Bare It All

chapter TWENTY-NINE

AFTER SENDING OUT the second text message, Rowdy started toward Avery, determined to keep her well away from Hickson. As it turned out, he didn’t need to do a thing.

Avery was already moving off when Dougie, the bartender, slid into the booth next to Cheryl. The poor girl scooted over, pressing herself as far into the corner as she could go.

Rowdy was relieved that both men ignored her. They leaned in close for a private conversation.

Damn. So Avery had been right. Dougie and Hickson definitely knew each other.

For several minutes, Rowdy lounged in a corner, watching the exchange, wondering at what point he should intercede.

Even with his mind buzzing and his senses on alert for possible deceptions, he found himself repeatedly searching for Avery. Made sense, he told himself. Tonight would be dangerous, and he didn’t want any woman hurt, most especially a woman he employed.

A woman who turned him on.

Scanning the crowd, Rowdy still didn’t see DeeDee, but he spotted Avery taking an order from a trio of young men on the opposite side of the room. Avery was her usual all-business self.

The guys wanted more.

It wasn’t unusual for barely legal idiots of the male persuasion to play grab-ass with waitresses at run-down bars.

The unusual part was Rowdy’s urge to flatten all three of them. Rather than fight it, he moved toward her. If DeeDee showed up and saw him, well, so what? She’d know he didn’t like bullies.

He was almost within reach when he heard Avery say, “Last warning, bud. You will either keep your hands to yourself, or you’ll leave. Understand?”

Grinning, the idiot reached for her ass, saying, “Or we could—”

Rowdy caught his wrist and squeezed. “Or you could go home with a broken bone or two.”

Wincing in pain, the guy said, “Hey, dude, let up.”

“Apologize to the lady first.”

“F*ck you!” He tried to swing with his other hand.

Rowdy used a grip on his wrist to twist the younger man’s arm up and around behind his back. “Wrong answer.”

One of his buddies charged, but he was drunk and weak. Rowdy easily moved to the side and tripped him. He wiped out on the floor, gaining grumbles from some of the other customers.

The third fool rose, chest butting Rowdy. “A*shole! Turn him loose.”

“Sure. Soon as he apologizes.”

“I said, let him go!” He took a short swing, punching Rowdy in the chin, and his head snapped back.

Smiling, Rowdy worked his jaw—and popped the guy. Even using his left hand, he sent the smaller man falling over a chair.

Unruffled, Avery lifted a brow. “Are you done?”

“Almost. Soon as he tells you how sorry he is for manhandling you.”

“Sure, sorry, whatever.” When Rowdy tightened his hold, he said more sincerely, “I’m sorry!”

Rowdy released him.

Now free, the punk said, “I’m calling the police!”

“Want me to do that for you?”

He flexed his arm, sullen. “No.”

“Then get out and don’t come back.” Rowdy encompassed all three of them in his stare. “Any of you.”

Arms folded, Avery stood silent as all three guys hustled for the door. She didn’t look at all appreciative of his interference. And, really, now that he’d let off a little steam, Rowdy knew he’d overreacted.

“You can’t go running off business.”

But hell if he’d admit it. “I can do any damn thing I want. It’s my place.”

She gave him a measuring stare, then made a rude sound. “Like you’ll even remember them if they come back a week from now.”

Now there’s where she didn’t know him well. “I’ll remember.”

That had her propping her hands on her trim hips. “Hate to break it to you, Rowdy, but if you carry on like that with every guy who gets out of line—”

“There are more?” He searched around the bar. “Here, tonight? Where—” His gaze snagged on DeeDee as she strolled in. She wore a body-hugging black pull-on cotton dress that fit like a man’s undershirt, leaving more on display than it covered.

Out of nowhere, Avery gave him a hard shove.

Because he’d been distracted with DeeDee’s appearance, she took him off guard, and Rowdy actually staggered back a step. “What the hell?”

She went on tiptoe to snarl into his chin, “You should change the name of this place!”

“Yeah?” Amused by her temper, Rowdy caught her arms to keep her close. “Suggestion?”

“Yes. Call it Getting Rowdy.” She shoved away from his hold and said in a grumble, “That’s what every attractive woman does, right?”

