by Lori Foster
“I never said—”
Julie poked him in the chest. “For your information, Joe Winston is as big as you, and he’s just as strong and twice as handsome.”
“Good for him.”
His sarcasm only fueled her temper. “Both Bryan and Bruce are fine specimens, too. Tall and handsome and very amusing. And I can’t forget Scott Royal or Jamie Creed.”
“I remember.” And with utter disdain, Clint mimicked, “The town drips testosterone, and the women all go insane with lust.”
Forgetting that she was an educator with a higher moral standard than most, forgetting that she detested violence of any kind, Julie slapped his shoulder. “I said it was a wonder they didn’t go insane, not that they did.”
Red turned in his seat. “You admire all these guys?”
Still ruffled, Julie subsided back against the side of the van. Her ankle throbbed and so did her head. Her heart felt like it’d been ripped into little pieces.
Sitting close to Clint wasn’t helping. “Very much. They’re wonderful men, very heroic, and I consider them good friends.”
“They’re all boyfriends?”
Why these men insisted on thinking she ran a male harem, Julie couldn’t guess. “No, they’re all married now. Except Jamie and Scott.”
Clint worked his jaw. “Jamie frightens her.”
Shooting him a look of accusation, Julie said, “You didn’t have to tell that part.”
“What about Scott?” Red asked.
“He’s great.” Then wrinkling her nose, Julie added, “But being a deputy and everything, he’s pretty…controlling. I’ve had enough of controlling men to last me a lifetime. Not that Scott has ever paid me much attention anyway. Other than as a friend, or as the local law who wants to keep everyone safe.”
Red grinned at her rambling responses. “So you don’t think any of them could have been involved with your kidnapping?”
She shook her head hard. “No. Absolutely not. I have not a single doubt that any one of them would be more than willing to help me now if they knew what was happening. As I explained, they’re heroes, not villains.”
Red met Clint’s gaze. “She’s pretty convincing.”
“Maybe.”
Julie didn’t like the way Clint said that. “Clint, do not even think about going to Visitation to bother my friends. I mean it.”
“I’ll do what I think is best.”
“If you bother them,” Julie threatened, “I’ll tell Robert not to pay you.”
Clint had the audacity to shrug, as if he didn’t even care about the money when he’d already been clear that money was his sole motivation. “You didn’t object this much over Robert.”
“Perhaps you should take notes, so that you don’t keep getting confused.”
Red snickered, Clint narrowed his eyes, and both reactions satisfied Julie. “We’ve already determined that Robert is a cheater, and while I honestly don’t think he’d ever do me harm, one bad character trait could—if I stretch my imagination—indicate other bad traits. But the same isn’t true of Joe or Bruce or—”
“Yeah, yeah. Visitation’s finest. I get it already.” Clint moved across the van to settle next to her again, so close that their thighs touched, as if he hadn’t realized she wanted some space. “They’re all saints without an evil thought.”
“Oh, they have evil thoughts, believe me.” She chuckled, just thinking about some of the encounters they’d gotten into. “I wasn’t there when it happened, but I heard that Bruce almost beat a man to death for trying to hurt his wife.”
“Bruce the preacher?”
“Yes. And Joe put his knife in the guy who tried to hurt Luna and his children. Bryan—”
Clint held his head. “We’re almost there.”
“There, where?” She leaned forward and looked out the window. All she saw was a heavily wooded area with a big black truck parked among the brush. “Where are we?”
“Back in Ohio. Mojo left his truck here.”
“Why?”
Clint didn’t look inclined to explain, so Red did. “It’s better to have more than one out. Not that we wouldn’t notice it if we were followed, but we don’t take chances.”
“That’s ingenious.” Julie realized how careful they were, and again, it reassured her. “So you leave your vehicles in different places, and then if you need a ride, or need to switch cars, you have more than one option.”
“Exactly.”
Mojo pulled the van beneath a large tree, but left the engine running. He started to get out, and Julie said, “You’re leaving? Now?”
