by Lori Foster
“First, we’re not updating good old Fletch on anything. Unless I say otherwise, whatever happens here, stays here.”
She stared at him in awe. “You’re serious? You meet the man for two minutes and suddenly agree with me that I shouldn’t tell the police about being drugged and taken from my own home?”
“We’ll tell the police. Just not him.”
She sat back. “But...he’s the police around here.”
“He’s township police.”
“Exactly. He knows everyone in the area.”
“And could be biased because of it.” Adamant, Miles shook his head, and now, finally, he felt like he had his feet planted on solid ground. He had good, sound reasoning behind his dislike. “Small towns build alliances. You begin to think of people only as you see them. He might know someone who’s totally psycho, but to him the guy is just the awkward kid from high school who tortured bugs.”
Maxi blinked. “That’s...”
“Or if he does know the truth, he could be covering for someone because of a long history together.”
Frowning, Maxi said, “I just didn’t want to bother him again.”
That attitude alone made Miles want to take the cop apart. Bother him? For doing his damned job? “If it comes to that, we’ll get hold of the county police, but I don’t think we need to do that yet. Calling them in would just tip your hand, and maybe whoever is doing this will go to ground. If you want me to catch the bastard, I need him to make another move.”
Suspicious now, she asked, “We’re not still talking about Fletcher, are we?”
“No.” At least, not completely. But he couldn’t shake his distrust of the guy.
“Well...okay, then.” She tapped her fingertips on the tabletop. “God, I need coffee.”
In the design wreck of the kitchen, Miles wasn’t sure he could get the coffee down, but he told her, “My friends will be here soon. They’re bringing coffee with them.”
“Bless them.” She turned her face up to his and got caught in his intense scrutiny.
With a sigh, she asked, “Now what?”
CHAPTER EIGHT
MAXI HAD SLEPT so soundly that she’d awakened refreshed. After her shower, even without coffee, she’d been in a great mood. After all, Miles had made her night so much better than her day.
She knew she’d convinced him last night, even though he’d been resistant to having sex. Did that account for his edgy attitude this morning?
Planting his hands on the table in front of her, his arms straight as he leaned in, he said, “You told me no one else had been around here.”
“No one has.”
His gaze sharpened in accusation. “What about the cop?”
She barely resisted an eye roll. “He was never here to visit, and I’d already told you I’d talked to the cops.”
“You didn’t tell me the cop was young and good-looking.”
So it was jealousy riding him this morning and making him so surly? She almost laughed. “Really, Legend?” It blew her away that Fletcher had recognized him. Was Miles a bigger deal than she’d realized? Sure, she understood that he was an MMA star, and she assumed people who followed the sport might know of him. But he was even recognized in this Podunk town? Amazing.
To think she’d been worried about him wanting a relationship with her. A guy nicknamed Legend? Not likely.
With her mood quickly souring, she needled him. “He’s not really my type, so I hadn’t noticed. But you think he’s good-looking, huh? I’ll have to take a second look, won’t I?”
Muscles in his shoulders bunched. “You know what I’m saying.”
If he hoped to intimidate her, he could keep on hoping. Shoot, all his flexing did was ramp up her interest.
She scowled. “No, I don’t, so why don’t you explain it to me?”
His attention dropped to her mouth. “You know, babe, all that attitude is wasted when you look like that.”
“Like what?”
“Good enough to eat for breakfast.”
She swayed toward him...and he straightened.
Well, that blew whatever shred had remained of her good mood. Now she was all hot and bothered and he, the jerk, stood several feet away, arms crossed and his own attitude on display.
Pointing at him, Maxi said, “You’re a miserable tease! Don’t say it if you aren’t going to back it up.”
His gaze brightened. “Are you asking me to—”
“No!” Color bloomed in her cheeks. “Blast it, Miles, you know what I meant.”
A knock sounded on the door, interrupting her attempts to explain. This time she didn’t stand but instead gestured for him to go. “That’s your cue, right? Have at it.”
“You’re learning,” he said, and as he passed her, he bent to her ear, his warm breath giving her gooseflesh when he whispered, “Sorry for the tease. I’ll make it up to you later, I promise.” He continued on and she heard the front door open.
His apology hadn’t helped, not when his nearness was so potent, and the way his lips had barely touched the shell of her ear...
Conversation preceded him back into the kitchen, and she looked up in time to see two more extreme specimens entering the room.
Holy smokes.
They both wore jeans, and both were shredded. But that was where the similarities ended.
The biggest—damn near a giant, he seemed, at six and a half feet tall—wore old, comfortable clothes...which matched his slightly crazy hair and unkempt goatee.
The other guy, in jeans that fit perfectly and a nice polo shirt, was as tall as Miles, but leaner.
The enormous guy gave her a goofy grin, then asked Miles, “Damn, dude. What were you up to before we got here?”
The man with the air of a GQ model smiled knowingly. “Did we interrupt something?”
Miles sighed. “Not what either of you are thinking, so knock it off.”
The behemoth came farther into the room. “But it was a little prelude, right? You only have to look at her to see it.”
