Tri Me (Primrose, Minnesota, Book 4)

by Mia Dymond

  Safety measures caused him to squeeze her closer to him. “Relax. It won’t take me even that long to get to the house.”

  He slammed the door and took long, wide steps until he stood on the front porch. He very carefully lowered her to stand and then took several steps backwards.

  She simply glared and crossed her arms over her chest. “Now what?”

  “Open the door and turn off the alarm.”

  Her glare didn’t waver. “Can’t do that.”

  “Why not?”

  “Did you even stop to consider for half a second that I might not have pockets in this outfit?”

  Now doubly frustrated, he pushed her logic to the back of his brain. “How in the hell did you plan to get back inside?”

  “I have an extra key.”

  “Well, where is it?”

  “In Dara’s purse.”

  “Oh for the love of—”

  “Or,” she interrupted as she pointed over his head, “we could use the one up there.”

  “Where?”

  “In the base of the porch light.”

  “I’m sure it’s hot.”

  “No.” She simply batted those long eyelashes. “It’s a false bottom. The security company installed the fixture.”

  Still aggravated, he reached overhead, unscrewed the silver cover, and extracted the key. “You know this is risky, right?”

  “Jackson, I’m standing on my front porch half naked. Do you really want to discuss the safety of hiding an extra key right now?”

  “No.” He jammed the key into the lock and opened the door, relieved to hear the ringing of the alarm system. “Code?”

  “I’ll do it.” She brushed past him and punched four digits into the keypad.

  He waited for silence and then closed the door. “Interesting.”

  “How so?”

  “Your security code is my badge number.”

  “Coincidence.”

  Despite the three-ring circus she’d led him through all evening, he had to grin. Very gently, he pulled her into his embrace, wrapped both arms solidly around her waist, and rested his chin atop her head. “Alex, it’s okay to let me over those walls.”

  She pressed both palms against his chest, rested one cheek against them, and answered with a quiet sigh, one he interpreted as somewhat of an agreement.

  “I will find her.” He squeezed his eyes closed with the force of his promise. “And when I do, I will make absolutely sure she regrets threatening my woman.”

  She released a soft giggle. “You and me both.”

  “Do you want me to stay tonight?”

  “Thank you, but no. I’ll be fine. I’ll take a glass of wine and soak in the tub for an hour or so.” His body cursed the separation when she stepped out of his hold. “I’ll be good as new.”

  He moved a wayward curl at the base of her neck. “Sure?”

  “Positive.”

  “I’d feel a lot better if you weren’t alone. Would you consider calling one of the girls to stay?”

  “Thanks to you, Bri and Dara are probably on lockdown, and Shane won’t let Liberty out of his sight.”

  “That leaves Marnie.”

  “Yes, but I won’t risk her safety. Besides, do you really think a five foot, two inch blonde bombshell scares many people?”

  “She scares me.” He didn’t hesitate to speak the truth. He’d seen her in action; Marnie could bring a ten-foot giant to his knees with her tongue alone.

  “Okay, look. I’ll break it down for you. If this head case plans to do her own dirty work, she is female. That means she’s most likely not going to cause a scene trying to get to me. Bri tells me most women who murder tend to be methodical and sneaky, for lack of a better word.”

  “You think that makes you secure?”

  “You know firsthand that my security system makes this place a fortress. Every single opening in this house has a sensor and security cameras will monitor every room if I choose. I’d know if she attempted to enter and I have a safe room.”

  As badly as he wanted to argue, he knew she had him. Except for one tiny little detail. “That means you can’t leave the house.”

  “Really,” she drawled. “Why would I go out this time of night?”

  “It can’t be after ten o’clock.” He grinned while he raked his gaze over her body. “I hear tips pick up around this time.”

  “Funny. I’m not going anywhere, Jackson.”

  He eased her back into his arms, hungry with the need to touch her. “You win. This time.”

