A Sinful Trap

by R. G. Alexander

  Too bad. He’d probably be a better pick for her than Jace.

  “Is the topic a secret?” she asked, lowering her voice. “Is it about laundry day again? Or Jace cooking in the nude with company while you’re trying to sleep?”

  When Jace opened his mouth, Liam jumped in first.

  “Let’s not rehash any of it for Bailey right now.” His smile was strained and she wondered how long he’d been listening to them bicker. “Not when she’s the one with the news.”

  Jace scowled. “You mean the Locke guy? Is Mr. Moneybags the Third giving you any trouble at the inn? I saw them working on the roof the other day. Celeste is steamed he didn’t hire her.”

  “Don’t be so judgmental,” Liam said. “He made that money on his own. I’m the one with the family inheritance. Pick on me instead.”

  Jace snorted. “Nah, you work for a living and I like you. Even if you are pussy whipped. Anyway, Locke could buy your family’s restaurant chain with his pocket change, from what I hear. I’m not sure why one person needs all that money or that much land. Seems greedy to me.”

  She didn’t like the way they were discussing Cam. She might have had the same thoughts a few days ago, but not now that she’d met him. He wasn’t that.

  Nick cleared his throat, looking uncomfortable. “I hear he does good things with that money. Gives land to people who need it.”

  Bailey clung to his words, unaccountably grateful. “He does?”

  “I can’t believe you know who we’re talking about,” Jace grumbled at his roommate. “I mean, he’s still alive and not made of stone, or some trickster spirit that you shouldn’t be hanging out with anyway.”

  Nick’s expression grew pinched.

  Meanwhile, Liam looked ready to throttle Jace.

  She put her hand on his shoulder. “Angel food? I’m starving, so I’m going to order for us. We always get the same thing here, so I know what they want. Can you go out on the patio and make sure they save our table? And let me know if you see Dani and Kaya. I can’t believe they aren’t here yet.”

  Liam got off his stool so fast she nearly laughed and ruined the charade. “Yes, ma’am.”

  “There goes a gentleman,” she sighed dramatically, tapping Jace and Nick on their backs. “Play nice, boys, I like this place. And Mama needs some food with her girl talk.”

  She walked around the bar and snuck through the kitchen door to find Benny in his usual spot by the grill. “Hey there, B-man. Don’t mind me, I’m hiding for a minute to help out a friend.”

  The frown that had always seemed as much a permanent fixture as his Hawaiian shirts disappeared when he saw her. “Bailey. You know you’re welcome anytime, girl. Did you bring those friends of yours?”

  At her nod, he started prepping the food for what she knew was going to be their regular order. He was a bear, but his center was gooey old marshmallow if you dug deep enough.

  “Would you add an extra helping of nachos for Liam? How are things going?” she asked when he gave her a thumbs up.

  “Couldn’t be better unless I was surfing.” He always said that. “But I should be asking you that question. Your inn is buzzing with people. And I heard you hired Ava. I hope that doesn’t mean you’ll stop coming to see me.”

  “That’s never going to happen. I love it here. It’s technically the closest I’ve ever been to the beach.”

  Benny clutched his heart. “I swear, I need to fix that before I die. No one should go through life without sticking their toes in the ocean.”

  “Whenever you and Kashi are ready, I’m willing to tag along.”

  She always said that, too. It was comforting to know what was going to happen. To know people well enough that you could guess what they were going to say or going to order. Cam and Davide might find it boring, but for Bailey, it made her feel connected.

  They’d probably been to plenty of beaches all over the world. She could see them lazing on the sand. Rubbing sunscreen on each other’s bodies. Kissing, waist deep in the water, Cam’s hand disappearing beneath the concealing waves to grip both their erections and—

  “Bailey? Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine, Benny.” She cupped her cheeks, knowing they were bright red. “I think I’m overheated and hungry, that’s all.”

  Horny was the word.

  Not the time.

  “You go get your table and I’ll have Flora bring out your lunch when it’s ready.”

  “Good idea.” She started toward the door but Benny’s light touch on her shoulder stopped her. “What is it?”

