Say No To Joe?

by Lori Foster

  Joe’s head snapped up. Dinah’s taillights came on briefly as she made a pretense of obeying a stop sign, before she again burned rubber in her haste to get away.

  In a hatchback. The stupid bitch.

  Luna answered on the first ring. “Hello?”

  “Hey, honey, it’s me.”

  “Joe?”

  He rolled his eyes and steered around a pothole in the road. The sky was getting darker by the moment, and the wind had picked up, whistling around them, bending trees. “Is there another man who calls you honey? If so, tell him to get lost.”

  She laughed, and with the way Joe felt at the moment, even her laugh could send him into an oblivion of tenderness and lust. “Sorry, you just took me by surprise. Are you almost home? I don’t want you to get caught in the storm.”

  Home. The more he heard it, the more Joe liked it. He’d lived in numerous apartments, but they’d only been places to bed down. They’d never been permanent. They’d never been home. “The pizzas should still be warm when we get there.”

  “Pizzas, as in plural?”

  “I can eat one myself, so I got three.”

  “Oh.”

  “I just wanted to make sure you’re staying inside. I spoke with Willow before, but she said you were in the shower.”

  “Willow is napping and I was fussing with my hair.”

  Joe groaned past an indulgent smile. “What color is it now?”

  She sniffed. “I never said I changed the color.”

  “It’s okay, honey. I’m surprised you held out this long.”

  She went silent only a second or two before saying with a shrug in her voice, “Okay, so it has red streaks now.”

  “Red, huh?”

  “Very red. Like almost purple. But it looks great.” Joe laughed. “I’ll get to see for myself soon.” This was probably the longest Luna had gone without changing her hair. Deep inside, she was still the free spirit who’d first attracted him. And he was glad. He never wanted her to change. “Lock the doors and don’t let anyone in but me.”

  “Joe?” A new attentiveness laced her tone. “What’s going on?”

  Joe said to Austin, “Don’t get your sticky fingers on my leather seats, son. Here.” He handed him a napkin.

  Austin looked more asleep than awake as he swiped his fingers over the napkin. One long piece of licorice still hung from his mouth and his eyelids were drooping. Joe grinned, eased the candy away and that easily, Austin slumped against the door and started snoring.

  “Austin is listening?”

  “Maybe. I think he might’ve just fallen asleep, but I’m not sure.” Austin shifted around to get comfortable, folding one hand beneath his cheek. His lips were cherry red, matching his fingers.

  “Then just tell me—is something wrong?”

  “Possibly. Remember the brown sedan? I spotted it in town.”

  “Oh, God.”

  “Now, don’t panic.” The last thing Joe wanted to do was scare her. “I’m going to call Scott right now. He’ll check into things and put the word around to watch for the car.” Two cars, Joe reminded himself, taking Dinah’s hatchback into account. “I also ran into Dinah, and she had some interesting things to tell me. I’ll clue you in tonight, okay?”

  “Promise me you’ll be careful, Joe. Do not go chasing anyone, do you understand me?”

  Luna always got demanding when she worried. There was a time when a woman fretting over him would have been annoying, and no way in hell would he have allowed a woman to issue orders. But with Luna, he liked it. “I’ve got Austin with me, remember? I’m not going to put him at risk.”

  “Joe?” She said his name softly, the way females did when they got emotional. “I …”

  Joe waited, everything male within him standing at attention. When the silence dragged out, he prompted her with, “Yeah?”

  But she only said again, “Be careful.”

  “Right. Talk to you soon.” Joe refused to face his disappointment over the lackluster goodbye. So, she hadn’t said anything profound. She would. Eventually.

  He dialed the sheriff’s department and asked to be put through to Scott Royal. Seconds later, Scott accepted the call, saying right off, “Tell me there hasn’t been more trouble.”

  “Nothing tangible.” Joe knew he had to go carefully here. Scott might be a friendly acquaintance, but he was still a lawman. Having been one himself, Joe knew that they didn’t like outsiders coming onto their territory and running the show. “I have some questions for you, and maybe a favor or two.”

  “Shoot.”

  “The favor first. Can you keep an eye out for a brown sedan?”