“Catchy. They get rowdy with Rowdy.” Pretending to give it some thought, he nodded. “I like it.”

“Ohhhh, you’re...” She trailed off, clearly trying to find a word insulting enough to match her mood.

“Waiting to get you, Avery.” He tweaked her chin. “That’s what I’m doing. Waiting to get you.” And with that, Rowdy walked away before he did something stupid—like kiss her with DeeDee watching.

Ten minutes later, seated in a booth, Rowdy wished for an interruption. He knew brazen women. Hell, he liked brazen women.

But not when they wanted to screw him first and then assist in his murder.

DeeDee did indeed appear to want both.

Leaning her boobs into his side, sliding a small hand over his thigh and licking his ear, she tried to convince him to go to her car.

“I want you so bad, Rowdy,” she breathed.

Where the hell was Reese?

Half crawling over his lap and catching his chin, DeeDee planted a hot, wet one on him.

The second she got her tongue out of his mouth, Rowdy lifted his beer, intent on using the alcohol to sterilize things—and his gaze clashed with Avery’s from across the room.

With a killing glare, she turned away.

Damn it, he needed Avery to know that it meant nothing. Except...why should he explain himself to her? They’d be working together, so she was bound to see him hook up.

He enjoyed sexual variety.

Eventually he and Avery would get together—because he knew the chemistry was there—but she needed to understand that it was sex, and only sex. Not a commitment. Not an invitation for more.

No matter how much she intrigued him.

“Rowdy...” While straddling his lap, DeeDee rose to her knees. And right there in the bar, wedged into a booth, she tried to open his jeans.

Time to make a strategic retreat.

Rowdy caught her hands. “Hang on, honey. I’ll be right back.” F*cking Reese, running late.

He’d gotten the text from Trace that they were on their way, but another two minutes and DeeDee would molest him.

He bodily lifted her to the side, ignoring her pouts and the way she stroked his junk as he slid out of the booth seat. “Don’t move.”

“Hurry,” she said.

Suddenly in a killing mood, Rowdy strode over to where Dougie and Hickson shared a booth. He wouldn’t hurt a woman, even one as revolting as DeeDee, so he needed to find another outlet.

When he stopped beside them, both men looked up in mingled surprise and suspicion.

Itching for a little violence, Rowdy said to Dougie, “You’re fired.”

“What?” Dougie gave an incredulous laugh. “Who the hell are you?”

Rowdy took great pleasure in introducing himself. “I bought the bar. And since I’m not a scum-sucking bottom feeder—” not anymore “—I don’t want your ilk hanging around. You’re through here. Collect your shit and get out.”

Dougie and Hickson shared a look.

“I didn’t hear anything about a new owner.”

“No? Guess that tells you just how important you are, doesn’t it?”

Dougie clenched all over.

Try it, Rowdy thought. Please.

“You son of a bitch,” Dougie exploded, shoving himself upright—and right into Rowdy’s fist. The blow took him out, and Dougie slumped back into his seat, then slid off the booth to the floor.

“Huh,” Rowdy said. “He’s not only a drug-dealing worm, he has a glass jaw.”

Cheryl gasped, curling tighter to the wall.

“But you,” Rowdy said, turning his anger on Hickson, “are even worse. You’re a coward who abuses women, a cockroach who needs to be smashed.”

Half rising from his seat, Hickson said, “Now wait a goddamn minute—”

Catching Hickson by the back of his neck, Rowdy slammed his face into the thick booth top. Cartilage crunched and blood spilled. With Hickson dazed, he looked at Cheryl. “You okay?”

Frozen, she said nothing, didn’t move or breathe or blink.

Rowdy tried to work up a gentle smile. “You’ll be fine, I promise.”

No reaction.

“Alice sent me.”

She deflated on a whoosh. “Oh, thank God.” Big tears filled her eyes.

Behind him, DeeDee tried to slink out. Rowdy glanced at her over his shoulder, pinning her in place with his gaze. “Word of warning, honey. You don’t wanna make me chase you.” In his current mood, seeing the fear in Cheryl’s eyes, he just might discount DeeDee’s gender.

Hand to her throat, DeeDee paused.