Mojo paused, taking the time to turn and face her. He nodded.
Julie bit her lip, then reached into the front seat and put her hand on his forearm. “Thank you so much, Mojo. For everything.”
He patted her hand. His eyes were dark, but gentle. “It’ll be all right. You’ll see.”
She nodded, and Mojo and Red both got out and walked to the front of the van.
Clint cupped the back of her neck, turning her face up to his. “Sit tight while we make a few plans. I’ll be right back.”
“What plans? I want to know what you’re doing.”
His thumb brushed her cheek, lingering for a long moment. “Just stay put.”
Julie caught his wrist. “You can be a very condescending man, Clint, do you know that?”
“Yeah, I know it.” He pulled loose and slid the side door open, then shut it behind him. The three men gathered near the black truck, talking softly. Julie tried to read their lips, but couldn’t. By the time she’d crawled into the front passenger seat and rolled down the window, Mojo had turned away, and Red and Clint were returning.
Well, darn. She had no clue what their infamous plan might be.
No one mentioned the obvious fact that she’d been trying to eavesdrop. Red got behind the wheel, then leaned to the passenger seat and rolled the window back up to keep out the hot June afternoon air.
Clint merely waited until she moved into the back again, then he joined her. They rode along in silence.
Less than five minutes later, they stopped again, this time in the packed parking lot of a popular grocery store. Clint slid the door open and reached for Julie’s hand. “Let’s go.”
“The van isn’t yours?”
Red answered her. “It’s mine. The jeep is Clint’s.” He got out, too, but again left the motor running.
Not giving her a chance to object, Clint scooped Julie up into his arms and carried her to the side door. Having retrieved her bag of possessions, Red unlocked the door and opened it. Luckily there were no shoppers in the lot to witness her weakness.
After Clint had set her inside and rounded the hood, Red leaned in to put her bag at her feet. There was already a crowbar and a wooden stick of some sort on the floor, leaving her little room for her feet. She shuffled around and finally decided to use the bag to cushion her injured ankle.
Still leaning in, Red pressed a quick kiss to her cheek. He lingered, his mouth near her ear. “Hang in there, kiddo, and trust Clint.”
No one had ever called her kiddo before. It sounded very affectionate, coming from Red. Julie nodded. “I do trust him.” She put her arms around Red’s neck and gave him a hug. “I hate saying goodbye.”
Red returned the embrace. “You’ll be seeing me again.”
Clint turned the key and the engine roared to life. “Goodbye, Red.”
Holding up his hands and grinning, Red said, “I can take a hint.” He began backing away.
“Hey, Julie Rose?”
“Yes?”
“Take it easy on him, okay?” He winked. “Clint needs a clear head now, and you’re confusing the hell out of him.”
Clint put the jeep in gear and started forward.
Julie leaned out the window. “Thank you, Red!”
Clint said, “For God’s sake, Julie Rose. Close the damn window and put on your seat belt.”
Julie subsided into her seat with a sn
iff. “I will—but only because I was going to anyway. You should understand right now that I don’t take well to orders.”
“I noticed.” Clint glanced in the rearview mirror, paused at the main drag, then eased into traffic. Once they were under way, he asked, “How’re you holding up? Your ankle okay?”
“Perfectly fine, thank you.” And then, just to annoy him, she tacked on, “You need not concern yourself.”
Julie watched his hands tighten on the wheel.
“Knock it off, Julie Rose.”
“I have no idea what you mean.” She knew exactly what he meant.
“Yeah, you do.” He glared at her for an instant. “You’re trying to shut me out.”
“Au contraire.” She turned to face him, bumping her sore ankle against the stupid crowbar. If he kept picking at her, she just might use it on his head. “You shut me out, and you weren’t even polite about it.”
