Undercover Lover (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Jane Leopold Quinn

  And now his youngest brother was talking to her. What were the odds they’d run into each other on Michigan Avenue? Damn, she looked good. Why couldn’t the woman wear slacks? But then why should she? She had spectacular legs.

  “…look so neat, don’t they?”

  He came up behind Jeff just in time to hear her response to Petey. She kept her face in profile and hunched her shoulders. Every bit of her body language shouted a message—ignore the bastard.

  What’s she mad about? Surely a sick brother is more important than the best fuck…ur…love making in the world.

  She concentrated on Petey and his questions.

  When he got to the window, Petey said, “This lady thinks they’re cool. Aren’t they, Sammy? Can we go in?”

  “Sure, Petey,” Jeff replied.

  Sam, still tongue-tied, kept silent.

  “Petey,” Liz said. “I hope you find something you like in there. Have fun.” She grinned at him, gave a fleeting smile in the direction of Sam and Jeff. “Bye bye.”

  “Liz?” His voice shook with emotion.

  Fuck. Way to go.

  “Sam,” Jeff said. “Why don’t you introduce us to your friend?”

  He should have known Jeff wouldn’t miss a thing. All he’d done was say her name, and his older brother probably had it all figured out.

  Well, Jeff didn’t know everything. Thank God.

  “Liz, these are my brothers. Jeff.” He pointed to his older brother. “And Petey.” He nodded at the brother bouncing on the balls of his feet with Lego fever.

  She offered her hand to Jeff. “It’s nice to meet you. Hi, Petey.” She shook hands with Petey, too. “But I don’t want to hold you guys up.”

  Her face glowed with sweetness—sweet on the outside and fiery hot on the inside. His breath caught like a big bubble of pain in the middle of his chest. Whatever had happened between them, she didn’t let on to Petey how obviously pissed she was at him.

  Taught well by his mother, he completed the introduction. “Jeff, Petey, this is Liz Aspen. She’s a neighbor of mine.”

  “Liz.” Jeff, a too-smooth operator, smiled at her in his charming way. “It’s nice to meet you, too.”

  “Jeff, why don’t you and Petey go inside and start hunting up some stuff. I’ll be right in.”

  Jeff’s gaze shifted back and forth between the two.

  Sam gave him the brother’s hairy eyeball signal to am-scray.

  Jeff laughed and said, “I hope we see you again, Liz.” Giving Sam a wink, he shooed Petey into the store.

  Left alone with Liz, he wasn’t sure that was the best idea. She didn’t look too sure of it herself. He’d never been this dumbstruck with a woman before. “Um … hi.”

  In a brisk, business-like voice, she said, “Your brothers are nice. It looks like you’re all on a family outing, so I won’t keep you. Okay?”

  He tried to catch her gaze. She looked everywhere but at him, obviously searching for escape. But something contrary in him wanted to thwart her. He’d be free and clear if he let her leave now. So, why didn’t he? She wanted to go. Did she no longer care, or was the amazing sexual heat the only thing between them?

  And boy was there heat!

  “How’ve you been?”

  Well, so much for letting her go. What a dumb shit.

  She started in surprise. “I’m fine,” she declared, but she sounded more breathless than confident. “Just fine.”

  “Are you in a show now?”

  “Yeah.”

  The uncomfortable pause stretched and stretched. She gazed somewhere in the vicinity of his shirt buttons, her eyes never lifting above his chin. If she’d just give him a sign as to what she thought, what she wanted from him.

  Doesn’t she want closure? Isn’t that a woman’s thing? She’s just going to let me dangle? He recognized the irony of this. He wanted to break things off, didn’t he? But it killed him that she didn’t cling to him.

  “Listen, Sam, I have to go now

  He crowded her against the glass, an intimidation technique. Big mistake. He squeezed his eyes shut, letting the delicate scent of her perfume slither through him. She still wore it, damn her. His cock jerked at the memory of the night he’d made her submissive to him. And then had been submissive to her. He grated his teeth, growled in frustration. Only Liz could tie him up in knots, literally and figuratively.

