Rough & Tumble (The Haven Brotherhood)

by Rhenna Morgan

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing wrong.” Nice words, but they came way too quick and without a bit of eye contact, which was all wrong for Ninette. Just like Jace, neither of them said anything without full visual contact, particularly when it was important.

  Ninette tucked the mug in the dishwasher and wiped her hands on a dishtowel. “Me and Sylvie are headed into town to run some errands for the boys. Probably best you do your work here today and give Jace a chance to get home. Let me know if you need anything in town.” Another three seconds and she was gone, striding toward the wing of the house where she and Sylvie had obnoxious-sized suites. Both were decked out with what they called “unnecessary, but kick-ass amenities” installed by their overindulgent sons.

  Viv paced to the windows overlooking the backyard.

  Ruger ran hell for leather across the yard after Sylvie’s little cairn terrier, Max, both of them with their tongues lagging to one side. The Toto look-alike dog might’ve been a sixth of Ruger’s size, but in his head he was a giant, always provoking Ruger in one way or another.

  Surely everything was okay. Jace had promised there wouldn’t be anything else between them. Not once in their confrontation with Callie or his conversations with his brothers had he kept her segregated. So, why did her stomach feel like she’d stepped into the opening of a horror film?

  No, everything was fine. He’d call her if it wasn’t, and poking and prodding him all day with repeat phone calls would only put her in the annoying girlfriend category. No way was she going down that path.

  She freshened up her coffee and wandered to Jace’s study, leaving Ruger and Max to their sunny day. Logging into Jace’s laptop, she dove into the event details of the week. Banners, caterers, scheduling and publicity. It sucked her in and buffeted her morning worries.

  Hours later, her phone rang, 5:05 p.m. and a number she didn’t recognize displayed on the home screen. “This is Vivienne Moore.”

  “Vivienne! I’m so happy I caught you. This is Evelyn Frank from Creative Souls. We met at the art auction a couple of weeks ago?”

  “Yes, I remember you. How did the tally from the fundraiser turn out?”

  “Fantastic. We drew an extra ten thousand in contributions this year and sold all of the artwork. Unfortunately, our scholarship announcement event isn’t going quite as smoothly. I was hoping you might be able to help me out of a bind.”

  Viv barely stifled the squee that ripped up her throat and shoved to her feet so she could pace. Thankfully, her response came off a whole lot more professional than the giddy two-year-old happy dancing in her head. “Oh, how so?”

  “I think I mentioned our usual planner has a somewhat challenging personal life. She contacted me over the weekend and said she’s had some issues bubble up that won’t allow her to finish what she’s set in place. Really, everything’s already scheduled, we just need someone to step in and keep things moving until event day.”

  “And when is that?”

  “This Saturday. The venue is the same, so you already have some idea of how we utilize the space, and it’s a luncheon so the total event time will be limited to two or three hours. I know it’s short notice, but I was hoping you might be able to lend us a hand.”

  Five days with the footwork already done would be a cake walk, especially if their planner had done the same level of planning for the luncheon Viv observed at the dinner and auction. She punched up her calendar on the laptop. “It looks like Saturday’s free for a luncheon, but I’ve got several planning meetings for other big events scheduled throughout this week. If you can allow some flexibility where those are concerned, I think we can make it work.”

  “Excellent! We’ve got several people you can leverage into long-term contacts, and with you stepping in to save the day at the last minute, it will make an even stronger impression. It’ll be a win-win for both of us.”

  No kidding. If the crowd at the dinner and auction was any indication, she’d be rubbing shoulders with some of Dallas’s social elite. Between Jace’s business connections and this event, she’d be able to grow her client base across all income brackets. “How soon can you get me contacts and existing information?”

  “I’ve got it all gathered up and ready to send, including a compensation package for your time this week. Shall I use the address on your card?”

  “Please. I’ll need a little time to review it and then I’ll contact you back with next steps. Sound good?”

  “That’s perfect. I’ll talk to you soon.”

