“What do you mean … like he was checking me out?”
“Shit, Lena. What in the hell do you think?” Hot temper edged his words, and under her hand, the muscles of his arm were tense and tight.
“What’s wrong?”
“What’s wrong?” Law stopped in his tracks and turned to stare at her. There was barely an inch’s difference in their height and he was so close, he could see his face reflected in the dark surface of her shaded lenses. She rarely took them off, even around him.
One of her best friends.
Fuck, that hurt.
Five years and she still hid herself from him.
Five years and he’d been half in love with her the entire time. She was clueless about it, too. So fucking clueless, as evidenced by the fact that she was standing there with a mixture of temper, hurt, and concern on her pretty face as she tried to figure out what the hell his problem was.
His problem. What would she do if he showed her just what his problem was? If he tried to kiss her?
Shit, he was too messed up to do this today. Worried about Lena, worried about Hope. Half sick with jealousy at what he was hearing in Lena’s voice when she mentioned that guy. Half sick with fear over how long it was taking Hope to get here.
Get it together, he told himself. He had to get it together, or just outright tell Lena what his problem was—or at least part of what his problem was, and wouldn’t that go over swimmingly?
You. It’s you. I’m shit-faced in love with you, and you can’t even see it and you’re wanting me to give you details about some other guy who’s got a thing for you … and you’ve got a thing for him, too.
He could tell. He’d seen it on her face.
Yeah, he noticed things, all right.
Reaching up, he cupped her cheek in his hand, brushed his thumb over her silken skin. So soft. So strong.
I’m not ever going to have a chance with you, am I? he thought miserably.
She reached up, curled a hand around his wrist. “Law, what’s going on? Are you okay?”
“Just dandy,” he muttered, his voice hoarse. No. He wouldn’t have a chance with her, even if he could ever work up the courage to try. She wasn’t into him, and he wasn’t about to ruin a friendship. Wasn’t about to strain a friendship. Leaning in, he pressed his lips to her brow. “Come on. Let’s get back to the car before the rain starts back up.”
They finished the walk to the car in silence. He opened the door for her and waited until Puck had jumped inside. But when Lena would have climbed in, he caught her arm. “I guess I’m just worried about this mess you’ve got going on. Reckon the last thing I want to think about is you hooking up with some strange guy.”
An amused grin on her lips, she said, “He’s June King’s grandson, Law. It’s not like he just dropped down out of nowhere. I don’t exactly know him, but people around here do. And he’s a cop.”
Snorting, Law said, “You know, I realize this ‘He’s June King’s grandson’ is kind of like some sort of written seal of approval for some people, but you’re forgetting something. I never really got to know June. Besides, even if she was a great lady—and yes, I’ve heard she was a great lady—but even if she was, that doesn’t automatically mean her grandkids are all great by default.”
“You’re such an optimist,” Lena said, grinning. “I really, really admire your upbeat, positive outlook on life and mankind.” The humor on her face faded and she leaned back against the car, sighing. “Besides, there’s nothing there. We … ah, actually had dinner a few weeks ago. He was going to call me, changed his mind. We’re friends.”
He heard the mocking sarcasm in her voice, thick and heavy, but it didn’t quite hide the disappointment.
“Shit, Lena, if that guy wants to be just friends, then I’m a chorus line dancer.”
“Really? Do you wax?” A reluctant smile curled her lips. “Look, we’re just friends. I’d thought there was something there, but we’ve talked, and we’re just going to be friends.”
This was killing him. Seriously. Law figured it might be less painful just to ram his head against a brick wall until he either passed out or drew blood … or both. “Hell, maybe he wants to be your friend, but it’s not just that.”
“You don’t like him.”
He just barely managed to keep from swearing. Just barely managed to keep from snarling. Just barely managed to keep from punching something—like the nearby metal light post. Instead, he jammed his hands into his pockets and said, “I don’t know him one way or the other—can’t say if I like him or not.”
Her shoulders slumped.