Finally, Reese came in the front door, Trace from the back. Around the bar, several men separated from the crowd; Reese’s men, now ready to assist.

Rowdy pulled Hickson out of his seat. “Here’s one,” he said to Reese, practically tossing the man to him. “There’s another under the booth,” he told Trace.

Nodding, Trace started forward.

Rowdy turned his attention to DeeDee. “It’s over.”

Realizing she’d been busted, DeeDee back-stepped, at first uncertainly, but then faster and faster, and suddenly she turned to flee.

She plowed right into Avery, and both women went down.

Shit. Rowdy reached them in less than a second and hauled DeeDee to her feet. One of Reese’s buddies took her off his hands. Kneeling by Avery, who looked stunned, he said, “Hey.” He pulled her into a sitting position. “You okay?”

She held her head in both hands. “It was a sting?”

“That’s right.” Rowdy brushed some dirt off her shoulder, then smoothed down her hair.

“You and DeeDee...?”

Despite what he’d told himself, Rowdy relished the opportunity to set her straight. “Just part of the setup.”

Instead of relief, she looked...distraught. “So, did you actually buy the bar or not?”

“I bought it.”

Now he saw relief—though she quickly hid it behind a frown. Avoiding his gaze, she said, “Good. I was already counting on my raise as bartender.”

Coming to his feet along with her, Rowdy grinned. “Then get to it. Since I just fired Dougie, you can start right now.”

* * *

IT WAS DAMN near dawn when Reese got home to Alice. He should have been dead on his feet, but instead he felt energized. He’d called Alice as soon as he could, letting her know that Cheryl was shaken up, but unharmed. This time, she was more than willing to talk to the police, to ensure that Hickson and Woody Simpson got what they deserved.

Knowing what awaited him, Reese bounded up the steps and down the hall to the apartment. As he stepped inside, the first rays of sunlight slanted through the patio doors.

Logan had already picked up Pepper. Dash was crashed in a chair, staring blindly at the TV. But when the door opened, he sat forward and pulled on his shoes.

Just as she’d promised, Alice was awake, waiting for him. Both she and Cash looked bleary-eyed with fatigue, but they immediately rose to give him a proper welcome.

First things first, Reese thought, and he reached for the leash.

Alice stopped him. “Dash just had him out, soon as he knew you were on your way home.”

Reese gave his attention to Logan’s brother. “Thank you, Dash. For everything.”

Smiling, Dash slapped Reese on the shoulder as he headed for the front door. “Anytime.” He already had his keys in his hand.

“Anxious to get to bed?”

“I’ll be heading for a bed,” Dash agreed with a yawn. “But not my own, and not to sleep.” He bobbed his eyebrows, gave a negligent wave and was gone.

Alice stared at the closed door. “He couldn’t be serious.”

Reese grinned.

“But he was up all night!”

Reese teased her, saying, “You should know that men consider sex a cure-all for just about everything, even exhaustion.”

“Oh.” Suddenly she was hugging him, and Reese breathed in the comforting scent unique to Alice. He ran his hands down her narrow back, and, yes, he wanted her.

Always.

But there’d be time for that.

“You have to be hungry,” she said. “Let’s eat first.”

First, meaning she was amenable to lovemaking? Amazing Alice. How the hell had he gotten so lucky?

She took his hand and led him toward the kitchen. Her long nightgown nearly touched the floor. She had shadows under her eyes and rumpled hair and she was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen in his life.

In the kitchen doorway, he pulled her around. “Alice.”

“Hmm?” She looked up at him with trust and acceptance and so much more.

He kissed her, then went on kissing her—until Cash whined.

They both turned to see the dog standing by the counter where they kept the dog treats, wearing an expectant expression.

Alice bit her bottom lip. “He acts like all we do is have sex.”

“He’s intuitive, much like you.”

Laughing, Alice gave the dog a treat, then turned to press Reese toward a chair. “Sit while I put on the coffee.”

It did feel good to get off his feet. He toed off his shoes under the table, stretched and thought how nice it was to end a long day with Alice.

“Cheryl went back home to her family?”

Reese watched the sway of her hips in that fetish gown as she filled a carafe with water. “She called her mother from the station. There were some tears, but I don’t think they were sad tears.”

