Queen of Diamonds

by Sandra Owens

  The minute Rand walked into the store, she launched herself at him. “You’re here.”

  He laughed. “That seems pretty obvious.” He tucked her under his arm and led her away from the clerk’s curious eyes. “You’re barefoot.”

  “That seems pretty obvious,” she said, throwing his words back at him. She lifted a foot—that was damn sexy with the cherry-red toenails—for his inspection. “I didn’t take the time to grab my shoes.”

  “Did you notice anything else off besides your back door?”

  “No. I’m probably just being silly, but I always make sure my doors and windows are locked before I leave for work. Maybe I slipped up this morning. I don’t know. I’m feeling stupid now for panicking.”

  “No, you did the right thing. I’ll follow you back to your apartment and check it out.”

  “Eww,” she said as he walked her to her car. “I just stepped on gum.”

  He slipped his arms under her back and legs, picking her up.

  “Eeek,” she shrieked on a laugh. “You should warn a girl when you decide to go caveman on her.”

  He looked into her eyes and wondered if she might be the one woman he’d be willing to risk everything for. She’ll want babies. The voice in his head brought him back to his senses. He could not, would not go there again. Not even for her.

  “I’ll follow you to your apartment and check it out,” he said, opening her car door with his fingers and then lowering her onto the driver’s seat.

  When they arrived at her place, he followed her inside while keeping firm control of his hand. The one that wanted to press its palm against her back. Or curl its fingers around the back of her neck. Hell, he’d be good with touching any part of her.

  “Stay right here,” he said as soon as they were inside. He first eased down the hall to her bedroom, and holding his gun down by his side, he checked her closet and bathroom. Once he’d cleared those rooms, he returned to the living room, pleased to see that Kinsey hadn’t moved.

  “Nothing?”

  “No one’s here. You need to take a look, see if anything is out of place.” While she did that, he went to her back door, still cracked open, and checked it over, but couldn’t find any scratches in the wood that looked like someone had pried it open.

  “Everything seems fine,” she said, coming back to the kitchen. “I’m sorry.”

  Rand glanced over at her. “For what?”

  “Making you come over for no reason.”

  “Never be sorry for staying safe, Kinsey.” It probably was a matter of her not closing and locking the door, but on the outside chance someone had been in her apartment, he didn’t want her staying by herself tonight. “You need a deadbolt and chain on this door.” Even an amateur thief could get in without half trying.

  “I’ve always felt safe here before tonight. First thing tomorrow I’ll call the building manager and ask that he install those.”

  “No, I’ll do it.” Not all building managers could be trusted. Only two months ago the cops had arrested one for snooping in the apartments of the single female residents.

  “You’ve already done—”

  “It’s not negotiable. Since I don’t want you here by yourself until I make your doors secure, I’ll sleep on the couch.” The relief crossing her face told him that she’d been nervous about being alone.

  “You don’t have—”

  “Also not negotiable.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “Turns out you’re as bossy as my brothers.”

  “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

  “You shouldn’t,” she muttered, making him grin. She glanced down, frowning at her feet. “I need a shower. My yucky feet are creeping me out.”

  “I’ll be right here. Take your time.” As he watched her walk away, he decided he was a fan of pencil skirts. The woman had curves in all the right places. He shook his head to clear it of thinking of her that way. If he dared to go there, her brothers would dump him in the Everglades for the alligators to snack on.

  His stomach rumbled, reminding him that the last food in his belly had been Helena’s cookies. While Kinsey was showering, he rummaged around in her kitchen. By the time she came out, he had a pot of coffee brewing and a plate of cheese, crackers, and grapes.

  “Well look at you, all domesticated. A man who knows his way around a kitchen is a real turn-on for a girl, you know.”

  He glanced over his shoulder, the smart comeback dying on his lips. Her feet were bare, her hair was down around her shoulders, and her black boxer shorts and red camisole were sexy as hell. He swallowed hard. She’s off-limits, his brain said. His dick disagreed.

  “You want a cup of coffee?”