To see what? Good Lord, was it obvious that she’d been sexually primed? Scowling, which she hoped took care of any soft effects, Maxi said, “Well, Miles? You want to explain?”
Miles grinned, held up his hands and said, “Apparently I’m a tease.”
* * *
ONCE SHE GOT over her embarrassment, Maxi decided she liked Miles’s friends. Justice, the gargantuan guy, was a real sweetheart with a sense of humor and a knack for easy banter. Leese, however, was more serious. Currently he and Miles were hovered over the laptop looking up God-knew-what while she drank a third cup of coffee and ate a second donut.
One of them, she’d told the men, could eat the tasteless bagel.
Justice, leaning against the kitchen counter, said, “There’s a cat in the window.”
She glanced up and saw a small whiskered black face staring in with wide green eyes. Before she could remark on it, two more cats joined him, making her smile.
“It’s time for their breakfast.”
From the dining room table, Miles said, “I’ll go.”
She flapped a hand toward him. “I can do it.”
“Not by yourself.”
“I managed for quite a while before you got here.”
“But there are reasons I’m here, so forget it.”
Forget it? How dare he use that tone with her, especially in front of his friends.
Temper rising, she slowly stood—and Justice held out his arms.
“Not sure why it’s a big deal, but I’ll go.” He stepped forward and slipped an arm around her waist. “You can come along and direct me.”
Miles held her gaze, waiting.
Finally, she nodded. “Fine. But you and I are
going to have a talk, Legend. Count on it.”
Shaking his head, Miles leaned over the back of Leese’s chair to see the laptop screen again.
Maxi grumbled under her breath while heading for the back door and her boots. As she stepped into them, she noticed Justice peering into the room she and Miles had shared. He glanced at her and tried not to grin.
“Your shoes are going to get ruined. It’s really muddy out there.”
“Where exactly are we going?”
“To the barn.” She opened the back door and more than a dozen cats started meowing, twining around her legs, anticipating her trip to the barn—until they spotted Justice.
Then they scattered.
Justice stood there agog. “Man, they’re fast. Where did they go?”
“You scared them, so they’re hiding.”
“I didn’t do anything!”
“They don’t know you.” She stepped out, calling, “Kitty, kitty, kitty,” while heading to the barn.
Justice hurried after her, taking care to avoid the worst of the mud puddles. “How many cats do you have anyway?”
She briefly explained, and as they walked, the cats timidly returned but now kept their distance.
To her surprise, Justice totally got into it, feeding them first and then doing his best to win them over. A few of the cats allowed his touch, even arched into his hand as he stroked them. Others kept a wary eye on him, ready to bolt at any second.
“Were they this skittish with Miles?”
It struck her when she said, “No, actually, they seemed to like him right off.” Odd that she hadn’t realized it at the time.
“Must be females, then.” He grinned and stood.
Crossing her arms, Maxi looked way up at him and asked, “Meaning?”
“The females always purr for Legend.”
“That’s a stupid joke.”
“Stupid, maybe,” he agreed. “But not really a joke. Miles has always had an easy time collecting ladies.”
Annoyance rising, she repeated with a touch of menace, “Collecting?”
Justice just laughed at her. “Personally I don’t see it. I mean, I guess he looks okay.”
She snorted. “He’s gorgeous.”
“And he stays in decent shape.”
“He completely chiseled!”
Trying unsuccessfully to quell his grin, Justice said, “And you know, the bastard is nice, too. Everyone likes him. So naturally women—”
Realizing she’d been had, Maxi growled, “Oh, just...shush it!”
Letting out a laugh, Justice looked around at the property. “Damn, it’s nice here.” He walked to the side of the barn, peering down at the pond, then toward the woods that bordered the property. “Fallon would like it here.”
“Fallon?”
“Yeah.” He nodded. “I’d say girlfriend, but she’s more than that. She’s just not yet my wife. Will be, next May. She wanted some time to just enjoy me, you know, before she has to start all the wedding prep.” He made a face.
Now that she was grinning, too, Maxi teased, “You don’t want a big wedding?”
“I want whatever Fallon wants. If that means waiting, I’ll wait.”
Liking this particular friend of Miles more and more, she asked, “Do you miss her?”
“Sure.”
“When will you see her again?”
He gave her an odd frown. “Soon as I get home tonight. Why?”
She almost laughed. “So you live together?”
“Sure.” And then with a grumble, “But it’s not the same as making it legal.” Almost to himself, he added, “May can’t get here soon enough for me.”
In nine months, but she didn’t say it aloud. She knew that time was subjective. Hopefully in nine months she’d have the property together, and the house in better shape. “What about Leese? Is he with anyone?”
“He’s married to Catalina. She keeps him on his toes. You’d like her. You’d like Fallon, too.” He glanced around again. “We should have a party or something.”
Maxi almost choked. “Soon as I get the place together, I’d love that.” Maybe. The guys seemed so awesome, they had to have amazing women.
And she had a million cats.
