Bare It All

chapter SEVENTEEN

DESPITE THE FACT that they were headed to a police station, where she was sure she’d be questioned endlessly, Alice felt pretty good. After amazing sex in the shower, she’d fallen back into bed for a nap.

An hour later, she’d awakened in a cocoon of warmth, Reese holding her close to his chest, Cash curled behind her knees. Any movement at all would have disturbed them, so for a while she’d stayed still, relishing the comfort, the nearness.

The sense of being loved.

In a relatively short time, Reese and Cash had both become a part of her world. It seemed impossible to imagine an entire day without either of them. She enjoyed caring for Cash, and even arguing with Reese had its obvious rewards.

Sex in the shower and a nap—who knew that would be the result of a disagreement? For her, it was energizing and fun.

But how did Reese feel about their situation?

He’d be returning to his duties soon. She had her own stack of projects to catch up on. Would they be able to work out a compatible routine?

She glanced at Reese now, driving down the busy streets. Dressed in his work clothes, wearing dark sunglasses, apparently lost in thought, he still made her warm and melty all over.

It probably didn’t matter, Alice decided, what he wore or—preferably—didn’t wear. Freshly showered and shaved, hot and sweaty from a long day or, as was the case this morning, slumberous and affectionate.

She loved him. Period. She wanted every moment she could have with him, as many moments as he would give to her. But if she told him that, would he pull back? Would he consider her too clingy, too smothering?

While she’d been dressing for the day, she and Reese in the bedroom together, her parents had called. Both of them on the line, both excited to talk with her.

Reese had smiled at her, ready to give her privacy.

She didn’t need it. Not with this, not with him. But instead of finishing with his clothes, he’d sat on the side of the bed and pulled her down to his lap. She’d leaned on him, his arms around her, his chin on the top of her head, while talking.

Her mother claimed that she’d read between the lines, that even in an email, she’d recognized that Alice was moving forward now—that she was ready to let them back in.

Around the joy and laughter, Alice had heard the tears in her mother’s voice, the gruff emotion in her dad’s. Over and over, her parents said that they loved her, that they couldn’t wait to see her again.

Why she’d kept them at such a distance, she could no longer say. What had once felt important, even insurmountable, now felt...insubstantial. Even absurd.

She loved her family and they loved her.

Regardless of her past, of what she’d done, their feelings for her hadn’t changed—Reese was right about that. She never should have let so much time pass away from them.

She would never let that happen again.

Unfortunately, her folks were on a vacation for two more weeks. They offered to return immediately, but Alice rejected that idea. They would all get together for dinner after they returned, preferably when her sister, Amy, had time away from her heavy class load. God, she’d missed Amy.

A lot of uncertainty remained in her future, but she had her family back, and for now at least, she had Reese and Cash. That was all pretty darned wonderful.

“I’d like to meet your parents.”

Had he read her mind? “I was just thinking of them.”

“Happy thoughts, I take it, given your smile?”

“Very happy.” She let out a sigh. “You’ll love my folks and my sister.” Imagining what they’d think of Reese had her biting back a grin of pure pleasure. “They’ll love you, too.”

Alice watched him, but the L word had no noticeable effect on him.

“I promise to be as charming as possible.” As Reese pulled into the police station parking lot, he reached for her knee. “You’re not worrying about the interview, are you?”

“No.” She trusted Reese. He kept telling her everything would be okay, so she would believe him.

“If not your folks, and not the interview, then what? And don’t bother denying it, honey. I can tell you’re fretting over something.”

Honey. She liked that. “You think you know me that well?”

“Getting there.”

Maybe it was time to stop stalling. Before they met up with his lieutenant, she had a giant truth to share. “You’re right. I do have something on my mind.”

He parked the car and removed his sunglasses. Pity that, because seeing his eyes always made things more difficult for her. He had that type of penetrating gaze that made her want to squirm one way or another, even when she didn’t have mammoth revelations to share.

He rested his left wrist over the steering wheel, stretched his right arm along the back of the seat.

In his crisp white button-up and necktie, he looked as comfortable as he did shirtless with his slacks undone. Wearing a slight smile, he moved his gaze over her face. “I’ll be with you the whole time today.” Using his right hand, he smoothed back a lock of her hair, briefly brushed a thumb over her cheek. “I promise.”

“I’m glad. Thank you.”

“All you have to do,” he said, his tone grave, compelling her to follow his will, “is tell the truth.”

“I know. That’s not a problem.” Not anymore. She’d given it a lot of thought, and she knew he was right. She wanted everything from him, so she needed to give him everything in return. She only prayed it’d all work out.

“Then what’s wrong?”

She’d put it off long enough. Too long, really, given that they were due inside in minutes. “There’s something I need to tell you before we go in.”

Dread took the smile off his mouth. “I’m listening.”