  Viv ended the call and rubbed her thumb along the phone’s edge. As gift-horse opportunities went, this was huge. Definitely something worth touting on her resume if all went well.

  She scrolled through the list to Jace’s name and hit send, her blood humming with a champagne tingle.

  “This is Jace. You know what to do.” Jace’s terse voice and the impersonal beep that followed dashed a little of her giddiness and breathed more life into the unease that had plagued her all morning.

  “Hey, it’s me. I’m sorry to call you again, but I just got the best offer from Evelyn at Creative Souls. They want my help for the scholarship luncheon next weekend. Isn’t that great?”

  Silence ricocheted back at her.

  She clenched her hand and braced her knuckles on the desk. “Anyway, I was excited and wanted to share the news. I know it’s silly, but I’m kind of worried about you. Call me back so I know you’re okay.”

  Ending the call, she dropped the phone on the desk and plunked into Jace’s big leather chair. When Jace had dropped her off, he’d acted like dealing with Hugo wouldn’t be a big deal. More of an inconvenience than a worry. But what if it was a big deal? What if he’d gone off to handle Callie’s mess and ended up in trouble? Damn, but she wished he’d call her back, or at least shoot her a quick text.

  The study door opened and Ninette leaned into the doorjamb, one hand on her hip. The brooding frown she’d sported before was gone, replaced with an almost frightening determination.

  Viv plastered on the best smile she could. “You and Sylvie have a good trip?”

  “I lied, we didn’t go. You a news watcher?”

  Viv’s head snapped back. “Why would you lie?”

  “Never mind that. Time for you to take a break and catch a little TV.” She opened the door wider and jerked her head toward the hallway. “Come on.”

  Fear wrapped icy fingers around Viv’s neck and gripped tight. Rounding the desk, she hurried after Ninette, the edgy discomfort she’d tried to ignore all day blasting past denial and urging her forward at a near jog.

  Ninette was already halfway down the hallway headed toward the entertainment room. She spared a glance over one shoulder. “Beck said I was supposed to keep my mouth shut, which I think is shit, but they didn’t say anything about the TV staying off.”

  * * *

  “Jace Kennedy, owner of several Dallas and Fort Worth nightclubs, is in the news again today, though this time his troubles are of a more personal nature than the woes his club has endured of late.”

  Vivienne dropped down in the middle of the leather sectional, Sylvie and Ninette on either side of her.

  The eager beaver newscaster stood outside the downtown Dallas Police Department and aimed her best concerned citizen expression at the camera. The late-afternoon sun cast her in a picture-perfect frame she’d be able to use in resume segments for years to come.

  “Early this morning, police arrested Kennedy, a colleague by the name of Daniel Parker, and a man suspected of being part of a well-known drug ring, in what was reported to be a sizable drug bust. Kennedy and his cohort were found in possession of cash in excess of one hundred thousand dollars, purported to be payment for illegal substances. Authorities were forced to drop all charges and release Kennedy when they were unable to produce evidence to support their claims. The arrest comes beh
ind a string of violence and drug-related arrests at many of Kennedy’s clubs—a point local politician Paul Renner was quick to comment on late this morning.”

  “Son of a bitch.” Viv shot to her feet and snatched the remote from beside Ninette, muting the sound before Paul’s whiny voice could tack on to her escalating temper. “Where is he? I just called and he’s not answering his phone.”

  “Kinda hard to answer from jail.”

  Viv spun at Jace’s ironic retort from the doorway behind her.

  He leaned over the couch and kissed his mom on the forehead. “I see you take instruction real well.”

  “She’s got backbone. She can take it,” Ninette said.

  Beckett sauntered into the room and Jace ambled around the sectional headed straight for Viv, an apologetic smile on his face that didn’t quite match the fatigue on his face. Between the two, Viv wasn’t sure whether to slap him, or kiss him until he couldn’t see straight.

  “Wasn’t worried about her spine,” Jace said to his mom, still aimed toward Viv. “Was worried about that overactive mind and soft heart of hers. Think maybe you might factor that in with your undercut next time?”

