by Tawny Weber
When she reached the door, Harper called out, “Dinner is in half an hour.”
Her gaze met his, and she offered a sweet smile. His body reacted the same as if she’d run her hand up his thigh. Diego didn’t get it. A good forty feet separated them, so the smile shouldn’t be like a kick of lust.
Yet it was.
He watched even after she went inside, wondering why he didn’t feel the same gut-wrenching guilt when he was with her as he did when he wasn’t.
It wasn’t as if he forgot about his mission, forgot the stakes, when they were together. He never forgot his duty. But somehow, with her, duty was no longer everything.
“Ahem.”
“Yeah?” he responded, watching Harper through the window as she moved around the kitchen.
“I take it you’re enjoying the neighborhood, and I don’t blame you. There’s a lot here to treasure.” Andi waited until he met her eyes again before continuing. “Someday I’ll have to share the story about another man who lived in this neighborhood. He enjoyed it, too. Unfortunately, he didn’t appreciate it. It’s a shame what happens when a man fails to value a treasure when it’s gifted to him.”
Diego tilted his head to one side. Was that a threat?
He played that back twice, just to be sure. Then he laughed. The woman was all of five-foot-nothing and looked like the most she could break was a fingernail.
“Do you often threaten people within five minutes of the first hello?” he asked. Not that he was judging. Not when he tended to do the same thing.
“Threats are so pedestrian,” she stated. “Let’s just call it friendly advice from someone who cares a great deal about her friend.”
“I appreciate friendship.”
That was all he’d give her. All he could give her.
Apparently, he realized when she nodded, it was enough.
“So, Harper said dinner in thirty minutes and she’s the Queen of Punctual. Are you joining us?”
“Only an idiot would pass up a chance to have dinner with two beautiful women. Especially if the meal includes embarrassing questions.”
“Charming.” Her smile was approving, but it didn’t dim her watchful expression.
“I’ll be over in a few minutes. I need to clean up.”
He wasn’t a vain man, but those words usually earned him an assessing once-over. Andi’s eyes never shifted, either from disinterest or loyalty to her friend.
“You do that. I’ll stir up a pitcher of something alcoholic. We’ll chat.”
“Okay by me,” he said, grabbing his shirt. No point telling her that whatever her worries were, they had nothing on reality.
Halfway to the house, he stopped and glanced over his shoulder.
“That unappreciative guy, you need me to kick his ass? Or did you already make him pay?”
“You’re a sweetheart for offering, but there’s no need. Believe me—I left him bleeding,” Andi drawled, her smile as satisfied as a cat wrapped in canary feathers.
Diego nodded, sure she’d done just that.
“Five minutes” was all he said.
* * *
ANDI WATCHED DIEGO man the barbecue. He had the air of a guy who knew his way around fire. After one look at the vegetables and chicken, he’d grabbed a slab of red meat from his own kitchen and offered to do the honors. With all the prep work done, that left Harper and Andi to lounge with the pitcher of margaritas and enjoy the show.
“Satisfied?” Harper asked.
“Not yet, but you seem to be. Now that I’ve had an up close and personal, I’ll bet he’s even better than I’d imagined. Big hands,” she explained, holding her own out with fingers splayed wide.
“No comment,” Harper said.
But Andi didn’t need a comment to know. Her friend’s satisfied smile said it all.
“I like it,” Andi said at length. “I like seeing you this way.”
“Lazing by the pool with a margarita in hand and a full pitcher at my side?”
“Happy.”
Harper glowed, an air of satisfaction wrapped around her like a shimmering blanket. But the nerves were there, just beneath the surface. Was it the man causing them? Or something else?
Regretting for a moment that she hadn’t run a background check on him before dinner, Andi inclined her head toward the man frowning at the cooking strips of zucchini and mushroom. “I like the way he watches you. Like a starving man about to feast on a buffet of his favorite treats.”
Color washed delicately over Harper’s cheeks as she shook her head.
“It’s just sex,” she said, her laugh a poor attempt at sophisticated dismissal.
Andi would give her the sophistication. In everything but men. There, Harper was as innocent as a babe. Worry worked its way down her spine, worry that came dangerously close to remorse.
“Maybe you should slow it down a little,” she heard herself murmur. “Maybe you should think it over a little more carefully.”
“Fortunately, there isn’t a lot of thinking required. With Diego, it’s pretty much all about feeling.” Harper’s smile faded. “What’s the problem?”
“You remember what I said, don’t you?” Andi tapped her fingers on the arm of her chair. “About myths and fantasies? Don’t fall for the myth because of good sex.”
“I’m not stupid,” Harper snapped. “And it’s not good—it’s spectacular. Besides, you’re the one who’s always telling me to let go and enjoy. So I’ve let go. I’m enjoying.”
Diego chose that moment to join them, striding over with a tray of perfectly cooked meat. He smiled at them both, but the look in his eyes was for Harper alone.
“Nathan called this morning,” Harper said as they all began dishing up their food. “He is having a great time.”
“Now aren’t you glad I talked you into sending him?” Andi said, pleased to be proven right.