A deep breath didn’t help, so she blurted out the truth. “Trace didn’t kill Murray.”

His expression fixed, voice carefully modulated, Reese said, “No?”

Alice reached up, laced her fingers in his. “He wanted to. Very much.”

Slowly, Reese’s gaze hardened. “You’re telling me the bastard is still alive?”

What a conclusion he’d drawn! “Oh, no, he’s definitely dead.”

Taking that in, Reese frowned and studied her.

Her heavy heartbeat tried to shake her, but Alice tamped down the uncertainty and shared with him something she’d never told another human being. “I killed him.”

That admission caused Reese’s face to first go blank, then hot with some unidentifiable emotion. By small degrees, his neck stiffened, his hand tightened on hers. “What did you say?”

“I shot him in the chest, and he...died.”

Reese tried to pull back, but Alice held on. She wasn’t ashamed of killing Murray. She had no regrets in that regard.

But regrets with Reese...yes, she had plenty of those. “I’m sorry,” she said in a rush, wanting him to understand. “It wasn’t my secret to share. I wouldn’t have shared it now except that I don’t want you telling an inaccurate story.”

The turbulence gathering in his eyes made her uneasy.

“Reese...”

Logan tapped on the driver’s side window, making Alice jump.

With a low curse, Reese squeezed his eyes shut and put his head down.

Not looking at her.

He opened his fingers, releasing her hand, so she withdrew it. The chill of rejection sank in, but she would not second-guess her decision to be honest. Not anymore.

Not with Reese.

Rather than sit there waiting for him to make up his mind about...whatever decision he needed to make, Alice opened her door and got out.

Logan and Pepper looked at her with curiosity. “Everything okay?” Logan asked.

She wasn’t sure. Reese might need time to come to grips with her disclosure, so she started around the hood, saying, “It might be best if we just wait inside.”

Logan frowned. “Wait for what?”

She reached out a hand, hoping Pepper would join her. She didn’t want to go in that police station alone. “For Reese to—”

Shoving open his car door, Reese emerged like a turbulent storm. His gaze pierced her, stopping her in midstep. “Don’t even think it, Alice.”

She thrust up her chin. “Or what? You’ll arrest me?”

Scowling fiercely, he opened his mouth, then shut it again.

When Rowdy pulled up, Alice felt incredible relief. Maybe she’d get a second to talk alone with him, to ask his advice on how to—

“No, goddamn it.” Reese slammed the car door so hard, it drew attention from other people in the lot.

Pepper murmured, “Uh-oh,” at the same time that Logan whispered, “Shush.”

Shoulders bunched, Reese strode over to her, clasped her chin and lifted her face. “No, Alice.”

Refusing to be cowed, especially with his friends standing right there, Alice stood her ground. “No, you won’t arrest me?”

Grim humor brightened his green eyes. “Actually, that part’s still up in the air.”

Pepper snorted.

Logan said in reproach, “Reese, for God’s sake.”

“What I meant,” Reese said, ignoring the others, “is that you will not continue to look at Rowdy as a damned confidante.”

How dare he try to order her around that way? Her friendship with Rowdy was not an illegal activity. “I will if I want to,” Alice said as she pulled away.

Pepper interjected, saying, “Rowdy? Seriously?” She applauded. “Perfect choice, Alice. I’ve always found my brother to be completely reliable.”

Now Logan scowled. “I’m reliable.”

“Yes, you are.” Pepper patted his chest. “But I don’t want Alice coming to you for private talks.”

Logan blustered. “I didn’t mean her.” And in an aside: “No offense, Alice.”

“None taken.”

“I meant you,” Logan told Pepper.

“Of course.” She cuddled up against his uninjured side. “We are getting married, after all. Oh, and that reminds me, Alice. We’ve set a date. Can I still count on you to attend the wedding?”

Alice made a point of not looking at Reese. She could feel his pulsing anger as he stood there beside her. “Absolutely, thank you.”

Logan looked at her, looked at Reese and laughed.

Reese didn’t find it funny. “Shut up, Logan.”

Alice bit her lip. She should have told him sooner, of course. He needed time to order his thoughts, to adjust to the new information. Not that she thought he’d actually arrest her. And she wasn’t even sure he could. After all, Murray had needed killing, and she’d led a mostly quiet life since then, at least until Cheryl...

Reese shook his head. “The path your thoughts take.”

Did he know her thoughts?

“You’re like an open book, Alice.” Then, under his breath he added, “At least most of the time.”

Wide-eyed over his observation, she wondered what to do next—and Reese took her hand. It reassured her, and she started to smile up at him.

Just then, Rowdy joined the ranks. Alice looked him over from his dark T-shirt, well-worn jeans and scuffed brown work boots, up to the eyes he had squinted against the bright sunshine.

Keys jangled in his hand as his long legs brought him closer. He took in the various expressions and asked, “Fireworks?”

