Chaos

by Barbara Huffert

  In the short time he’d known Kiley, Shane had learned that she could be relentless once she decided something was important. Not that she was overbearing about it. No, Kiley was extremely subtle and unassuming in weaving her wishes into your mind. Fortunately, she was also very open, declaring what she wanted at the same time. And what Kiley wanted was Alyssa to move to the town where she and Jordan were relocating so that Jordan and Brett could take over the small radio station they’d purchased. She made it clear that she was afraid Alyssa would become totally reckless without Kiley’s weekly visits to remind her that she had someone who loved her and cared if she lived until the next morning.

  Shane winced as he remembered Alyssa warning him that Kiley would direct her worries on him once she left to join the storm team. He hadn’t bothered to mention to Alyssa that Kiley had already asked him when he would be ready to leave the city. She had voiced her concerns that without Jordan and Brett to check up on him, he was likely to become as reckless as she feared Alyssa would be.

  Then there were the calls he was getting at work from some kid who was unsuccessfully trying to disguise his voice, probably to sound older. He had called several times over the past few months, feeding Shane information on upcoming gang activities. Shane couldn’t figure out what disturbed him more, the fact that the kid’s information was always one hundred percent accurate, which meant the kid was close, or the fact that the kid kept hesitating before he hung up, as if he wanted to say more. Who was he? Why had he chosen Shane? Most of all, what did he really want? Once again, Shane felt the icy dread fill him. He knew the chances of the kid surviving long enough for Shane to find him were very slim. Even if he was the little brother of one of the higher-ups, it wouldn’t save him if they discovered he was leaking information.

  “Hey, Shane.” Jordan’s friend Jesse appeared next to him. “Want some company or is that scowl meant to scare everyone off?”

  Shane sighed. “Stay if you want, Jesse. I’m trying to push work out of my mind but not having much success.”

  “Won’t happen.” Jesse signaled for a beer for each of them. “Jordan swears that’s why you’re such a good cop. If you could walk away at the end of the day and leave it on your desk, you wouldn’t care enough to want to make the world a better place. Watch it though, Shane. Caring too much will pull you under if you let it.”

  “Who are you, really?” Shane wondered aloud. “I checked into you and found nothing but dead ends.”

  “I know.” Jesse held his gaze. “What do your instincts tell you?”

  “That you’re one of the good guys, just like Jordan says you are.”

  “Then why can’t you leave it at that? He has. Isn’t that enough for you?”

  “I guess. I still don’t understand why you have to be so secretive, but fine. Jordan trusts you so I’ll accept that for now. Seriously though, you’re not going to involve him in anything that would hurt him or Kiley, are you?”

  “Never. I do not take risks with friends. Ever.” Jesse looked fierce for a moment before breaking out in a smile. “We’re on the same side here. I can tell you that much. Now let’s have a beer and both work on forgetting the week we just put in.” Looking to change the subject, he asked, “How’s the sexy Alyssa? I was surprised when you left the reception together. I didn’t think you even liked each other.”

  “I’m not sure we do.” Shane wondered who else had noticed.

  “Hey, guys.” Brett interrupted his thoughts. “What are you having?”

  “Evening, Brett,” Shane replied. “It’s shocking to see you here. I’d have thought you’d be out with your flavor of the week by now.”

  “Damn, Shane, what’s with you?” Brett looked hurt. “Usually you at least ask how I am before you start picking on me.”

  Shane mumbled an apology as Jesse laughed. “He does have you pegged though, Brett. I’d think, now that Jordan’s decided to settle down that you’d start looking too.”

  “No thanks. It’s great for him but I’m not interested. I’ll be too busy for the next six months even if I was ready. I have to wrap everything up at the ad agency and figure out how to be the managing director of the radio station. I probably won’t have time to date let alone devote the kind of time and energy needed for a serious relationship. But back to your rude assumption, Shane, I’m here to meet someone before I go hook up with my companion for the evening.”

