by Lori Foster
“They’re real protective of Tim.”
“Their idea of protection has left him weak. Without you, what would he have done with this current mess?”
“Good question.” Typical of May, she leveled her shoulders and lifted her chin. “But he does have me, and I can’t just turn my back on him.”
“You’ll be helping him in the long run, but if it’ll make you feel better, I promise to tell you ahead of time what I’m doing with Tim and why. So what do you say? Are we in agreement so far?”
“I don’t understand you.” Knees pressed together and expression fretful, she leaned forward in the chair. “You’re being so generous.”
“I can afford to be generous. “Jude caught her hands and pulled her to her feet. “But I’m not finished. I also want a special arrangement with you.”
In exaggerated frustration, she collapsed against him. “I’m afraid to ask.”
Jude kissed her forehead. “Never be afraid of me, May. I wouldn’t hurt you.”
“Jude Jamison,” she said, only half teasing, “you would break my small-town, country-girl heart, and you know it.”
More likely, she’d break his. So far, she’d proven efficient at fending him off—while he’d run the gamut of emotions trying to get past her defenses. In so many ways, her strength awed him. “I guess I’ll have to prove you wrong.” He leaned back and put his hands on his hips. “But first, the rest of our agreement.”
“I hope you don’t expect me to sign anything.”
“I want to dress you.”
She laughed—but when he didn’t, her face went first blank, then hot with color. “You have to be kidding.”
“We’ve already concluded that I’ve got money to burn, so let me have the fun of buying you clothes.”
“No.”
Such a weak denial could be easily ignored. “What you wear isn’t the least bit flattering. You have a kickin’ body, and I know just how to show it off.”
She pushed out of his hold. “No.”
Jude headed for the door. “Denny will be back soon. Go ahead and get changed so you’ll be comfortable, then come down to the kitchen. I haven’t eaten yet and I’m starved. We can all talk over brunch.”
“Jude.” May scrambled after him.
He started to pull the door shut, but at the last second, he caved. Damn it, he didn’t want to walk away while she looked so flustered. “How about a kiss to tide me over?”
May frowned, but she puckered up and kissed him. It was a virginal kiss, mouths closed, no tongue—and he still loved it.
“Nice.” He flicked the end of her nose. “Do you realize we can buy you an entire new wardrobe over the Internet? We won’t even need to leave the house.”
“I won’t wear it.”
“You haven’t even seen it yet. I have great taste in women’s clothes.” He winked. “But if you want to go naked, hey, I promise I won’t utter a single complaint.”
The door shut in his face. A second later, he heard a thunk that could have been her head hitting the door, followed by a groan. Poor May. He was starting to confuse her as much as she confused him.
All things considered, not a bad sign.
———
Feeling like an idiot in the man’s jacket and backward baseball hat, Ashley leaned on the doorbell—and continued to lean on it while examining a broken nail. Next to her, Denny grumbled—but then, he’d done a lot of that. Like May, he wanted to take care of everyone. He’d alternated between treating her like a lost orphan and a favored niece. He might be old enough to be her dad, not that her dad ever gave her as much attention, but she wasn’t a child. She could take care of herself.
The sooner Mr. Zip realized that, the better they’d get along.
The door opened, and there stood Jude Jamison in the flesh. Wow. Ashley had met him before, but familiarity hadn’t reduced his impact. A lesser woman might have sighed in pleasure just looking at him, but she held it in. How the hell May kept resisting him, she didn’t know. The man was a certified stud.
He smiled his megawatt movie star smile at her. “Hello, Ashley. Thanks for coming.”
She pulled the hat off her head and let her hair fall down her back. “What, no butler?”
“I’m the butler,” Denny pointed out.
“Now, why didn’t I know that?”
Grinning, Jude pulled the front doors open wide, and Ashley stepped inside. She wanted to see May. Her friend had strange ideas about romantic relationships—most specifically that she couldn’t have one. Being in the home of a man she secretly adored probably had her out of sorts.