  “Next week,” he said, looking uncomfortable. “Kashi and I have been together three years next week.”

  “I knew it was coming up,” she told him, thinking of the present she’d already wrapped that was waiting in her closet. “Happy anniversary.”

  Now he was the one turning pink. “We’re having a thing, and we wanted you to stop by so we could thank you for playing Cupid. I’m not supposed to tell you, but he might have written a song about what you had to go through to get us together, so I know it would mean a lot to him.”

  She was going to cry. Her hormones could not make up their mind today. “I’d love to, but you two don’t have to thank me for anything.”

  He harrumphed. There was no other word for it. “He never would have come near me if you hadn’t done what you do—seen a problem and found a way to fix it.”

  “You weren’t a problem, but I do love the compliment,” she teased to lighten the moment. “I also enjoy good meals in beach cafés and vicarious happiness.”

  He chuckled and awkwardly squeezed her arm. “Then you should be in heaven, because I’ve never been so happy.”

  She fanned her wide eyes, backing away. “I’m leaving now before we start crying and hugging and I ruin your grumpy reputation forever.”

  His booming laughter followed her out the swinging door, and she looked back with a smile in time to walk right into someone in her path. “Oh damn, I’m sorry I— Stax?”

  It was him. The lean, handsome coyote who’d saved Dani. His long, black hair hung loose about his shoulders, and his piercing eyes caught hers and held.

  She hadn’t seen him since that night in the Casa Rincon parking lot. Before that, it had been at Dani’s house when Nick had brought him to play poker with Liam and Jace while the girls had stayed outside and wished on their stars.

  What was he doing here? “Are you here to see Nick? He’s at the bar with Jace.”

  He shook his head, holding her captive with his gaze. “I’m not here for Nick, Bailey.”

  It couldn’t be for her, unless this was about her seeing the spider. Did he know about that?

  “Dani’s not here yet. But Liam is,” she added, just in case he had more designs on her friend.

  His lips curved. “Dani’s about to walk through the door, but she’s not the reason I stopped by either. I still admire your passion, Bailey. For your inn. For your friends.”

  He’d said that the night they met. Back when she’d thought he was a drifting conman instead of a powerful shapeshifter. “What do you want?”

  Stax leaned down, close enough for her to smell sandalwood and desert. If she wasn’t so obsessed with Cam and Davide, she’d definitely be susceptible to him.

  “Being safe isn’t enough anymore, so be brave,” he whispered in her ear. “As brave as you are for other people. And no matter what you see over the next few days, don’t forget to listen.”

  “Bailey!” Dani shouted cheerfully from the door. “We’re at the table.”

  Bailey glanced over her shoulder to call back “One second!”

  But when she turned to ask Stax what he was talking about, he was gone.

  Chapter Eight

  What the hell?

  Bailey spun around. The café was crowded, but not enough that she wouldn’t be able to pick out his very distinctive frame or the walking stick he always carried around with him. She knew he could transform into a coyote, but disappea
r into thin air…?

  She closed her eyes and counted to ten before looking again. Nothing. Had he even been here at all? She was tempted to ask around and see if anyone else had seen him, but somehow, she knew they hadn’t.

  What was her life now?

  Running her damp palms over her skirt, she took a deep breath and headed outside to her table. Her friends. Sanity. Puzzling out her hallucination’s message would have to wait until later. She had too much on her plate at the moment, and she doubted Kaya would react well to the visitation. She’d better keep it to herself.

  When she reached them, Dani immediately stood to hug her side and Kaya, who was already sitting, caught the kiss she threw with a small smile. They weren’t hugging friends, mostly because of the psychic thing. Kaya wasn’t just an everyday reader of cards or runes. She had some foresight, some gut feelings and dreams, as well as a growing gift of tactile telepathy. She always had it to a degree, but lately, when she was in the zone, she could basically read a person as soon as she touched them.

  Bailey had a few things she’d like to keep to herself. Most people did, including Kaya.

