“What the hell just happened?” Ali muttered, not believing she’d allowed him to kiss her. It had been so brief she hadn’t even had time to shove him away. It wasn’t at all like their kiss when he’d been recovering, his body full of medication.
She’d never told a soul, not even her best friend, Dani, but Ali had wondered for a long time what it would be like to share a real kiss with Jace DeWitt. Pride had always stopped her from showing any weakness around him. Pride and the knowledge his ego would swell to an intolerable degree if he thought she held an interest.
Touching her lips with a finger, Ali felt an unfamiliar tingling. The contact had been brief, mere seconds, but it was nothing short of remarkable. So much better than any kiss she’d had in the past.
She should be angry, let Jace know it could never happen again. And she would.
Even if he was an amazing specimen of a man, he was an arrogant, self-centered, unrepentant rogue when it came to women. She’d been the recipient of his nasty comments and immature rants too many times to consider him capable of love.
A moment later, she heard him approach from the kitchen.
“Okay. His name is Timothy Fallon. He’s eight years old and lives with his unemployed mother.” He shoved aside memories of a past he wanted to forget. “Well, not technically unemployed. She works a few hours a week at a dive bar and is a known prostitute.”
Ali had suspected as much. “Is she the one who beat him?”
“According to my source, she denies it. Timmy refuses to talk about what happened.” Jaw taut, he sucked in a knowing breath. He’d been the same, never pointing a finger at his mother.
“Where is he now?”
“They placed him in a foster home until a judge can rule on custody. I don’t know the name of the foster couple or their address.”
Giving a slow nod, she offered a grateful smile. “Thank you, Jace. I’m glad he’s away from her.”
“It’s not over, Ali, but it’s a start.” He reached for her hand, but she stepped away. “Are you still up for lunch?”
She wanted to say no, should say no after all the grief he’d put her through during his recovery. Those reasons didn’t include the fact he’d kissed her. Ali had no idea what to make of it, except she couldn’t allow herself to get too close.
From what Dani had told her, Jace embraced bachelorhood, the same as Wrangler before Becca reentered his life. He’d never had a serious relationship and seldom went out with the same woman more than a few times.
Not that Ali cared. A kiss meant nothing to a man as free as Jace. He faced life the same as Tommy Beach, the boy back in Pine Glen who’d strung her along for years while sampling other women.
Her stomach rumbled, loud and slow, implying an answer. Besides, she owed him for getting information about Timmy. “Lunch would be great. I’ll take my car.”
“Not a chance. You’ll ride with me. Maybe we can continue being civil to each other a couple more hours.”
Chuckling, she grabbed her purse from the dining room table. “When pigs fly, DeWitt.”
This was a mistake. Ali repeated the thought a couple times as they took seats in a small deli not far from her house. She’d been here several times, enjoying their Sicilian-style menu. When the owner appeared at their table, Ali smiled.
The woman had dark hair, highlighted with a few wisps of silver, clipped into a loose bun. At under five-four, she was stout, or substantial as Ali’s mother would say. Her olive complexion showed her years, while the broad smile she always wore softened her features, enhancing warm, caramel eyes. She set two glasses of water on the table.
“Ah, Ali. It is good to see you again. And Raider. It has been much too long since your last visit.”
Raider stood, bending to brush a kiss across the older woman’s cheek. “You’re looking beautiful as always, Mrs. Caruso.”
Slapping his arm, she blushed. “You are always such a tease. Tell me. How did you two meet?”
Ali watched, witnessing an unexpected side of Jace. She didn’t know what to make of the teasing, friendly exchange from a man who’d always been curt to the point of being rude.
Until they came across each other on the downtown sidewalk and spoke about an abused child. Since then, he’d been kinder, a man she had a hard time accepting.
“We met at the hospital in Pine Glen.” He glanced at Ali and winked.
Winked. This definitely wasn’t the Jace she’d come to know and loathe.
