Rough and Ready

by Cathleen Ross

  She struggled, and he pinned her to the bed. She wrenched her face from his. “Don’t even think about starting again. I’m going to be late for work. I need a shower. I can’t go in stinking of sex.”

  “We’ll shower together.” He said it like he belonged there. Somehow it didn’t bother her.

  She climbed out of bed, sorry to lose the warmth of his body, grabbed her towel off the hook on the back of her bedroom door, and ran to the bathroom, annoyed she didn’t have time to wash her hair as she normally did.

  She turned on the shower, washing herself with soap as he joined her. A wall of muscle, honed and toned from war. His hair was razor-cut short, and she wondered if he’d grow it now he’d left the army, become more laid back. Unlikely.

  He had a tense awareness about him as if he were still searching for the enemy. There was a certain beauty to him, too, combined with lethal splendor. No wonder the sex had been electric.

  Ten minutes later, her hair done hurriedly in a bun, they were ready to leave.

  Hugo opened his duffel bag and pulled out his semi-automatic, slipping it into the holster at his hip, and slid a knife into the holster above his ankle. Every alarm bell in Alice’s mind sounded. “You can’t bring weapons into a hospital. Even the police have to turn in their weapons to security.”

  “I’ll walk you to the foyer.” He slipped a black shirt over his singlet, disguising the gun.

  Alice ripped open his duffel bag, which sat on her lounge. Buried under his clothes was an arsenal. Horror slammed through her. “What are you doing bringing these weapons into my place?”

  “I have a license to carry concealed. Everything is legal.”

  God help her if her daddy realized the deadly potential of this man. If he didn’t already.

  She focused on a particularly dangerous-looking knife, the memory of where she’d last seen it sending her stomach churning. “Where’d you get that knife?”

  “It’s the asshole’s from the bar.” Hugo zipped up his duffel bag and put it over his shoulder.

  “I didn’t see you pick it up from the bar floor.”

  “Don’t sweat it, Alice. I’m here to do a job. I’ll leave the duffel bag in the truck if the weapons are bothering you.”

  “That doesn’t make me feel any better.”

  “It should.”

  “And just what do you plan to do with Troy DeLance’s knife?”

  Hugo gave her a grim smile. “Return it.”

  “You scare me. Somehow I don’t see you returning it civilly.”

  Hugo laughed, the sound more a growl. He opened her front door for her, ever the gentleman, but she couldn’t let this go and gripped his T-shirt.

  “Walk away from this, Hugo. My father’s obsessed with payback. I’m begging you, don’t payback Beast, don’t get involved with any of my father’s schemes. You could get hurt.”

  He swallowed as he stared down at her, his normally hard expression pained. “You starting to care about me, sweetheart?”

  “No.” She couldn’t afford to care about him.

  “You’re a terrible liar.”

  “Caring goes with the territory of being a nurse, but I know the score. You’re leaving when this job is done.”

  “Yeah,” he said, his voice hoarse. “Soon.”

  She steeled herself, determined not to let thoughts of liking him get to her. She walked through the doorway toward the elevator, punching the button for the carpark. “If anyone sees me with you, I’ll say you’re a friend who has returned from his tour and is staying for a short time. You stay silent. I don’t like dealing in lies.”

  “Yes, Ma’am.”

  “I told you not to call me that. Don’t sass-mouth me.” She stared him down despite the height difference.

  He grinned, which made her uneasy, because he looked like a man with a plan.

  The elevator arrived, and they stepped in. She pressed the button for the parking level. “I don’t want any drama, any more crap in my life. You have no idea of the humiliation I’ve suffered. I’d like to say I got this job on merit, but I didn’t. I couldn’t even get an interview, even though I had great marks.”

  “On account of your father?”

  “I told you before, Beast blew up the club just before I graduated. My father’s whole sordid life, which included pictures of Momma and me, was in the paper, day after day. It didn’t help that Daddy had bought a fancy house, with what the press claimed was drug money. I swear my resume was deleted from every hospital computer I applied to, but I can’t prove it.”

  “So how did you get your job?”

