Say No To Joe?

by Lori Foster

  “Yep. I think their mom used it to support them, but their aunt told me she closed it off after she moved in.”

  “But that’s—” Joe glanced into the side-view mirror, fell silent, then finally said, “Look, there’s a Creamy Whip. Let’s get an ice cream.”

  Luna rubbed her forehead. “Joe, you can’t be hungry still.”

  “Ice cream has nothing to do with hunger. Hell, it’s ninety-two outside.” He slid a hand over her thigh, suggestively squeezing. “Aren’t you hot? I know I am. A malt would really hit the spot.”

  Actually, now that he’d said it, she could use some cooling down. Just being next to Joe affected her, keeping him in the forefront of her mind. “At this rate we’ll never make it there, and I really want to get out of this damn truck of yours.”

  “You don’t think my truck is comfortable?”

  She took the exit and pulled into a crowded parking lot. “I think my little Contour is much, much better. Even with your seat pulled all the way up, I barely reach the pedals.”

  She expected some response, but Joe wasn’t really listening to her complaints. He continued to idly stroke her leg while again looking in the side-view mirror. It finally dawned on Luna that he was watching something. Or someone.

  With a gasp, she snapped, “Damn you, Joe, what are you doing?”

  “Hmm? Oh, nothing. We’re being followed, that’s all.”

  Luna gaped at him. “That’s all?”

  “I didn’t want to alarm you, but yeah.” He twisted in the seat, and they both watched the road behind them as traffic went by. “He’s cagey, whoever he is. He knows I’m onto him, so he kept going.”

  Her temper simmered. “How does he know you’re onto him?”

  “Because we stopped so often.” Joe gave her a “duh” look. “I kept checking him. He was careful not to pull in behind us, but no matter how many times I made you stop, or how long I took, he always managed to be a discreet distance behind us.”

  His logic awed her. “That could be a coincidence.”

  Shaking his head, Joe said, “I don’t believe in coincidence.”

  He’d said that more than once. Luna was just tired enough, just fractious enough, to slug him in the shoulder. “You bastard.”

  “Ow, hey.” He caught her wrist and pressed her hand down to his hard thigh. “Why are you attacking me?”

  Luna’s fingers twitched. Joe held her palm far too close to his most dominantly male parts, and he expected her to answer questions? She could feel the heat of him and the flex of rock-hard muscle. Joe could be so diabolical. But she wouldn’t let him get the better of her so easily. She firmed her resolve and said, “Why the hell didn’t you tell me?”

  Joe looked around, making her aware of several people gazing at them. In contrast to her voice, he sounded calm and totally unaffected. “What would you have done?” He inched her hand slightly higher. “Besides getting nervous, glancing out the rearview mirror constantly and maybe causing a wreck?”

  “I would not have wrecked.” But she would have been nervous. Damn him for being right. “From now on, I expect you to tell me everything. Everything, Joe. Do you understand?”

  “Yeah, sure. Whatever you say, honey.” He sounded about as sincere as a brick. Luna started to tell him so when he leaned forward and took her mouth in a warm, firm kiss. Her fingers contracted on his thigh; her mouth opened without her even thinking about it.

  Joe teased her bottom lip with his tongue, then lifted away the tiniest bit. Luna felt his smile against her mouth. “What’s your pleasure? Besides me, I mean? Looks like they’ve got quite a menu here.”

  He mixed sexual innuendoes in with casual conversation to the point she could barely keep up with him. Then she realized he’d released her hand, yet her fingers were still clutching his thigh, high up near his crotch. She shoved him away and did her best to ignore his triumphant laugh. “What about the guy following us?”

  Joe opened his door and got out, but leaned back in to say, “I’ll drive the rest of the way. He won’t be able to follow.”

  “But …”

  “No buts. Now, I’m getting a large chocolate malt. Do you want one? Or should we share?” He straightened away from the door. “Let’s share. I like that idea. And then you can hold the thing for me.”

  He closed the door without waiting for her agreement and went to the back of the line leading to the ice cream window. His gait was stiff, but not hobbling, as it had been that morning. Perhaps the quiet, peaceful time during the drive and his off-and-on dozing had helped. He appeared to be improving by the hour.