  When she opened her mouth to issue what he guessed to be yet another argument, he took full advantage and covered her lips with his, swallowing whatever sassy response he knew she intended to spew. Instead, a breathy moan left her throat and she molded her hips to his groin. His already-hardened cock screamed at her touch and forced its way into the warm vee between her legs while he moved his lips over every inch of her warm, soft flesh in a subtle attack, determined to show her just exactly how serious he was about protecting her.

  Respecting her.

  Loving her.

  Through her cotton shirt, her tightened nipples teased as they rubbed the surface of his thin t-shirt, tempting him to tear the fabric from her body and wallow in the skin-to-skin contact. Or lower his head and wrap his lips around one pebbled nipple at a time while his tongue teased the sensitive flesh until she fought to be released.

  Static electricity threatened to build between them as she moved her hips against him, the motion firm and determined to assure incredible pleasure. Both desperate and needy to cross that tiny, fine line between pleasure and pain, he moved both hands under the pesky shirt and grasped her left hip with one hand, partly to slow her motion but mostly to center it on one certain, very greedy area. And when he drew his other hand across the smooth surface of her stomach, the tiny quiver of her muscles tickled his knuckles and filled his already-overloaded senses with an even stronger sense of urgency.

  Sweat droplets danced at his neckline as he practiced immense self-discipline; his cock demanded he do something about its current state of irritability and he simply didn’t have much fight left in him.

  Somewhere in the heated moment, the soft hum of the air conditioner intruded and cool air caressed his neck, as if providing a cool reprieve for their desire. Half-heartedly, he took that as a hint and reluctantly released her lips. Determined not to give in to the just-take-me look she wore, he took a deep breath and pulled her back against his chest.

  “One more thing, I need your phone.”

  Although muffled, he knew what she said before she said it. “Why?”

  “I’m planting a bug.”

  He prepared himself for another confrontation, not exactly sure holding her against him was a smart maneuver. He tightened his grip to prevent any unpredictable movement.

  “I can’t get it if you don’t turn loose.”

  “You have it right now?”

  Her head bobbed against his chin.

  His traitor of a cock thumped the inside of his thigh. “There’s only one place you could possibly store it.” And lucky me for being a breast man.

  “Two.”

  He raised both eyebrows and released his hold without argument, grossly intrigued by the location of that cell phone.

  “I didn’t wear a g-string.” She unbuttoned her top four buttons, slid two fingers inside her bra-top, and then much to his amazement, she produced the phone. “I believe you asked for this.”

  Words just wouldn’t line up on his tongue. Not coherent ones, anyway. Determined not to haul her into the nearest bedroom, he took the phone from her and concentrated hard – he silently snorted at his pun - on his task.

  “Don’t make any private phone calls,” he warned her as he reached into his pocket for the small recording device.

  “Private? Or naughty?”

  He damn near dropped the phone as he fumbled to remove the rear panel and placed the bug. “Both,” he said as he snapped the
cover back into place and handed her the phone.

  “Promise.”

  Still not entirely convinced she would follow orders, he reluctantly turned and opened the door. He simply had to trust her. “Stay aware. Listen to the alarm and don’t dismiss the warning. Call me if you need me.”

  ***

  Under cover of night, she silently cursed her three-inch stilettos as the heels caught on the red bricks, slowing her progress to scale the short retaining wall that separated the neighbor’s property from Alex’s. Perhaps leaving the shoes on the other side would’ve been a rational decision, but also a definite way to destroy a good pedicure. Not a chance she was willing to take. A gate would’ve been a thoughtful addition. Then again, Alex was a self-centered witch, one who concentrated on self-satisfaction.

  She raised her left leg, draped it over the wall until she sat just on the edge, and then released a sigh of relief while she peered below. She had timed her entry perfectly; the sprinklers had been off long enough for the ground to solidify. A much better surface for her heels. She glanced a few inches further down the wall at the bushes planted there, encouraged to see they remained undisturbed.

  Once her feet rested on level ground she crept near the corner of the house and glanced at the street in front. Excitement bumbled in her veins when she failed to see the earlier SUV parked at the curb. Apparently, Alex wasn’t quite the celebrity she thought.

