Bare It All

chapter FOUR

ALICE MISSED REESE the moment he left. Her apartment, that once felt peaceful with only her in it, now felt empty. Too quiet.

Even sort of lonely.

“Bleh.” She turned to Cash. “It’s ridiculous, isn’t it?”

Cash gave her a sleepy yawn, wiggled a little on the couch and started thumping his tail when she walked over to rub his ears.

“I’m glad I still have you. But for how long?” She cupped his furry face and put her cheek to his head. “It breaks my heart, but you’re not really my dog. Reese loves you, so someday, if he moves or gets involved with a woman, I might not be able to see you anymore.”

Cash crawled into her lap and tried to lick her face. Dodging the majority of his sloppy affection, Alice gave a laugh that sounded far too close to a sob.

Damn it, she would not cry. God knew she had nothing to cry about. Not anymore. She controlled her life, and if things weren’t exactly as she’d like them to be, well, she had no one to blame but herself.

Even with the pep talk, her throat went tight and her eyes burned.

A knock on her door had her sucking up the excess of emotion real quick.

Cash did a doggy feat of launching away while barking like a crazed beast.

“Cash, behave.” Assuming Reese had forgotten something, Alice quickly wiped her cheeks and drew a cleansing breath. Going to the door, she put her eye to the peephole—and straightened with incredulity.

Taking his cue from her, Cash ramped up his barking to a berserk level.

“Shhh,” she told the frantic dog. “It’s okay.” Maybe. But why in the world would—

“Open up, Alice,” came a deep, compelling voice. “I know you’re in there. I hear Cash.”

As the dog recognized their visitor, his reaction transformed from outrage to utter elation. Giving a high-pitched whine, he turned circles and kept looking at her, waiting for her to open the door.

In a whisper, Alice reminded the dog, “You don’t know him any better than I do.”

“I can hear you, too, Alice.” The amusement came through loud and clear. “Now open up.”

She bit her lip to hold back the groan. Good grief, did he have supersonic hearing or something?

Heartbeat accelerated, Alice put a hand to her hair, but of course it was already tidy. She was always tidy. And boring. And too cautious...

Stop it.

She straightened her shirt, licked the lips that Reese had just kissed and unlocked the door.

Cash charged forward in excitement, but he didn’t get far. “Hello, Rowdy,” she said as he caught the dog’s collar. Luckily, being around Reese had gotten her somewhat used to large men.

Because Rowdy Yates was that, and then some.

He was also drop-dead gorgeous in a devilish, careless, edgy way. Where Reese tempered his sex appeal, Rowdy threw it out there without reserve, bludgeoning innocent bystanders with his raw magnetism.

“Hey, yourself.” He went down to one knee to acknowledge the dog. “What a welcome! I missed you too, bud.”

“Odd,” Alice remarked at the dog’s reaction. “He barely knows you.”

“We’re kindred souls.”

She doubted that. The dog was sweet and mostly gentle. In more ways than one, Rowdy Yates represented walking, talking trouble.

Unlike Reese, he didn’t speak in a falsetto voice to Cash. There were many, many other ways in which he differed from Reese, as well. Where Reese instilled trust and confidence, Rowdy brought out blushes and heart palpitations.

Standing there, one hand on her throat, the other crossed over her stomach, Alice wondered why in the world he’d come to visit.

His blond hair, darker than Reese’s, was a little too long and a lot too messy, as if the wind—or a woman’s hands—had recently played with it. He had beard shadow, not because he’d just awakened, but because he hadn’t bothered to shave. He wore a snowy white undershirt with jeans so ancient the denim was threadbare in places.

All in all, he made a rugged, mouth-watering package. Alice gulped and asked with some hope, “Are you looking for Reese?”

“Nope.” He scooped up the dog. “Instead of hanging out here while you analyze me, how about we take this little party inside?”

But they weren’t having a party! And how had he known she was analyzing him? “I, ah...”

As if she had no say so at all, Rowdy strode in, and she could have sworn Cash smiled at her as they went past. Alice just managed to get out of Rowdy’s way.

With the back view of him now presented to her, she couldn’t help but notice his muscled tush—and the outline of a big folding knife in his back pocket. She’d barely met him, but it didn’t surprise her that he’d armed himself. In fact, she’d bet he had another weapon or two hidden on his person.