  Her lips still tingling, Luna gazed at him. Among the children and parents waiting for their treats, Joe stood out like a dark pirate. Surrounded by carefree kids, his big body looked even more powerful. His coal black hair blew across his forehead, teased by a gentle breeze, and his heavy brows and whisker-rough face made his blue gaze appear even sharper as he continually surveyed the lot and everyone in it. He stood loose limbed, ready—for anything. But with his aura of danger, Joe’s casual stance in an ice cream line seemed ludicrous.

  Someone had followed them.

  Recalling that fact, Luna looked around. It occurred to her that she didn’t even know what their tail looked like. How could she possibly be on the lookout if she wouldn’t recognize the guy?

  She was still pondering that when Joe tapped on her window, making her lurch with a short, startled shriek. He grinned. “Jumpy, aren’t you? Well, scoot. I’m driving.”

  “Joe, I can handle it.”

  “No.”

  Her temper rose. Joe had a lot to learn about giving her orders with any expectation of having them obeyed.

  “What?” he asked in all innocence when she continued to glare at him. He reached through the window and gently stroked her chin, her throat, her upper chest with an absorption totally out of place to the time and location. “I wasn’t polite enough?”

  Knowing she’d already lost, Luna gave up with a shake of her head and some grumbling. “You are not a polite man and you know it.”

  “Untrue, but either way, I’m usually right. At least in situations like this.” He tucked her hair behind her ear, showing her that gentle side again and making her heart flip-flop. “Have a little trust, okay? I can outrun any tail without even trying. And we can’t have that much farther to go, right?”

  Luna hesitated, but the ending was inevitable. She’d be more effective in keeping a lookout, once she learned what she had to look out for. She pulled out the directions she’d been given and looked them over. “Not much farther at all.”

  “Great.” He opened the driver’s door and began crowding his big body into the seat behind the wheel, leaving her no option but to scramble awkwardly over the fold-down center armrest console. “Get your seat belt.”

  She glared at him over her shoulder, caught him staring at her behind, and said through her teeth, “I always do.” She dropped heavily into the seat and reached for the seat belt. He acted so autocratic, she wished she could refuse him, but she wasn’t willing to risk her own safety just to annoy Joe. “Give me the damn malt.”

  Joe laughed at her. “Yes, ma’am.” As soon as she’d taken it from him, he slid the seat all the way back so his long legs would fit.

  Luna took a fortifying drink of the malt. Delicious. “So who are we looking for?”

  “You can’t miss it. It’s a plain brown sedan, usually about ten to twelve car lengths behind us. No way in hell do I want him following us into town, though. It wouldn’t be safe for the kids, and I’m not going to risk them. I’d leave first.”

  Luna hated to even think it, but if it came down to that, she’d let Joe leave. Now that the kids were her responsibility, they had to come first. They needed her to take care of them, whereas Joe could take care of himself. Luckily, with Joe taking a few detours, they went the rest of the way with no sign of a brown car.

  They took one turn after another, and little by little the scenery c
hanged. Wide, busy highways led to narrow, mostly deserted streets, which gave way to rough asphalt roadways. If anyone had followed, they would be easy to spot. But the road behind them remained clear.

  They entered Welcome County, but saw no sign of their destination, a town comically named Visitation. Tall trees surrounded them, and there was only the occasional house or trailer to show habitation. It appeared they had driven into nowhere, and Joe apparently didn’t like that.

  Frowning, he pulled over and slipped on a pair of black-framed reading glasses. He took the directions and map from Luna, opening the papers over the console between them. “Damn, according to the map, we should be there.”

  Their heads almost touched as Luna leaned in to read the map, too. She touched her finger to the paper, indicating their present location. “It looks like we should just keep going straight, or as straight as the road lets us.”

  “I don’t like it. I haven’t seen a single sign noting Visitation. What kind of town doesn’t have a sign?” He cast a quick look around the deserted area. “The damn soundtrack to Deliverance is starting to play in my head.”

  Luna almost laughed, but she strangled on her humor when Joe suddenly stiffened. His gaze met hers, so icy cold and hard it filled her with unease. She could practically see his hair lifting, like a snarling dog that has scented danger.