Law’s heart squeezed inside his chest and he blew out a breath. Closing his eyes, he muttered to himself, “I’m going to so fucking regret this.”
“What?”
“Nothing. Just muttering to myself.” Rubbing the back of his neck, he shifted so he could stand next to her, leaning against the car, their shoulders almost touching.
At that moment, a fat drop of rain fell down and plopped right on his nose. It was followed closely by another. The coward in him wanted to beg off—they could get in the car, be nice and dry—have this conversation later. Never sounded good.
“So the fuck what if he’s saying he just wants to be friends? You might not be able to see the way he’s looking at you, Lena, but I do and trust me, honey, it’s not the same look you give your friends.” He took a deep breath, blew it out. “If he’s pulling back, maybe he just needs some space, maybe he needs his head examined, I don’t know. But he’s not looking for a fishing buddy, I promise you that.”
Her brow creased and she scowled. “So … what, you think I should ask him out? Just leave it alone?”
“Hell, I don’t know. Look, I don’t know him. But he seems like a pretty stand-up guy. If that’s what you’re wanting to know.”
She leaned against his arm. “Stand-up, huh? Like a comedian act?”
“Har-har.” He reached over and tugged on a lock of her thick, gleaming hair. “I don’t know if this little town is big enough for two stand-up acts.”
She was smiling again.
The knot in his chest eased a little and he figured it was probably worth it. Hell, he’d already accepted the fact that she wasn’t ever going to be interested in him anyway, right?
“So he seems pretty decent, you think?”
“Yeah.” He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and hugged her. “But I think you’d already figured that much out or you wouldn’t be interested in him. So why are you giving me the third degree? What does it matter what I think?”
She made a face. “Let’s just say that right now, I’m questioning myself. He says he’ll call, then he doesn’t. He says he wants to be friends, but that’s not exactly the vibe I’m getting … and hell, friend isn’t really what goes through my mind when I talk to him—and that doesn’t make much sense, seeing as how today is only the fourth time I’ve even talked to him. And then there’s that little fact that I’m questioning myself … a lot.”
“Well, stop.” The rain was coming down harder now, a light, steady downpour. “If you’re that interested in him, and if he’s got you that confused, then maybe you should push a little harder, see what the deal is. You’ve never quit on something, once you’ve set your mind to it. Why stop now?”
Lena smiled. “Good point.”
“Now that we’ve had this little heart-to-heart, how about we get out of here?”
They were halfway down Main Street when the light, steady downpour became a torrent. Blowing out a sigh, Lena muttered, “At least it waited until we were in the car.”
She pushed her hair back from her face and turned toward Law. “Ezra’s coming out to my place. Today.”
In that moment, Law was damn glad she couldn’t see him. He clenched his teeth, just barely managed to keep from swearing. “Yeah? He’s moving fast, especially for somebody who just wants to be friends.”
From the corner of his eye, he saw the confusion on her fa
ce, saw it fade as a slow blush took its place. “Eh, not for that. Don’t I wish. He’s going to look around in the woods. See if he can see anything.”
“The sheriff’s deputies already did that.”
“Yeah.” A somber frown on her face, she used the tip of her finger to trace a circle on the console between them. “But I don’t think they thought they’d find anything. Do you think when somebody expects to find nothing, that’s exactly what they find?”
“Could be.” He ran his tongue along his teeth. “Look, if he’s coming by, I’m hanging out at your place. Don’t take this wrong, Lena, but with all the weirdness you’ve got going on right now, I’m not going to trust some guy who just up and appears. I don’t care if he’s a cop, I don’t care if he’s June King’s grandson. He could be June Cleaver’s grandson for all I care.”
Lena chuckled. “Gee, Beave. If you insist.”
FOR SOME REASON, EZRA WASN’T THE LEAST BIT SURPRISED to find Law Reilly at Lena’s place.
Torn between the resolve to keep things on a friendly basis and all but drooling over the way her butt filled out the seat of her jeans, he felt a pair of eyes on him. Even before he looked up, he knew who it was.