Why was he here?

She had no reason to distrust Rowdy. But then, she had no real reason to trust him either.

Leaving the front door partially ajar, she followed him into her apartment.

They hadn’t been properly introduced, but she knew Rowdy as one of the men involved in the violence yesterday. “You’re Rowdy Yates, Pepper’s brother.”

“And you’re Alice, Reese’s neighbor.” He gave her a killer grin guaranteed to make a woman’s knees wobbly.

Alice didn’t doubt its effectiveness—but he wasted it on her. So far, only Reese had the ability to overwhelm her with his presence.

“Alice Appleton.” Given that Reese now knew her name, there didn’t seem to be much reason for the continued subterfuge—at least, not in that. Concern furrowed her brow. “Is everything okay?”

“You tell me.” Going to her couch as if he visited every day, as if they were somehow old friends instead of brand-new acquaintances, he dropped into a seat. Cash remained on his lap, a look of rapture on his dark face.

Given his exceptional good looks, it wasn’t a hardship to study Rowdy. And in that study, she saw so many emotions. Self-assurance. Even arrogance.

But she also sensed his troubled thoughts. About what? Yesterday he’d been in the middle of extreme circumstances. Reese had told her that Rowdy’s sister had been threatened. How powerless had that made him feel?

He appeared the overprotective sort. But now his sister was with Reese’s good friend, Detective Logan Riske. Did that leave Rowdy somehow displaced? Did he have any other family to turn to?

She had family, and yet, she was still...alone.

“How long are you going to do that?”

Worry for him kept her from embarrassment, and obliterated her usual reserve. “Not much longer.”

“Good.” He got comfortable, one arm along the back of the couch. “I don’t mind female attention—”

“I’m sure you’re used to it.”

“—but now it’s getting a little disturbing. Almost like you’re dissecting me or something.”

“My apologies.” After a moment of hesitation, Alice approached him, decided to sit close and even reached for his hand.

Wariness sharpened his casual posture.

She ignored his unease, and instead went with her instincts. “How are you, Rowdy?”

Taken aback, he scowled. “That’s my question for you.”

“I’m not the one who was threatened yesterday.”

He tried to retrieve his hand, but Cash in his lap hampered him, and she held on. “That wasn’t—”

“A big deal?” Very gently she patted his hand. “Of course it was. Guns were aimed at you, and that means you could have lost your life at any moment.”

“I figured we’d get free.”

Or had he resigned himself to death? Since he’d settled in, she knew she wouldn’t easily get him to leave. Instead of even trying, she held his hand in both of hers and tried a different tack. “I met your sister yesterday. Only briefly and of course not under the best circumstances. She’s very beautiful, and very brave.”

“Yeah, that’s Pepper for you.”

“The two of you are close?”

He stopped straining away and instead scrutinized her. “Very.”

“I understand that she was threatened, as well.” She tipped her head and said without inflection, “Human trafficking, correct?”

His jaw locked as he leaned forward. “Never would have happened. I’d have taken those bastards apart with my bare hands before letting them—”

“I know.” She squeezed his fingers to soothe him, to let him know the coarse language hadn’t offended her. His hands were big and rough. Capable hands—not that it would have mattered. “Good men always feel that way, and yet, you know that women still get hurt.”

Dark eyes narrowed in a scowl. “What do you know about that, Alice?”

Poor Rowdy. He hoped to turn the tables on her by deflecting her concern.

She wouldn’t let him. “I can see your worry, Rowdy. Your vulnerability.”

“What the f*ck?” Indignation wasn’t the only emotion coloring his laugh. “I am not vulnerable.”

“The language doesn’t shield you. In fact, it gives away your upset.”

His teeth clenched. “I’m not upset either.”

“Of course you are.” His raised voice was as much an indicator as the guarded expression in his eyes. “About your future,” she insisted, “about what to do next and how to proceed.”

“Proceed with what? Sorry, sweetheart, but you’re not making any sense.”

And now endearments. It was a tactic meant to reduce her conclusions to insignificance. The little woman spouting nonsense. She shook her head in pity. Rowdy didn’t know her fortitude, he didn’t understand that it took a lot more than that to derail her.

