“I’ve already got one of those,” Jared answered absently.
A choked chuckle escaped Dee. She liked Jared’s car. “Well, I don’t,” she said, trying to sound outraged. She tapped a finger against her chest. “I’m looking for something for me to drive.”
“Yeah, I know.” Jared’s slow grin morphed from little-boy charming to pulse-pounding, Triple-X-man. “Come on.” His voice vibrated through the heavy air. Nabbing Dee’s hand, he tugged her down the aisle.
Tingling waves of electric excitement snapped from the hand that engulfed hers. “I’m not buying an SUV,” Dee said as they approached a row of goliath vehicles, an unreasonable need to argue growing in her chest. “They cost too much and they get terrible gas mileage.”
“Agreed.” Jared pulled her past the super-sized vehicles and turned, weaving through a section of minivans.
“I refuse to drive a minivan.” Had he lost his mind? “They’re too…too old people.”
“Wouldn’t expect you to,” he said with annoying good humor as he continued to pull her along with a single-minded focus.
“Then what….”
He stopped so abruptly that she stumbled into his back. “What do you think of that?” he asked.
With hands fisted in his shirt to regain her balance, Dee angled her head around his shoulder. She scanned the row of vehicles in front of them. “What?”
“That.” His voice held a note of reverence as he nodded toward the vehicle directly in front of him.
“It’s a Jeep,” she said slowly, feeling out of sync. It was a red Cherokee, old enough to have the smaller, boxy body style, which to her way of thinking was in its favor.
Not that she’d share that opinion with the arrogant male in front of her.
“Hey, Bernie.” Jared turned to the salesman who was puffing his way toward them. “Can you get the keys to the Jeep?”
A grin immediately split Bernie’s flushed face. “Sure. I’ll be right back.”
“I didn’t say I wanted to drive it,” Dee said, that disconnected feeling growing.
Jared glanced at her, black brows wagging over dark-as-night eyes, a pure male smile curving his lips.
Her hands fell limp to her side.
“It won’t hurt to test drive it,” he cajoled.
Dee stood frozen, breathless, her mouth desert dry.
“Humor me.” He nodded. “Just get in it.”
She could feel the pulse of her heartbeat down to her fingertips. “This is some sort of fantasy, isn’t it?” she blurted.
His grin took on wolfish tones. “There’s nothing hotter than a good-looking babe driving a Jeep,” he admitted.
“You are sick,” she enunciated slowly, trying to gather her wits and ignore the thrill that coursed through her. He thought she was a good-looking babe?
“It’s not just me.” He feigned hurt feelings. “Every red-blooded male would agree.”
Propping her hands on her hips, Dee snorted. “Right.”
“It’s true. Hey, Bernie,” he called as the salesman stepped out of the office.
“Jared.” She growled a low warning.
“Isn’t it true that there’s nothing finer than a hot lady driving a Jeep?”
Bernie didn’t say a word. With his flaming red cheeks and his downcast eyes, words weren’t necessary.
“I can’t believe you asked him that,” she said through clenched teeth. “I’m going to get in that Jeep, put it in four-wheel drive, and you better run.”
Jared’s brows lifted as he pursed his lips, tilted his head. “Works for me.”
She gasped, fighting and failing to hold in her laughter. Ten days ago, Dee was running for her life. Now she stood in skin-melting heat flirting. Flirting, for heaven’s sake, and enjoying it.
Taking the keys from Bernie, Jared opened the door and stepped back.
Dee rolled her eyes. “I don’t see what’s so sexy about a Jeep,” she muttered as she walked toward the vehicle. “I’m only doing this as an experiment.” Stepping under Jared’s arm, Dee deliberately ran her shoulder across his chest as she inched in front of him, slid a narrow glance over her shoulder, and climbed into the vehicle.
The pent-up heat in the dark interior made breathing difficult. The smoldering look in Jared’s eyes made it impossible.
Tiny goose bumps rose on suddenly chilled skin, a sharp contrast to the oven-like temperatures surrounding her. She wanted him to lean into the Jeep. She craved the feel of his mouth on hers. She wanted his strong male arms around her.