“I overstepped, didn’t I? Fallon tells me I do that all the time. She doesn’t mind. Says my bluntness is one of the things she likes most about me. But I didn’t mean to put you on the spot.”
Wondering if she’d measure up, Maxi admitted, “I like your bluntness, too.” And while she had him talkative, she asked, “Why is Miles called The Legend.”
“Aw, well, you know most of those names have two meanings, right? There’s the name that goes in the cage, like he’s a legend in his own time. Demolished guys left and right, climbed right up the ladder and all that.”
“And the other meaning?”
Justice tugged on his ear, then said in a low voice, as if they weren’t the only two around, or like maybe the cats would overhear, “It’s sexual. Probably better if you ask him.”
Ha! Maxi could almost guess the attributes to the nickname, since she’d been the recipient of them. “Sounds like bragging to me.”
“Miles didn’t pick the name,” he said, aghast at the suggestion, which made her laugh.
They’d just rounded the barn, ambling slowly while Justice explored the views, when suddenly she heard a whizzing sound. Thinking it was a bug, she turned to look—and Justice landed against her, knocking her to the ground and covering her with his body. She felt mud seep through her shirt and shorts, and squish against the back of her head.
Justice’s body, all six and a half feet of solid muscle, completely covered her.
Not understanding, she screamed. Loudly.
She didn’t hear Miles running toward them, but she definitely heard Justice’s “Gunshot,” which slowed the others to a bent-low rush.
Everything seemed to go into slow motion, her thoughts, the words being said around her. Somehow, with only one arm, Justice scooped her up against his chest and, mostly crawling, dragged her to the front of the barn.
Leese was gone, she didn’t know where.
Miles appeared in front of her, his words urgent. “You okay?”
She couldn’t think. Someone had shot at them? She tried to nod, but it ended up more of a wobble, sort of a cross between a yes and a no and a what-the-hell-happened?
His arm around her, keeping her low, he ducked inside the barn with her and urged her to a corner. “Stay put.”
That roused her. “Wait! Where are you going?”
“Stay put,” he reiterated and then dashed back outside.
Hand to her heart, throat tight, Maxi listened to...silence. Oh God, why was it so silent?
Well, there were birds singing. She heard that after the sound of her frantic heartbeat stopped rushing in her ears. A few cats came to investigate her, rustling the hay on the floor of the barn, purring softly.
But she didn’t hear the men, or any more shots. Was Miles okay? When he got back, she’d tell him off! How dare he leave her alone like this, worried sick for him with no idea what he was doing, or how long she should wait.
Five minutes felt like an hour before all three of them walked back in, talking quietly to each other. Miles crouched down beside her where she sat with her back against the rough wood wall.
She really did mean to yell at him, but instead she launched herself at him and, despite her mud-covered body, got held tightly in his arms.
Leese, who stood nearby, turned his back to give them a modicum of privacy.
Justice went to a ladder and climbed up into the loft. He was such a big man, he had to duck down to walk around, looking for...something.
“Found it.”
; Miles levered her back. “Sit tight. Just a few more minutes.”
Now that she could see him, she nodded.
Leese had moved over to stand below Justice. “Stuck in the wood?”
“Yeah. Should I pry it loose or leave it be?”
“Leave it,” Miles said. Then he turned to Maxi. “Remember what I said about not calling your boyfriend?”
If there’d been a rock nearby, she’d have thrown it at him. “If you mean Fletcher,” she gritted out, “yes, I remember.”
“I’ve changed my mind.” He handed her his phone. “Call him.”
* * *
MILES COULDN’T REMEMBER ever being so enraged. Someone had shot at her. Both he and Maxi had followed Fletcher up into the loft, waiting while the officer looked at the slug half-buried in the wood.
“You say it passed through?”
It took all Miles’s control not to throw the other man down to the hay-strewn floor. He kept his tone calm by a sheer act of will. “I showed you the hole in the outside barn wall.” Only four feet above Maxi’s head.
“Looks like a rifle slug.”
Down below, Justice said, “You think?” as if speaking to a dumbass.
Miles agreed with that assessment.
Fletcher rubbed the back of his neck. “I hate to say it, and I’m sure it’s not going to sit right with you, but just about everyone in this county from fifteen to eighty-five likes to hunt. My best guess is that someone missed a deer.”
“Is that what they pay you to do? Guess?”
After giving Miles a frown, Fletcher went back to the ladder to climb down. “Let’s call it an educated guess for now.”
Standing next to Justice, Leese said, “Hell of a shot for a miss. We scanned the line of trees in front of the house, and even the woods behind it, but didn’t find anyone.”
“No reason a hunter would hang around once a deer ran off.” Then the bastard waited at the bottom of the ladder, as if he planned to assist Maxi. Not happening.
Holding her arm so she’d wait, Miles said, “Leese?”
And Leese promptly elbowed the guy aside. “Come on down, Maxi.”
“You guys act like I can’t climb a ladder,” she grumbled, her feet already on the top rung. “When I first came here, I found a litter of kittens in the loft and climbed up almost every day until they were old enough to be spayed and neutered.”
