by Lori Foster
So, he was a treat, was he? A few of his aches diminished beneath the rush of pain-numbing lust. “I understand completely,” he soothed. “There’s no reason to get defensive.”
“I am not defensive.” She turned her back on him and crossed her arms beneath her breasts, looking very defensive.
“How about I be a notch on your bedpost? I wouldn’t mind. Course, you might have to notch it twice, not that I’m bragging or anything …”
Another loss of temper seemed imminent. Through her teeth, Luna growled, “Will you go along with me or not?”
Her black jeans were low slung, snug, hugging that exquisite rear end to perfection. She turned back to him, and when she moved just right, Joe could catch a small glimpse of her belly between her jeans and her colorful halter. For a woman with generous hips and breasts, Luna’s waist was surprisingly narrow, her belly only slightly rounded. More than anything, she reminded him of a pinup girl from days gone by. Lush, curvy. Sexy.
“I’m still considering it,” he muttered, thoroughly distracted with thoughts of getting her naked so he could do a better inspection of her assets.
“I’ll pay you.”
Well, that shot his pleasant imagery all to hell. “Forget that. I don’t want or need your money.”
She propped her hands on her hips. “But you just told me that you were broke.”
Joe waved that away, then had to hold his ribs when pain skittered through him. “I always say that so women won’t get ideas. It’s better than claiming I’m a lousy lover, which I doubt anyone would believe anyway.”
Her eyes narrowed dangerously. “So you lied?”
“Course not.” He tried to look offended. “I just exaggerated, that’s all. I mean, I’m not wealthy or anything. But I’ve always lived a moderate lifestyle alone, I’ve always been employed, and I’m always good at what I do. I have enough put away to be comfortable.”
“You are such a pig.”
“I’m a realist,” he corrected. “Women have been trying to drag me to the damn altar for years. They’re more inclined toward temporary liaisons rather than long-term relationships when they think I’m poor.”
“Fine, whatever. I really don’t care what you tell other women. But I insist on paying you for your time.”
“No.” He’d rather she be indebted to him. Not that he’d use the debt to blackmail her into bed or anything, but if she softened toward him, if she saw him as her hero, maybe she’d quit fighting him so hard.
“Be reasonable, Joe. I have no idea what we’re walking into, so I might need you there for a week or a month. Can you afford that long off work?”
Knowing his own abilities, Joe figured it’d take a week, ten days tops, to get the lay of the land, uncover any problems, and get it all straightened out. Then he could concentrate fully on Luna—and her gratitude.
He grinned shamelessly as he said, “Yeah, I can.” When she started to argue again, he held up a hand. “Here’s the thing. I was ready to dump this place anyway. Too many people feel free to drop in unannounced and—”
“You mean too many women.”
He answered her pointed glare with a grin.
“Maybe if you quit handing out keys …”
“Now, that’s one accusation you can’t lay on me. I do not hand out keys.” Just the opposite. He valued his privacy, his bachelor status, above everything except family.
“So how did Barbie and her friend get in?”
“Barbie?” All this grinning was making his jaw ache as much as his ribs. “You mean Beth? She got in with Amelia, the other one who was copping feels off my drugged body when you arrived. And before you ask, no, I didn’t give Amelia a key either. We had a date the night I got jumped, and so she’s the one who took me to the hospital and brought me home. I’m assuming she kept a key, and God knows I haven’t been fit enough to see about changing locks.”
An arrested, thoughtful expression replaced Luna’s look of annoyance. “She was with you, but she wasn’t hurt during the attack?”
“I was away from her when it happened.” And that had been the only blessing of the night. Joe couldn’t bear the thought of a woman being hurt while under his protection.
With her head down in thought, Luna took a slow turn around his bedroom. Except for the clothes that he’d dropped on the floor the night he was hurt, the path was clear. Since the attack, he hadn’t gotten dressed, had barely eaten, and rarely even ventured from the bed except that morning to clean his teeth and get a drink. He’d been prepared to scrounge up some food when Beth and Amelia had dropped in.