Maybe this woman-in-a-Jeep thing worked in reverse.
As if he knew her yearnings, Jared dipped his head in the door. Slumberous, dark eyes drifted to her lips, and then slid up to reclaim her gaze.
Need, anticipation clawed beneath her skin until she wanted to scream, “Nownownow.”
And finally he was there. His lips brushing across hers, seeking permission.
Grabbing the front of his shirt and yanking him closer, Dee gave him her answer. She opened her mouth, demanded the invasion of his tongue. Sent her tongue on its own quest. Hands grasped, pulled closer. The glorious feel of his chest pressed her into the seat. A sweet, needy moan escaped. Not enough. Not enough. Not nearly enough.
A cough, a splash of color to her right, had Dee whipping her head away from Jared to stare at Bernie through the windshield. Her heart thundered as her lungs fought for air. How could she have forgotten they were in public? In full view of families, children?
Following the line of Dee’s gaze, Jared glanced through the windshield and sighed. “I guess we’ve embarrassed Bernie enough for one day.”
Sixty minutes later Dee’s head was spinning as she walked out of the office, papers signed, deal complete. Bernie would accept delivery of the Mustang as soon as repairs were complete. A Jeep, for heaven’s sake. It was an SUV, on the smaller side, true, but still an SUV.
But, her practical side argued, it got acceptable gas mileage.
“Must have been some favor Bernie owed you,” Dee whispered to Jared as they stepped out onto the car lot. Bernie had brought her the papers with an unbelievably low price, and she couldn’t argue.
Grinning, he slipped his arm around her shoulders. “It wasn’t that big a favor. He’s a guy.” Jared shrugged. “And he appreciates the sight of you in the driver’s seat.”
Dee whipped her head around and stared at Bernie coming up behind them. Jared chuckled quietly. “Well”—she angled a sharp glance at Jared—“I’ll have to drive by the lot every day and give old Bernie a thrill.”
She was pleased with the hint of irritation that stole over Jared’s features.
“Not a good idea,” Jared muttered. “Bernie’s wife is the jealous type. Big, burly woman.”
Laughing, Dee punched her fist into Jared’s rock-hard abs.
“Miss Quinn,” Bernie gasped as he caught up to them, “we’ll call to make sure you’re home before delivering the Jeep.”
“Thanks, I appreciate that.”
He beamed, rocking back on his heels. “You’ve got a day to get your garage ready for your new vehicle.”
“I don’t have a garage,” Dee confessed, “so I guess I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”
Bernie’s smile slipped as his brows furrowed. “A carport?”
She shook her head.
Bernie cast a concerned glance at Jared. “I’ll toss a cover in the back. It’ll help protect your new vehicle from the sun and….”
Dee reached over and patted Bernie’s arm. “You don’t have to do that. I’ll just park it under the pine trees behind the house.”
“No!” both men erupted, Bernie’s face only slightly paler than Jared’s at her suggestion.
“You can’t park any vehicle near a pine tree,” Bernie said with a look of pain crinkling his eyes.
“It’ll leave resin marks on your paint,” Jared stated.
“Small, oily marks that are nearly impossible to get off,” Bernie explained.
&n
bsp; “But if I park in front of the house, it’ll get baked by the afternoon sun,” Dee said, remembering where she’d parked the truck.
Jared rubbed the back of his neck. “I’ll put up something,” he said.
Dee grinned.
“It won’t be much. Just a roof.” He paused, his eyes narrowing as if in concentration. “I’ll take care of it. Bernie,” he turned to the salesman as he pulled some cash out of his pocket, “if you don’t mind, go ahead and throw in the cover. I don’t know how long it will take.”
Bernie held his hand up and shook his head. “That’s not necessary. I owe you.”
“Are you sure?” Jared asked.
“It’s not a problem. I’m glad to do it,” Bernie answered with sincere ease.
Jared nodded his thanks, then turned to Dee. “Are you ready?”
Dee glanced at the red Jeep across the lot. It was a good deal. A sound decision based on solid economic facts.
And a huge dose of lust. Standing beside Jared, she couldn’t deny it.