  “The guy you thought was following you here?”

  “I saw him today in town. I couldn’t go after him because I had Austin with me, but he was hanging around near my truck. I found a note.”

  “A note?” The question was sparked with new interest. “Do you still have it?”

  “I have it. You can come by the house tonight and pick it up, but it’s not anything threatening. It just said that my firebug drives a hatchback.” Joe paused, building to his point. “You know who has a car like that?”

  Judging by the sounds he detected, Scott had just relaxed back in his chair. “I know a rhetorical question when I hear one.”

  “Dinah Belle. She cornered me at the pharmacy and damn near molested me in an aisle.” Thankfully, Austin slept on. “She left in a huff, driving a hatchback. Coincidence?”

  “Shit. As I recall, you don’t believe in coincidences.”

  “Not often, no.”

  “And I don’t believe in chicken-shit notes. If the guy has information for you, why not just come up to you and tell you so?”

  Though Scott couldn’t see him, Joe shrugged. He’d asked himself the same question a dozen times already. “Why lie about it?”

  “Let me get this straight. Some asshole who followed you here leaves you a note, and now you think Dinah is the one who set that fire and scratched up your truck?”

  “No, that was definitely a man. But how well does Dinah know Quincy Owen?”

  Joe got the expected reaction to that question. There was a thump and a muffled curse. “Ah hell, Joe, you’re not going to blame Quincy, are you?”

  Joe laughed at Scott’s woebegone begging. “You don’t think he’s capable of it?”

  “Apparently you do.” Another groan. “And I have to assume you have your reasons, which I’m just dying to hear, by the way, because the surveillance tape you left with me didn’t show a goddamned thing.”

  “It gave us blond hair.” Even as he spoke, Joe considered different angles and possibilities. “And this morning, after that nasty paint job on the shed, I saw smooth-soled shoe prints in the ground. Those two things fit Quincy.”

  “And a hundred other people in town. He’s not the only blond businessman, you know. And besides, I thought you decided the guy following you from your home was a blonde. He’s here in town, skulking around and leaving you notes. He’s damn well up to something.”

  “I agree. But he didn’t set the fire.”

  “Who says?”

  “I do. I saw him today. He’s a hell of a sight bigger than the guy I wrangled with the night of the fire. Hell, he’s damn near my size. But now Quincy … I saw him for only a moment today, and physically, he could fit the bill.”

  “You can’t be sure of that. It was pitch-black outside, and other than a twenty-second match, you never touched him.”

  That reminder had Joe grinding his teeth. It wasn’t often that someone got away from him. But then, it wasn’t often that he had to worry about children too near the action. “I yanked him around like a rag doll. He had no power behind his punch, and he screamed like a girl. Believe me, he’s a wimp, but the guy leaving a note on my truck wasn’t.”

  “Fuck.” Scott huffed for a few seconds, very put out, then finally groused, “You know, for a guy who doesn’t believe in coincidences, you’re sinking your teeth into
this one. Just what do you think the odds are that you’ve got two blond thugs after your ass?”

  “I have a gut feeling on this one, Scott.”

  “Jesus, Joe, you used to be a cop. You know I can’t work on your instincts. I need more than that.”

  “I’ll get you more, but in the meantime look around for that brown sedan, okay? I’d really like a chance to question that guy up close and personal.”

  “You and me both, and since I’m the law, I get to go first. Understand?”

  “I know how it works, Scott. I was an officer once myself, remember?” Joe flexed his knuckles on the steering wheel and smiled. “If he puts up his hands and turns himself in nice and pretty like, then I’ll have no reason to beat him into the ground.”

  Since a passive surrender was about as unlikely as Joe just handing him over, Scott gave up. “Anything else?”

  “Yeah. Do you happen to know who Chloe used to work for before she bought the lake property?”

  “That’s before I transferred here, but odds are it was either the factory or the mall, since those two places do the most hiring.”

  And they were both run by Quincy Owen.

  “I can ask around. Dare I ask why?”

