by Lori Foster
“I know chunks,” Therman insisted.
“I doubt any of it’s accurate.”
Therman blustered. “Of course it is.”
“Because you paid good money for it?” Brodie shook his head. “If you didn’t get it from me, then no, it’s not likely.”
Mary let out a quiet breath. By challenging Therman, Brodie had effectively taken the focus off her. Everyone now watched him, allowing her to relax again.
She could almost kiss him for that.
Almost.
Therman slid another bite to the dog. Expression sly, he stated, “You broke up a drug deal.”
“Nope.” Brodie sat back in his seat and folded his arms.
Did he know that was a sexy pose for him? Probably.
Therman sat back, too. Nothing sexy about that, though.
“The men were drug dealers,” he insisted.
“That part is true, but no deal was going down. In fact, it was their off time apparently, because they were counting cash from the overnight sales.”
Therman accepted the correction with ill grace. “Howler was supposed to be a guard dog, but—”
Brodie’s snort interrupted him. He leaned forward to see Howler. “Does he look like a guard dog to you?”
Knowing he wouldn’t get any more food, Howler turned three circles on the floor and sprawled on his back next to Therman’s seat. He let his hind legs drop open. His tongue lolled from the side of his mouth and his floppy ears fell back like a woman’s long hair.
As if he felt the attention, the dog opened one eye and his tail swept the floor.
Therman smiled. “He was chained out front.”
“Yeah.” Brodie frowned at nothing in particular. “I found out later that the bastards had won him in a card game.”
Mary caught her breath. Dear Lord, who wagered a sweet animal in a game of chance? Whoever had done so must not have loved him much to begin with.
Poor Howler.
“It was a shit part of town—” Brodie’s gaze came up to Vera and Jolene. “Sorry, but that’s the best description I have.”
Vera said, “Quite all right.”
Jolene gave him a fond smile. “You are such a sexist, but let me assure you, if the men don’t expire over a little cursing, neither will the women.”
“It’s not expiring that concerns me. It’s the many times my mother boxed my ears.” He tugged at one ear as if remembering. “Anyway, it was a terrible part of town.”
“What were you doing there?” Burl asked. “I mean, if it’s such a bad area.”
“Buying a car part from a junkyard. I noticed Howler when I went by that morning, then when I returned, he was still there. It was hot as Hades and he didn’t have food, water or shade. He was limp—not relaxed like he is now, but like he was ready to...die.” Brodie’s hand fisted on the tabletop. “I stopped and gave him water first.”
Frowning, Jolene asked, “You weren’t worried about getting bit?”
“Didn’t really matter at the time.”
No, of course it hadn’t, Mary thought, because Brodie was that type of man, the type who would step up and do what he thought was right, despite the consequences.
Just as he’d done with Therman.
No, she didn’t want to let him off the hook yet, but she’d had two glasses of wine and couldn’t stop herself from saying, “You wouldn’t have left him there.”
Expression serious and direct, he told her, “No, I wouldn’t.”
Therman picked up where Brodie had left off. “So you offered for him.”
“Wrong again.” After holding Mary captive in his gaze a few seconds longer, he shifted his attention to Therman. “I’d already pulled that damned iron stake out of the yard and put Howler, chain and all, in my car. I even risked leaving it running in hopes the air-conditioning would cool him down.” He paused, his mouth tight, his Adam’s apple working. “I still remember how he looked at me through the window when I walked away, like he thought I was abandoning him, too.”
Easily picturing it all in her mind, Mary whispered, “You should have just gone.”
“Maybe. But I wanted the bastards to know I was taking him.”
“And to kick someone’s ass,” Burl guessed.
“That, too.” The corner of Brodie’s oh-so-sexy mouth quirked with wry amusement. “Some dude answered the door with a gun drawn. It all went downhill from there.”
Therman jumped in. “You fought him.”
“I disarmed him,” he corrected.
Peeved at all the corrections, Therman insisted, “You broke his jaw.”
Surprise lit Brodie’s face. “You do have good resources.”
At that small bit of praise, Therman preened.
“The break happened when I disarmed him.”
“Semantics,” Therman argued with a wave of his hand.
“You did that much damage with a punch?” Vera asked.
Brodie shrugged his answer. “Few more guys came charging out. I found myself in a do-or-die situation and I knew if the latter happened, Howler might die, too, since someone would probably steal my car with him in it.” Brodie let out a long breath. “I hadn’t planned to be in there long, but it happened, so I fought.”
“And won,” Jolene said softly.
Mary lifted her glass of wine—what was left of it. “He’s apparently good at fighting.”
“I get by. But—” here he looked at Mary “—I avoid fights whenever I can.”
Before Mary could react, Therman said, “The police showed up.” He nodded at being able to supply that tidbit.
“Yeah, the elderly lady next door had called them. When I explained what happened, I was off the hook, especially after they found the cash and drugs inside.” Smiling, Brodie added, “One of the cops even gave Howler his lunch.”
“Thank God that woman called,” Jolene said.