  The second his arms wrapped around her, all the tension she’d battled since waking up scattered. “You should have told me,” she said in his ear. “You said nothing else between us.”

  “And what? Have you worried all day when I knew I’d be fine?”

  Vivienne pulled away enough to stare up at him. “How would you feel if I kept something like that from you?”

  His lips twitched and he ducked his head to hide what she was sure ended up being a full-on grin.

  Sylvie piped up from the couch with a well-timed intervention. “How’d ye manage to miss all the fun, Beck?”

  “Stayed on the outskirts in case Hugo did something stupid. Me waylaying the cops that swept in is the only reason Moreno didn’t end up cuffed like Jace.”

  “You helped Moreno before Jace?” Ninette said.

  Jace turned to his mother. “It was a smart move. Got us a little good will with Hugo. Besides, I had Danny.”

  “Where is he?” Viv said.

  Jace lowered his voice and cupped the back of her neck. “Danny’s not Haven. Not yet. Last night was a test run, but he’s fine. On his way to Louisiana with some clothes for Callie.”

  “Hell of a test run in my book.” Beckett dropped into the corner of the sectional and threw a booted foot up on the cushion beside him. “The rest of the guys learn how he stepped up to take the fall for you, bein’ a brother will be a done deal.”

  “How’d you get busted in the first place?” Ninette punctuated her question with a flick of her lighter and fired up a fresh cigarette, one of almost a carton if the giant ashtray on the coffee table was any indication.

  Jace glanced at Beck, the first hint of worry he’d been unable to cover since his one-on-one with Callie at the compound. “Had to be a vice tail on Hugo. They probably saw a chance to make a big nab and took it.” He focused on Viv. “I’ve got great lawyers and nothing but a stack of money to pin me with. I explained the whole thing was just a simple business deal, me reimbursing a club patron for damages to his ride while on my property.”

  “They didn’t mention that part on the news.”

  “Why the hell would they do that?” Sylvie said. “It ruins the story.”

  True. Media outlets might aim to be fair and equitable in the way they covered the news, but they still had to turn a profit like everyone else.

  Viv edged closer to Jace. The last thing he needed after a night like he’d had was a lecture, but no way was she dropping her point, no matter how uncomfortable it made everyone else. “You can’t hide things like that from me. It’s not right. Nothing between us means nothing.”

  The weariness in his features shifted, the eyes of a patient and confident hunter staring back at her. He palmed the side of her face, tracing her cheekbone with his thumb. “So you’re all in. Ready to lay everything out there?”

  Shit. She’d stepped right into that one, and in front of an audience, too. She rolled her lips between her teeth and tried to ignore the three sets of very focused gazes aimed their direction. “You went to jail dealing with crap my sister created. I’d say I have an interest.”

  Jace chuckled and pulled her closer, kissing the top of her head. “I knew you’d shoot straight to guilt. That’s why I told everyone to keep their mouths shut until I could be here in person to fight that reaction.”

  “Well, guilt is kind of a valid response, don’t you think? You don’t need any more bad publicity and wouldn’t have had it in the first place if it hadn’t been for Callie.”

  “It’s over, sugar. Done. I told your sister it’s the only pass she’s getting. Now...” Jace ducked down, put a shoulder to her stomach, and stood with her dangling over his back.

  “Jace!” She braced one hand at the small of his back and tried to push herself upright. “Put me down!”

  Ninette, Sylvie and Beck all laughed at the two of them, Beck shaking his head as if Jace’s behavior was par for the course.

  Jace smacked her ass and strolled toward the hallway. “No way in hell. I’ve had a shit night and need some shut-eye. The least you can do is help your man get to sleep.”

  Sylvie’s boisterous whoop rang out behind them. “Ha! I’m no’ thinkin’ sleep’s the top on his agenda.”

  Ignoring her, Jace strode toward his suite, his booted footsteps muted by the thick crimson rug.