“A little, yeah,” Logan told him.

Grinning, Rowdy hauled Pepper right out of Logan’s hold and hugged her off her feet. “Kiddo, what did you do now?”

“Not me,” Pepper said, and she pointed at Alice. “Her.”

Maybe going into the station alone wouldn’t be so bad after all. Alice took a step toward Rowdy, but Reese wasn’t letting go. “No, you don’t.” He brought his arm up to her shoulders and locked her in close to his side.

Then he just stood there.

Looking a little mean.

Logan lifted a brow. “What are we doing?”

“Looks to me like he’s going quietly insane,” Rowdy said. He tipped his chin at Alice. “Is this your doing?”

Alice slumped a little. “Yes.”

“What’d you do now?”

“Well—”

Reese startled everyone when he snarled, “Even with me standing here, you two are doing it!”

Rowdy slowly straightened, at the same time releasing his sister. “Doing what?”

“Confiding,” Pepper said with a grin. “Reese doesn’t like how close the two of you are getting.”

Alice tipped her head back to see Reese. He had his eyes narrowed in a way that made her uneasy.

Didn’t seem to bother Rowdy, though.

Still, to be on the safe side, she hurried to explain. “We’re just friends.”

“Men and women are never just friends,” Reese said, his hostility coming through loud and clear.

“Usually, I’d agree with you.” Rowdy folded his arms over his chest. “But not this time.”

“You see?” Alice stopped leaning out of Reese’s hold and instead cuddled in closer. “Rowdy and I already cleared up any issue of sexual attraction. That was one of the first things we discussed.”

Reese dropped his incredulous gaze down to her.

“Shit,” Rowdy said. “It’s not like that, Reese, and you know it.”

With silky menace, Reese asked, “Do I?”

His provoking tone finally started to get to Rowdy. “You damn well should.”

Logan choked. “Jesus, Reese. Get your shit together, man. I’m almost embarrassed for you.”

Reese seemed uncaring what anyone else thought.

But Alice cared, darn it. “This is absurd. Rowdy isn’t interested in me, and I’m not interested in him. Not that way. It’s just...well, he’s like a girlfriend.”

Rowdy shot around to stare at her. “I am not your girlfriend, Alice.”

Pepper barked a laugh; Logan rubbed his mouth.

Worse and worse. Alice drew a breath, let it out slowly. “I didn’t mean that in an insulting way, Rowdy. Anyone can see you’re all man.”

Falling into her brother’s shoulder, hanging on to his arm, Pepper laughed harder.

“Damn it, Pepper, you’re not helping.” Rowdy handed her off to Logan. “Can’t you control her?”

“Not even when I have two good arms.”

Alice spoke over Pepper’s hilarity. “I only meant that I’m comfortable talking with you. Period. Only talk.”

“Glad you cleared that up.” Rowdy nodded toward his sister. “Seriously, though, if Reese is going to go red-eyed over it, Pepper can help you with...that stuff, instead.”

Pepper looked shocked. “What stuff?”

“C’mon, kid. You know you’d be better at this than I am.”

“Me? What do I know about any of that? You’re the only one I ever confided in.”

“And now me,” Logan insisted again.

“I’m sorry.” Starting to feel like a complete imposition, Alice rubbed her forehead. “This has gotten out of hand. I didn’t mean to bother—”

Reese spoke up, saying, “You’re not a bother, Alice. Ever.” He frowned at Pepper and Rowdy both.

“True,” Rowdy said.

“And actually,” Pepper chimed in, “I did enjoy shopping and hanging out and stuff. I haven’t really had anyone to do that with either. Not for a really long time.”

Reacting to Pepper’s somewhat sad admission, Rowdy and Logan both reached for her, each one grabbing an arm to pull her into his side. While the men sorted out that one, over Pepper’s grumbled complaints, Reese tipped up Alice’s chin.

Speaking in a low whisper, he said, “You won’t mention that to anyone.”

“What?”

Disbelieving, he said succinctly, “What you told me in the car.”

“Oh. No, I won’t.” And then, a little worried: “Will you?”

“Not today, no. I need time to think about things before I decide how to proceed.”

Of course he did. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.”

His hand left her chin, cupped around her jaw. “I’m sorry I got angry. But no more lies, Alice, not even lies of omission.”

Oh, so he hadn’t been upset with Rowdy? It was the whole killing Murray thing that had him so hostile?

She didn’t realize that the others had gotten quiet and were listening in until Reese said, “Seeing how the two of you seem to relate so well, I’m fine with Rowdy being your girlfriend—if you still want him.”

Her face went hot. She glanced back and saw everyone watching in various stages of amusement. Rowdy had his hands on his hips, his head dropped forward as he shook it.

“I didn’t mean it like that.” Alice pushed at Reese, but he didn’t budge. “Don’t get everyone riled up again.”