  The light in her eyes faded when he didn’t flirt back. “No, I’d be up all night.” She came next to him, brushing against his arm as she reached for a glass filled with water sitting on the counter.

  She was killing him. He picked up the plate and his coffee, then moved to her pub table. “So how did it go with your brothers tonight?”

  “Really good.” She added a few ice cubes to her water, then came to the table. “I don’t think it’s sunk in yet that they’re my brothers, though. I mean, for all my life, it was just me and Mom. And then all of a sudden I have three brothers, three sisters-in-law, and a horde of adorable nieces and nephews. It’s overwhelming.”

  “They’re good people, Kinsey.” He put a slice of cheese on a cracker, then handed it to her.

  “I’m seeing that. My sisters-in-laws are pretty awesome. I’m going to have to stand my ground with my brothers, I’m thinking. They’re already trying to boss me around.”

  That wasn’t a surprise. “How so?”

  “For one thing, thinking I should move into their compound.” She narrowed her eyes. “Stop laughing. It’s not funny.”

  “It kind of is.” He wondered if his name had come up in conversation. “They’ll want to vet all your dates.”

  She groaned. “Oh joy.” When he laughed again, she lifted mischief-filled eyes to his. He was sure whatever she was thinking spelled trouble. “Since I’m positive they’ve already vetted you, you can be my date for Saturday.”

  “What’s happening on Saturday?”

  “A”—she made air quotes—“family cookout. It’s in the afternoon, so you’ll be able to get to Aces and Eights when you need to.”

  Yep. Trouble with a capital T. “That’s not a good idea, Kinsey. Your brothers aren’t going to want me anywhere near you.”

  “Why? You’re a good man. If you don’t meet with their approval, then no one will.”

  “It’s a bro code thing.” It sounded silly saying it out loud. There was more to it than that, though. Her brothers knew he had issues, and they’d want better for her. A man who would put a ring on her finger and give her a family.

  “A bro code? Seriously, Rand? That’s high-school shit. It’s…” She threw up her hands. “It’s stupid.” She sat back and put her foot on the edge of his chair. “It’s just a date, not a marriage proposal. Besides, my brothers aren’t the boss of me, no matter what they might think.”

  He grinned. She didn’t have a clue how strong-willed the Gentrys were, but he’d leave her with her illusions for now. She poked his thigh with her toes, and he glanced down. Even her feet were sexy. “Is that a tat?” He picked up her foot for a closer look, realizing his mistake when he touched her. Her skin was soft, her toenails painted cherry red, and the sole was pale pink.

  “It’s a hummingbird.” She leaned over and studied the tattoo just above her ankle. “My mother loved them. I got it shortly after she died.”

  “That makes it special along with being very pretty.”

  “Thanks. So, about Saturday. I’m all the more determined to show up with you as my date. My brothers need to know that they can’t decide my life for me.”

  He absolutely should say no but found it impossible to refuse her. “You do realize I’m risking life and limb by agreeing, right?”


  She laughed. “My hero.”

  “I don’t know about that. I’ll be walking into the lion’s den, so more like too stupid to live.” He loved the way she laughed—deep from her throat and carefree, her eyes sparkling with amusement. He’d grown up in a world where emotions were checked at the door. One didn’t laugh too hard or too long, and you didn’t wear your heart on your sleeve for all to see. Maybe that was why he found Kinsey so refreshing. She was honest and open, not to mention mouthwateringly sexy. He had the feeling that when she did fall in love, that she would love hard. He wished he could be that man.

  “It’s getting late,” she said on a yawn.

  When she looked at him with a question in her eyes, he smiled with true regret. “You got a spare pillow?”

  The light faded from her eyes. “Right. The stupid bro code. You’re bigger, so you take my bed.”

  “Odds are you accidently left your door cracked, but on the off chance you didn’t and whoever it was decides to return, my gun and I’ll be waiting on the couch.”

  She shrugged. “Whatever.”