Of course, they hadn’t thought to feed him. He figured he’d lost a good eight pounds in the last few days.
“So you were on a date with Amelia, but away from her side when some goon jumped you?” Luna tapped a foot. “That’s rather convenient, isn’t it?”
“For who?”
“Her?”
The blatant insinuation threw him. “I had no idea you had such a suspicious nature.”
Luna shrugged and waited for him to explain. Her insinuations rubbed him raw. “It was not a conspiracy. In case you failed to notice, Amelia is still fond of me. And that’s even after I turned her down for anything more serious.”
“More serious?”
He shrugged. “They all seem to get marriage minded. But she was okay with just keeping it …”
“Sexual?”
Joe grinned.
In her driest Luna-the-goddess tone, she said, “Dumb question.” Then, with remaining suspicion: “So tell me, Joe, how exactly did it happen?”
Joe gave up. “I’d run out to the parking garage to get my truck because it was raining. I am a gentleman, you know.”
“Right.”
Did she have to sound so facetious? “I’d just gotten the truck unlocked when I got hit from behind. I went down, got beat on some more, but I’d already blacked out, so I have no idea how much time passed. When I didn’t return to the restaurant, Amelia came after me and found me on the ground. She might have been the person who scared the guy off, you know. He might have killed me otherwise. It sure as hell feels like he was trying.”
Other than burning concern in her gaze, Luna let all that go by. “Did she call the police?”
“I was just coming around when she got there. She took me to the hospital, and when they finished with me, I spoke with the cops there. Not that I expect them to be much help. I didn’t see who it was, so there wasn’t much to go on.”
Luna didn’t look at all convinced. “Amelia didn’t see anyone either?”
“No. She heard some noises in the garage, but I was alone when she got there.”
“Hmmm. You must have been out for a quite a while.” Joe glared at her, and she said, “Okay, so Amelia adores you even though you turned her down for marriage. Do you have any idea who might not feel the same?”
“Oh, I’ve got my suspicions.” Even as Joe said it, his muscles clenched in anger, causing him additional discomfort. When he caught the son of a bitch again, he’d even the score and then some.
“Meaning?”
Joe shook himself. Now wasn’t the time for savage thoughts of revenge, not when Luna was within reach. “Meaning it was probably Bruno Caldwell, the same bastard who shot out my knee.”
Her eyes widened. “That’s why you sometimes limp? You were shot?”
Joe grunted. “What, you thought I hurt it playing softball?”
“I don’t know.” She looked dumbfounded. “I didn’t … I never really thought about it. I mean, I know you’ve had some edgy jobs, but …”
Joe almost laughed. Obviously, she had no idea how dangerous his life had been at times. “I should have taken Bruno apart when I had my chance, but by the time I’d recaptured him almost a year later, I felt law abiding again and stupidly turned him over to the authorities.”
“Law abiding again?”
He shrugged. “The injury forced me off police work, which put me in a … bad mood.” W
hat an understatement. He’d been in a killing rage for months. “I admit to being a little unruly for a while there.”
“They fired you?”
“Worse. They offered me a desk job.” And he hadn’t been able to stand it. He liked to get in the thick of things, not fill out the endless paperwork after the dust had settled. “I was plenty pissed about it for a while there. Then I got over it and became a bounty hunter instead.”
“A bounty hunter with a limp?”
“No, smart ass. Well, only when I overdo it.” Damn it, what had she expected him to do? Sit around and twiddle his thumbs? Not likely. He’d have gone nuts in less than a month.
“Right. So you caught this Bruno character and turned him over to the police.”
That was simplifying it a bit, but Joe didn’t say so. Luna couldn’t understand about the hassles of tracking someone who didn’t want to be caught, and who had the resources to stay hidden. Especially a petty, ruthless bastard like Bruno. “That’s about it.”
“You two have quite a history, it seems.”