With a low whistle, Ashley took in the interior of the mansion. Everything matched and looked new and… perfect.
As a lover of clutter and comfort, she knew she could never live that way, but she said, “Nice digs, Jude.”
“Thank you.”
She didn’t spot May, so she called out, “Lucy, I’m home!” The words no sooner left her mouth than the twelve-foot ceilings sent them back to her. “Cool, an echo. Imagine that.”
Jude laughed, but Denny didn’t share in the amusement. He glared at Ashley. “I had a hell of a time getting her into those clothes.”
Ashley cast him an evil glance. “Most guys bitch because they can’t get me out of my clothes.”
“They must not know you well.”
She made a tsking sound. “I told you once, Denny, a little politeness wouldn’t have hurt anything. One of these days, you’ll learn.”
“I was trying to save your skinny ass, not flatter you.”
“Oh, trust me, no one would ever accuse you of flattery.” Then, just to shut him up, Ashley gave her attention to Tim. “Hallelujah. For once, Tim’s not complaining.”
Actually, Tim occupied himself by sizing up Jude’s home. He had stars in his one good eye and a look of connivance on his beat-up face. Anyone could see that he wanted what Jude had.
To sneak them out of the apartment without notice, Denny had worn dark glasses and a baseball cap similar to Ashley’s, but in a different color. He’d more or less muscled Tim—who whined and carped the entire time—into threadbare jeans and an Aerosmith T-shirt. With mussed hair, more dark glasses, and a lit cigarette hanging from his mouth, he looked less like Tim the Wimp and more like every other twentysomething guy.
Keeping the cigarette between his bruised and swollen lips had proved tricky. The second Denny had them both in the car, Tim had tossed it. He’d lounged in the backseat while Ashley rode up front with Denny.
Tim said, “Whas goin’ on? Why’m I here?”
Jude started to answer when May appeared at the top of the stairs, and he became riveted on her instead.
And no wonder. Not since they were kids had Ashley seen May so… dressed down. Her hair was even more tumbled now than when she’d left her apartment. Cell phone to her ear, she hesitated at the top of the stairs. “Mom, I really have to go now. No, I can’t… Yeah, I know. I won’t. I promise. Yes, Mom, I’ll take care of it. Yes.” She waved to Ashley, her bare feet shifting anxiously while trying to end the call to her mother. “Mom, I need to go.”
Unless Ashley missed her guess, May had removed the too-tight sports bra. Only an enormous, well-worn SBC T-shirt and a pair of loose navy blue shorts covered her.
Judging by the rapt expression on Jude’s face, he noticed the loss of a bra, too.
“Look,” Ashley said, elbowing Jude in the side, “she’s got knees. Who knew?”
“I did.” In a near trance, Jude started forward, but May finally disconnected the call and, holding the hem of the shirt as low as possible, rushed down the steps.
“Sorry about that.” Bouncing in a dozen places, May came to a halt in the entryway. “I had to call my mom and dad, and naturally, they’re… concerned.”
Ashley snorted.
“Chris’, May,” Tim complained, “you did’n tell ‘em anythin’, did you?”
“I told them only as much as I had to without lying.
”
“Freakin’ wunnerful.”
“You should have been the one to call them,” Ashley pointed out to Tim. “You had plenty of opportunities.”
“They know we’re here now, at Jude’s home.” May sent Tim a look of apology. “Mom wants you to call her as soon as you can.”
Denny spoke over the top of Tim’s moan. “I was planning to put him in the guest rooms downstairs.”
Without much interest, Jude said, “Works for me.” His focus remained on May.
Fighting off her smile, Ashley looked from Jude to May and back again. A hungry, blatantly sexual glimmer lit Jude’s eyes—which was probably why May wouldn’t look at him.
“Downstairs?” Tim limped toward May. “Why’r they puttin’ me downstairs?”
“It’s close to the pool and sauna,” Denny explained. “I’ve seen fighters beat up way worse than you, and water always helps the recuperation process.”
That only agitated Tim more. “Will someone tell me wha’ the hell’s goin’ on?”