“Bullshit. Just because I don’t want to take advantage of you during a difficult time doesn’t mean—”
Holding up an imperious hand, Julie halted his lame excuses. “I’ve heard enough, thank you very much. More explanation would only be superfluous.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
“It means you’ve already made yourself quite clear.” Julie’s brows came down, and she wagged a finger at him. “But for your information—”
He smacked the steering wheel. “I knew you were stewing, just waiting to blast me. Anytime a woman’s silent, it’s because she’s building up steam.”
“—I do not require fixing.” The hurt welled up again, threatening to choke her. She blinked hard and firmed her chin. “I’m a perfectly acceptable woman just as I am.”
“I agree.”
“I’m intelligent, independent, loyal, and while I know I’m not beautiful, I’ve never been dissatisfied with my appearance.”
“I already agreed.”
“Your actions would say otherwise.”
“Drop the teach-talk, will ya? It doesn’t even suit you.”
Her mouth fell open. “Well, of course it does! I’m first and foremost a teacher.”
“No way. You’re a woman, and you’re pissed because you think I rejected you.”
“I know you rejected me. I was there through the whole humiliating thing, and unlike you, I do pay attention.” And then with sarcasm, “But of course, no one paid you to sleep with me.”
The words no sooner left her mouth than the jeep veered sharply off the road, skidded to a halt with a stirring of gravel and dirt, and Clint had his seat belt off, reaching for her. Her feet got tangled in the stuff on the floor, the wooden stick, the crowbar, her stupid bag of meager belongings.
Startled, she screeched—and the sound got muffled by Clint’s mouth. Fingers held her skull so she couldn’t retreat, and then he kissed her senseless. His mouth was hot and hungry, his tongue searching and exciting.
It was a ravenous kiss, one maybe of anger, but definitely of passion.
When Clint finally came up for air, Julie struggled to get her eyes open. “Mmm. Okay.” She licked her swollen lips and tried to get her brain to function. “And that was…?”
Busy smoothing her skin and sort of smelling her neck, Clint murmured, “Proof that I want you.”
“I see…no, I don’t.”
Clint eased back. “Did I hurt you?”
“No. I rather enjoyed it.”
He grinned—then eyed her hair. “I hate this, this…” He gestured at her. “Old-biddy bun thing you stuck on your head. How do I get your hair loose?”
He was the oddest man. “I don’t want my hair loose.”
Determination intensified the green of his eyes. “I do.”
A diplomat of the first order, Julie said, “Share your plans with me, and I’ll take it down.”
Settling back, Clint studied her for a long moment, then nodded. “Fair enough. We’re going to my place. I’m going to leave you there while I take care of a few things.”
“What things?”
“Things.”
“Not good enough, Clint.” She began tucking the strands he’d loosened back into her bun.
“All right, already. No reason to torture your head.” He worked his jaw. “I’m going to go see a few people. Robert first, then Asa.”
Robert and Asa? But why? Asa had nothing to do with anything, and Robert…well, despite Clint’s suspicions, she really didn’t believe Robert would hurt her on purpose.
She hated to see Clint waste his time on dead ends. Opting to cover her most immediate worry first, she forged ahead. “You won’t hurt Robert, will you?”
One brow lifted. “Hurting him isn’t part of my plan. But I can’t make any promises.” He refastened his seat belt. “If he insults you again, or tries to lie to me, yeah, I might smack him.”
“Clint!”
“Just once or twice,” he soothed. “He’ll be okay.”
Her savior obviously had some barbaric tendencies. “That is not acceptable.” Frantic, Julie tried to think of some way to control a male of Clint’s size. If he were a student, she could give him extra work, take away his recess, maybe threaten to call his parents.
But Clint wouldn’t be easily reined in.
“Robert’s not like you.”
“Now, there’s an understatement.” He glanced at her. “I don’t cheat and I don’t lie.”
“I know,” Julie said with a smile. “But I meant he’s not hardened the way you are. He’s…”
“Soft?”
“Yes. In body and temperament. He’s a businessman. Striking him would be like hitting me.”