  After she’d tossed a pillow and blanket to him, then disappeared into her room without a word, Rand checked to make sure all the windows and doors were secure. Then he spent a restless night on a too-short, uncomfortable sofa wondering exactly why he wasn’t wrapped around Kinsey in her bed.

  Kinsey blinked sleepy eyes, trying to focus on the e-mail that had popped up in her in-box from Summer Fashions’ owner. Having the sexiest man she’d ever known sleeping one room away from her hadn’t made for a restful night. She’d heard of the bro code, but she’d thought it was only a thing in romance novels meant to keep the hero and heroine apart until they realized how stupid that was. That guys actually believed they had to honor such a dumb rule blew her mind. What business was it to her brothers who she dated?

  “Did you get the invitation, too?” Corrie asked, coming up behind Kinsey and reading over her shoulder.

  “Appears so. Is the Friends of the Library’s Gala a big deal?” She scanned the invitation. She’d never been to a black-tie event and knew for a fact she didn’t have a suitable outfit in her closet.

  Corrie gasped. “How can you even ask that?”

  “Poor college student here.” Kinsey pointed at herself. “‘Gala’ wasn’t a word in my vocabulary. I guess I can’t decline since the invitation’s from the big boss?”

  “Not even. I buy a new dress for it each year.”

  Kinsey groaned, thinking of the hit her credit card was about to take. “I guess we better go shopping.”

  An hour later Kinsey walked out of the dressing room and stood in front of the three-way mirrors. “What do you think?”

  Corrie’s gaze ran over her. “I think I’d die to have your figure. It’s perfect.”

  “Yeah?” The fitted red dress was sophisticated yet subtly sexy with the off-the-shoulder bodice that showed just enough cleavage to be daring, but not something she’d constantly be tugging up to keep her nipples covered when she wore it. She stepped away from the mirrors, then walked back, eyeing the slit that ran halfway up her thigh. With each step she took, her left leg was briefly exposed before being covered by the material again. She’d never owned a dress that made her feel this sensual, and she wished Rand could see her in it.

  “Definitely perfect. All you need with the dress are these”—Corrie handed her a pair of strappy silver shoes with four-inch heels—“and these silver dangling earrings. Paint your fingernails and toenails red, and that’s it. Nothing else.”

  Kinsey slipped on the shoes. Except for one thing, Corrie was right. Anything else would distract from the overall effect, so no rings, bracelets, or a necklace. Just the earrings and the silver hair comb her mother had given her one Christmas. The dress cost more than she’d ever spent on one, but she did get an employee discount, so that helped.

  She grinned. “Sold. Ring me up.”

  “Well, aren’t you a man’s wet dream?”

  “Leave her alone, Sebastian,” Corrie said before walking away.

  “Why should I?” he said, stepping into Kinsey’s personal space. “Not when you look like this.”

  Kinsey backed away from him. “You should do as Corrie says and leave me alone.”

  “Hasn’t anyone ever told you the chase is half the fun, Kinsey? The faster you try to run…” He left the rest unsaid as he stroked his knuckles over her cheek.

  She slapped his hand away. “Go find someone else to bother, Sebastian.”

  “Can’t. You’re just too irresistible. But I’m here to tell you to mark your calendar for a week from Friday.”

  “I know. I got the invitation this morning.”

  “Good. Wear that dress. Red looks hot on you.”

  Her eyes narrowed on his retreating back. Or what? You’ll fire me? He’d bothered her a little when she’d only been part-time—mostly by making stupid suggestive remarks—but it had gotten worse in the last few months. Did he think just because she was now full-time that she was fair game? She hadn’t done anything to encourage him, had stayed out of his way as much as possible, and she didn’t know why he was focusing his attentions on her.

  As much as she loved her job, it was time to find another one. It burned, though, that she’d have to walk away from a position she loved because of one jerk of a man. Her only other option was to file a sexual harassment suit, but the business was family owned and if she went that route, they’d make her life miserable.

  She headed to the dressing room to change back into her clothes. No way was she going to wear the red dress now. The store also had the same one in black, and she bought that one instead.