She climbed into the tiny car, closed her eyes, and focused on regulating her breathing. She was slipping; she could feel the quicksand of emotion pulling her under. Was there any way to stop this cataclysmic slide?
Did she really want to stop it?
What was the worst that could happen? Her emotions were already involved to some degree. If nothing else happened between them for the remainder of her time in Kentucky, she would still be taking an aching heart with her.
Lifting her eyelids, Dee studied Jared’s strong profile as he walked around the front of the car. His sharp angled chin darkened with a day’s growth of beard, well-defined, firm lips.
Would she hurt any less if she allowed no deeper involvement?
Her lips twisted in grim amusement. Allowed? As if she’d allowed anything so far. It had just happened. Jared had a way of slipping around her resistance. He made mush of her willpower.
In her mind, yellow lights were flashing, signs blinking the words “Caution, cliff straight ahead.” But her heart skipped madly along.
Chapter Twelve
Jared glanced at his watch as he walked across the gravel lot. Ten thirty. Ten freakin’ thirty on a Thursday night, and the most excitement he could muster up was crashing at Moore’s. Not that there was anything wrong with hanging with friends. It just wasn’t his first choice. He drew in a strangled breath. No, his first choice was tucked in bed—without him—waiting for pain pills to kick in.
He should have known, should have noticed she was uncomfortable, not attacked her on a car lot like a teenager getting lucky with his first girl.
But the woman made him hot. Hotter than hot. She was living, breathing flame, and he got singed every time he was near her. He’d nearly burned to a crisp when she pulled him closer and welcomed his kisses.
He couldn’t stop the grin that split his face, or the fear that cramped his belly. Dee wasn’t the only one with aches and pains. His hip was still screaming from that jog through the field to get to her. Celibacy was a huge price to pay, but how could a man look himself in the mirror if he tried and failed?
Dee made him think about it. She tempted him where for four months no one else could.
As he walked across the parking lot, he couldn’t resist glancing over his shoulder as if he could see her across the distance. As if he could watch over her and keep her safe.
As if he could walk head-on into something solid as a brick wall that issued a harsh, male grunt. “Didn’t your momma ever tell you to watch where you’re going?”
Jared whipped his gaze around, glad for the lack of lighting in Ray’s parking lot that concealed the heat spreading from his neck to his face.
“Bad day?” Jared asked.
Frank snorted. “I’m just now heading home.”
Jared glanced around, finally finding the state cruiser at the far end of the lot tucked behind a four-wheel drive truck. Turning back to Frank, he flicked a pointed glance up and down Frank’s uniform.
“No,” Frank stated with annoyance, “I didn’t stop here in uniform to get a drink. I’m not stupid.”
Jared closed his eyes and sighed. “No, you’re not.” He slid a finger along his jaw in front of his ear as he studied the man who’d logged in more than fifteen years on the force. “Frank”—Jared hesitated for a breath—“yesterday when you came into the bar, was there anyone else out here?”
“I didn’t see anyone,” he answered.
“No one? No car parked along the road?”
“Is this about Dee’s accident?”
“Yeah,” Jared scowled, “you didn’t…”
“Do you know the cause?”
“A tire came off.”
Frank smothered a chuckle with limited success. “Not funny, I know. I’m sorry,” he said, lifting his hand in mock surrender. “But tires don’t just come off.”
“I know,” Jared muttered, struggling to contain the violent urge to pound the last of Frank’s humor off his face.
“Have you talked to Charlie? I can’t believe he loaned her a truck that had problems.”
“Yeah, I already talked to Charlie. He was actually driving the truck himself when he loaned it to Dee. He hadn’t had any problems with it—at least not with the tires.”
Tracking a car maneuvering through the gravel lot, Frank shrugged. “Hard to believe he drove it that long without lug nuts.”
Jared tensed.
His lips thinning, Frank shook his head. “Lug nuts have to be missing for a tire to come off. It’s just logical.” He leaned closer and in the dim light studied Jared. “So, are the rumors true?”
Jared stood his ground, in spite of Frank’s scrutiny. “What rumors?
“She’s gotten to you. You’ve got a thing for her.”
