by April Hunt
Zoey avoided replying by taking another long pull of her drink. “It’s been nice chatting with all of you about secret reasons for staying in town, and your lack of hygiene, but I apparently have a dom outfit to try out and I’m not about to do so with anyone here.”
She stormed away, putting a little extra sway into her hips. A warm, pleasant buzz slid through her body before she braved a glance over her shoulder. Her gaze collided with Knox’s, nearly making her trip.
In all her years, she couldn’t recall ever once being the recipient of Knox’s Lust Gaze. Pity? Yes. Annoyance? Yep. Humor? Often. But desire? No way.
It could’ve been a trick of the lighting, or her exuberant alcohol consumption. Heck, it could’ve been a side effect from smacking her head against her washing machine a few days ago. No matter how Knox’s heated look came to be, it fired her blood—among other body parts.
Zoey found Grace hiding amid a group of young rookie cops, and held out her empty glass. “I need another. Stat.”
Grace’s surprise switched to a chuckle. “Yeah, me too, although I expect for entirely different reasons.”
“Having nostalgia sex with my brother is driving you to drink?”
Grace gasped, her face losing its color. “How did you find out? Did he tell you? Oh, my God. I’m going to kill him.”
Zoey giggled. “He didn’t tell me. You did just now. After the next refill, we’re dancing until Rudy either tosses us out on our rear ends, or until I trip over these heels and fall on my butt myself. Whichever comes first.”
“Now that sounds like a plan.” Grinning, Grace grabbed her hand.
Zoey took great care in everything she did. Her diet was fairly balanced with the occasional indulgences. Sleep was her best friend—besides Grace. And she took her medications like a good congenital heart defect patient.
Dancing in mile-high heels while under the influence of Rudy Specials was the first idea Zoey had had that didn’t involve doing the responsible thing.
And she kind of liked it.
A lot.
Zoey lifted her hands above her head and swiveled her hips to the beat of the music. The inch of bare skin between the top of her pants and bottom hem of her shirt turned into four, and when she really reached, Knox—along with every male in the place—glimpsed the bottom swell of a lace-covered breast.
It was the sweetest kind of torture, one he barely pulled his eyes away from except to shoot his Ranger scowl toward anyone who looked stupid—and horny enough—to make a move in her direction. In thirty minutes, he’d scared off no fewer than four guys and was now in a warning stare-down with a fifth.
A few feet away, Liam and Ryder flirted unabashedly with a set of brunettes, and Roman had used Zoey’s departure to make his own mysterious exit, disappearing in the crowd. Some things never changed.
Knox trashed his warm beer and casually diverted his attention to his best friend. “So, have you given Roman’s offer any thought? Liam said they’ve asked you. Multiple times.”
Cade scoffed. “And I’ve turned them down. Multiple times. I’m going to tell you the same thing I told your brothers…I appreciate the job offer, but I’m not interested.”
“So you say. But I saw your face when we helped Logan Callahan in Vegas. You can’t tell me you don’t miss the thrill of going on a mission.”
“Says the man who’s trading in a tactical belt for a tiara. How did that conversation go over, by the way?” Cade sipped his beer and smirked.
Knox released a subdued laugh. “About as well as expected. Now stop trying to change the subject. Why did you turn Roman down?”
“Because missions never happen close to home, and someone’s ass is always on the line. This is where I need to be, man.”
Knox followed Cade’s attention to Zoey.
He got it. Family was everything. There wasn’t any mountain he wouldn’t climb or bullet he wouldn’t dodge in front of for his brothers or Grace—and Zoey too. Cade was the same. The only difference between the two of them was that Cade didn’t have a lot of shit to make up for.
“Zoey’s a grown woman.”
“She’s not a woman. She’s my sister.” At Knox’s pointed silence, he added, “Yeah, I know it doesn’t make sense, but it is what it is. Zoey’s different. There are special circumstances.”
“Has she been having problems?” Knox unknowingly held his breath as he waited for the answer.