Wearing the slightest of smiles, Reese held her closer. “Stop shoving away from me, okay?”

He sounded so sincere, she nodded. “Okay. Sorry.”

“And stop apologizing,” Rowdy added. “It isn’t necessary.”

Reese gave him a look, and Rowdy lifted his hands in mock apology.

Pepper spoke up. “I’m not sure how great I am at being a girlfriend, but I’m happy to try. And now that I’ve started on wedding plans...Reese will be the best man, Rowdy will give me away, so...would you want to stand up with me?” She rushed on, saying, “It won’t be fancy at all. Just Logan’s family and our group here. But...I sort of want the whole white dress and veil and flowers.”

Like a very satisfied man, Logan kept her tucked close, and he kissed her temple.

It surprised Alice to see Pepper in a sheepish, uncertain mood. It also made her heart flutter to think of attending a wedding with Reese. “You will be such a beautiful bride.” She tried not to grin too much. “And, yes, I’d be honored.”

“Perfect! One detail down, a hundred more to go.”

Rowdy checked his watch. “We’re going to be late if we don’t head in now.”

Logan agreed. “The lieutenant is not someone you want to keep waiting.”

Looking around as Reese led the way through the station, Alice tried not to remember the last time she’d been brought in by police.

Many aspects of this station were different, but the basics were the same. Reese wanted to stop by his desk, but as they neared it, he drew up short.

“Dash?”

Sitting on a bench along the wall, Logan’s younger brother looked up. Clearly surprised at seeing the group, he did a double take and then came to his feet. “Hey, Logan, Reese.” His gaze moved past them to Pepper, Rowdy and Alice. “Having a party, huh?”

The joke, probably meant to deflect the attention, fell flat.

Alice noted that he’d spent some time in the sun recently, and though tanned, he now had added color in his cheekbones and along his straight nose.

Pepper noticed, too. “You went back to the lake?”

“No chance right now. We’ve been busy.” With Dash’s sun-streaked light brown hair and the same dark brown eyes, Alice could see the resemblance to Logan.

Dash rubbed a hand over his shoulder. “Worked alongside the crew today. We had a big foundation to pour, and the sun was brutal.”

Ah, so he was in construction. That made sense. Dash wasn’t as muscled as Reese—few were—but he had a lean, fit body, honed from physical activity.

He stood on a par with Rowdy, a little taller than Logan’s six feet, but not as tall as Reese.

My, Alice thought, seeing them all standing there together. They were an impressive lot, and more than a few female officers were giving them the eye.

Logan moved forward. “So, what are you doing here, Dash? Is something wrong?”

“Everything’s...fine.” There was a strangely awkward moment before Dash said, “I came to see you.”

“Then you should have gone by his house,” Reese told him. “He’s not back to work yet.”

“That’s right. Damn.” Dash ran a hand over his neck. “Like I said, it’s been crazy at work.”

Logan gave him a funny look.

“So...” Dash waffled. “If you’re not working, what are you doing here?”

“Something’s come up with Alice.” Logan gestured at her. “You remember Alice, right?”

“Sure.” He held out a hand. “Nice to see you again.”

Alice smiled at him, took his hand in a brief greeting, but anyone with eyes could see he had not come to call on Logan.

Especially when Logan asked, “So, what’s up?”

“What?”

Logan shifted, rearranging the sling on his arm. “You came to see me?”

“Oh, yeah.” Putting his hands in his back pockets, Dash said, “I, ah...”

Alice heard her heels on the floor before the lieutenant came around the corner with a purposeful stride. She stalled when she saw them all together, did her own waffling, but then shot into professional mode.

She didn’t even look at Dash.

Well, well. Alice picked up the signs, but when she looked at Reese and Logan, it was as if neither of them had even noticed the tension in the air.

Rowdy seemed too antsy at being in a police station to pay attention to much beyond all the armed officers. She glanced at Pepper, but like Rowdy, Pepper spent her time gazing around uneasily.

The big wall clock showed they were only tardy by five minutes, but still Reese said, “Sorry we’re late.”

Her tone clipped, irritation clear, Lieutenant Peterson said, “It’s just as well since I had to attend a special meeting.”

“What special meeting?” Logan wanted to know.

The lieutenant’s speculative gaze landed on Alice. “I’ve been informed that we can talk about the possible connection of the tattooed girls, but the rest is off-limits.”

Oh, shoot. Alice knew only too well what that meant: Trace had put the kibosh on any further snooping that might lead to him.

Reese didn’t take the edict well. “What do you mean, off-limits?”

Alice almost winced.

Stepping closer so that no one else would overhear, the lieutenant said, “I mean that orders came down the chain of command. I was told in no uncertain terms to back off. Any and all discussions of her time as a kidnap victim are forbidden. Most especially any discussion concerning third-party vigilantes.”