  With a chuckle, she made her way back to the side door leading to the garage and peeked through the window. Alex’s car remained alone in the bay. She paused to rationalize. No cars at the curb, the driveway was clear, and one lone car inside the garage. Alex was alone for the night. Perfect.

  Now confident, she reached into the bushes and retrieved the item she’d placed there earlier. A gift, per se; one Alex would never expect.

  ***

  Jackson squared his shoulders and prepared for a painful interrogation as he entered the meeting room of RSI. He planned to confront his partners head-on – better to let them get it all out of their systems sooner rather than later. He only hoped he could keep his word to Alex.

  Of course Jake had to begin the showdown. “Change your mind about the pole?”

  “Maybe,” he mumbled as he sat in a recliner.

  “Damn.” Ryker grinned. “I’m sorry I sat this one out. Sounds like Mace and I missed all the action.”

  “Plenty of action,” Jake agreed. “Several individuals ended up without clothing.”

  “Really?” Mace frowned. “Please tell me Dara wasn’t one of them.”

  Jake chuckled and slapped Mace on the back. “No, she was just an accomplice this time.”

  “How in the hell did they manage to get past Storm?” Jackson attempted to move the conversation in another direction.

  “They didn’t.” Ryker shrugged. “Due to your incredible fear of discovery, he simply followed.”

  “Funny, fear wouldn’t be the emotion I’d use to describe what you felt when you saw Alex’s performance,” Jake prodded.

  “I didn’t hear your offer to assist, Rawlings.”

  “But I brought you a shirt.”

  “Damn, Stewart!” Ryker sat forward, obviously intrigued. “What exactly happened in that room?”

  “I covered her with my shirt.” After I nearly took her on the stage. He held his breath, anticipating Jake’s rendition of what happened next.

  “And then he crashed the party.” Jake shook his head. “I should’ve offered to help. Bri, Dara and Marnie came at me like a swarm of angry bees.”

  “You didn’t go back upstairs to the security booth?”

  “Unfortunately, no. The girls cornered me before I could escape.”

  Jackson fought the urge to fall over in relief. Although he was insanely grateful for interference, he knew that incredible luck was the only thing that had saved his ass.

  “Marnie participated?” Ryker raised an eyebrow.

  “No, but she didn’t waste any time with a reprimand.” Jackson released a hard breath. “All teasing aside, Alex put herself in a helluva position.”

  “Did you see anyone or anything suspicious?”

  “No,” Jake answered for him. “Believe me, he only had eyes for Alex.”

  Jackson opened his mouth to issue another false denial, saved by the shrill tone of Jake’s phone.

  Jake glanced down at the device and then unclipped it from his belt and raised it to his ear. “It’s Shane,” he said before he answered.

  Jackson lifted his beer bottle and swallowed the remaining contents, thankful for the momentary reprieve. He leaned forward and placed the bottle on a nearby table. “Where is Shane anyway?”

  Mace smirked. “He won’t let Liberty too far out of his sight. He’s so paranoid, you’d think he was pregnant.”

  “That explains Liberty’s absence at tonight’s festivities.” He grinned as realization clobbered him over the head. Jake’s distraction provided excellent opportunity for a diversion. “Wanna know where I found Jake last week?”

  Jake narrowed his eyes in a perfect screw you stare as he continued his conversation. Jackson kept his grin firmly in place.

  “The bookstore?” Mace lifted his bottle to his lips.

  “No, you’re the only one I’ve caught there.”

  “You read, Turner?” Ryker crossed his arms over his chest.

  “Occasionally,” the other man mumbled.

  “I found Jake at Masterson’s Jewelry.”

  “Oh hell,” Mace groaned.

  “Yep that means you better get busy, Turner.”

  He glanced back at Jake with what he intended to be a content grin and waited for his friend to spout some sort of desperate explanation. Instead, he quickly disconnected and then stood.

  “Alex is fine but her house is on fire. I’m driving.”