His gaze flickered to the dance floor where she danced with his cousin. At first glance, or hell, the sixth, no one would think Zoey had gone through hell on earth for most of her life. She leaned close to Grace to hear something she’d said, her sleek ponytail brushing over her slender shoulders, and then laughed. The sound drifted their way over the loud music, making Knox’s insides clench.
There wasn’t anything better than her laugh except for, maybe, her smile. And he still couldn’t get the image of her last night out of his head, all pissed off and ready for a fight. He liked that spark in her eye, and had started seeing it shine through her shell when she hit sixteen…right around the time he began envying Liam for his and Zoey’s close friendship.
Nothing good would’ve come from Knox acting on his interest for his best friend’s baby sister. Cade would’ve given him the ultimate beat-down, and immediately after, his brothers would’ve gladly joined in the fun. Hell, Knox would’ve tried to find ways to pummel his own damn self.
For Knox, Army life had meant more than protecting his country. It meant short, sporadic visits home in which he got to keep Zoey Wright in his life without ruining hers.
“Are you going to answer the damn question?” Knox demanded, suddenly needing to know she was okay more than he needed his next breath. “Zoey hasn’t had any more setbacks, has she?”
His friend’s brow lifted. Knox settled before Cade called him out on his outburst. “No. Samuel’s given her a clean bill of health.”
“Samuel? Wasn’t that her doc since the beginning? I thought he retired or something.”
Cade shot him a curious look. “And how the hell did you know that?”
“I was in North Carolina repairing boats. I wasn’t dead.”
His friend smirked knowingly. Asshole. “Uh-huh. Well, the father retired, but the son still runs the practice. He’s the one who performed her surgery last year.”
Knox vaguely remembered seeing the young cardiologist on his brief visit last year. “If he’s given her a clean bill of health, what’s holding you back?”
“She’d had a clean bill last year too, and we know how that turned out. I’m not chancing something happening and me being unable to get to her.”
“So nothing’s wrong.” The knot that had fisted in Knox’s chest released. “We’re talking the Keaton Jailhouse. How much closer do you want to get? You’re as much a brother to me as my own family, man. I want you in on this.”
Like Grace did when she fired up her psychology mumbo jumbo, Cade studied him hard without saying a word. Two peas in a damn pod, although they wouldn’t admit it. A man’s thoughts weren’t safe around either one of them.
“Stop trying to get a read on me,” Knox warned his longtime friend.
“What makes you think that’s what I’m doing?”
“Because it’s the only time you’re quiet. I want what’s best for you, pure and simple. Your talents are wasted on the DCPD.”
Cade smirked. “Certain talents, maybe, but not my talent for smelling bullshit a mile away. If you want someone on the inside who’s going to watch your brothers’ asses, maybe that someone should be you.”
Knox threw him a scowl but Cade didn’t flinch. “We’ve been through this before. I’m not what’s best for them.”
“I think they’d disagree.”
Knox snorted. “Not Roman. He’ll click his heels together the second I leave town. Maybe even dance a jig.”
“Then you’re an even bigger fool than he is. I get that shit went down overseas. I don’t need to be a mind reader
to get that much. People may have gotten hurt. Decisions maybe could’ve been made differently. I’m not going to beat the details out of you. But it’s not a failure. Failure comes when you let the past dictate your future.”
“You sound like a fortune cookie,” Knox grumbled.
But he couldn’t argue against logic.
Avoiding home may have been the asshole thing to do, but better to be an ass than responsible for the death of your entire family. He wished he’d made the decision to leave the Rangers before his half-ass decisions cost good soldiers their lives.
To this day, he still couldn’t pinpoint the exact moment his last mission had turned because it hadn’t been a single decision that he’d fucked up, but a cascade effect that resulted in his unit staying out in the field a lot longer than planned.
If he’d stuck to the original mission guide after their visit to that Iraqi village, their forward operating base wouldn’t have been left vulnerable to an insurgent attack. Team Five would’ve been there to intervene, return fire, and grind those insurgents’ bones to dust.
Lives saved. Day over.