Brodie rubbed the back of his neck. “She came over to tell me the men were a scourge on the neighborhood. She knew about them, and she knew how they’d mistreated Howler. When I asked her why she hadn’t done anything...” He trailed off, frustration and renewed anger darkening his face.
Mary wanted to touch him, to put her hand on his arm and offer comfort. Only because others were in the room, she held back.
Jolene prompted him. “What did she say?”
“That she hadn’t called because he wasn’t her dog.” Brodie finished off his water and sat back with finality. “I told her to go to hell and left.”
“Good for you.” Jolene stared at Howler. “Who could turn a blind eye to that type of mistreatment?”
“Too many people,” Burl said.
A pall seemed to have fallen over them all.
Burl refilled Mary’s glass again, then his own and Vera’s.
Therman nodded toward Howler. “You destroyed them and this fine fellow was the prize. Gotta respect that in a man.”
Burl and Vera agreed.
Actually, so did Mary. But it was so easy, so natural for Brodie, she couldn’t stop a twinge of envy. What would it be like to be that strong, to be able to save not only herself, but others?
She had the awful fear that she’d never really know.
* * *
BRODIE WANTED TO protest when Mary started on her third glass. The fogginess in her eyes proved she had a low threshold. And yet Therman had refilled her glass, then Burl. Were they trying to get her to loosen up?
If so, that wasn’t the way. He knew Mary better than that. If they pried personal information out of her now, she’d resent them for it.
Not that he had the right to say anything, especially with her pissed at him. But he could remove her from the situation.
Hoping to end the visit sooner rather than later, he said, “That’s the end of the story, all t
he ugly details. Let’s bury it and move on.”
Therman, who didn’t miss much, looked from Brodie to Mary and back again. “Yesterday was a mistake, and while I’m not making excuses...” He paused, his grizzled brows twitching until he admitted, “Well, I guess I am.”
Brodie barely refrained from rolling his eyes. “Go ahead. Let’s hear them.” As long as they kept talking, Mary continued to stew. He needed to get her alone so he could start the process of... What? Apologizing? Explaining?
Kissing her and touching her?
All of the above.
Though the more she drank, the less likely the kissing seemed.
Elbows on his chair arms and fingertips touched together, Therman gave his patented squint of one eye. “Granted, it’s hindsight, but I now realize that many transactions have the potential for danger. For that reason, an occasional out-of-the-way exchange makes sense. In the case of the Oscar, I was so eager to acquire it that I didn’t even consider any consequences.”
Odd, because his eagerness seemed to have ended now that he had the thing. Not once had Therman looked at the crumpled plastic bag dumped on the other side of the room. No, he was far more focused on Mary.
Score one for Therman. It might be belated, but he’d finally gotten his priorities straight.
“Many of my dealings are handled under the radar. Going forward, if anything seems shady—” Therman glanced at Mary again “—to Jack, I could send along discreet backup. A few armed guards who’d be on hand just in case either of you felt uncomfortable once you got to the location.”
“That’s a start,” Brodie agreed, though he didn’t much like the idea of people dogging his heels. “You can also tell me the name of the jerk who made the arrangements, and refuse to do business with him again.”
Therman briefly looked away. “No, I can’t do that.” He rubbed one eye, then met Brodie’s gaze again. “Because there are issues, like the illegality of selling an Oscar, that make anonymity necessary, some dealers are known only by their online handles with no real means to identification.”
Jolene explained, “If every purchase was neat and tidy, a highly paid private courier wouldn’t be needed, now would he?”
Yeah, Brodie got it. Didn’t like it, but it made sense. Still, it’d make it harder to keep Mary safe when he didn’t know the real threat.
For her part, Mary stared at her glass while muttering, “If you’d asked me, I could have told you all this. But no. Too stubborn, such a know-it-all, so damn bossy...”
Whatever else she said, Brodie couldn’t quite hear it. He figured none of it was good.
She’d eaten very little. What was her limit? Would three glasses hammer her?
He’d bet yes.
Sighing, he looked back to Therman. “So I’m working blind, is that it?”
Therman ignored the rudeness. “As you now know, some of the items I purchase require not only competent driving for ensured delivery, but the ability to beat off the competition.”
With a theatrical grimace, Brodie said, “Wording is everything, but yeah, I’ll defend your purchases.”
After a moment of confusion, Therman cackled a laugh.
Brodie suspected he’d laughed more today than he had in the last year.
“Agreed, agreed.” Therman glanced pointedly at Mary and cleared his throat. “The violence yesterday shouldn’t have happened, but I appreciate your protectiveness of my purchase.”
That hadn’t been his priority by a long shot, but whatever. “So if the situation warrants it, I have your approval for violence?”
“No,” Mary said.
At the same time, Therman replied, “In minor skirmishes, of course. And afterward I want to hear all about it.”
Mary gaped at Therman. “You did not just say that.”
Therman’s brows shot up.
She didn’t seem to care as she shoved back her chair, making Howler jump up in alarm. “He,” she said, aiming a pointy finger at Brodie in case anyone didn’t know who she meant, “is difficult enough to manage without you encouraging him.”
Taken off guard, Therman blustered.
