Evasive Action (Holding the Line Book 1)

by Carol Ericson

  “You’re saying I should leave Albuquerque...or not, and forget about Adam?”

  Clay’s pulse picked up pace. “I think you should definitely leave Albuquerque. The place doesn’t seem to agree with you.”

  “I wish Kenzie would call me back.”

  Clay wedged a foot against the coffee table. “You’re not going to wait around here for Kenzie, are you?”

  “You think we should leave?”

  “Let’s spend the night here like we’d planned and leave tomorrow.” He toed off one shoe. “You don’t have to be in Albuquerque to talk to Kenzie...or Adam.”

  April placed her hands together as if in prayer. “I hope he’s okay.”

  He didn’t feel like talking about Adam anymore or speculating about what happened to him. The guy had dragged his sister into a mess, all because of some hunch about El Gringo Viejo and dreams of riches. April’s parents had made sure all their possessions would go to April because they couldn’t trust Adam, even back then. Of course, April had done her damnedest to share her money with her brother. Nobody could ever talk her out of her support for Adam. She’d been loyal to a fault...to Adam.

  Clay pinched the knotted muscles in the back of his neck. “Do you mind if I take a shower?”

  “Go ahead.” She hopped up from the couch. “I’ll get you a clean towel and make up the other bed, while I’m at it.”

  Clay’s jaw hardened. She was as controlled as the day she left him. If she could ignore the sexual tension that had been simmering between them from the minute she showed up in Paradiso, he’d have to follow suit.

  He’d explored every inch of this woman’s body intimately; it seemed absurd for them to camp out in different beds. But she probably had the right idea. What good would one night of passion do them if she planned on packing up and leaving him again?

  His mouth watered as he followed behind her gently undulating hips to the hallway. That one night of passion could do him a helluva lot of good, come to think of it.

  She swung open the door to the hall closet, almost bashing him in the face. “Sorry. I didn’t realize you were right behind me.”

  He held up his hands. “I was daydreaming.”

  Her gaze shifted to his face as she reached for a towel. She pressed it against his chest. “Here you go. You brought toiletries in your bag, right?”

  “Yeah, toothbrush, floss, the works.” He shook out the towel and backed up to the small bathroom where he hung it over a rack on the outside of the shower door.

  April seemed stuck in the bathroom’s entrance, and he squeezed past her. “Do you need to use the bathroom before I hop in? I’m just gonna get my bag from the living room.”

  “I’m not even going to brush my teeth right now. I know I have a few beers in the fridge if Adam didn’t drink them. Want one when you get out?”

  “Absolutely.”

  She followed him to the living room where he snagged his overnight bag.

  “I won’t be long.”

  “Take your time.” She waved a hand at him.

  He didn’t want to take his time in the shower alone. He wanted to hurry and spend all his time with April before they parted company again—maybe for good this time.

  Seeing her again had only drilled home the point that he needed to get on with his life. She hadn’t offered any explanations for running out on their wedding, even though the heat still burned between them.

  Sometimes he caught a look of regret and sadness in her blue eyes, but whatever feelings lurked in her soul they weren’t strong enough to overcome whatever objections she’d had to their marriage. He had to respect that.

  He scrubbed his body hard with a washcloth as if trying to wash April Hart out of his pores. If only a little soap and elbow grease could do the trick.

  He dried off and pulled on a pair of gym shorts and a white T-shirt—the more covered up, the better. Maybe he’d luck out and she’d be sound asleep after the events of today.

  Did she really think he’d killed Jimmy when she saw him over his body? Not that the idea of April being engaged to a scumbag like that didn’t cause rage to boil in his veins. Adam and Jimmy must’ve really done a number on her—or she’d been so lost she wasn’t thinking straight.

  Lost because of him? That’s how he’d felt without her—lost, half a man.

  He shook his head and draped the towel over the rack to dry. He stepped out of the bathroom and dropped his bag inside the door of the spare bedroom, which she’d already neatly made up for him.