“You could say that. I arrested him and got shot in the bargain. He jumped bail and went missing for a while, until I caught up to him again. He was locked up until he hijacked a truck during a work detail, and now he’s hiding again. Or rather, he was hiding until he decided I was a problem he had to get rid of.”
“My God. You think he wants to actually kill you?”
Joe shrugged as if it didn’t really matter. Truth was, he didn’t intend to get caught off guard again. From now on, he’d be ready for Bruno. And when he caught him again, the son of a bitch would pay. “He doesn’t have much choice if he wants to stay free. He knows I’ll get him. Eventually.”
Luna slumped up against the dresser and her voice went weak. “If he doesn’t get you first.”
Joe used her obvious concern to his advantage. “Exactly. If I’m staying with you for a while, in North Carolina no less, I’ll be out of reach.” At least until I’m fit enough to retaliate in kind. “Bruno would never think to look for me there. It’ll also throw the more persistent ladies off the track. They won’t be able to find me, and they’ll give up, too.”
Luna began pacing again. “Just until you come back.” As she paced, she picked up his jeans, his T-shirt, his socks.
Acrimony filled her tone, and that pleased Joe. Could she be jealous? He hoped so. “Yeah, well, I was thinking of relocating to Kentucky anyway, to be closer to the cousins.” And to you. “You know, I do believe Zane misses me between visits.”
That gigantic falsehood had her pinching her mouth together to keep from snorting, or spilling the truth as she knew it. Zane liked Joe more now than he had a year ago, but he would forever be leery of him. In their younger days they’d competed for women, and too often, Joe had won.
Now that Zane was in love, he refused to see beyond that. He knew Joe didn’t poach, and he trusted his sweet little wife, Tamara, but it still made him uncomfortable to let Joe too near her.
Twitting Zane was about as close to honest fun as Joe had these days.
“Joe.” Luna dumped the clothes into a pile on the foot of the bed. “You’re trying to make this sound like I’d be doing you the favor, instead of the other way around.”
“You will be doing me a favor.” You’ll be giving me the opportunity to wear you down.
She crossed her arms beneath her breasts. “That’s absurd and you know it. No, don’t argue with me. I have to be honest with myself here, too. I’m in over my head and I need your help. That means I have to pay you, just like anyone else would.”
Joe scowled. “You want honesty, honey? Then I’ll give you honesty.”
Because he wanted to be more upright for this confrontation, Joe shifted a little higher in the bed. It hurt to move—hell, it hurt to breathe—but it would hurt more to lose this opportunity. He wasn’t used to being celibate, and it sucked. He hated it. But damn it, he wanted Luna, not some other woman. She’d crawled under his skin three months ago, and having her there was like an interminable itch. It was driving him nuts.
Once he was settled and could quit gritting his teeth, he gave Luna a dead-on look. “There’s something you should know.”
Luna moved toward him with concern. “Joe, are you all right?” She had a hand stretched out to him.
“I still want you.”
She halted in midstep.
“I’m not going to stop wanting you until I have you.”
She took a step back.
Just saying it turned Joe on. Her exotic eyes were wide, darkened with surprise; her lips parted. Joe’s voice dropped to a low rumble. “About a dozen times in a dozen different ways, Luna. And even that might not be enough.”
Her mouth closed.
Joe shrugged, though he felt far from cavalier. “I figured you should know.”
The seconds ticked by; then in a chilling whisper, she said, “You’re making it a stipulation? I have to sleep with you if I want your help?”
Now that pissed him off. “No. Hell no. I don’t need to force women into my bed.”
“Oh.” His tone had her blinking before she settled into another frown. “Then what exactly did you mean?”
“I meant that I’m not going to stop trying. We’ll be playing house, babe, under the same roof, in close proximity. Believe me, I’m going to use that to my advantage.”
Slowly, her smile appeared. “And you think I won’t be able to resist you? Oh, that’s too funny, Joe. You’ve got so much ego it’s falling out your ears.”