Coming to her feet, Jolene smoothly interceded. “Vera, Burl, would you please get the coffee and dessert?”
With quick agreement, the two of them escaped.
“While they do that, I’ll update the contract I need Brodie to sign.” Jolene paused with a hand on Therman’s shoulder. “I’ll only be a few minutes.” Unlike the other two, she left the room with an unhurried and graceful stride.
From under his brows, Therman peered at Brodie as if he expected him to fix things.
He sighed, then said to Mary, “You don’t drink very often, do you?”
Gripping the side of the table, she stabbed him with an angry glare. “As often as I please.”
The smile caught him off guard. Mary always had a quick answer. That is, she had quick answers when Therman wasn’t hinting that he’d dug into her secrets.
“Good thing I’m driving.” He added to Therman, “She left her car at the office.”
As if she’d just remembered that, Mary groaned and dropped back into her seat. “Maybe I could call a cab.”
Terrible idea. “I had the impression you wanted to give me hell on the drive back.”
Her mouth tightened. “I do—and you deserve it.”
“I know.” With Therman as a fascinated audience, he said softly, “I probably should have discussed things with you first.”
“Now wouldn’t that have been considerate?”
“You would have tried to talk me out of it.”
“Yes!” She reached for her glass, then looked bemused when she found it empty.
Brodie said quickly, “If it helps, I’m sorry.”
Mouth tight, she slanted an evil glare his way. “But no matter what I said, you wouldn’t have done things any differently?”
“Not likely.” He cared about her safety, whether she did or not.
As if she’d forgotten all about Therman, she started muttering once more. Probably to keep from drawing her ire again, Therman held himself very still. He didn’t even twitch one of his impressive eyebrows.
“What do you say we take off as soon as I get those papers from Jolene?” Without giving her stubbornness a chance to make the decision for her, Brodie added, “Howler needs his rest.”
A snore filled the air.
Together, they peered at the dog, still on his back, junk out for the world to see. Slobber dripped from his lolling tongue to dampen Therman’s expensive rug.
“Yes,” Mary said dryly, “he clearly can’t rest here.”
“So you want to stay for coffee and pie?” Brodie held up his hands. “Fine by me.”
“It’s a Bundt cake,” Therman said. “Not pie.”
Mary’s eyes widened and her head slowly swiveled to focus on him.
Yup, she’d forgotten about him. Brodie took pity on her and said, “We’re going to skip the cake, and I can come back tomorrow morning for the papers.”
“No need.” Jolene returned to the room and handed him a tidy manila packet. “I added in the changes but everything else is the same.” She handed one to Mary as well. “If you could each look it over, sign and fax back to me right away, that would suffice.”
“Will do.” It took Brodie another five minutes to get Howler awake and motivated to leave while Burl and Vera took turns hugging Mary goodbye. She kept a polite smile pinned in place the entire time.
Burl shook Brodie’s hand, then nodded at his head. “Take care of that injury.”
Vera grabbed him next. “I’m so glad neither of you were seriously hurt.”
To show Mary how it was done, Brodie hugged the housekeeper right off her feet.
Brow creased in a frown, Therman rolled along with them to the door. Jus
t before they could get away, he took Mary’s hand, earning a questioning look from her.
Brodie could have told him that hand-holding wasn’t a natural thing for Mary, definitely not with her esteemed employer.
Jolene stood behind his chair, one hand on his shoulder in silent encouragement.
After clearing his throat, Therman said, “The raise doesn’t cover it, and neither does my gratitude. You’re a part of us, Mary. I hope you know that.”
In reply, she tried to tug her hand free.
Therman not only held on, he enclosed her hand in both of his. “If you have grievances—”
“When you have grievances,” Jolene said.
“I want you to bring them to me. You should feel as free as Brodie here does. Understand?”
Clearly she didn’t, but she said, “Yes, thank you.” She tugged again, but finally relented to the touch. “I love my job, Therman. Everything is fine, I promise.”
“Good, good.” Relieved, he let her go.
Jolene rolled her eyes at the half-hearted effort. “Thank you for understanding, both of you.”
Finally, after another round of farewells, Brodie led Mary to the car. Now that they were alone, he waited for her to start chewing his ass.
Other than pinching her lips together, she kept herself contained.
Once they were on the road, he couldn’t take it anymore. Deliberately provoking, he asked, “Are you drunk?”
Her jaw worked before she said, “Possibly.”
That she’d admit it surprised him. “On three glasses of wine, huh? You don’t drink often.”
“Almost never.”
“But you did today.”
“Yes, and it’s a strain to keep from yelling at you.” She stared straight ahead. “I get chattier when I drink and I’m afraid that once I start, I won’t be able to stop, so I’m trying not to start.”
Brodie was pretty sure she already had.
“But God, Brodie, it is difficult. You could have warned me. And yes, you could have listened to my reasons for not wanting to issue ultimatums.” As she spoke, she got louder. “But you didn’t even take my reaction into consideration.”
“Not true.”
“You didn’t care what I thought. You just bulldozed ahead with your own agenda—”