“Your sister is in love with a police detective. Where does that leave you?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

They both knew better. “For a man who treads a fine line of right and wrong, how difficult must it be to have a cop for a brother-in-law?”

He breathed hard, then muttered, “They’re not married yet.” Pulling his hand from hers, he set Cash aside and stood. After a moment, he shrugged. “But, yeah, I saw her today and it seems they’re making plans at Mach speed.”

Alice looked up at him. “You’re opposed to the wedding?”

“No.” He started to pace. “Logan’s a good man. I like him.”

“You trust him.”

“Of course I do. What’s with the psychobabble? Are you a shrink now?”

Her smile held understanding. “Can you pick a lock, Rowdy?”

A show of nonchalance couldn’t hide his antagonism. “Yeah, sure.”

“And yet, you’re not a locksmith.”

“I learned on the street.” He took a single step toward her. “Picking locks, along with a boatload of other talents, was a skill I acquired out of necessity.”

Exactly how she’d learned to read people—out of necessity. Given the shift in his expression, now more concerned than combative, he must have come to the same conclusion.

To head off any intrusive questions, Alice tried to steer the conversation. “Does it reassure you to know that Pepper will be well protected?”

Rather than the idea sidetracking him, he jumped on it. “What makes you think she needs protection?”

How to answer? How to explain that she’d made many assumptions in a very short time? Stalling, Alice gave Cash a pat before she, too, stood. “You could call it a hunch if you want.”

Rowdy planted his big feet apart and crossed his thick arms over his chest. “Here’s the thing, honey. You’re not the only one with hunches. And that’s why I’m here.” He chucked her under the chin. “I have a hunch you’re running scared. It’ll be easier on you if you just settle down and tell me why.”

* * *

SHE DIDN’T SCARE EASY, he’d give her that. Even though he pressured her, he couldn’t crack Alice’s calm facade.

When she’d first started digging into his head, into his motives, Rowdy had told himself to take off. If Alice didn’t want to share, then to hell with it. Let her be Reese’s problem. God knew that one enjoyed doubting everyone and everything...but, yeah, that wasn’t entirely fair. He’d given Reese, the astute bastard, good reason for doubt.

As if she’d read his mind, Alice asked, “Does Reese know you’re here?”

He laughed. “No.”

“You don’t trust him?”

“Other way around, honey.” It still burned his ass, but what the hell? Why not tell her? “What do you know about Reese?”

Without hesitation, right to the point, she said, “He’s a good man.”

“Yeah, I suppose he is. Not that I always believed it.”

“You must not know him well.”

Because if he did, he’d nominate him for sainthood? Rowdy bit back a snort. “Nope. Hardly at all, in fact.” He grinned at her. “We had this little case of mistaken identity. Logan and Reese thought I’d witnessed a murder two years past, but it was actually my sister....” Sickness burned his stomach, sent acid into his throat.

Playing cavalier became more difficult.

Not that Miss Alice Appleton was easy to fool, anyway. He rubbed at an ache in his temple. “Scratch all that, okay? The bastard is dead now, and good riddance.”

Voice soft, strangely comforting, she said, “So the murderer was the man who died in Reese’s apartment.”

A statement, not a question, but Rowdy confirmed it, anyway. “Yeah. Because of him, because of what he would’ve done if he’d known Pepper was a witness, we lived off the grid.” He couldn’t quite look at her, because damn it, she’d probably see too much, far more than she’d already surmised. “We managed to lay low for those two years, but after Logan and Reese exposed us, we became instant loose ends.”

“So you would have been killed?”

He lifted one shoulder, hoping to shake off the tension that clung to every muscle. “Reese and Logan, and others, too.”

“Everyone—except for your sister.” In deep thought, Alice whispered, “He would have kept her alive so he could sell her.”

Rage ignited, so bright Rowdy couldn’t speak, couldn’t answer. He gave a barely perceptible nod.

Attuned to him in a way that he wasn’t used to, Alice touched his arm. “It’s a very good thing that he’s dead.”

And therein lay the crux of the matter: her easy approval of such things, a mind-set that death could be the answer to a problem.

He decided to focus on Alice and tune out everything else.