  “You two go on.” Ryker sprung from his chair and pulled his keys from his pocket. “Hop-a-long and I will follow in my vehicle.”

  Mace gave Ryker the finger then grabbed his crutches and pulled himself from the sofa. “I thought Storm was parked there.”

  “Stewart sent him home.”

  On the way out of the office, Jackson kicked himself one more time for another bad decision. “I just left her a couple of hours ago,” he said as he jumped into the passenger’s seat of Jake’s truck.

  “I’m surprised we even saw your ugly mug tonight.”

  “Why?”

  “Seems to me you and Alex spend a lot of time together.”

  “We’ve worked quite a few cases together the last couple of years.”

  “You really want to dance, Stewart?” Jake looked right, then left, then right again before he pulled onto the street. “I have two left feet.”

  “If I elaborate, are you gonna hang me out to dry?”

  “Like you did me?”

  “You deserved it,” he said without remorse.

  “Let’s just call it even.” Jake pulled his phone from his shirt pocket as they neared Alex’s block. “I’m sending Bri. You have a phone call to make.”

  Not interested in pushing his luck, Jackson dialed Alex’s number and held his breath until she answered. “Talk to me.”

  “I’m fine, Jackson.”

  “Where are you?”

  “Right now I’m perched on the clean, white sheets of a gurney while the paramedics gather their tools to torture me.”

  “You’re hurt?”

  “No, but they insist on checking me out.”

  “You need to let them, just in case. We’re almost there.”

  Even though he couldn’t see her, he knew she rolled her eyes at him. “There’s no need. I’m fine.”

  “Humor me.”

  “You’ve become quite bossy lately.”

  “And you like it.”

  “Think again.”

  Jackson grinned at her haughty tone, incredulously turned-on by the banter between them as he disconnected without another word. She could deny it all she wanted; the sim
ple tone of her voice told him she was just as turned-on.

  When Jake finally parked the truck, he practiced great restraint from running to her like some lovesick idiot and somehow managed to keep his pace down to a fast walk. His knees almost buckled when he finally stood next to her and took in her appearance. Without the armor of her makeup and business attire, she sat on the edge of an ambulance cot wrapped in a blanket, her skin pale, her hair bunched on top of her head with some type of large claw, and several black smudges on her skin. Absolutely beautiful.

  Without thinking, he rubbed his thumb across a smear under her left eye. He cursed her vulnerability and at that exact moment he knew for a fact he would commit murder for this woman. No questions asked. Cold-blooded murder.

  “Hey,” he murmured.

  She raised an eyebrow and smirked. “You’re too late. Fire’s out.”

  Just like that she was back to the Alex he knew. And loved.

  “If you insist on taking my blood pressure and listening to my heartbeat, then I’d suggest you bring your little bag of goodies over here pronto before I decide it’s not gonna happen,” she told the paramedic.

  Jackson heaved a long sigh. Poor sap didn’t stand a chance. “Behave Alex, and let him do his job.”

  She gave him an irritated glare and pulled an arm out of the blanket, exposing creamy, bare skin in the process.

  “Are you naked?”

  “No. I have on a towel under the blanket.”

  “Why?”

  She gave him an eye roll. “I couldn’t run out of my house naked.”

  “Why weren’t you dressed?” Tempted to swallow his next question, he choked it out anyway. “Were you alone?”

  “No Jackson, I was playing strip poker with the entire Primrose Junior College football team and I lost.”

  “Alex …” he growled.

  “Oh good grief! I was soaking in a bubble bath with my mp3 player plugged in my ears when I smelled smoke. I grabbed a towel and when I opened the door, the house was filled with smoke, too dark to see anything. Do you know how hard it is to crawl while wrapped in a towel?”

  His stomach tightened with a twinge of guilt and he gave jealously a kick in the teeth. Obviously she was scared to death. He couldn’t help but notice her hands shook as she worked hard to hide the motion, but he knew from experience that coming down from adrenaline was a bitch.