  The elevator arrived at the parking level. They stepped out. “The hospital I work at is a private one. Luckily my momma is a friend of the matron. They’ve worked together for years, though Momma is only part time at the hospital. Matron agreed to try me out.” God she hoped her mother recovered. She stopped at Hugo’s truck, waiting for him to unlock it. “I moved out of home the moment I could. I don’t want anything to spoil the little bit of happiness I have in my life. I like where I live, and this is my dream job. It’s all I have.”

  He frowned at her words and opened the door of his truck for her to get in, securing her seat belt for her.

  “I can do up my own seat belt,” she protested.

  He was so close she could see dark green flecks in his irises. God he was handsome. “No one is going to get near you from now. I want you to key in your cell number and your father’s into my phone. Call me ten minutes before you’re ready to leave tonight.”

  “God you’re bossy, and I don’t like having a bodyguard,” she called out as he walked to the other side of the truck.

  He opened his door. “Get used to it. You’re mine to protect.”

  Mine. The word rang in her head. What the hell did he mean?

  She gave him directions to the hospital, and he listened closely and nodded. Despite her determination to tamp down any developing feelings she had for him, she was enjoying having him around. He made her home life fun, and life hadn’t been fun in ages.

  Hugo was not the happy house type. She stared out the window. How did other women manage to find the balance needed in a relationship, the passion and the stability? The doctor had certainly given her companionship on the rare times his work timetable had enabled them to be together. Pity he turned out to be such a bastard. “Phfff!”

  “Alice?” Hugo glanced at her.

  “Yes?” The sadness had come out of nowhere. Get over it. Plenty of people have breakups. Enjoy this for what it is.

  “How long ago did you break up with the jerk?”

  “Five months. How’d you know I was thinking about him?”

  “I know misery when I see it. Don’t know why you’re wasting head space thinking of Missionary Man. Probably has a tiny cock.”

  Laughter bubbled up her throat, and she glanced over at him. “You know what I like about you? You’re honest. You’re not that happy families guy. I get that. In the short time we’ve been together, I know what you want.” She reached over and touched his thigh.

  Hugo winced. “I’m not good with settling down.” He gave her hand a quick squeeze.

  “Fair enough. I won’t plan anything for us.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Listen, Hugo, my ex was my first, so I’m not experienced, but I know what we have is great sex. You’ll move on, and we’ll remember this as a fling. Nothing more.” She knew she was making it sound cold.

  “I’m going to wipe that jerk out of your mind,” he growled.

  “Fine by me.” She didn’t want his sympathy. What was the point?

  “And spoil you.” He put his foot on the brake, and they stopped at a set of traffic lights.

  So she got used to it and wanted him to stay? No way. “I don’t expect spoiling. I’ve always looked after myself. I was doing yard work from the time I turned eleven.”

  He raised one eyebrow. “How old were you when you learned where your father’s money
came from?”

  “Ten. Dad got busted and served time. God that sucked. I got nicknamed ‘spawn’ at school.” She shuddered at the memory.

  “As in the Devil’s?”

  She gave him a sharp nod.

  “That why you became a neat freak so no one can fault you?”

  “I’m not a….” She thought about it and smiled. “Actually, I am.”

  “Maybe it’s time you loosened up.”

  “What do you mean?”

  The lights changed, and he put his foot on the gas. “‘Impeccable Alice,’ I called you in my mind. You don’t have a hair out of place. I want to take you to the dark side.”

  A shiver of pleasure made her cheeks burn, and she shifted in her seat. She put her hand to her face. Hot. “I don’t do illegal.”

  Hugo smirked.

  Oh dear, he knew how to raise her blood pressure. She hoped he wasn’t addictive.

  “There’s plenty more where that came from this morning,” he said.

  “How’d you know I was thinking of sex?”

  “The wriggling in your seat was a giveaway.”

  The man could read her. She looked at her watch. She had fifteen minutes to spare, thanks to his speedy driving. “When you drop me off, I’d prefer it if you stayed in the truck.”

  “I’ll see you into the foyer.”

  Great. Just what she needed. One sight of this huge warrior and all the nurses would be talking.