Clint made an exasperated sound at that comparison. “Take your hair down.” He put the jeep in drive and merged with the traffic again.
Taken off guard, Julie automatically reached up to do as instructed. She hadn’t had much to work with when she’d fixed her hair at the motel, so it was fastened mostly by the efficient means of a cheap ink pen. She’d twisted her hair tightly and then worked the pen through the bun to anchor it in place.
Now she pulled the pen away, and her hair tumbled to her shoulders.
“Better,” Clint told her, and he even reached across the seat with his right hand to work his fingers through her hair to her scalp, gently massaging. It felt good. “You have nice hair, Julie Rose. You shouldn’t pinch it back like that.”
“It gets in my way.”
“You look sexier with it down.”
She needed to deal with the issue of him hurting Robert, but still she said, “Looking sexy serves no purpose if you’re not willing to cooperate.”
Through his teeth, Clint said, “It improves my mood, all right? That should be reason enough.”
“Your moods don’t scare me, Clint Evans. Well, except that I want you to promise you won’t hurt Robert.”
He took a ramp off the highway and onto a rural road. “No can do, babe.”
Unacceptable. Julie thought quickly and decided hard measures were in order. “Clint Evans, either you swear to me that you won’t hurt him, or I’m firing you right now.”
He shot her an incredulous look. “You can’t fire me. You didn’t hire me.”
“I can certainly decide to walk away. I can refuse your help. I can—”
“No.”
“What do you mean, no?”
“I won’t let you leave.” His face darkened and his eyes narrowed, but his voice remained calm and sure. “I mean it, Julie Rose. You’re not going anywhere, so you can get that lame-brained idea out of your head right now.”
She fell back in her seat. “So now you’re kidnapping me?”
“No! Damn it, just be reasonable.” He turned down yet another road lined with shabby apartments. “I told you I’d keep you safe, and that’s what I intend to do.”
“Then promise me that you won’t hurt Robert.”
Under his breath, but not under enough, he muttered, “You are such a pain in the ass.”
Refusing t
o let his complaint hurt her, Julie said again, “Promise me, Clint.”
“Yeah, whatever.” He swung the jeep into a parking garage, his movements jerky with annoyance. “I won’t hurt him.”
“Wonderful. I’m so glad we got that settled.” When he turned off the engine, Julie released her seat belt. “Now explain to me why you’re going to see Asa?”
“So you do know him?”
“I’ve met him, yes. He’s a product of his society. Very sad.”
Clint looked apoplectic. “He’s a gang leader, a criminal, and possibly involved in your kidnapping.”
“Why would Asa want to kidnap me?”
“Robert claims you flirted with him.”
She dropped her head back with a laugh.
“Dear God, according to Robert, I’m out to enflame all of mankind.”
Leaning toward her, Clint slipped his hand behind her neck. “I’m beginning to think you could.”
Her eyes opened. He was very close and staring at her mouth. “Truly?”
“You’ve sure as hell enflamed me.” And then he kissed her again.
Julie would never tire of his mouth or his taste or his wonderful scent. His hand on her neck tipped her head back more, and he deepened the kiss with a groan.
What kind of game was he playing with her? He was more fickle than any person she’d ever met. When Julie turned her face, his mouth went to her throat, and that was almost as exciting. He drew her skin in against his teeth, and Julie felt it everywhere, especially in her breasts and between her legs.
“Clint?” she said on a whisper of sound. “Are you going to keep doing this?”
“No. It’s wrong.” He kissed her again, briefly this time. With his forehead to hers, his breath fanned her lips. “But I can’t stand having you think I don’t want you.”
“Because you do?”
“Damn right.”
Julie smiled. As far as admissions went, she liked that one a lot.
In the next instant, Clint’s door opened, and he got yanked out and onto the concrete parking floor. Taken by surprise, he landed flat; Julie heard the impact of his head with the hard ground. Two men loomed over him, both of them clearly set on malicious intent.