  The TV hummed from the other room, and he poked his head around the corner. “Still awake?”

  She twisted her head around while pausing the TV show. “I’m not tired. Are you? I think I still have adrenaline pumping through my body from finding Jimmy.”

  He strode toward her and dropped on the other end of the couch. “I’m sorry. You must’ve loved him once.”

  “Never.” She tightened her lips. “It was all fake. All make-believe, and I think I knew it even before the wedding day and my eavesdropping.”

  “Why didn’t you make a run for it before the big day?” He crossed his ankle over his bouncing knee. Would she shut him down?

  She shrugged. “Didn’t relish the idea of being a two-time loser.”

  “Yeah, much better to be married to a man you suspected of criminal activity.” He rolled his eyes. “Do you have those beers?”

  “Just waiting for you.” She half rose, but he sprang to his feet.

  “I’ll get them.”

  Her refrigerator contained a few bottles of water, a few bottles of beer and an expired yogurt. Why would it be stocked? She’d left this place to get married. Had they planned a honeymoon? Probably Mexico for a surprise visit to the bride’s father.

  He twisted the caps off the beers and tossed them on the countertop with a clink. “Do you want a glass?”

  “You know me better than that.”

  He knew her better than anyone—or he used to.

  He walked back into the living room on bare feet and handed her one bottle. She’d changed from the black leggings she’d worn earlier into short, pink pajama bottoms and a white top with spaghetti straps.

  He pointed at the husky puppies on her bottoms. “Those look like Denali.”

  “Why do you think I bought them?” She dropped her lashes and rubbed a thumb across a white dog printed on the material. “It reminded me of Denali and...”

  Her voice died away in a whisper, and a knife twisted in his gut, engulfing him in the same pain that came on every time he thought about April.

  He dropped to his knees. “Why, April? Why’d you do it? Why’d you leave us?”

  Her sparkling eyes flew to his face, color rushing into her cheeks.

  Okay, that had been a cheap shot throwing Denali in there.

  She folded her hands around the bottle. “Would you believe me if I told you I did it to protect you?”

  Clay curled his hands around her calves. “This sounds like the old ‘it’s me, not you’ excuse. In fact, that’s the reason you gave me two years ago.”

  Leaning forward, she placed her hands on his shoulders. “Does it matter to you right now?”

  Clay swallowed. Did it? To have this woman in his arms again, loving her, pleasing her, meant everything to him.

  He closed his eyes. He’d just been telling himself to move on with his life. Making love with April was not a good step on that path.

  She cupped his jaw with one hand. “I missed you so much, Clay.”

  His lids flew open, and he found himself almost nose-to-nose with the one woman he’d loved more than life itself.

  It didn’t matter why she left. It didn’t matter that she’d made terrible choices since then. It didn’t matter that she intended to leave him again once she found her brother.

  He sc
ooped a hand through her hair. This mattered. Only this.

  He brought her in inches closer and angled his mouth across hers. Her warm, soft lips opened, and she invited him inside. His tongue explored her mouth, and she sighed against his kisses.

  She dropped her hand to the neck of his T-shirt and hooked her fingers over the neckline, rubbing her knuckles along his collarbone. Opening her legs, she hooked them around his torso, almost coming off the couch and knocking him backward.

  He steadied himself and planted a trail of kisses along her inner thigh. The dogs on her pajama bottoms wiggled, and he smiled against her flesh.

  He tucked his hands beneath her derriere and hoisted her back up on the couch, following her up and pressing his body against hers.

  His erection, strong and sure, poked at her through the thin material of their clothing.

  She wedged her hands against his chest. “You’re squishing me. Let’s trade places.”

  In a single movement, he wrapped his hands around her waist, turned and lifted her, taking her place on the couch.

  She straddled his hips and pressed a kiss against his mouth. “Much better.”

  Tugging the undershirt over her head, he said, “Much, much better.”