Seeing Jude struggle between his fascination with May and his self-assigned obligation to Tim thrilled Ashley. She wondered if her friend understood the significance of his involvement. Knowing May, she doubted it. Guys could ogle her all day, and she never paid the least bit of attention.
Before May could address Tim’s concerns, Jude put his arm around her and turned to Denny. “What’s the verdict?”
“Other than a bad case of wuss-itis, he’s fine. Lots of colorful bruising, but nothing’s broken.”
“What about his ribs?” May asked.
“They’re fine.”
Just to keep Denny riled, Ashley said, “I agree, but you can’t rule out breaks without an X-ray.”
Right before her eyes, Denny seemed to swell. “I keep telling you, I’ve had years of experience in treating injuries.”
“Then you should know what I say is true.”
Typically, May fretted. “Should I take him to the hospital, do you think?”
Tim said, “No!”
Denny stepped past Tim to confront Ashley. “Even if he went for X-rays, they don’t do anything for broken ribs except rest. And, Ms. Smarty Pants, sometimes even an X-ray’s inconclusive.”
Ashley glanced at Jude. “Is he always such a hard-on?”
May gasped.
Jude grinned and said, “Pretty much, yeah.”
And Tim started moaning again.
“Damn young people today think they know everything.”
Enjoying herself, Ashley replied, “And cranky old farts think they can boss everyone around.”
“Old!”
“Well, sure. Compared to a young person like myself, forty’s old.”
“I’m forty-seven.”
“Really?” Ashley lifted her brows. “You’re in great shape.”
Denny had his mouth open for more arguments, but when the compliment sank in, he snapped it shut and glared at her in suspicion.
Jude stepped between them. “Let’s all go to the kitchen for now. Tim can answer some questions over a meal.”
Liking that idea, since she hadn’t yet eaten, Ashley asked, “Do you have a cook?”
Through his teeth, Denny said, “That’d be me.”
“A jack of all trades, huh? The Amazing Denny Zip. I’m proud to know to you.”
“For today,” Jude said, “I took care of the meal.”
“You cook?”
“Course he does,” Denny snapped, taking exception to everything she said. “Does he look helpless?”
“No, just filthy rich. But hey, admittedly I don’t know squat about the habits of the rich and famous. If you say they all cook, then I believe you.”
That took the wind out of Denny. “Jude here is the only nabob I know well, but he’s not like the rest.”
“Thus my confusion.” Ashley walked away to hook arms with May, saying in a stage whisper, “Some guys can dish it out, but they sure can’t take it.”
“I heard that, young lady.”
More or less dragging May with her, Ashley laughed. “So where’s this kitchen? I’m starved.”
———
May stared at her brother in dismay. “What do you mean you don’t know how to repay the money?”
Slumped in his seat with an empty plate in front of him, Tim looked like a petulant child. Much of the swelling in his face remained, but he could now open both eyes and speak more clearly. Not that what he said helped much.
“I didn’t have the money to pay, so I didn’t ask.”
Jude smirked. “You just figured you’d kill me and be even-steven?”
Tim was wise enough to avoid Jude’s gaze. “They beat the hell outta me, okay? I wasn’t thinking straight.”
“You never think at all, or you wouldn’t be in this situation—a situation that now involves your sister.”
Face coloring, Tim glared. “If she hadn’t made me walk to the Squirrel—”
May started to object, but Jude beat her to it.
“Enough.”
Tim shrank back in his seat.
“I’m going to tell you this one time only, Tim, so I suggest you listen. This is your mess. You took the money, you gambled it away, and you’ll be the one to repay me—on my terms. May is the only reason I’m willing to help. You won’t insult her, you won’t blame her, and you won’t attempt to involve her further. If you do, I’ll cut you loose, and you can fend for yourself. And don’t look at your sister, damn it. If she had fifty thousand to give you, neither of you would be here now.”
Very quietly, May said, “That’s not true.”
With a smug smile, Tim straightened, until May said, “I came here because you were threatened, too, Jude. Otherwise, I’d have convinced Tim to go to the police.”
