brief, melting kiss. “Maybe,” he whispered against her lips, “I'll surprise you.”
Luna thought of how he'd dealt with Willow and Austin, and she gave a groan of acceptance. “You already have.”
“Yeah?” He tilted back to smile at her in satisfaction. “Well, that's a good thing, right?”
“No.” Luna slowly disengaged herself from his arms. “That's not a good thing at all. You're confusing me and I don't like it.”
“What does that mean?”
“Give me time, Joe, okay?” While Joe frowned at her in confusion, she stepped around him, hoping to put some space between them. Not that it would do her much good, because she was already in too deep.
Regardless of the dictates of common sense, she'd done something very stupid.
She'd fallen in love with Joe Winston.
Joe waited until he was in his truck driving away from the house, then he flipped out his cell phone and dialed his sister.
On the third ring, Alyx answered, sounding sleepy and grouchy. “What?”
Joe shook his head. “Hell, Alyx, it's going on noon and you're still in bed?”
“Joe? 'Bout time you called. Mom's been worried.”
“And you haven't been? I'm wounded.”
Joe heard the creaking of bedsprings, some rustling, then a yawn. “Yeah, wounded in the head.” She snickered at her own joke. “So how's it going? You all settled in?”
“Getting there. You got a pen and paper handy?” He gave her the phone number for the house, just in case of an emergency. For most calls, she'd use his cell phone number.
After she'd scribbled down his number, grumbling that she wasn't awake enough to see straight, she asked, “Is your
wife
still with you?”
Alyx would wear that joke out before she quit, Joe knew. Refusing to let her bait him, he said simply, “Of course she is. This is her family, remember, not mine.”
“Hey, you didn't object to the wife thing. Strange. I expected you to be tired of her already. This must be a personal record for you, huh?”
“Brat. I'd swat you if you were close.”

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