“Hospital? Were you sick?” Mrs. Caruso pursed her lips, worry in her eyes.
“Nah. I did something stupid. Received burns on my arms, but Ali took care of me. Didn’t you, sweetheart?”
I’m going to kill him. “I did my best,” she gritted through clenched teeth.
“Well, you were lucky to have Ali as your nurse. If I ever have to go to the hospital, I’m going to ask if she can take care of me.”
“I’d be happy to do it, Mrs. Caruso.” She picked up her menu, already knowing what she wanted. “Do you have any lasagna left?”
“More than enough for you, plus a salad and my famous garlic bread.”
Ali’s eyes lit up. “With parmesan cheese?”
Mrs. Caruso patted her shoulder. “Of course. What would you like, Raider?”
“The same, with extra bread.”
“You’ll be getting a full basket to share. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
Watching her leave, Ali kept her mouth shut, not wanting to make a scene. Her thoughts could wait until they got back to her place.
“Go ahead and spit it out.”
Her head whipped back to Jace. “Spit what out?”
“Whatever’s going through your head. I can almost hear the gears spinning.”
Lips tightening, she reined in her urge to spit out something unladylike in the middle of Mrs. Caruso’s deli. “I’m here to enjoy lasagna.”
“But not the company?”
Lifting a brow, she shook her head. “I suppose being with you is a slight step up from being alone. But don’t let it go to your head, Jace. The step is so tiny as to be insignificant.”
A smile broke across his face. “I can live with that.”
“Here you are.” Mrs. Caruso set plates loaded with lasagna and salad in front of each, taking a basket of bread from another server’s outstretched hand, placing it between them. “Let me know if you need more food.”
Ali stifled a laugh. The portion before her was enough to feed at least two men. As always, she’d be taking half of it home.
The instant the older woman walked away, Jace dug in. Ali could only watch, amazed at how much food disappeared from his plate in less than a minute. When he came up for air, his eyes widened as if just now remembering her sitting at the same table.
“Aren’t you going to eat?”
Not responding, she picked up her fork, scooping up a large portion of lasagna. Closing her eyes, she savored it, slowing her breathing to let the building tension fade. Ali didn’t understand why being around Jace always set her on edge.
She hadn’t planned to spend time with him when accepting the emergency room position in Liberty Lake. In truth, Ali had thought of Jace Dewitt more than she wanted after her father fetched her back to Pine Glen months earlier.
Telling herself he was a mystery and she loved solving puzzles of any kind, Ali had tricked her mind into believing she held no interest in the surly biker. It was a lie she allowed herself. Besides having no interest in her, other than the joy he got out of his constant teasing, he couldn’t have been further from the type of man she needed.
Jace was far from a mature, stable man who enjoyed quiet evenings. Someone constant, who would be her best friend as well as her lover.
He was an unrestrained force, smart, with a hard edge and no interest in being committed to anyone other than his Brethren teammates. She couldn’t fault him for his loyalty.
Too many people showed none, not even living up to wedding vows when their spouses
were ill. Or worse, had fallen into a coma after an automobile or other serious accident. Some men even took lovers, moving them into their wife’s bed while she fought for her life.
Ali had no respect or compassion for men so easily swayed. Men without the backbone to deal with life’s setbacks without reverting to adultery. As a nurse, she’d seen it happen more than once, and knew Jace would never fall into the category of weak men who couldn’t deal with difficult situations.
He thrived on challenges, took care of those important to him. She knew if he made a vow, he’d keep it. Even if it meant emotional agony for him. Maybe that was why her interest in him hadn’t faded.
The truth was she admired the men of Eternal Brethren. They had a solid core of strength, driven by devotion. She knew those traits were what she needed to be happy in any relationship.
Though Jace wasn’t the man for her, Ali hoped to find someone with the same sense of loyalty.
“Ali? Are you all right?”
She glanced up, realizing how much time must have passed without a word. “I’m sorry. What did you say?”