  She was about to ask him what in the world was wrong when he jerked around and somehow, without any discernible motions, the balisong knife appeared in his hand. In mingled apprehension and amazement, Luna pressed back into her seat.

  Then she saw the man. He stood right next to Joe’s window, and he wasn’t smiling. Good God, with his dark beard, obsidian eyes and otherworldly air, he looked like a malevolent vision. Luna’s heart slammed into her ribs, then almost stopped, freezing right along with her body.

  Joe suffered no such problems.

  Chapter Six

  Joe couldn’t remember the last time he was so pissed. How the hell had someone crept up on him without him knowing? Jesus, he was getting old and slow, and maybe it was time to settle down when people started taking him by surprise over and over again.

  He had the car door open and the man a good distance away from Luna before two seconds had passed. Backing him up to a thick tree trunk, Joe held him immobile with one arm across his throat and the other pressing the knife to his ribs. “Who the fuck are you?”

  With no expression at all, the man stared back at Joe. And if Joe wasn’t mistaken, the man was amused. There was no smile, no softening to those harsh features, but something in his dark eyes gave him away. He definitely wasn’t afraid.

  “If you don’t know who I am,” he asked calmly, “why are you attacking me?”

  Damn. Joe didn’t exactly have an answer to that one. He’d gone by his instincts, overwrought no doubt under the stress of celibacy and his efforts to keep Luna safe. Feeling defensive, Joe pressed his arm a little tighter into the man. “You came sneaking up on us.”

  “No.” Other than the movement of his throat as he spoke, the man remained immobile. “I just approached your truck to speak to you.”

  “Without making a goddamned sound?” Joe demanded.

  The man’s black eyes glittered. Though Joe had no intention of moving, he felt compelled to take a step back. “Perhaps,” the man said in a voice deep and somehow eerie, “you just weren’t listening.”

  True enough, but unacceptable. “Let’s get back to my original question. Who are you?”

  “Jamie Creed. I live up on the mountain.”

  Joe glanced past him to an impenetrable wall of trees climbing high into a tall mountain. He saw no road. Hell, he didn’t even see a dirt path. Jamie seemed to have just … appeared. Out of nowhere. Without so much as snapping a twig to announce his arrival. “So what are you doing down here?”

  “I’m after supplies.”

  “What kind of supplies?”

  “An inquisition?” His mouth stayed flat, his eyes direct. “Okay. I needed more food, ammunition, and some electrical supplies. And before you ask, I hunt for my food, which is why I need more ammunition.”

  “You came here on foot?” Joe looked the man over. He wore faded jeans, sturdy lace-up boots, and a muscle shirt beneath an unbuttoned cambric shirt with the sleeves cut off. He was lean but hard, clean but unshaven. His beard would rival that of a hermit’s. Perhaps he was a hermit.

  Joe no sooner thought it than Jamie actually laughed. The sound was far too rough and raw to have any regular use. “My life is no real concern of yours. You’re looking for Visitation.” It was a statement, not a question. “Almost there. Two more miles and the road’ll dip into such a deep incline, it’ll appear you’re driving off the side of the earth until you see the sharp left turn.” Then, out of nowhere, he paused, studied Joe’s face, and his eyes narrowed. “You’re here for the kids.”

  How the hell had he come to that conclusion? Joe stiffened. “What kids?”

  Raven eyes tracked his face, his shoulders, making Joe uncomfortable with the close scrutiny. Distracted, he murmured, “Willow and Austin Calder. Their ma died some time back, and they need a mother.” He looked beyond Joe to the truck, and though his severe expression didn’t actually change, his eyes warmed with male appreciation. He rubbed a fingertip along the bridge of his nose, his stare so intent on Luna that Joe growled. In a low whisper, Jamie said, “Yes, you’re here for the kids.”

  As if Jamie had drawn her with but a look, Joe heard a door open and knew Luna was approaching. Damn her, couldn’t she ever just stay out of harm’s way? Joe started to order her back into the truck when Jamie turned back to him and pinned him with that intent stare.

  “He’s no threat, you know.”

  Luna sidled up to Joe’s side, but Joe tucked her behind his back. The knife was still in his hand, and by God it’d stay there until he felt secure that all was safe. Luna, bless her for being wise just this once, stayed behind him. “Who isn’t a threat?”