“Now, wait a minute,” Tim protested.
“Oh, shut up,” Ashley told him. “Let your sister talk.”
May couldn’t help it. With everyone picking on Tim, she did feel sorry for him. A lifetime habit wasn’t easy to break. “I still think the police should be notified. But I didn’t want to do anything that might jeopardize Jude. He needs to know who wants him dead.”
Pointing his fork at Jude, Denny said, “I already know who it is, even if Jude won’t admit it.”
“I’m the one in trouble here,” Tim reminded everyone. “They said they’d kill me if I went to the police. That means no police.”
Under his breath, but not under enough, Denny muttered, “Chickenshit.”
Affronted, Tim glared around the table. “Okay. I get it. No one cares about me. Let them kill me. I won’t be missed.”
Jude rolled his eyes.
“But you should remember, they said if they couldn’t get me, they’d get her.” He pointed his finger at May.
“I’m not going to let that happen,” Jude told him in an icy, controlled tone.
Wound up, Tim lifted out of his chair to address everyone at once. He braced himself with one hand flat on the tabletop, his other hand at his ribs.
“They said they knew I could get to Jude, because he hung around May. They said I’d be doing May a favor by getting rid of him, before he got rid of her.”
Denny slammed down his fork.
“They said if I didn’t care enough about her welfare to protect her from him, why should they care? They said—”
“That’s enough.” May was so furious, she shook all over. “You know what you’re saying is nonsense, Tim. You know it’s all lies. How dare you—”
“It’s all right, May.” Calm personified, Jude squeezed her hand while addressing Tim. “You won’t raise your voice to your sister. Ever. Do you understand me?”
Heaving, Tim stared at Jude, then at May.
“This is between us, Tim. Quit waiting for your sister to defend you, and tell me you understand.”
Finally, he relented. “I understand.”
“Tomorrow morning, my banker will deliver papers that spell out the terms of the loan and how you�
��ll pay me back.”
Surprise slackened Tim’s expression. “Pay you back?”
“Did you think it’d be a gift?”
Obviously, he had, but he pinched his mouth shut and reseated himself without a word.
“Wise decision.” All business, Jude leaned forward and crossed his arms on the table. “You’ll sign the loan agreement with witnesses present so there won’t be any mistakes.”
“I’ll be no better off with your so-called help. The only difference is the loan shark.”
“Fine.” If May could have reached her brother, she’d have kicked him. She shot to her feet and flattened her hands on the table to lean toward him. “Then don’t take the loan. Be an idiot. Get up and leave right now. Take your chances with… with whomever.”
“Calm down, May.”
“Calm down?” She turned on Jude and found him eyeing her rear in the awful shorts. Good God, she’d forgotten she wore them.
To better conceal herself, she plopped back down in her seat and considered screaming.
Tim’s behavior both shamed and embarrassed her. And Jude shrugged it off as nothing. To Tim, she snapped, “At least Jude won’t kill you over the money!”
Totally deadpan, Jude said, “Don’t make promises you can’t keep, honey.”
“Jude.”
He laughed—when it was far from a laughing matter.
“You might want to give your sister’s suggestion some thought. No, I won’t kill you. But I won’t let you weasel out of the loan, either. You might prefer another beating to dealing with me when it comes to money.”
“But you’re loaded,” Tim reasoned.
“And I intend to stay that way.”
Scoffing, Tim asked, “Why would you even care? Fifty thousand is nothing to you.”
“There’s where you’re wrong. It’s a debt that you will pay back. But I’ll be generous.” Tim looked hopeful, until Jude said, “I’ll give you until tomorrow morning to think about it.”
Snickering, Denny stood and gathered up the empty dishes. Nodding at Jude and May, he said, “You two should get some sleep. You both look beat.”
That sounded like a wonderful plan to May. She was so tired that it hurt her eyes to blink.
His voice a little too deep, Jude said, “I’ll see that she rests.” He caught May’s hand and pulled her to her feet.