  He cupped one pert breast with his palm and teased her nipple with the tip of his tongue.

  She gasped and threw back her head. “That’s wicked good.”

  “I don’t want the other one to suffer.” He dipped his head and swirled his tongue around the other nipple while pinching the one he’d already tantalized to a rosy peak.

  She rocked in his lap, chafing against his erection, driving him crazy with desire and need.

  He’d always needed April. It had gone beyond love. She’d percolated in his blood for years like some kind of addiction. He could almost pity the poor bastards dependent on drugs because April was his drug.

  “Why are you still wearing this?” She clawed at his T-shirt, dragging it up his chest.

  He yanked it over his head, and she immediately pressed her bare skin against his. “I love this feeling.”

  Her soft breasts brushed against the flat planes of muscle across his chest, and he soaked in the sensation. He traced one knuckle over the beads of her spine and slipped his hands into her shorts, splaying his hands against the curve of her buttocks.

  He growled in her ear. “I love this feeling.”

  She wriggled against his erection, driving him crazy, and then dipped her head to his chest and grazed one of his nipples with her teeth.

  Leaning against the cushions, he tipped his head back and concentrated on a little water stain in the corner. “You’re going to take your time, aren’t you? You’re going to do all kinds of little things to my body to tease me.”

  “I have an ulterior motive.” She shoved her hand down his shorts and grabbed the length of him. “I’m going to make you so hard you’re gonna go all night. You’re going to please me like only you know how.”

  He dug his fingers into the soft flesh of her derriere and flipped her on her back, stretching out beside her.

  As she started to roll off the edge, he grabbed her. “I don’t think this couch is big enough for what I want to do to you—all night long.”

  She pressed a finger against his lips. “Let’s continue this romp in my boudoir.”

  “Romp.” He scooped her up again and staggered to his feet. “I like the sound of that.”

  He ignored the alarm bells in his head, determined to get his fill of this woman once and for all—as if he could ever get enough of April Hart.

  Clay took two steps away from the couch with April clinging to his body, and then nearly dropped her when he heard the handle of the front door rattle.

  Her arms tightened around his neck, and he brushed her ear with his lips. “Shh.”

  The door handle twisted again, and April slid from his body, stumbling backward.

  The lock clicked, and Clay lunged for his weapon on the kitchen counter. He shoved April behind him and said, “Get back. He’s coming.”

  Chapter Twelve

  April crouched to the floor and peered between his legs at the front door, now easing open.

  Clay shouted, “Stop! I have a gun.”

  “Clay?” The door opened wider, and Adam stepped over the threshold, brushing his dishwater-blond hair from his eyes. “Don’t shoot, man.”

  April blew out a breath and pulled her discarded camisole over her head before jumping to her feet and rushing her brother. She threw her arms around his neck, momentarily forgetting that he’d set her up to marry a drug dealer.

  “Oh my God. I’m so glad to see you safe.”

  Adam patted her back. “I’m all right, but we need to get out of here.”

  “Why?” Clay shoved his weapon in the back of his waistband, his jaw a hard line.

  April stepped back from Adam. Now Clay would really hate her brother. Adam had just interrupted their reunion sex.

  Adam glanced at Clay and then shifted his blue eyes back to April. “What does he know?”

  “He knows everything, of course, and I think we even know more than you do.” April tugged on the hem of her camisole. Adam wouldn’t even notice their state of undress, Clay in gym shorts with his shirt off and she in skimpy pj’s. Adam didn’t notice much if it didn’t concern him.

  “What are you talking about? What could you possibly know that I don’t? Jimmy abducted me. He thinks I have something that belongs to him.”

  April opened her mouth, but Clay crossed the room and stepped between her and Adam. “If Jimmy snatched you, why are you here? How’d you get away from Jimmy?”

  “He was distracted. The cops are looking for Gilbert and it led them to Jimmy.” Adam hunched his thin shoulders. “Let’s just say, Jimmy had other problems besides me.”