Glad that she’d helped him with that, he covered her hand with his own. “Hell of an outlook, honey.” With alacrity he moved on to the purpose for his visit. “How does a buttoned-up gal like you get that indifferent about death?”

She tipped her head. “Buttoned-up?”

“Prim. Proper.” At her look of confusion, he gave her a nudge. “Come on, Alice. You’re a shrewd woman. I’m not telling you anything you don’t know.”

Distracted, maybe even a little insulted, she moved away from him to sit.

When Rowdy joined her, Cash crawled over to rest between them and gave a lusty sigh of contentment. She pushed her fingers into the dog’s fur in a gentle stroke that could mesmerize.

“I’m worried for you, Alice.”

Lost in thought, she said absently, “Don’t be.”

Not good enough. Yesterday, when she’d walked into the middle of the chaos, the death and the blood, he’d perceived something damaged in her persona, the same type of hopeless acceptance he’d seen in his sister—before she’d hooked up with Logan.

It bothered him because, almost instantly, he’d recognized Alice as a woman with dark secrets and a fair store of fear. How could any man turn a blind eye to that?

Measuring his words, hoping to reach her, Rowdy said with utmost seriousness, “The thing is, Alice, I know women, so I know—

She laughed. At him.

A little irate, he waited for her humor to subside. “That’s funny?”

“Absolutely.” Her smile was teasing—and made her look really pretty. “You’re so incorrigible and untamed.”

“Untamed, huh?” What the hell did that mean? She made him sound like a wild animal.

“Definitely.” Leaning closer, looking into his eyes, she pretended to share a secret. “You’re also incredibly big and undeniably handsome.”

Ears burning a little, he tried to lean away from her without looking too obvious. It wasn’t often he dodged a woman. Like maybe never. But this couldn’t happen, so he tried to be gentle but up front. “You know I’m only here as a friend, right?”

Another of her silly laughs escaped, and damn, it sounded so sweet, it almost made him smile.

Her chastising look forewarned him. “We’re hardly friends, Rowdy.”

“We could be.” If she’d stop laughing at me.

Now she sighed. “I’d like that, actually. Thank you.”

The truth struck him. He was both relieved and a little embarrassed. “You weren’t coming on to me, were you?”

“No, I wasn’t. I’m sorry, but honestly, I wouldn’t even know how.”

He wouldn’t tell her that she’d done a damn good job without trying.

She rubbed the dog’s neck, then around and under his chin. “You and Reese share a similar look.”

“Yeah?” Since Reese was polished, with a witty perspective on life, Rowdy didn’t see it. Well, except that they were both blond and tall.

“You’re big.”

Since a statement like that had all kinds of connotations, he had to cough to keep from making a joke. With any other woman...but, yeah, this was Alice.

“And you really are handsome.” This time it was his hair she tunneled her fingers into. “I’m sure women appreciate the ‘bad boy’ guise you’ve cultivated.”

Bad boy? Guise? His neck stiffened. “I haven’t cultivated—”

“But Reese is also big.” Dropping her hand, she smiled off at nothing in particular. “And incredibly handsome. And he’s...” Her voice faded. “He’s sooo...”

Curiosity got the better of him. “What?”

She licked her lips and inhaled a deep breath, only to let it out in a long sigh.

Put off, Rowdy scowled at her. “If you start purring, I’m outta here.”

A blush warmed her cheeks. She straightened her shoulders and refocused on him. “My point is that you and Reese might have similarities, but you also have differences. Like that giant chip on your shoulder and that cocky swagger—”

“I do not swagger.” Did he?

“—that proclaims you a rebel.” With a mere glance, she shared her sympathy. “You like butting heads with the law, walking that narrow path between saint and sinner, and we both know it. I think you enjoy it.”

The sinner part he could attest to, but where the hell had she gotten the saint angle? “Sorry, doll, you don’t really know me at all. What I do or don’t enjoy. Who I enjoy it with.” He warmed to his subject, ready to wrest the upper hand from her velvet grip. “In fact—”

Suddenly Alice stiffened, lifted her head as if she heard something.

“What is it?”

She put a finger to her lips as if in warning, then shook her head.

Cash watched her with the same confusion Rowdy felt.

As she rose silently from the couch, her gaze on the front door, she said, “So you saw your sister today? How is Detective Riske feeling?”