Instead, there’d been way too many losses. No way in hell was he anxious for a repeat occurrence. The California job put his skills to use, but with the highest stakes being an overzealous fan waiting for an autograph.
“You want me to give Steele Ops serious consideration?” Cade’s eyes twinkled with familiar mischief.
“You know I do,” Knox admitted carefully.
“Then I have two stipulations. The first, go with me to meet Roman’s fund guy.” At Knox’s blank expression, he chuckled. “You really have been out of the loop, haven’t you? You can’t be surprised that they reached out to someone with a bulkier purse. All four of you could’ve saved every penny from the time you entered boot camp, invested big, and there’d still be no way in hell you’d save enough to get the distillery off the ground, much less two businesses.”
It made sense. They’d once talked about joining with a silent partner who had nothing better to do with his money. “And what’s the second stipulation?”
Cade’s grin left a bad taste in Knox’s mouth. “Nothing that’s not already in your wheelhouse considering your talent with the ladies. I signed on to teach a self-defense class down at the community center but this BCK case is kicking my ass. I need someone to take it off my plate—the class, not the case.”
“Teaching a class and going to a meeting.”
Cade nodded. “And I’ll give Steele Ops serious consideration. No bullshit.”
Knox didn’t need to think about it. “Deal.”
Twin laughs drew their attention to the dance floor. Cade groaned and Knox, transfixed by the slow sway of Zoey’s slender hips, shifted uncomfortably in his pants.
Cade groaned. “Fucking crime scene investigation. Can you believe that shit? I bust my ass every day making sure Zoey’s safe and she gets a job that puts her right in the middle of DC’s first serial killer case in thirty years.”
“Hasn’t she been working the Cupid case in the lab since day one?”
“In the Dungeon with her high-strung assistant. Being on scene is a hell of a lot different from hanging out in that windowless hole in the ground.”
“From what I saw last night, she handled it pretty well. Did a hell of a lot better than you did when our unit got called to that butcher house outside of Baghdad.”
Cade’s face blanched. “You had to bring that shit up?”
“No, you brought it up.” Knox faked a shudder. “I still can’t eat cheese nachos because of that image—and hell, the sounds.”
“So my little sis is a hard-ass, but I’m still worried. Working this case twenty-four/seven, I’m not going to be as reachable as usual. And Mom’s been having health issues herself lately, so Zoey isn’t going to bug her with anything.” Cade yanked a hand through his hair. “It couldn’t be a worse time for her to make a change like this.”
“It’s not like she doesn’t have people she can go to if she needs them.” Like him—although she’d be more likely to run from him than toward him. “There’s nothing my mom and brothers wouldn’t do for her, and Grace is back in town. I know she’s working the case too, but those two may as well be sisters.”
Knox’s gaze strayed to the dance floor. He’d never been more aware of how unrelated he was to Zoey than at that moment. She’d slipped out of her tiny red leather jacket, revealing an entire canvas of milky white skin that he itched to touch.
Fuckin-A.
“I’ll help keep an eye on her,” Knox heard himself offer. “I’m pretty much making my own schedule these days, so I got the time.”
Cade followed his gaze across the room. “I got to be honest, man. Your offer to watch over my baby sister is one of the things I’m having difficulty with…considering how adept you were at watching her ass walk away a few minutes ago.”
He couldn’t deny it. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to, and that posed a huge problem. Zoey may not be sixteen anymore, but she was still his best friend’s baby sister, and an honorary member of his own family.
Knox shrugged and prayed to hell he nailed looking indifferent. “It’s been a while. At this point, I could probably get horny staring at a bowl of ice cream.”
“Then go buy a pint of mint chocolate chip and stop eye-fucking my sister.” Cade’s cell rang and he glanced at the caller ID. “I’m going to have to head out. It’s the station.”
He cast a sharp frown toward Zoey and Grace. Oblivious to their growing admiration squad, the two women danced and laughed. “I swear, she’s going to be the death of me.”
“Which one?” Knox teased.