  “Sorry we’re late.” Kaya reached for the glass of water the waitress, Flora, set in front of her. “Did Benny get our order? I’m starving.”

  “He did,” Bailey said. Liam was standing behind Dani’s chair, looking uncertain, so she added, “Liam will be joining us at the girl talk and lady luncheon today, because he needs an excuse to get away from Jace and Nick.”

  Dani pulled out a chair for him and Kaya waved him toward it.

  “They’re still here?” she asked with an irritated sigh. “Yes, please sit with us. No one deserves that kind of punishment.”

  “Bless you all for the release from purgatory. Pretend I’m not here.” Liam toasted them with his beer and took a grateful sip while Dani leaned her head on his shoulder.

  As soon as lunch was delivered—coconut shrimp for Dani, margarita nachos for Kaya and Liam, and a mini lobster burger, Benny’s specialty, for Bailey—the real grilling began. They wanted details, so Bailey started at the beginning, with her embarrassing introduction to her new boss.

  Five minutes later, the two of them were still cracking up between delicious bites.

  “You can stop anytime now, ladies.” Bailey dipped a fry in the lemon aioli butter and sighed. “One of you is going to need the Heimlich if you keep it up, and I won’t be available.”

  It was nice to see Kaya laugh, even if it was at her expense. It had been a while.

  “At least Liam still respects me,” she added.

  He took a quick drink of his beer to hide his smile, but his laughter formed revealing bubbles in his pint.

  “Children,” she muttered, grinning in spite of herself.

  “I respect you so much,” he choked out, wiping the foam from his upper lip. “Especially if it means you won’t send me back to the bar.”

  “You’re always welcome, angel food.” She blew him a kiss and munched on another fry. “I’m in thrall to your barbecue charms. That and your skills with a fondue pot are why I will always love you and fight for visiting rights after I break up with my two besties.”

  “I’ll stop,” Dani swore, using her napkin to wipe away her tears. “Please don’t break up with us.”

  “I’ll think about it,” Bailey said neutrally, though there was no reality where that would actually happen. As long as they would put up with her, they were stuck with her for life. Family in everything but blood.

  Getting to know people was a survival skill Bailey had perfected as a homeless teen. But letting down her guard and allowing anyone to know her in return had always been the heavier lift. These two women had snuck in under her radar and made a home in the part of her heart that had been closed for business since her mother left. She’d do anything for them.

  “We are sorry.” Kaya pushed her long dark hair over her shoulder, her smile lingering as she visibly fought for control. “It was the delivery that got me. Dangling from the attic in your superhero undies.”

  “Boxers.”

  “That’s the kind of thing that usually happens to me,” Dani said, shaking her head as if baffled. “Although, I can picture you shamelessly staring him down after you fell on him. That’s totally your style.”

  Bailey pretended to buff her nails and blow on them. “Shameless is my brand. Thank you for noticing.”

  “It’s been a busy few days for you, hasn’t it?” Kaya asked with deceptive innocence. “New boss and new employees. New roof. New things you’re not telling us.”

  Dani grinned. “I’m shocked. Are there things she’s not telling us?”

  Bailey chomped a bite of her burger and glared at Kaya across the table as she chewed. “I hate it when you do that.”

  “Yes, but you can’t say you didn’t expect it.”

  “Eat your nachos, K,” she said petulantly.

  She had been expecting it, but she wasn’t sure she wanted to deal with the repercussions of filling them in. If the intensity of her connection to Cam and Davide scared her, how would her friends react to it?

  Why couldn’t she stop thinking about them?

  “How is Ava working out?” Liam asked after a moment of tense silence. “Everyone at the resort is jealous, in case you were wondering. We were hoping for a spot to open so we could get her in there, but your new boss snapped her right up.”

  “She’s the best,” Bailey said gratefully. “Too good. I might need to start hiking again unless I want to buy a new wardrobe.”

  “Again?” Kaya said, snapping a cheesy lime nacho between her teeth. Burn.

  “I could hike,” Bailey lied.