Shrewd hazel eyes bore into him like lasers and if looks could kill, Ezra would have been bleeding from a dozen vicious wounds. “Hey … ah, Law, right?”
“He wanted to go with us,” Lena said. She gestured toward the living room where Law waited. “Go have a seat. I forgot to dig out my hiking boots. It’s going to be muddy and I’m not wearing my tennis shoes.”
“You’re coming?”
She cocked her head. “Yes. That a problem?”
“No.” He heard an edge in her voice and he had a feeling he knew what had caused it. Uncertain how to proceed, he decided to take the safest course—silence.
“Good.”
She disappeared up the stairs. Law waited a few more seconds and then he snapped, “She’s blind, you know. Not helpless. If she wants to go walking around the woods, she can.”
“Did I say she couldn’t?” Ezra asked, tucking his hands into his pockets.
“You might as well have.”
Ezra sighed. “Look, I didn’t say that and I didn’t really think it, either. My mind might have started down that road, but it’s pretty damn clear that woman knows how to handle herself.” Then he rocked back on his heels and studied the man in front of him. “And that’s not what your problem with me is, either.”
“I don’t have a problem with you. Don’t know you.” Law crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the arched doorway that led to the living room. Then he shook his head. “Wait, scratch that. I do have one problem—if you weren’t going to call her, why did you say you would?”
Fuck. Blowing out a breath, Ezra said, “Don’t you think that’s kind of between me and her?”
“Not when it hurts her,” Law said softly.
“She’s a big girl. I don’t think she needs you hovering over her to kiss her bumps and bruises.” He turned away, staring out the window. She had flowers planted, vivid bursts of them dotting the landscape here and there. “But I did plan to call her. It just dawned on me afterward that it was probably better for her that I didn’t call.” Shooting a look at Law over his shoulder, he said, “And that’s not your problem with me. Or maybe, that’s just part of it. She’s interested in me, and whether I’d called her or not, you’d still find a reason to be pissed off at me. You got eyes. You know I’m interested in her. I got eyes, too. I know you’re interested in her. Problem is that she doesn’t seem aware of your interest … and she is aware of mine.”
Something hot and angry flashed in Law’s eyes. “She’s a hell of a woman. She deserves to be treated right. She doesn’t deserve to be strung along.”
“I agree with you. And that’s why I didn’t call her.”
“You didn’t call her because you knew you’d string her along if you did?” Law said, scowling.
Ezra rubbed a hand over his face. Just why had he started this conversation?
“I didn’t call her because until I can tell if my head is in the right place, the last thing I need to do is get involved in anything more than a casual relationship. And again, I’m failing to see where this is much of your business. It’s not like we were getting married—we had one date, and I had her phone number. For all you know, a second date would have resulted in the two of us hating each other.”
Although Ezra knew that wasn’t likely.
He’d spent much of the past three weeks thinking about her, and ever since he’d seen her in the sheriff’s office, she’d all but dominated his thoughts. Shit. She’d dominated his thoughts since the first second he’d seen her. If he was one to believe in love at first sight, he’d almost swear he was hooked.
“I hope you’re doing a better job at convincing yourself than you are at convincing me,” Law said, shaking his head. He glanced toward the stairs and then back at Ezra.
“Shit, no,” Ezra muttered. He could talk friends all he wanted and it wasn’t going to do a damn bit of good. He didn’t want to be her friend—or at least just her friend.
A grin twitched the corner of his lips and as he met Law’s gaze, he saw a similar smile echoed there.
“So how come you’re here? Chauffeur? Making sure I behave? Keep my distance? Make sure she keeps her distance?”
Law snorted. “That one date you had definitely didn’t teach you much about her, did it? People don’t keep Lena from doing what she wants. Not once she makes her mind up.” He shot another look toward the stairs and then sighed. “Just worried about her. Want to keep an eye on her.”
Understanding dawned. Reluctant admiration followed. “You’re watching me. She hears screams, some new guy suddenly pops onto the scene and seems to believe her when not many others do—made you suspicious.” As his grin widened, he studied the other man. “How close am I?”