  Scott sounded so wary, Joe laughed. “Let me know if you find out anything and I’ll explain then.” And before Scott could protest that, Joe added, “I need to get home to Luna and Willow. I don’t like leaving them alone there. I have a feeling when this rain hits, the roof is going to leak.”

  “You know, Joe, it really seems like you’re into the whole home and hearth thing. You planning to stay with us awhile?”

  “Damn right.” Then he thought to add, “But Luna doesn’t know it yet, so don’t say anything to her.”

  “Gonna surprise her, huh?”

  “I thought I’d ease her into the idea.” And once he got entrenched in her and the kids’ lives, hopefully she’d start to understand that he was around to stay. He’d prove to her that her heart was safe with him, and then she’d stop saying no, once and for all.

  Chapter Sixteen

  The steady drizzle started just as Joe pulled up in front of the house, and judging by the thunder, it’d turn into a full-fledged downpour at any second. He saw a curtain drop on the front window and knew Luna had been watching for him. It was a unique thing, to have someone waiting for him, but damned if he didn’t like it.

  She opened the door and stepped out onto the porch, her arms folded against the chilling breeze. Joe scooped Austin’s small, compact body into his arms. He didn’t awaken, despite the rain sprinkling his face. Joe lightly rubbed his chin against the mop of fair hair. Austin smelled little-boy sweet and looked too peaceful to be the same wild hellion of that afternoon.

  Luna held the door open as he dashed across the yard and up the porch steps. “Is he okay?”

  “Just ran out of gas.” Joe noticed the bright streaks of scarlet in Luna’s hair and paused to press a warm kiss to her mouth as he passed her. “Hello,” he murmured against her soft lips. “I missed you.”

  Bemused, Luna touched her mouth and stood there mute.

  Joe liked taking her off guard. “Should we wake him, do you think?”

  She glanced at a tall clock in the hallway. “Maybe. If he naps much later, he won’t go to bed at all tonight.”

  “Right.” Joe headed into the family room with Austin tucked close to his chest. He placed him on the couch and gently shook him awake. It was only five o’clock, but already the sky was as dark as midnight. Just as Austin got his eyes open, the storm started in earnest.

  He bolted upright in alarm.

  “Hey, it’s just a little rain,” Joe told him, taking a moment to sit beside him and rub his back. “You hungry after all that candy you ate? I’m going to run out to the truck now to get the pizza.”

  Austin yawned and stretched, then turned and gave Joe a brief hug.

  He’d never get used to it, Joe thought. It was almost too damn nice. He smoothed Austin’s hair, touched by the boy’s easy affection, then looked up in time to see Luna standing in the doorway with a misty smile on her face.

  If only things could be as simple with her as they were with Austin.

  She came into the room and tugged Austin to his feet. “Hey, sleepyhead. Why don’t you go clean your face and hands, then head to the kitchen, okay? Ask Willow if she’s ready to eat, too.”

  Still dragging a little, Austin started out of the room. He turned back to Joe. “Where’s my spy glasses?”

  “Right here.” Joe slipped the strap from around his neck and handed the glasses to Austin. He clutched them in a fist, then ran off to clean up.

  Joe headed to the front door, followed by Luna. The rain now came down in impenetrable sheets. “I hope like hell my sister gets off the road. I’d hate to think of her in this mess.”

  “She should be here pretty soon. Don’t worry.” Thunder shook the floor beneath them. “Maybe we should wait a few minutes, to see if the rain lets up. You’ll get soaked to the skin if you go out there now.”

  “It doesn’t look like it’s going to blow over any time soon.” Joe glanced out at the stinging rain and wanted to curse. The house needed a garage that opened to the interior. Maybe that was an addition to think about, after they got the lake opened. “Besides, I won’t melt.”

  Luna said, “Oh, I don’t know. Willow told me that you stopped at the store for her.” Wearing a teasing grin, she caught his arm and turned him around. “You’re awfully sweet.”

  Joe was about to protest that silly description when Luna went on tiptoes to lick his bottom lip. “Mmmm,” she purred. “Very sweet.”

  The suggestive lick sent a wave of heat through Joe. “Tease.” He caught the nape of her neck and held her still for a real kiss, and this time when he felt her tongue, he drew it into his mouth. Luna made a small sound of pleasure and pressed up against him.