  Why didn’t he just let her go? It would be best. She’d been through enough because of him. He couldn’t remove himself from Petey’s life, but he could from hers.

  “Bye, Sam.” Her voice crackled with anger. Her breasts rose and fell roughly.

  Let her go. Let her go. Do not stop her. Do you hear me? Do not reach out to touch her.

  Control gone, he wrapped his fingers around her upper arm and stepped closer until his chest brushed her breasts. Too many clothes. Jackets, sweaters, and shirts. Too many God damn clothes. Her face turned to his. She looked into his eyes.

  His touch affected her. He loved her. It could work. Surrounded by her heat, the shrill cacophony of the mall shoppers disappeared. He lifted his other hand to caress her cheek.

  “Sam! Liz! Come look at Darth Vader. He’s a giant Lego man. He’s really neat.”

  Vaguely hearing Petey’s voice in the background—no, not yet—he moved another step closer to her until her soft breast pressed against his hand. She tried to turn, but right there at the store window, she had nowhere to go. Her low moan washed through his senses. Her chin tipped up, lips parted. All he had to do was lower his lips… Her pale eyes sparkled vividly. He just wasn’t sure if it was anger or desire.

  “Liz,” Jeff interrupted. “If you’re not in a hurry, maybe you’d like to see Darth Vader.” Jeff looked significantly at the two of them. “Just for a minute.”

  Humor Petey was the message. Of course Jeff had another reason for being out here. He wanted to know what was going on.

  “Jeff, Liz might be on her way somewhere.”

  Petey barreled toward them. “Come on, Liz and Sam. Darth Vader is neat.”

  She took advantage of his distraction and pulled away from him. Grinning at Petey, she said, “Well, then, let’s go see him. I loved Star Wars. Did you see all the movies?”

  Petey towed her off, leaving him alone with Jeff, rocking back and forth, heel to toe, toe to heel, smiling mischievously. “So, little bro, things looked kind of intense out here.”

  “She’s just a neighbor of mine.”

  “She have anything to do with your sudden trip to the Big Easy before Christmas?”

  “Mmm…maybe.”

  “Well, when you’re ready…” Jeff left the rest of that idea unspoken. “She’s very pretty and is even nice to Petey. That says a lot about her.”

  He nodded, fearing Jeff gave up too easily as they traipsed into the store in search of Star Wars villains.

  A couple—three or four—bulky shopping bags later, and the three Bolt boys trooped out of the toy store. Petey had Liz enthralled talking about his pets, and how he could now make Lego animals.

  She didn’t seem bored or uncomfortable. She looked amazing. His heart practically burst open with feelings he’d rather not have. Cold and unemotional had always served him well. Feelings just brought pain. All he had room for were feelings toward his family.

  Push ‘em back, man. It’s over. Move on.

  Maybe not. Maybe it’s not over.

  “I’m hungry. Anyone else hungry?” Jeff said, heartily rubbing his hands together as if he were going to power up the grill.

  “Yeah,” responded Petey. “Hey, Liz, you want to go to lunch with us?”

  “Oh, thank you for the invitation, but I don’t want to get in the way of your boys’ day out.” She looked at Petey and Jeff but not at him.

  “Come on, Sammy, invite her,” Petey wheedled.

  “Okay, that’s settled. We’re going to lunch,” Jeff said. “Where?”

  They all paused. Everyone looked at everyone else. She looked
a little like a trapped deer in the headlights.

  “I know a place near here that has the best hamburgers and onion rings. How would that be?” She obviously gave in to the twin steamrollers that were Jeff and Petey.

  Before anyone else could jump in, Sam said, “That sounds good.”

  “Boston Blackies, and it’s practically across the street.”

  “I know that place. Yeah, let’s go there.” Jeff enthusiastically grabbed Petey’s arm and off they went. “Last one there has to pay,” he hollered over his shoulder.

  “Oh, I’ll pay all right,” he mumbled. “Hold it.” He again grabbed her arm when she turned to follow the other two. “Just a minute. I want to talk to you.”

  “Didn’t you hear? Last one there has to pay. They’ve got a big head start.”