“You convinced Harper to let Nathan go to camp?” Diego asked, looking like a man who’d just nudged a puzzle piece into place.
“She even paid his way,” Harper said with a grateful look that made Andi want to squirm. “She’s always doing that sort of thing.”
“It’s no big deal, and I knew he’d love it.” Ignoring Diego’s assessing look, Andi shrugged and cut a tiny piece of meat from the sliver she’d allowed herself. As Harper described the phone call and her son’s adventures, Andi watched the man watch her friend.
He was attentive. He listened more than he talked, but his sense of humor was apparent in his sly and dry comments. He had a quiet intensity, which was a great match for Harper’s smooth polish.
He seemed genuine. More, he seemed to be totally into Harper.
Still, something about him nagged at her.
It couldn’t hurt to get a quick rundown on him. Harper didn’t have to know, and Andi would feel better confirming he was who he said he was. Of course, she’d married Matt knowing that he was who he said, and look where that got her.
Still...
A movement next door caught her eye.
Oh, my. Talk about hot. The night’s shadows couldn’t dim the bright golden-boy looks.
“A friend of yours?” She tilted her head toward the neighboring yard, hoping Diego would invite the man over. He was gorgeous.
But Diego didn’t appear too excited to see him. It was like watching a door slam shut. His expression blanked, his voice neutralized and his body language closed.
“Excuse me.” With that and a nod, Diego rose, striding toward his yard without a backward look.
“Hmm,” Andi said, angling a look at Harper, who only shrugged.
“Whoever the man is, he doesn’t seem excited to see him,” Harper murmured, too quietly for the words to carry over the night air.
“Do you
think he’ll invite him over? Better yet, should we?”
“If Diego wants him to join us, he’ll handle the invitation.” Still, Harper hurried inside to fetch another place setting.
Andi stayed where she was, eyeing the newcomer. As boyishly handsome as a teenage girl’s fantasy, his body the sort that only a woman could truly appreciate. Lean muscle spoke of strength; his bright smile promised charm.
Mmm, yeah. She could enjoy getting to know him. A lot better.
Best of all, she wouldn’t need that background check now. She’d just get all the information she wanted out of Diego’s friend.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
“WHAT THE HELL are you doing here?”
“Savino told you to expect a delivery.” Lansky slapped both hands to his chest, then threw them out. “I’m it. Grateful?”
“To see you?” Diego sucked his breath in through his teeth but managed to keep his smile in place. Despite the guy’s lousy attitude lately, he really was glad to see him. He and Lansky had served together, hung out together, been friends for a decade. He was a brother.
But the timing? That he wasn’t so crazy about.
“We’re heading in?” Diego asked in a neutral tone. His expression didn’t change, nor did the casual tone of his body language.
That was training. Because while he wasn’t sure what he was, he knew it sure as hell wasn’t neutral.
Because he wasn’t ready to leave Harper.
“Nope. I’m here as backup,” Lansky said casually, snagging a bottle of water from the fridge. He toasted Diego with it before chugging. “We broke through another layer of Ramsey’s security. The guy’s obsessed with your girlfriend over there. He’s got enough files on her and the kid to put him in the stalker hall of fame.”
The perfectly done steak churned in Diego’s gut.
“Savino thinks he’s coming for her?”
“You know Savino. He didn’t mention his actual thoughts to me. He just said to get my ass up here and play backup.”
“Has Ramsey’s partner been identified?”
“Negative. Which is why you and I are currently on recon and regroup. The Kahuna is dodging, said he needs backup. In the meantime, we can’t neutralize what hasn’t been identified. So we’re on containment until replacements arrive.”
“Who’s the replacement team?”
“Whoever Savino clears,” Lansky said as if it wasn’t a big deal that most of the team was under suspicion.
But they both knew it was a huge deal. A career-breaking, betrayal-making, life-ruining deal.
“When’s next contact?”
“Three days.”
So that’s how long they had before Savino figured out who was dirty, who’d betrayed team and country, who’d screwed them all over and left them hanging out to dry. Or he’d turn it over to Naval Investigation.
One way or another, in three days he’d be back on base, back on regular duty, back to his regular life.
And saying goodbye to Harper.
“Three days?” he said, staring out the window.
Well, if that was all he had...
“C’mon. I’ll introduce you to Andi.”
* * *
THE MEN RETURNED, both looking at Harper with a laser-sharp focus that made Andi nervous.
What the hell was going on? Whatever it was, it was trouble.
How much was her responsibility, Andi wondered. If she hadn’t nagged Harper to break her sexual drought, would trouble be strolling into the backyard looking like pure temptation? The sort of temptation that could hurt a woman. Then again, Andi argued with herself, Harper was a grown woman who had every right to explore her sexuality and enjoy her life.
Still, if Harper got hurt, it was all Diego’s fault.
But Andi wouldn’t—couldn’t—idly sit by and let it happen.