  Chapter Eight

  Hugo arrived at Tulane private hospital, drove past the specialist doctor reserved spaces, and parked his truck in the five-minute patient drop off. “Stay seated, Alice.” She looked at him, her eyebrows raised.

  He jumped out of his truck, strode around to her side, and opened her door, helping her out.

  “Don’t put your hands on me. People will think we’re together,” she whispered, “and don’t kiss me goodbye.”

  “We are together. Don’t leave the hospital until I come and pick you up this evening. Remember to call me. I’ll be waiting here.” There’d be security inside, and she would be safe, because he sure as hell didn’t know who was behind Alice’s mother’s accident, but he had a meeting with Troy this morning to find out more.

  “Alice,” cried a female voice. “I got my acceptance letter.”

  Troy turned to see a fellow nurse rush up to Alice as they approached the hospital entrance with a letter in her hand. She waved it under Alice’s nose.

  “Hi, Janelle,” Alice said, looking none too pleased as Janelle looked up at him, clearly expecting an introduction.

  He reached over and shook Janelle’s hand. “I’m Hugo.”

  “Alice never said she had a new man,” Janelle said appraisingly. “Her taste is clearly improving.”

  He grinned.

  “I don’t. Hugo’s a friend. He’s staying with me a short time,” Alice said.

  “Oh, how lovely for you.” Janelle turned to Hugo. “Are you enjoying your time here?”

  “I’m finding Alice’s company very diverting.” He flashed his most charming grin.

  “Really?” Janelle’s eyebrows raised as she looked from Alice to Hugo. “She’s so serious at work.” She turned back to Alice. “You must have another side to you at home.”

  “No, I don’t.” She scowled, clearly wanting to shut down the conversation.

  Hugo laughed.

  Janelle said to Alice, “I wanted to tell you I was accepted for the Masters in Obstetric Nursing course. Have you received your letter yet?”

  “No. Nothing.” She wrapped her arms around herself and hunched in the chill morning air.

  “Oh. That’s odd. Wayne wrote me a reference to go with my application. He’s on the university board.” Janelle nudged her. “You should have asked him to do one for you when you were dating.”

  “I’ll never ask him for a thing.” Her voice sliced the air.

  “Shush. He’s coming.” Janelle glanced back to where Hugo had just parked. So did Alice.

  Hugo observed the tension in her face as her jaw clenched and her stance became rigid at the mention of Wayne’s name. So this must be Dr. Jerk. She seemed brittle, and then the reason for the change in her demeanor arrived.

  A slim, bald man in his early thirties wearing a suit strode up to the women. “Morning, ladies,” he said to Janelle and Alice.

  Just then a heavily pregnant woman pushing a pram with a toddler inside stopped next to Dr. Waters to catch her breath. The toddler threw his bottle out of the stroller. It landed next to the doctor’s foot. He kicked it aside.

  Hugo stepped forward, bent, and picked up the bottle, handing it back to the mother. She smiled gratefully and moved on.

  Alice’s taste in men sure sucked. What did she see in this jerk? The guy was a midget. He barely came up to Hugo’s underarm, and he was pasty like he never spent a day outdoors.

  “Good morning, Wayne. I’ve got great news. I’ve been accepted into the Masters,” Janelle trilled.

  “Congratulations, Janelle. What about you, Alice? You applied, too,” Wayne said, looking at her, his hooded eyes predatory, before flicking a glance up at Hugo as if noticing him for the first time.

  Hugo wanted to deck him. How dare he look at Alice like she was a prize piece of steak?

  All expression had left Alice’s face, but her eyes glittered with anger. “I haven’t heard.”

  Her distress threaded its way through Hugo’s consciousness as he witnessed the subtle humiliation.

  “You should have taken up my offer of a reference,” Wayne said with a smirk. “It’s a small intake this year, and there were lots of applicants.”

  “I don’t need a reference from you,” Alice snapped.

  “You clearly do. I’ll make a phone call to the university to see what’s happened to your application,” Wayne said.

  Hugo growled, and Alice glanced at him, alarmed. Dr. Jerk was pissing him off.