  “Liz, we have to talk.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Oh, my God, a guy who wants to talk. Will wonders never cease?”

  Well, hell.

  “I’m sorry about New Orleans.”

  “Oh, you are, are you? Sorry about what exactly?” She jerked her arm free, but he grabbed hold again. “Listen buddy, you and I don’t owe each other a thing. Not any more. We’re even. I only hung out here because Petey asked me. I didn’t want to hurt his feelings. So, we’ll eat lunch and say goodbye.”

  “How do you figure we’re even?” He had no idea what that meant. They’d never be even. He’d put her in harm’s way and almost got her killed. “You don’t owe me anything. And besides, I don’t know why you’re so mad.”

  Her eyes flashed a freezing message. “Um, fucking me and leaving me?”

  “Didn’t you see my note?”

  “I didn’t see anything,” she stated defensively.

  “Well, I left it on the dresser.” He sounded confused. “Didn’t you see the piece of paper? My brother was sick. I had to leave.”

  “No. No, I didn’t.” She sounded uncertain but came back in full force. “And it’s convenient you say that now. Why didn’t you just wake me and tell me? I would certainly have understood.” Obviously still furious at him, she pulled away. “Would you let go of my arm? I don’t want to make a scene.”

  He dropped his hand but hemmed her in against the store window again. “You think I’m lying?” It never occurred to him she wouldn’t see the note. Had it fallen off the dresser somehow?

  She glared at him, her lips in a flat line of anger. “I really don’t want to talk to you. I think now I understand what happened with Petey. He wasn’t born that way, was he?”

  He felt sick to his stomach. It was true that Petey had been taking risks with drugs, but Sam, in his frustration and anger, made the situation worse by interfering. If he’d kept his head and temper, he would have handled things differently. Maybe he could have saved Petey from a life time of the effects of brain damage.

  “No,” he answered. “He has problems because of my actions.”

  “And you can’t forgive yourself, can you?”

  He just shook his head. He couldn’t stop feeling guilty. His heart still ached at his part in this.

  She placed a hand on his arm, the weight of it light but comforting. He wished he could tell her what she really wanted to hear. He wished he wasn’t such an emotional mess. She deserved better.

  “Sam, I know you think things won’t get better, but Petey seems happy. Jeff didn’t act like he hates you. It looks like you’ve been forgiven. But you have to work this out in your own mind.”

  “I’m sorry, Liz. I’m not fit for a relationship right now. If I were, it would be with you.” He couldn’t tell her he loved her. It wouldn’t be fair.

  “Tell Petey I had to get home to feed my…my…cat. Tell him I’m sorry, but I know he wouldn’t want my cat to go hungry.” She slipped past him. “Good bye. I really hope, for your own sake, that you forgive yourself. You’re one of the good guys.”

  Her boot heels tapped as she walked away from him. Her last words had echoed his mother’s.

  No, no, no. Don’t go!

  Rooted to the spot, he willed his feet to go after her, but the rest of him wouldn’t move.

  Please don’t go.

  But she was soon lost in the crowd.

  At the restaurant, Petey expressed his disappointment. “How about if I bring her home to see you some time, pal?”

  Jeff gave him a speaking glare. “Don’t make promises…” he muttered darkly.

  His burger tasted like sawdust. The beer did nothing for him. It was best to let her go. He wasn’t attached to that apartment. He could find another.

  First, he’d have to board up the window overlooking hers.

  It, once again, smacked him in the face. He’d missed out on something good.

  Shit.

  Chapter 19

  Liz restlessly trailed around her house. There wasn’t much walking space, but she prowled every inch, reminding herself of Elizabeth Taylor in the movie Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. She felt antsy, horny. Lonely. It had been a shock to see Sam at the mall. He’d said he left a note when he left New Orleans. Why would he lie? But she hadn’t seen a note. Was it possible he told the truth?

  She climbed the spiral stairs to her bedroom. She didn’t really want to look, did she? Mm hm, his light’s on. A shadow passed across his window. Even though it was dark, she backed to the wall. If he happened to look over, she didn’t want him to think she stalked him.