“Dead on.” Law shoved off the wall and retreated into the living room. “Might as well have a seat. Lena will be a few minutes if I know her.” He flopped on the couch, focused those shrewd, insightful eyes on Ezra’s face once more. “I know a couple of state cops. Based out of Berea.”
“Yeah?” Ezra chose the chair closest to the doorway, stretching his legs out as he studied the room.
“Yeah.” He had a serious look on his face, and his eyes slid down to Ezra’s leg. “I guess I can understand why you need some time to make sure your head is in the right place.”
Ezra narrowed his eyes. Something hot and tight worked through his gut, spread through him. Irritation, anger, guilt. All of it, twining tighter and tighter, rising higher and higher. “You checked up on me.”
“Damn straight. Sounds like you’re lucky you can still walk with that leg—hell, lucky to be alive. Femoral artery—people can die when that one gets nicked.” Something that looked like sympathy darkened those hazel eyes. “Heard a friend of yours died, too.”
Tension climbed up his back, and he had to consciously work to relax those tense muscles. “You did more than a little asking, if you got that much.” Asking, and getting answers—just who in the hell had he talked to, and why the hell had he been told so much? But Ezra already had an idea why … whoever he’d talked to trusted the guy.
“I’m nosy. What can I say? Besides, I wanted to make sure you are who you said you are. Lena matters to me—I’ll do what I need to, to make sure she stays safe.”
Because Ezra could understand that, he told himself to let it go. Taking a deep, slow breath, he eyed Law closely. “Ever been told you’re paranoid?”
“Part of my charm.” Law shrugged, unperturbed.
“It’s not really that charming. But then again, I guess I can’t really be surprised. I’ve always heard that writers can be a nosy, paranoid bunch of bastards … aren’t they, Ed O’Reilly?” He had the pleasure of watching Law stiffen as he threw the guy’s pen name out there. Surprise and aggravation danced across his face.
&
nbsp; Satisfied, Ezra smirked. “Come on now. Big shot crime-fiction writer like you, what would one of your cop characters do in this situation? He’d run everybody even remotely connected to the heroine, of course. And you’re connected.”
“You did a run on me.” Law’s eyes narrowed.
“Damn straight.” Ezra flashed him a grin and added, “You made a real killing with your last few books. Damn good racket you got going there.”
Abruptly, the disgruntled anger on Law’s face faded, replaced by amusement. “You know, I almost hate to admit this, because I get the feeling Lena’s falling for you—and if you hurt her, I’m going to kick your ass in a major way—but I think you might actually be an okay guy.”
“So you’d rather her fall for a bastard?”
Law scowled. “No. I’d rather her fall for me.” He glanced past Ezra to the stairs. “But I never made a move and I get the feeling it’s a little too late now to even bother trying.”
When she got downstairs, the two men were talking books.
Law’s voice had that animated, excited tone he always got whenever he was in the presence of another bibliophile. Smiling, she stood in the door. “Oh, how sweet. You two went and bonded over books.”
In a scathing voice, Law said, “Your cop friend here doesn’t have the sense God gave a goat. He thinks Dean Koontz is the be-all and end-all of modern fiction.”
“Heaven forbid,” Lena said, tongue in cheek. “It’s got to suck to be that wrong. Everybody with any brain knows that’s a toss-up. It’s between Linda Howard, Lynn Viehl, and J. D. Robb.”
“Lena, you cut me deep,” Law said, blowing out a heavy sigh.
She laughed and shook her head. “Somehow, you’ll survive. I need to put my dog out before we go.”
“You’re not taking him?” Law asked.
Lena grimaced. “No. He doesn’t like the woods much these days. I’ll take my cane—between you and the cane, I’ll be fine.” She skimmed a hand through her hair and shrugged. “I can probably get him to go with me since I have you along, but I don’t want to stress him out.”
If You Hear Her: A Novel of Romantic Suspense Page 11