Grinning, he set down his fork. “That boring, am I?”
Feeling her face heat, Ali shook her head. “Not at all.” Mind whirling at what else to say, she blurted out the first thought that came to her. “I was thinking of Timmy.”
The humor on his face faded, features growing serious. “I’ll do what I can to find out more about him.”
Curiosity wrapped around her. “Why do you care so much about one young boy?”
Jace had no intention of admitting he once was that boy. “No big mystery. I don’t like any child being mistreated.”
Yet she’d heard something in his voice, noted the hard look in his eyes. There was more there than he wanted to admit, and someday, Ali would get him to share.
Chapter Ten
Raider tailed Malcolm Wendt through town on another late summer evening. For the first time in days, the district attorney hadn’t headed straight home. After his meeting with Junior Blackmore and Eddie Katz, the importance of the assignment had become obvious.
Men uninvolved in criminal activity wouldn’t meet in a remote location when they could congregate someplace more comfortable, such as Blackmore’s elegant home on the golf course.
This group wanted to hide their association and the activities they discussed. Raider wished he or Fuse had heard more of their conversation at the mountain cabin or gotten a good look at the pictures. All they had was the four men meeting together.
Raider knew Fuse was on Junior. At first, Wrath pushed back on Fuse’s request to follow his ex-girlfriend’s brother, relenting after reconsidering. Fuse had a better reason than most to prove Junior innocent of illegal activities. It might also be easier for the Blackmore family if someone they knew made explanations if Junior were guilty.
Another Brethren was now on Katz, two other teammates on the mystery man in the ball cap. Raider believed he’d prove to be key in figuring out what the four planned.
Grayson hadn’t been successful at identifying him through facial recognition software. The cap, scruffy beard, and what Raider believed to be colored contacts all served to conceal his identity.
Wendt drove north out of town, the first time he'd left the city limits since Raider had started tailing him. He knew the single district attorney’s parents lived in this direction, but the man blew past the turnoff, continuing toward the freeway.
This wasn’t what Raider expected. Until tonight, Wendt had been predictable. After work, he’d stop by a boutique grocery store, drive home, and prepare dinner. When finished eating, he’d pour a glass of brandy and retreat into his study. Not once had he deviated.
Watching him hadn’t been an issue. Wendt’s house was tucked in the center of various pines, sycamores, and quaking aspen. His nearest neighbors were a hundred yards to either side and behind him.
Raider now found himself trailing a good distance behind as Wendt entered the freeway, heading north. The normally unpretentious DA had chosen a lipstick red Corvette as his vehicle of choice, making him easier to tail than any of the gray compact cars so prevalent on the roads.
He didn’t stay on the freeway long, exiting a few miles later and driving east. This part would be tricky. The road ahead was quiet, making it harder for Raider to remain unseen. When Wendt turned down an unmarked dirt road, he fell farther behind. Half a mile ahead, Wendt turned again, parking in front of a large, Victorian home. A moment later, he exited the Corvette, carrying a package to the front door and inside.
Stopping, he reached for his vibrating phone, seeing Fuse’s name. “Yeah.”
“Where are you?”
“Following Wendt on a deserted dirt road off the Verde Junction exit.”
“Near the Victorian?”
Raider turned to look behind and around him, then up the road. “Where are you?”
“Parked east of you, but I walked back to the house. I’m on your side in the bushes.”
“Did Junior come this way?”
“He’s already inside with Wendt.”
Backing his truck away from the house, he parked behind what appeared to be an abandoned house. Staying in the shadows of thick sycamores, he jogged toward Fuse’s position.
“How long have you been here?” Raider rested his back against the side of the house.
“Twenty minutes. I haven’t been able to determine his reason for being here.”
“Have you seen anyone else inside other than Wendt?”
Fuse motioned Raider toward the back of the house, pointing to a window opened a tiny crack. “Take a look.”