Joe smiled, too. He did love a challenge. “So long as you don’t object to me giving it my best shot.”
“Thank you for the warning. I’ll be on my toes.” Still amused, she shook her head, picked up his dirty clothes, and sashayed out of the room. In the doorway, she stopped and looked at him over his shoulder. “I’m going to rustle you up something to eat. You look thinner to me. Then we’ll make plans on when to leave.”
“Thanks. I’m starved.”
“No, Joe, thank you.” Her smile now was genuine, softened with her relief. “I really do appreciate your willingness to help.”
She appreciated him. Perfect, Joe thought. Things were working out just as he hoped.
Luna held her serene smile until she got out of sight. Then she groaned and swallowed hard. Beneath her breast, her heart thumped in heavy, exaggerated beats.
Since meeting Joe Winston, her life had gone through some drastic upheavals. She didn’t like it. She didn’t like him.
Liar.
Part of the problem was that her basic nature rebelled against needing anyone. She lived her life to her exact specifications; she was independent, capable, mature and self-sufficient.
Yet, she now needed Joe.
As a feminist, she couldn’t abide men like Joe Winston. They saw women as weaker beings meant to be protected, sometimes cherished. But never as equals.
Her body didn’t care.
In her present situation, he was perfect for her, and so dangerous that she trembled whenever she thought of him. For three months now she’d wavered, wanting to call him, wanting to be with him. She went to sleep with him on her mind and woke with the need to touch him.
She’d always enjoyed her sexual freedom, but now other men held no interest, seeming small, pale, even insubstantial in comparison to Joe’s cocky confidence and larger-than-life capability. Nothing threw him.
Well, the mention of kids had strangled him for a moment there. It had almost been funny, watching Joe’s reaction. But the painful truth was that Joe knew more about kids than she ever would. His four cousins had them in various ages, and Joe seemed at ease with them all. He held babies, conversed with toddlers, related to a teen. He was comfortable in all situations, but then, he’d come from a good family, and so he understood the dynamics and workings of a family unit.
She didn’t.
Joe appealed to her in ways she’d never experienced before. If it had just been sexual, there wouldn
’t be a problem. She’d have indulged an affair and walked away.
But Joe was also loyal, funny, ruthless in defense of his family, and … He made her feel more feminine, like the stereotypical little woman, weaker against his obvious strength, pampered in the face of his masculine appreciation.
Damn the man for his diabolical tactics.
Resisting him had proved a personal struggle, but she’d held firm, reminding herself again and again that Joe wasn’t a man to play with. He wasn’t just a lick of fire, where she could get singed. He was an inferno, ready to consume her if she gave him the chance. Nothing with Joe would ever be half measure. Not the physical pleasure he’d give, and not the way he made her feel.
Now, as he’d just informed her, he had his chance. Luna groaned again. She’d just have to keep her mind busy on other things—and two kids ought to take care of that.
More laundry awaited her in his small kitchen where a stacked washer/dryer combo was neatly stashed in a pantry. Joe was tidy for a man, his clothes in a basket, his kitchen clean except for some dirty dishes in the sink and some papers on the table. Luna drew a shaky breath and got to work.
He was willing to help her, but she had to help him first. She had a load of laundry going and the makings for grilled cheese sandwiches out on the counter when his phone rang.
No doubt, a woman wanted his attention. Luna meandered into his bedroom, nosiness and a tad of jealousy making her dislike herself. But Joe hadn’t answered the bedside phone. His eyes were closed, his expression weary, pained.
He’d been so badly hurt …
With false sweetness, she asked, “You want me to get that?”
Before he could reply, the answering machine picked up. Sure enough, a feminine voice purred, “Joe? Where are you? You haven’t answered the phone in days. Call me, okay?”
Joe never opened his eyes.
Teeth gritted, Luna said, “Another admirer, huh?”
Rather than answer that, he sniffed the air. “I thought you were going to fix something to eat?”
“How about grilled cheese? You don’t have much in the way of groceries.”