  Her gaze caught movement at the back of the yard. She squinted at the alley behind the Victorian. There it was. Another movement. People. More than one. Two. No, three. A feeble light in the alley showed people skulking along the side just out of the glare from the street lamp.

  She jerked at the surprise when the street light suddenly went dark, not knowing if she heard, or imagined she heard, the tinkling of glass falling to the concrete. Did they throw something to break the light? Her heart thumping in her throat, her imagination started working in overdrive. Frozen in place, her stomach tightened with nerves. Should she call Sam or the police? For sure, something was going on.

  Sam. Of course, call Sam. Reaching for her cell, she dialed his number, got the machine

  Crap.

  He was there but screening his calls.

  “Sam, it’s me,” she whispered even though no one outside could hear her. “Um…don’t think I’m weird or something but… someone’s… There are people are in the alley and…”

  Click.

  “Liz? What’s going on?”

  “Sam, oh thank God.”

  “Someone’s in the alley?”

  His apartment went dark.

  “Sam, are you all right?”

  “What did you see? I’m looking out right now.” He sounded like a cop.

  It didn’t help her nerves any. “I think at least three people are in the alley. One of them broke the street light.”

  “Liz! Hang up and call 911. Report a burglary in progress. Tell them Tactical is on the scene and needs backup.”

  Panic drove her voice high. “Sam, don’t go…”

  “Do it! Do it now! And stay inside. Make sure your doors are locked.”

  Click.

  She immediately called 911 and reported it the way he said. The dispatcher asked for the tactical officer’s name. She told her Sam’s name and that it was his apartment house.

  Her eyes had become accustomed to the dark, and she had a pretty good view, through the yard, and into the alley. Oh, good God! A dark figure slipped out the front door of the big house. The way it stealthily crept around the porch, it had to be Sam. She could see, quite clearly, the metal of his gun glinting in the little light available. He held it against his thigh.

  Oh, Sam, what are you doing?

  Where the hell were the police? And the three men? She searched the alley as far as she could see, tried to search the yard but didn’t see any movement. She blinked several times to moisten her eyes, opened them again and practically passed out.

  A figure climbed up on the porch at the other end,
behind him. Her mouth opened, but she couldn’t scream, couldn’t utter a sound.

  Sam!

  She had to get to him. Even if the cops got here now, he was still in danger. And even though they knew a cop was on the scene, he could still be shot.

  His position on the porch was near the side of her house. She could slip out her own back door and warn him somehow, but she had to do it now. Time had run out. She raced down the spiral stairs almost tripping in her haste.

  Be careful. You can’t help Sam if you’re lying in here with a broken leg.

  Snicking open the back lock, praying the sound wasn’t loud enough for anyone outside to hear, she slowly opened the door and slipped out.

  Crouching low in the shadow of her house, she acclimated herself to her surroundings. She peered into the darkness, looking for Sam, until she saw a figure on the porch.

  That must be him.

  She looked to his left for the other man. A bulky shape loomed. Then she heard the sirens.

  God. Finally.

  The man on the porch behind Sam turned. He must have heard the sirens, too. Where were the other men? The wind rustled the trees, their leafless branches clacking together in a kind of tuneless music and covered any other sounds.

  She shook with terror now. The bad guys could shoot him. The cops could mistake him for a bad guy and shoot him.

  Calm down, calm down.

  Maybe the bad guys would run away when they heard the sirens.

  Blaring, the shrill sounds clamored loudly, and when they stopped, the sudden silence deafened her. Flashing lights jumped around, bouncing off the surrounding houses. Cop cars careened through the alley creating a bluish, eerie scene.

  She crouched in the shadows at the side of her house. Her feet slipped in patches of left over snow collected near the foundation. Peering over at the porch, Sam, or the man she thought was Sam, bending low, the dully glinting gun barrel now raised chest high.

  God…the man behind…taking aim at him.

  “Sam! Behind you!”

  All hell broke loose. Gunshots, people shouting, more sirens…more pop, pop, pop… someone bellowing her name… then…

  Nothing.