What the hell was she up to? She made not a single sound as she inched toward her door. “He’s grouchy.” Fascinated, Rowdy watched as she stopped to study the door a moment. “I don’t think he likes being pampered any more than I would.”

She gestured for him to continue. He obliged, but in case trouble intruded, he also stood. “Pepper isn’t the typical mother hen. Far from it. Her efforts at coddling are as likely to drive Logan nuts as anything else.”

As he spoke, Alice went on tiptoe to look out the door’s peephole. Apprehension dropped her back to her heels.

With a huff, she jerked the door open. “You scared me.”

There stood Reese, and it was obvious he’d been eavesdropping. It took him only a second to find his aplomb. “Sorry. I was about to knock.”

She snorted.

That particular sound coming from that particular woman might have amused Rowdy. But under the circumstances, it didn’t penetrate past his annoyance. “Damn it.” He hadn’t heard a thing, hadn’t even realized that Alice had left the door unsecured. “I’m slipping.”

“No, you’re fine.” Alice waved off his disgruntlement. “It’s just that I’m familiar with the sounds in my apartment.”

“He wasn’t in your apartment,” Rowdy pointed out. “He was lurking around the hallway.”

“Lurking?” Reese asked with a raised brow, but he couldn’t very well deny it.

“I’m familiar with those sounds, as well.”

Chagrined, Reese looked at Alice, gave her a half smile and then zeroed in on Rowdy.

Well, hell. He had hoped to be long gone before Reese realized he’d come to call, but too late for subterfuge now. Rowdy lifted his hands in surrender. “Busted.”

Carrying a stuffed overnight bag and some clothes over his arm, Reese strode in, all the while letting Rowdy feel his discontent. “Care to tell me what you’re doing here?”

“I’m just visiting.” Rowdy nodded at Reese’s load. “But it looks like you’re moving in.”

As if someone had goosed her, Alice jumped. “What? No.”

Dismissing that reaction, Rowdy whistled low. “Fast work, Reese. I had no idea.”

Alice started to speak again, but Reese cut her off. “So, now you know. Make note of it, okay?”

Alice subsided with a wide-eyed look of surprise.

So, it was like that, huh? Rowdy saluted him. Sure, there was no denying Alice’s interest in Reese. Hell, she’d spelled it out, all the while going moony-eyed. Granted, he didn’t know Reese that well. But he hadn’t quite figured Alice as his type. Still, stranger things had happened.

Cash showered Reese with the same enthusiastic welcome Rowdy had received. Fickle mutt. “That dog loves everyone.”

“No,” Alice said, “he doesn’t.” Hands on her hips, she addressed Reese with accusation. “You were listening in.”

“I’m a cop, Alice, remember? I’m trained to eavesdrop.” Catching the back of her neck, Reese held her still as he lowered his mouth to hers. Alice froze, but she allowed it.

That was fast work.

The kiss lingered, and Rowdy lifted both brows. He meant what he’d said: he knew women, so he knew it wasn’t in Alice’s nature to get involved easily. Reese must’ve conjured some magic.

It wasn’t any of his business, but damn it, he felt protective—maybe of both of them. And wasn’t that a bunch of bullshit? Hell, Reese was a well-trained, astute, hulk of a cop.

Alice needed a gentle hand, but Reese...well, Alice hid something dark and dangerous. Rowdy saw it there in her eyes, the same shadows he faced every time he looked in a mirror. Would Alice’s past cause problems for a reputable cop?

Tired of being a voyeur, Rowdy said, “You’re going to make her faint.”

With clear reluctance, Reese pulled back, and Alice struggled to get it together. It was amusing to watch, and her blush was as pretty as her smile, as uplifting as her laugh.

“Behave, Rowdy.” She licked her lips, realized what she’d done and glared at both men.

Rowdy fought off a grin. The lady had grit—which meant she wouldn’t easily give into fears or intimidation. Whatever she had in her past, it had to be something substantial.

It was nice that she had Reese’s attention, but that wouldn’t keep Rowdy from giving protection of his own. After all, Reese was limited by legalities.

Rowdy...not so much.

Judging by Reese’s possessive posture—with both the dog and Alice—things were about to get real interesting.

That was just the way Rowdy liked it.