  “You can say that again.” Clay crossed his arms over his bare chest. “Jimmy’s dead.”

  Adam’s eyes bugged out of his head. “That’s impossible. The guy had me captive as late as this afternoon.”

  April said, “We saw him, Adam. Saw his dead body.”

  Adam smacked his hand against his forehead and jerked his head toward Clay. “Y-you didn’t kill him, did you?”

  “I did not kill him, and you’re lucky I’m not gonna kill you, either.” Clay leveled a finger at Adam. “You set up April with this lowlife, manipulated her into marrying him for your own selfish reasons, not giving a damn about her or her feelings.”

  April pressed a hand against her fluttering heart. Clay had always stood up for her, always would.

  Adam backed up against the wall. “Jimmy wouldn’t have hurt April. He just wanted an in with our father, one that I couldn’t give him.”

  “Cut it, Adam.” Clay sliced his hand through the air. “Your father is not El Gringo Viejo. Get that insane idea out of your head. And if you didn’t think April was in danger being married to a man like that, you’re as stupid as you’ve always been.”

  A mottled red suffused Adam’s cheeks. “I didn’t force her to marry him.”

  “I know how you operate. Don’t try to pull anything over on me.” Clay rolled his shoulders as if to gain control of his emotions. “Did you know Jimmy and his gang were double-crossing Las Moscas?”

  Adam held out both hands. “Hey, I had no idea until he told me today. That’s why Jimmy wanted that flash drive. It contains tunnel locations along the border for the cartel’s drops. I’m telling you the same thing I told Jimmy. I don’t have it. Do you think the cops killed Jimmy?”

  April perched on the arm of the couch, wishing she and Clay were wrapped around each other again. “The cops are not going to kill a drug dealer and leave his body on the floor of his house...or anywhere else.”

  “That’s where you found him?” Adam’s skinny neck worked as he swallowed hard. “Las Mo
scas.”

  “That’s what we’re thinking.” Clay strolled to the couch, the gun still tucked in the waistband of his shorts, and put his hand on April’s shoulder. “It’s over. Don’t involve April in any of your crazy schemes again. Don’t ask her to search for your father in Mexico or anywhere else. Or you’re gonna have to answer to me. Got it?”

  Adam’s gaze darted between April and Clay. “Are you two back together?”

  God, she wished.

  Clay must’ve felt the stiffening of her body. He dropped his hand from her shoulder. “We don’t have to be together for me to look out for April’s interests.”

  “Okay, whatever, man. I’m done with this stuff. I just escaped with my life.” He rubbed his arms and sauntered to the table behind the couch. “Did you happen to find my stash here?”

  “Disposed of it.” Clay widened his stance, as if Adam would dare to take on him and his muscles.

  April gestured toward the kitchen. “What happened here, Adam? Kenzie called me in a panic and told me there was blood all over my place. We didn’t exactly find blood all over, but we did find smears of it in the kitchen and droplets in the sink.”

  “Yeah, um, Jimmy attacked me here.” Adam danced from foot to foot, already missing his fix. “Hit me on the head and hustled me out. He must’ve cleaned up my blood before he left.”

  Clay tapped the cheekbone beneath his eye. “Outside of that shiner you’re gonna get, you look in remarkably good shape for just being abducted by an angry drug dealer.”

  “Yeah.” Adam traced his fingertips around his eye socket. “He roughed me up. Blood must’ve come from my head wound.”

  “Where did he hold you?” Clay narrowed his eyes.

  “I don’t know, man. They put a hood over my head. Then they got some calls, had some discussions and then stuffed me in my car... I mean, your car, April, and dropped me off in the desert. They loosened my ties so that I could get out, but not before they took off. I knew there was trouble with the cops.”

  “You’re lucky they didn’t kill you.” April tapped her head. “Do you need some ice or treatment for your head?”