“Excess of emotion,” Alice said with a nod. She gave him a shy look. “I do that sometimes, too.”

“I don’t want you to cry. Ever.”

She laughed at that. “Sorry, but sometimes I even cry when I’m happy.”

Okay, so he might have to get used to that—since he planned to keep her very happy. “Peterson got a warrant, and she’s going through Woody Simpson’s offices right now. She’s already found tons of evidence.” Quietly, because he knew how Alice would react, he told her the rest. “She also found a young lady named Michelle, who was more than willing to detail everything she’d overheard, and everything she’d seen.”

Alice went still before turning in a rush. “Is she okay?”

“Peterson thinks she’ll be fine.” Certainly, she’d be better now than she would have been if Alice hadn’t intuitively recognized that Cheryl needed help. She’d started the ball rolling on breaking a huge case of drug trafficking, kidnapping and more. “And thanks to her, we’ll be able to shut down deals already in the works and ferret out buyers and distributors who’d been involved with Woody.”

Alice briefly closed her eyes, but when she opened them again, she asked, “And Rowdy? How did things work out for him?”

Reese told her about the petite redheaded waitress who had occupied much of Rowdy’s attention. “I have a feeling he’ll be facing new challenges very soon.”

Grinning, Alice said, “I’m glad.” As she turned to fill the coffee cups, she asked, “What about Trace? Is he gone again already?”

It occurred to Reese that it no longer bothered him for Alice to mention the elusive wraith. “I doubt we’ll see much of him after this, but I got the feeling he’d be doing some behind-the-scenes recon for the lieutenant, helping her to nail down evidence against any remaining corruption.”

As if Trace’s whereabouts didn’t concern her all that much, Alice set the coffee on the table. “What would you like to eat?”

He smiled at her, and she blushed.

That made him laugh outright. He caught her hand and pulled her over and into his lap. “You know, if it weren’t for you, both Cheryl and Michelle, and probably a lot of other women, would still be in a great deal of trouble.”

“You give me too much credit.” Her gaze intent on his throat, she slipped her hands under his shirt. “I’m just glad that you were able to sort it all out.”

Already aroused heat filled her big brown eyes. Damn, but he loved her.

Reese traced a finger over her lips. “Looks like I’ll have mandatory days off again.”

“Oh?” She nuzzled into his throat, her breath gentle and warm.

He shuddered. “I was thinking we could spend that time looking at houses.”

Her head came up. “You were serious about that?”

“Cash needs room to run.” He tangled a hand in her silky brown hair. “And since I’m staying with you now, we need a bigger place.”

She caught her breath. “Are you...staying with me?”

“I want to.”

Chewing her bottom lip, she grew serious. “For how long?”

Slipping his other hand into her hair, Reese cradled her head in his palms and kissed her. “Does forever sound too long to you?”

Her eyes widened. “Forever?”

He pulled her close again, took another kiss, this one gentler still. “If you’ll have us. Cash and me, I mean. We’re a package deal.”

“I adore Cash,” she rushed to assure him. “You know that.”

“And me, Alice?” He searched her face, his heart full. “How do you feel about me?”

Those happy tears she’d mentioned turned her eyes luminous and left her voice husky. “I’ve been in love with you since the day you said hello.”

“Yeah?”

“How could you not know that, Reese? I’d done so much to protect myself that I’d shut out the whole world. But I couldn’t shut you out.” She gave a choked laugh. “I couldn’t even stop thinking about you long enough to try.”

He knew the feeling. Alice hadn’t crept into his life; she’d launched a full-force attack on his heart...without even trying. “Given that I feel the same, what do you say we get married? Maybe adopt another dog or two. Have a couple of kids. That is, after we find the right house—”

Alice kissed him.

Grinning, Reese eased her back. “Should I take that as a yes?”

Nodding fast, she said, “Yes, yes to everything.”

“Tell me again that you love me.”

“Oh, God, Reese, I do. So much.” Knotting a hand in his T-shirt, she slipped off his lap. “Now, come with me, Detective. I’ve decided the coffee can wait.”

Perfect, he thought as he followed her toward the bedroom. His old nickname had stuck true. He’d bared it all, even his heart, and now he had Alice.

He had everything.