  Back at her desk, she called Aiden. She needed a drink night with her friend. She got his voice mail. Since he’d been drafted by the Dolphins, she hadn’t seen much of him, and she was missing her friend. He didn’t even know she’d met her brothers. After leaving a message to call her, she made a cup of coffee, then settled down and got busy.

  Later that morning Kinsey was at her computer, working on a purchase order for one of her vendors. Her phone’s intercom buzzed.

  She punched the button. “Kinsey here.”

  “You have some visitors,” Shannon, one of the sales associates, said, sounding breathless.

  Some? “Did you get their names?”

  “No, but they said they’re your brothers. Oh my God, Kinsey, how did I not know you had three brothers who looked like this? I’m going to hang up now and go stare at them and drool.” The line went dead.

  What were her brothers doing here? She touched up her lipstick and then headed to the sales floor. Sure enough, there they were. And there was Shannon and Carly leaning on the register counter, both girls with dreamy looks on their faces as they watched the guys roam around the store.

  Kinsey shook her head and grinned. She supposed she couldn’t blame the two. The Gentry brothers were definitely easy on the eyes. Coming up behind Shannon and Carly, she said, “Boo.” Both girls jumped.

  “Introduce us,” Shannon demanded.

  “Did you not check out their hands? All three are wearing wedding rings.”

  “I don’t care,” Carly said and then giggled.

  Shannon nodded. “What she said.”

  After giving them an eye roll, Kinsey went to greet her brothers. “Hey, guys, this is a surprise.”

  “You’re my prettiest sister,” Alex said as he hugged her.

  She scoffed. “Easy for you to say since I’m your only one.” She was learning that her youngest brother was a hugger.

  “Stop hogging her, baby brother.” Court pulled her away from Alex, giving her a brief hug.

  “You can’t call me that anymore, dude. She’s the baby of the family now,” Alex said.

  Court smirked. “Don’t hold your breath, dude.”

  From Nate she got a shoulder squeeze. She’d take it. “So what’s up?”

  “We came to take you to lunch,” Court said.

  “Cool.
Let me grab my purse.” As she passed Shannon and Carly, still staring at her brothers, she said, “You both are about to embarrass yourselves by drooling.” Smiling, she got her purse and then walked with her brothers across the street to an Italian bistro.

  After they ordered, Alex asked if she liked her job.

  “I love it. I have a good eye for what sells, and that’s not something you can really teach. It would be perfect if the owner’s son would keep his hands to himself.” As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she knew she shouldn’t have let that slip. Three pairs of eyes went stone-cold, giving her a glimpse of how dangerous these men could be.

  “But I can handle him,” she hurried to add.

  “You shouldn’t have to.” Nate exchanged some kind of silent message with his brothers, then said, “What’s his name?”

  “None of your business.” The last thing she needed was three FBI agents meddling in her life. Even so, warmth spread through her that they wanted to protect her. She wasn’t alone anymore.

  Alex snorted. “Nice try, little sister. It will take us less than ten minutes to get a name.”

  She met Nate’s gaze straight on. “I’m sure he’s right, but don’t. It’s my life and my problem to deal with.” For good measure she shifted her gaze to Court and Alex to include them.

  “On one condition,” Nate said. “The day it goes beyond what you can handle, you tell one of us.”

  Court nodded. “The thing you have to remember, Kinsey, is men like that don’t take no for an answer. Better you tell us when it starts making you uneasy than to let it go too far and we have to kill him.”

  She choked on the water she was swallowing. “You’re kidding, right?” Of course they were. They were federal agents and couldn’t just go around killing people. Could they?

  “Probably,” Alex said, grinning at her.

  Although Nate wasn’t smiling, there was amusement in his eyes, and she realized they were messing with her. She was going to have to get used to their odd sense of humor. How did they see her? Was she more or less than what they’d expected or hoped for? She wasn’t comfortable enough to ask, but she realized that it did matter. She wanted them to like her.