  “If your car broke down.” Liam held up his hands defensively when they all turned his way in warning. “I was trying to fit in. Isn’t this the point where you two would usually tease Bailey about her heel collection?”

  “We would,” Kaya agreed. “That doesn’t mean you can.”

  Dani tugged him closer and kissed him sympathetically. “I love you, but I won’t protect you if they decide you can’t sit with us anymore.”

  “Shutting up now,” he assured her with a besotted smile that made Bailey’s heart sigh.

  Dani’s wish had come true. She was with the man who had been her best friend through one of the most difficult periods of her life, the man who’d always adored her and wanted her enough to make all her dirty, dirty dreams come true. Liam was one of the rare good ones, and someday they would make sweet, fat babies that Auntie Bailey could spoil positively rotten.

  For half a second, she let herself wish someone would choose her like that. Put her first. But that kind of thing wasn’t in her cards.

  “So, he was smart enough to choose Ava,” Dani said thoughtfully, leaning into Liam’s touch as he played with her curls. “No one can stop talking about how gorgeous he is or how much money he makes, and you haven’t complained about him once since we got here, even though he beat your price and bought your inn. Is he married?”

  “Um, no. He isn’t married.” But he wasn’t single either. She thought about the chemistry between Cam and Davide and her thighs started to sweat. The idea of watching them together, of joining them in real life, got more arousing every time she thought about it. More necessary.

  Necessary? No. Exciting, incendiary, and possibly life altering? Yes. But not necessary.

  “At the risk of getting sent back to the bar, is he a jackass?” Liam asked carefully.

  “I thought he was.” She hesitated. “Mostly, he’s confusing. Stiff and grumpy one minute, sincere and interesting the next…”

  Asking for a date, kissing my boxers off and then flying away.

  Kaya dropped her napkin over her empty plate and crossed her arms. “To use one of your favorite sayings, you need to put some more meat on that bone, Bailey. Between the vibes you’re putting out and Dani and Liam playing footsie under the table, I’m about to go into sugar overload and I didn’t even order dessert.”
<
br />   “We’re not that bad. Are we?” Dani asked, scooting her chair away from Liam’s with a guilty look.

  “According to Jace, we’re horrible,” he said with an unrepentant grin. “But most couples are, in his opinion. The man has no romance in his soul.”

  “He has a soul?” Kaya jibed, the energy around her changing the way it always did when he came up.

  Bailey’s habit was to distract her from the Jace-hating spiral that was about to commence. Unfortunately, when she opened her mouth, everything she’d been trying not to say came pouring out without her permission. “Locke has a boyfriend. A partner. His assistant. I may have made out with him on a ladder. The assistant, I mean. I only kissed Locke.”

  “What?!” Dani looked around in embarrassment after the shout, lowering her voice to a whisper-hiss, “What?”

  “Pretty much,” Bailey confirmed, shifting in her seat to avoid Kaya’s penetrating stare. “I think I’ve been invited for a ride on their kinky train. Not that I know for sure that anything truly kinky like spanking or restraints would be involved, but they both give off that vibe, you know? Davide is a proven exhibitionist and Cam is bossy, for obvious reasons. They even have this kind of Grouchy and the Rebel act that… What?”

  “They want a Bailey sandwich,” Dani breathed, wide-eyed.

  Liam coughed into his hand and Bailey managed a smile for him. “Don’t worry, angel food. Even if I take them up on it, I doubt I’ll be able to top your mystical coyote threesome. You win forever.”

  He gave her a disturbed side-eye. “We really don’t need to talk about that again. But for the record, I had no idea he was a shapeshifter until that night at the bar.”

  “I knew,” Dani confessed.

  Now it was Bailey’s turn to be shocked, and oddly, a little proud. “You wild thing. Good for you.”

  “Bailey,” Kaya warned, trying to head her off. She’d been worried about Dani’s unusual relationship with the coyote spirit since it happened, waiting for the other supernatural shoe to drop.

  Ignoring her and resisting the urge to bring up her recent Stax sighting, Bailey said, “What was it like? I’ve never asked. Were there any differences? During?”