  She looked at her watch. “No, thank you. I’ll call them myself.”

  Wayne reached out and put his hand on her forearm in a proprietary fashion. “No need to be so angry, Alice. Let me help you. My name opens doors.”

  Pompous prick. Hugo fantasized about wrapping his hands around his throat.

  “I don’t expect doors opened for me. I hope to be accepted on my merits,” Alice said, pulling her arm away from his grip.

  “I don’t understand it, Alice. You had better marks than I did,” Janelle said. “You should have been accepted.”

  “I’m on the board of the university. If I request a place for you, you’ll get it. Come to my office after your shift,” Wayne said.

  Her pain was almost palpable, and a vein pulsed in her temple. He stepped in. “Alice doesn’t want your help.”

  “Who are you?” Wayne asked.

  “A friend.” Hugo loomed over him.

  “I need to get to work. Hugo, come with me.” Alice stormed off and entered the hospital foyer before anyone could say anything.

  He followed her through the glass doors and caught up with her in a few strides.

  She turned on him. “Did you really have to jump in there all He-Man-like? I can look after myself.”

  “I don’t like the way Dr. Jerk treats you. Condescending prick.” Did the creep want her back?

  Her mouth pulled down in dismay. “Is it that obvious it’s him?”

  “I know when a man’s trying to use his position to get back into your pants.”

  She stopped at the elevator and laughed. “You really have a way with words.”

  “I don’t share.” He didn’t see the funny side. Instead, he swooped down and kissed her right on the lips in front of Janelle and Wayne, who were approaching the elevator, leaving her gasping.

  Chapter Nine

  Hugo drove his truck out to Troy DeLance’s cabin on the Bayou for his meeting that morning. The road down to the cabin was rough, and he’d know in a heartbeat if anyone was following him. When he’d taken this job on, he’d thought it
would be a regular mission. Infiltrate, supply information to DeLance, and leave.

  DeLance didn’t expect him to get involved in the destruction of the Banderos’ rebuilt clubhouse, although Hugo specialized in explosives. Barrel bombs, suitcase bombs, car bombs, bunker bombs, and his favorite, underwater bombs. You name it, Hugo could build or defuse it. He loved the intensity of a mission. Now he’d arrived on American soil, he had a thing for Alice, and that was spoiling his fun.

  Destroying the clubhouse would bring her whole world tumbling down again. He’d have to walk away ASAP, wrecking her life, which would extinguish any vestige of humanity he had left.

  He pulled up in front of the cabin. The last time he’d visited three years ago the place had a dilapidated air about it. But DeLance had extended the cabin to twice its size along the front of the property. It also had a high rust-colored metal fence with a double gate, separating the whole yard from the water’s edge at the back where the cottage stood on wooden piers. Troy loped down the front stairs and opened the gate to greet him.

  Hugo slung his duffel bag over his shoulder and climbed out of his truck. “This place has changed. Looks homely. Didn’t see you for a settler.”

  His army buddy, Troy, was still pumped. Not as tall as Hugo but just as deadly. This time he was wearing a big welcoming grin. Troy shook his hand. “I’m expecting my first child. I’ve built another room for the baby. Stacey refused to live here unless I put in the fence.”

  “Doesn’t she like your best buddy?” Hugo glanced at the river.

  “You’re my best buddy. Had to keep saving your ass so much, I came to like you. Psycho comes after you.”

  “Thanks. I’m touched. Glad I come before the alligator.”

  “Only just. Come upstairs and meet Stacey. Pa’s here, too. We have business to discuss, though not in front of Stacey. She has no idea what shit is about to go down.”

  Hugo wiped the sweat from his brow and followed DeLance inside. A blond, pregnant woman came to greet him.

  “You must be Hugo. I’m Stacey. I’ve heard lots about you.” She shook his hand.

  Behind her came DeLance’s father Joe, the president of the Slayers, a big bear of a man with black eyes, thick dark eyebrows, and a heavy beard. A delicious smell of jambalaya came from the kitchen, and there was a crockpot on the bench. His stomach rumbled. His own fault. He’d chosen sex over food. He didn’t regret it, but his stomach protested.