Jared scowled. “Who’s saying that?”
“Ray.”
A snide smile lurked on Frank’s face. He was a hero in Jared’s eyes, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t the occasional ass.
“Wishful thinking on Ray’s part. He’s trying hard to find a way to ensure Dee stays around till the end of his job.”
Frank’s gaze remained intense for one long second before he nodded and stepped back. “Nothing’s come through channels. Will there be a complaint filed?”
Jared made a split second decision. The fewer people who knew what he was up to, the easier it would be to find the guilty party. “Nothing more than the accident report. Charlie claims the truck was in good shape when he loaned it to Dee. But of course he’d say that.”
A grin stretched Frank’s lips as he nodded. “Yeah. I bet the guy’s sweating bullets now.”
Jared waved Frank off and headed toward the door. No help there. Damn it, someone had to have had access to that truck yesterday afternoon. Right here in this parking lot with a state cruiser sitting there—two state boys on site. He hesitated a step. What if… Could Dee be right? He had to pursue that line again. He was dealing with either one ballsy criminal or a professional.
The brightly lit, crowded bar should have felt stifling on this hot August night, but instead it felt as comfortable and as welcoming as an old friend. The familiar faces, the upbeat atmosphere, the soothing din—all reached out to surround him.
Jack sat at the far corner of the bar, he and Ray locked in a serious discussion. Jared took a moment to watch the two as their debate heated. Who, besides the ex-boyfriend, had something to gain by getting rid of Dee? Jack? He’d had opportunity. Both he and Ray had been outside at some point, Jack for several minutes alone.
Yeah, there was a chance for some professional gain, some monetary bonus from eliminating competition for Ray’s remodel But as far as Jared knew, Ray had never considered him, at least not for the job Dee was doing. And there was no guarantee he’d take over even if Dee was out of the picture. Still, he needed to check out the guy’s financial status.
Follow the money.
Katie Thomas, the girl who split a duplex with Mike, worked for Jac
k. She had for years. It was a sore spot for Mike. Katie would know if Jack’s finances were off. Katie had gone out with Jared a couple of times in the past, so it might be easier to question her without tipping off Jack.
Deductive reasoning, though, told him he couldn’t dismiss Ray. He’d been outside, too. Was he always with Jack? Or had there been a moment when they’d been separated? What were his possible benefits from Dee’s accident? Was he serious about the remodeling, or had he gotten carried away and now found himself in too deep and needed a way out?
Jack tipped his head in Jared’s direction, and Ray glanced over his shoulder, a grin sliding across his face.
Ray was a friend, one of his best friends. Jared’s gut said no way to Ray’s involvement.
Even as his heart denied it, his cop’s brain would not let go. Someone deliberately tried to harm Dee. She claimed there was no bad blood behind her except for the ex. Statistically, the perp was right in front of him. Hard as it was to believe, to accept, it was one of these two men. Someone he knew. Or thought he knew.
The bitter taste of disgust filled his mouth. Never had there been a moment when his job sucked more than now.
Jared pasted a friendly expression on his face as he walked around the bar, and clapping Jack’s back, settled on a stool next to him. “What’s up?” His whole face contorted into a sappy, fake grin. He could feel it.
Ray’s face froze in a round-eyed look of concern. “Are you okay?”
Jack swung around and subjected Jared to several tortuous seconds of close scrutiny, his finger rolling studiously along his chin, his gaze boring holes in Jared’s fragile-as-glass expression.
Jared’s grin stretched tighter.
“How’s Dee?” Jack asked.
“Fine. Great.”
“You saw her?” Ray propped his forearm on the bar and leaned closer.
Probabilities bounced through Jared’s mind. Could Carl Ormsby be behind Dee’s accident? With a potential five hundred thousand payoff, he could certainly hire someone. “Yeah.”
Ray’s eyes shifted to Jack, and in eerie unison, their gazes tracked a slow path around the bar to the door. “Where is she?” Jack asked.
If so, then she’s at risk even now. Especially now. And not knowing someone was after her, or not knowing whom, made her more vulnerable. “She’s at home in bed.”
Unforgettable Heroes II Boxed Set Page 243