Rising, Raider looked into the kitchen where two women dressed in leggings and flowing tops moved about. Wendt and Blackmore rested in chairs, watching while they talked between themselves.
“Sonofabitch,” Raider growled under his breath as he dropped back down to move away from the window. “What the hell are they up to?”
“No idea. Blackmore hasn’t paid much attention to the women. At first, I assumed it was a tryst—two women and Blackmore—but he hasn’t laid a hand on either. Wendt joining them makes it even more puzzling.”
“Business associates?”
Fuse rubbed the back of his neck. “Hell if I know. The women arrived not long after Blackmore.”
“Any word about Katz or the fourth guy?”
“Nothing.” Fuse moved back to the window, once again peering inside. “We need to hear what they’re saying.”
“Same scene, different night,” Raider mumbled, referring to their time outside the cabin. “Do you have Daisy?”
“In the truck. I’ll get it.” Fuse dashed off to get the tiny microphone the men called Daisy.
Raider hoped the slim amount of space at the bottom of the window would give them enough room to plant the device, which Fuse would connect to his comm unit. Taking another look into the kitchen, he saw the women now seated at the table. All drank coffee and ate slivers of cake, as if enjoying a neighborly talk.
“Got it. You know this won’t hold up in court.” Fuse connected the mic to his comm unit, handing it to Raider for placement at the window.
“Doesn’t matter as long as we hear what they’re saying and decide if it’s worth pursuing. All set.”
Fuse adjusted his earbud, giving a thumbs-up.
“We can’t wait any longer, Malcolm. If they can’t handle this, then we’ll have to go somewhere else.” Fuse raised up enough to see one of the women talking. “They’ve had more than enough notice of our needs.”
“There’s plenty of time to fulfill our obligation. We want the best, and we won’t get it by pushing. What are your thoughts, Junior?”
“I’m with you, Malcolm. Gathering the quality we require takes weeks, perhaps months.”
The same woman spoke again. “It’s been almost six weeks. How much longer do we wait?”
“Do you have a suitable alternative, Mother?” The second woman’s question surprised Fuse.
He hadn’t thought the two looked much different in age.
“You know I don’t. We have obligations of our own. If not made, we’ll be ruined.”
Malcolm spoke next. “I’ve already contacted those supplying us. They’re committed to fulfilling the contract by the first of next week.”
“They said the same last week,” the older woman said.
“We have to trust them,” Wendt responded. “They’ve always delivered in the past. The problems we’ve experienced lately are out of everyone’s control. Believe me. They have as much to lose as we do. This is going to be one of the best decisions we’ve made.”
Raider touched his earpiece. “We need hard information. Who are they talking about? Who are the women? What is it they’re trying to have delivered?”
Fuse held up his hand, nodding, as he continued to listen. They had no way of getting those answers if the people inside refused to reveal it. For now, the recording would have to be enough.
Hearing a chair scrape on the kitchen floor, Fuse eased up, seeing Junior rise and pour the dregs of his coffee into the sink.
“Unless there’s a compelling reason to change, I’m for staying with what we have.” He glanced at Wendt, getting a slight nod. “I have to get going.”
“I’ll go out with you.” Wendt rose. “We’ll meet again as planned.”
“Where?” Fuse muttered, getting Raider’s attention.
“Fine. But leaving things as is will end up being a huge mistake for us.” Of the four, the older woman was the lone dissenter when it came to altering their plan.
Fuse and Raider flattened themselves against the side of the house when they heard the men exit out the front. Hearing the women talking inside, they found themselves torn.
“Damn,” Raider bit out. “We should wait to hear if the women supply more information.”
“I’ll stay for a while.” Fuse watched the dirt road, seeing both men drive away. “When the women leave, I’ll be back on Junior.” He saw Raider’s confusion and grinned. “When I grabbed the mic, I also placed trackers on their cars.”
Exposed (Eternal Brethren Military Romantic Suspense Book 7) Page 7