  She’d changed into a pair of leopard-print leggings and a long black tee. He allowed himself one quick, casual grope of her sexy behind. The thin material was no barrier to her supple flesh. With a groan, Joe released her before he got carried away.

  Luna stared up at him, her eyes warm and mellow, her cheeks flushed. She was barefoot, and her toenails had been painted to match the new color in her hair. They curled against the floor, proving she wasn’t unaffected by the kiss either.

  “If I don’t go now,” Joe growled, “I’ll evaporate when I step into the rain.”

  She stroked his chest. “Feeling warm?”

  “Scalded.” He kissed her forehead and dashed outside.

  When he came back in this time, his shirt stuck to his back and his jeans clung to his thighs. He’d shielded the pizzas with his body as much as possible, but the boxes were still damp. He handed them to Luna so he could kick off his shoes and peel off his shirt. He caught her boldly admiring his chest.

  Using the edge of his fist, he tipped up her chin. “Keep looking at me like that, and I’m going to sneak into your room tonight for sure.”

  A heartbeat passed; then she said, “Promise?”

  Damn. She sounded serious, as if she wouldn’t object to that at all. “I would love sleeping with you, babe.” He stepped closer, his voice going husky and warm with just the thought. “I’d love feeling you next to me all night long.”

  In nervousness, she licked her lips and stared at his chin. “Would you love waking with me in the morning?”

  “Yes.”

  Her gaze lifted; they stared at each other. “You’d get quickly bored, Joe.”

  “Not a chance.” He smiled into her beautiful golden eyes, wanting her to know he meant it. Wanting her to trust him. “Not with you.”

  Luna looked undecided, anxious, then ventured carefully, “Maybe we should talk about this.”

  “Yeah?”

  She nodded. “About … us.”

  Joe was more than ready to convince her when Austin yelled from the kitchen, “Hey, I can see the fishes in the lake w
ith my glasses. Come and look, Joe.”

  He needed privacy to tell Luna how he really felt. Hell, he’d never told a woman that he loved her and he damn well wanted to do it right.

  “Tonight,” he told her, and she nodded.

  Joe hauled up the packages in one hand, slung his other arm around Luna, and went into the kitchen with the kids. Luna set the pizza boxes on the counter and got out plates and glasses.

  Willow was at the table, her chin propped on a fist while she stared into space. She looked very morose, making Joe frown. Was she feeling that bad? He didn’t know much about the whole monthly thing, other than that it could be damn inconvenient. But he knew he didn’t want Willow to feel bad in any way.

  “Here you go, hon.” He handed Willow her package still in the pharmacy bag.

  She blushed. “Thanks, Joe.”

  He flicked the end of her nose. “Anytime.” Then, more seriously, “I mean it, Willow. You can come to me with anything, okay?” He gestured, feeling a little awkward. “Even with stuff like this.”

  She bit her lip, nodded. The storm seemed to have dampened everyone’s mood, except Austin’s. Luna frowned to herself as she set out plates, and Willow fidgeted nervously. Only Austin remained animated as he watched the storm through the kitchen windows.

  “Joe?” Willow straightened in her chair. “There is something I wanted to tell you.”

  Joe had been about to go change into dry clothes, but now he stalled. “All right.” Willow looked so worried, he forgot that his clothes were dripping all over the floor.

  “I saw Clay today. He was at the school, in the yard, and I talked with him.”

  Joe’s shoulders knotted in dread. “Did he say something to upset you?”

  “No, he apologized, and he was real nice.” She glanced at Austin, but he was busy dragging a chair to the window so he could better see outside. He wasn’t paying their conversation much attention. “The thing is, he had some scratches.”

  Luna turned from the counter, a pizza cutter held in her hand. “Scratches?”

  Willow came out of her chair and walked to Joe. Very lightly, she touched the top of his shoulder and neck. “Like these.” She swallowed hard. “Not quite as thick as your scratches were, and maybe not as healed up. But … Well, I don’t know.” She looked from Joe to Luna, her eyes dark and sad and resigned. “Do you think it could have been Clay who set that fire?”