  “The man following you.” Jamie continued to look just over Joe’s shoulder where Luna had gone on tiptoe to peek. “He’s not the one.”

  Goddammit, about two more seconds of this mumbo jumbo and Joe was going to throw a punch. Jaw clenched so hard his teeth protested, Joe ground out, “What exactly does that mean?”

  Unconcerned, Jamie shrugged, then stuck out his hand to Luna. “I’m Jamie Creed.”

  Luna actually giggled, infuriating Joe and making him want to toss her sexy little ass back into the truck. What the hell did she have to giggle about?

  She reached beyond Joe to take the large, darkly tanned hand extended to her. “Hi. I’m Luna Clark.”

  And Jamie said again, “You’re here for the kids.”

  Luna the loony didn’t seem nearly as offset by that remark as Joe had been. “Why, yes, I am. Do you know them?”

  “I do. It’s good that you’re here.” He lifted her hand to his chest, flattening it there over his heart for several seconds while gazing at her with somber, profound import, almost as if he could see into her soul.

  Joe heard Luna inhale and knew she was holding her breath. After several seconds, Jamie nodded with grim satisfaction. “You’ll be perfect for them.”

  Luna gave another nerve-wracking, twittering laugh. Because Joe’s rage had just doubled with something that felt sickeningly like jealousy, he snatched Luna’s hand away from the other man and enfolded it in his own for safekeeping. What the hell did the stranger think, flirting with Luna right in front of him? Did he look like a man to toy with? And Luna had let him, even encouraged him.

  Joe damn near snarled in frustration. “You seem to know a hell of a lot about our business.”

  Jamie gave another slow nod. “I often know a lot of things.” He glanced up at the bright blue sky with a frown. “I should be on my way now. I need to be home before dark, and it’s a long walk.”

  “We appreciate your help,” Luna rushed to tell him.

  Incredulous, Joe jerked
around to stare down at her. “His help? How the hell did he help? By throwing out those obscure, ominous comments on things he shouldn’t have known a damn thing about?”

  Luna blinked at him, surprised by his venomous mood. “Well, he told us … I dunno. He said the kids need me and that I’m right for them and that the guy following us wasn’t a threat.”

  Joe scoffed. “And just like that, you believe him?”

  She shrugged. “Why not?”

  Disgusted by her naivete, Joe turned back to Jamie—but he was gone.

  “Mother fucker.” Joe released Luna so he could quickly walk the area, but the man had literally disappeared from sight. There was no sign of him anywhere. The road ahead was empty, and the land to the side of the road was undisturbed and just as wooded as that from where Jamie Creed had come. Joe concentrated hard, but he couldn’t see or hear so much as a rustling leaf or the snap of a twig. Either the man was a wraith or very, very dangerous.

  Luna touched Joe’s back. Her whisper was low, filled with reverence. “He’s amazing, isn’t he?”

  Raw jealousy took Joe’s breath. He had to fight to control himself in the face of the unfamiliar emotion. “Let’s go.” He flattened a hand on Luna’s back and hustled her to the truck. She remained either oblivious to his dangerous mood or uncaring, because she started to whistle.

  Her whistling hit a shrill note when he pulled her around and into his chest.

  “What—”

  Just to remind her that she’d brought him along for a reason, Joe kissed her hard. Her lashes dropped, half covering her eyes, making her look soft. For him? Or was she still thinking about that creep?

  Unsure, Joe gave her a swat on the ass and said, “Into the truck, woman.” She had the audacity to laugh while rubbing her behind with both hands.

  Ghost or man, it didn’t matter to Joe. If he ran across Jamie Creed again, he’d get some answers. Until then, Luna would be smart not to push him.

  They drove the next two miles in strained silence, and suddenly, the road did indeed dip. The slope was so severe, both Luna and Joe held their breath. But just as Creed had claimed, a sharp turn brought them back onto a road. Once at the bottom of that steep incline, they could see the hill that ran down and flattened out again. The dip looked more dangerous than it really was. There were houses here, along with a large hand-painted sign that read, Visitation. We Like It Here.