  “Seriously, Jace. Put me—” Before she could finish her demand, the world spun and Jace caught her by the back of her head and back, buffeting her fall against his massive bed. “Down,” she finished on a breathy whisper.

  Jace held himself above her, knees on either side of her thighs and his forearms braced beside her head. “Missed you.”

  Any arguments, playful or real, died on her lips. With the curtains drawn nearly closed, only a sliver of late-afternoon sunshine cut through the room’s darkness, but even in the shadows the stark vulnerability on his face wiped everything but right here and now from her thoughts. She smoothed her fingers through his beard along his jaw, too tongue-tied by the solemnity in his gaze to speak.

  “Meant what I said in there,” he said. “I asked them to keep quiet so I could be the one to combat you feeling guilty.”

  “I believe you.”

  He hesitated a moment. “Appreciate that, sugar, but you asked for everything, so you need something else.” He studied her, his gaze shifting to absorb every nuance on her face. “I also didn’t want them to tell you without me here because I was afraid you’d run. Being in that cell, knowing you were with me—that you chose me—was the best damned thing and the worst terror all at once. I just got you back here and I wanted a fighting chance to make sure you stayed here.”

  Her heart clenched and her hands trembled against his chest. She’d done that. Made him doubt her feelings for him by putting distance between them every time things got too deep or too frightening. Taking the time to evaluate moving in was one thing, a reasonable time to make a purposeful step, but there were plenty of other times she’d been too prone to bolt. Heck she wouldn’t have even given him a chance to begin with if he hadn’t been so determined and found a way to back her into their dates.

  And then she wouldn’t have this. This moment. This man.

  She swallowed huge, the task ten times more difficult with the fist-sized knot in her throat. He’d been brave enough to admit his mistakes. After the shooting he’d looked her square in the eye and owned how he’d reacted too quickly. Too harshly. Surely she could do the same.

  “I give you my vow.” The words came out shaky. Far less confident than the ones he’d given to her, but no less heartfelt. “I might have tried to bolt in the past, but I won’t do it again. I’ll wait and think things through. I’ll talk to you and
hear what you have to say first.”

  His mouth curved in a slow, sexy smile. “Yeah?”

  “Yeah.”

  He cupped the side of her face, his thumb trailing soft against her cheekbone. “Prettiest promise anyone’s ever given me.”

  “I won’t break it. Not any more than the one you made me.”

  He brushed his lips against hers, whisper soft, and gave her back her own words. “I believe you.” Resting his forehead against hers, he closed his eyes and let out a relieved but weary sigh.

  Wrapping her arms around him, she smoothed her hands along his back, savoring his heat and the comfort of his presence. “You’re tired.”

  He lifted his head, that smart-ass grin of his slipping back into place. “Not the best idea to catnap in a holding cell, sugar. Haven’t had any shut-eye, and what little sleep I’ve had since you left Saturday hasn’t been for shit.”

  “Then let me take care of you.”

  One eyebrow cocked high. “That plan include you naked and next to me while I’m lights out?”

  “How about you take a long, hot shower first? I’ll get you something to eat while you’re in there, and then you can go lights out with me next to you.”

  He gave her more of his weight and one of those low, sexy growls rumbled past his lips. “How about you shower with me? Then more than the shower will be long and hot, and we can get to you being naked faster.”

  She giggled, wrapped her legs around his waist, and tangled her fingers in his hair. “You’re incorrigible.”

  “You like it?”

  She more than liked it. She craved it. Craved him and every sweet, passionate and tumultuous moment that came with being with him. “What’s not to like? Even better, you’re all mine.”

  Chapter 28

  For the fourth time in under twenty minutes, Jace backtracked through the specs on a new joint venture and started up from page one. Usually, the numbers drew him in deep enough the rest of the world disappeared for hours, but today, not so much. For that matter, not yesterday either. All his mind seemed capable of processing was Viv. The things he wanted to show her. All the experiences he could give her. Every place and way he wanted to claim her. Having her three doors away through the workday made focus practically impossible.