Her fingers tapping time to the muted music coming from inside the house, Andi nibbled at her bottom lip, her gaze shifting from man to man. She wouldn’t get anything more from Diego than she already had. He’d been tough enough before, but it was as if he’d wrapped himself in a sheet of implacableness.
But the cutie?
Andi studied him as Diego made the introductions, keeping her smile artless, her eyes guileless. Easy enough to do, she’d had years of practice hiding behind both. But her mind raced.
These weren’t just ordinary guys. They both had a little too much testosterone going on. There was something military about them, with their short haircuts, ripped bodies and powerful bearing. The way they spoke, the way they moved, right down to their gestures, were coordinated. As if they’d spent a great deal of time together.
But for all their ease with each other, there was an underlying anger. For all Jared’s casual attitude, he had an almost imperceptible air of deference toward Diego.
Oh, yeah, something was going on.
Time to find out just exactly what that something was.
“Welcome back, gentlemen,” she greeted them, curling her legs under her and making a show of looking comfortable. “Ready for dessert?”
“Haven’t had dinner yet,” Jared said with a grin. He patted his flat belly. “Could use some red meat and a drink.”
Diego was a couple of steps ahead of him, using the barbecue fork to spear the second huge steak that he’d left resting next to the grill. He wordlessly tossed it onto the plate Harper had fetched before dropping himself into the chair he’d vacated when his friend arrived.
“Looks great,” Jared said, lifting the slab of meat with his fork and grinning when its weight bent the tines. “Really great. Thanks.”
And that was that.
The visitor dug into his red meat. Diego sat, scowling. And other than offering her surprise dinner guest vegetables and bread, which he refused, and fetching his beer, which he downed in a couple of gulps, Harper was silent.
Andi gave it five minutes, but that was as long as her patience held out.
“So, Jared, tell me all about yourself.”
“Not much to tell, ma’am.” His smile was pure charm. “Just a good ol’ boy from a small town in Montana. Got two sisters still there. But me? I don’t do so well with snow. So I hightailed it to a warmer climate.”
“Did you do a lot of comparison shopping before you chose California?”
With the expertise of a woman raised to be a society hostess, Andi used flirtatious charm to subtly grill the guy. But he was good. While she and Jared chatted, Harper murmured something to Diego that turned his scowl into a smile. He shook it off with a simple turn of his head, but it was as if that simple reconnection had opened the door, reminding them both of something sexy.
Andi’s concern still nagged at her. Her uneasiness didn’t stop the sexual heat from sparking between her and Jared, though. As it had all evening, a simple look, the presence of friendly banter, they were sending out waves of desire hot enough to drive a devout monk in search of a party girl.
Andi figured that she could either ignore those sparks or use them to her advantage. She decided to use them, of course.
So while Harper looked at Diego like she wanted to coat him with chocolate and lick him clean and Diego pretended that he wasn’t interested, Andi moved her chair a little closer to Jared’s.
“And you work with Diego?” she asked, adding a teasing skim of her finger over his forearm. Both because she wanted to fluster him into saying more and because it was fun.
“Yes, ma’am. We do work together. In security.” He pointed his fork at his friend. “What’s it been, man? Six years now?”
“Then you must have all sorts of juicy details.” Andi slanted a look at Diego. “Your friend is frustratingly unforthcoming about himself.”
“You want dirt, I’m your guy.” Nodding his hea
d toward Harper in thanks for the meal, Jared tossed his napkin on his empty plate. He nudged it forward with his elbows as he rested them on the table. “Problem is, I can’t dish what ain’t there.”
“Oh, please. Everyone has something juicy to tell.”
“You’d think so, wouldn’t you?” Jared’s tone was amused, but there was something in his face that said she’d better back off. Whether because he wasn’t about to betray his friend or because he simply didn’t think she could handle the truth wasn’t clear.
Diego didn’t seem concerned.
“Andi,” Harper murmured, giving Diego an apologetic look. “Stop.”
Andi debated for all of a second before demurring to her friend’s request. Well, that and to the knowledge that she wasn’t going to get anything worthwhile out of Jared while Diego was sitting right there.
So she changed tactics. She morphed into the chatty social butterfly most of society thought she was. Easily drawing the men into conversation, she bounced the discussion from sightseeing in California to snow in Montana to skiing in Switzerland.
A half hour later, her ploy was working. Harper and Diego had gone inside under the guise of KP, as Diego called it. Added to that, Jared seemed to have lost that defensive edge she’d noticed when he’d first sat down.
Instead, she noted with a smile, he was playing her just as tightly as she was playing him.
“So you and Harper, you’ve been friends a long time?”
“Not quite as long as you and Diego.”
“She seems like a nice lady.” But the look he slanted toward the house said he wasn’t so sure. “Diego mentioned she has a kid. What about the father? Is he the type to stake claim? Gonna burst in here in a jealous rage, or start a pissing match because she’s otherwise occupied?”
Ahh, wasn’t that sweet. He was worried about his friend getting his heart crushed.
Her distrust melting a little, Andi rubbed a soothing hand over the back of his. “The only male in Harper’s life is her son,” she assured him. “At least, he was until she met Diego.”