“Bastard.” Cade chuckled before locking his attention to the left of the dance floor. He glared at the tall, cocky kid who’d openly gawked at Zoey earlier. “Fucking Scott Reed. It takes a special asshole to make me want to punch him without him doing anything.”
It thrilled Knox to know he and Cade shared their intense dislike of the guy. “I’ve been keeping an eye on him for a while now. Don’t worry. I’ll make sure your girls get home safe.”
“Thanks, man. I owe you a solid.”
After Cade left, Knox worked his way across the room, finding a spot with an unobstructed view of Zoey and Grace.
In the course of an hour, no fewer than six guys approached the dancing duo with twinkles of hope in their eyes, and walked away, dejected.
Zoey appeared oblivious to her long line of admirers, and it didn’t surprise him one bit. Unlike his ex, Francine, who wasn’t beyond using her looks to her advantage, Zoey hadn’t the faintest clue how she turned heads.
She danced, unafraid of how she looked, and enjoyed spending time with her friend. If anyone deserved a bit of fun, it was her. It wasn’t long until he found himself grinning, silently cheering her on from a distance.
Chapter
Six
An hour and three Rudy Specials later, it became apparent that despite Zoey being a lot of things, one thing she wasn’t was someone able to hold her liquor. One more pink drink and Knox would be carrying her home on his shoulder.
He approached the bar and flagged Rudy.
“’Bout bloody time ya came to say hello,” the old owner scolded in his thick Irish brogue. He dragged Knox halfway over the counter and into a short man-hug. “How the hell ya been doin’, boy?”
“Good. Just been a little preoccupied tonight, Rudy. Sorry.” Knox leaned against the countertop. “How’s life been treating you?”
“Oh, can’t complain much. This ole body still gets me round.” Rudy’s glance shifted toward the middle of the dance floor. “I may be an ole man, but me eyesight’s as good as it was when I was a wee one. You’re playing watchdog tonight, eh?”
“Trying. But your specials are making my job pretty damn hard.” On cue, Zoey and Grace performed a synchronized dance move that looked suspiciously like something that belonged in an eighties dance flick. He swallowed a chuckle. “See what I mean.”
“Aye, and me specials do pack quite the wallop, but I can’t take all the credit for that. I have a policy of one Rudy special per customer. After that first drink, I switched me good booze with fruit punch. Humor danced around the corner of Rudy’s mouth. “They’ve been drinkin’ the equivalent of juice for the last hour and a half.”
“You mean this is them sober?” Knox busted out a laugh.
“’Tis the power of persuasion.” The older man’s attention slid back over Knox’s shoulder. “But your job’s ’bout to get a wee bit more difficult even with me mocktails.”
Knox turned around and immediately zeroed in on Zoey, dancing alone. Reed slipped in behind her, his hands settling low on her hips as he whispered into her ear. She twisted sideways in a clear attempt to disengage herself from his hold, and the asshat’s hand shot out, latching on to her arm.
“Fucking hell.” Knox pushed away from the bar.
“Try not to break me furniture,” Rudy hollered after him.
“I’ll settle for breaking bones.”
Knox reached them in ten strides, quick enough to hear Zoey tell Reed what he could do with his sexually explicit offer.
“Is the music too loud for you to hear properly? Take your hands off her and walk the hell away,” Knox growled his warning.
The punk threw him a glassy-eyed glare but didn’t relinquish his grip. “Who the fuck died and made you her keeper? Back the fuck off. I’m trying to collect the happy ending that I didn’t get on our date.”
Horror-stricken by his vulgar assumption, Zoey’s eyes widened. “Sorry to break the news to you, buddy, but you were never getting a happy ending. Not in this reality or any other.”
“You and I both know the direction we were headed, sweetheart. But in case you need a reminder.” Reed reached around to her ass and squeezed.
Knox bunched his fist, ready to either break the bastard’s nose or his arm. He didn’t much care which body part. Zoey beat him into action.
“My ass is not yours to touch!” With a mighty roar, she stomped a dagger-like heel onto his foot.