  “Who are you meeting?” Shane asked, wondering how soon he could politely escape. Stopping for a beer wasn’t having the effect he’d hoped for. He’d rather go home and brood alone.

  “You mean…” Brett began, only to be interrupted by Jesse’s low whistle.

  “Holy Christ, would you take a look at that!” They followed his gaze to the woman in the doorway.

  She was impatiently tapping her foot, quite a feat in the four inch spike heels she wore at the bottom of her black, fishnet stockings. Shane’s eyes roamed up her shapely legs to her clothes, if you could call them that. She seemed to be wearing some sort of jacket, miles too big for her but somehow arranged perfectly, showing off her delectable shape. The lapels of the coat, which Shane finally recognized as a tuxedo jacket, dipped precariously low between her breasts. At her neck, she wore a bow tie. There was a man’s hat tipped over her face, shadowing it. Making a quick sweep of the room, she made eye contact, staring the mostly male crowd into silence. Looking directly at Shane, she curved her lips into a seductive smile and started toward him.

  It was Alyssa! Shane realized even as his mind balked at the truth. She was wearing what he had to assume was his tuxedo jacket. According to the terms of their weekend challenge. Since he’d delivered on his end, coaxing her body to twenty-four orgasms in twenty-four hours, here she was, out in his jacket. What a stupid thing for him to demand. Shane assumed that at most she’d wear the jacket in his living room. He never would have held her to his terms that she wear it out for a drink with him in public. But it had backfired on him, big-time. Damn, if she didn’t look incredibly hot! And the whole bar seemed to agree with him. Judging by the looks on their faces, more than a few guys wanted to find out what, if anything, she had on underneath the coat.

  Alyssa stopped inches from him, stepping between Jesse and Brett to get that close. She handed a large envelope to Brett and looped her arms around Shane’s neck, causing the jacket to ride up even higher. Leaning forward and pulling him toward her, Alyssa caught his astonished mouth before he could speak. She kissed him deeply and passionately, hearing groans throughout the room before she released his lips. “I guess that makes us even,” she murmured so only he could hear.

  Shane was speechless as he continued to stare at her. No words would form in his head. He felt every inch of her body pressed against him and wanted to devour her on the spot.

  “That’s an awfully appealing look on you, Alyssa,” Brett interjected, reading the intent in Shane’s eyes.

  “Oh yeah,” Jesse agreed, amused by the scene in front of him.

  “Hi, boys,” Alyssa greeted them as she reclaimed her envelope. “It was nice of you to meet me here, Brett. I know you have plans so I won’t keep you.”

  “Let’s move to that table over there where we can spread out.” Brett ordered a round of drinks before herding them to the table.

  “You’re here to meet Brett?” Shane finally found his voice.

  “Keep up, stud.” She smiled wickedly as she squeezed his knee under the table. “You told me that you’d be here tonight. Or wasn’t I supposed to take that as an invitation? I printed out some of the pictures from the reception and wanted you guys to see them so I asked Brett to meet us here. I hope you don’t mind.”

  “Of course he doesn’t mind.” Brett laughed at the expression on Shane’s face. “I take it neither of you is going to explain that getup?” He looked from one to the other hopefully. “I guess not. See, Jesse, we postpone the beginning of our evening and they still treat us like outsiders.”

  “Hard to believe,
Brett,” Jesse chimed in. “Although, to wear a man’s tuxedo in public, well, maybe the reason is private and we don’t really want to know.”

  “Just shut up,” Shane managed through his gritted teeth.

  “Relax,” Brett advised. “We’re just trying to rile you since you look ready to take on the whole room. Don’t worry, Shane. That kiss made it crystal clear that this hottie is already taken. No one is going to infringe on your territory.”

  “Jesus, Campini, what were you thinking, walking in here like that? What if I hadn’t been here?” Shane turned angrily to her.

  “I’m fulfilling my part of our bargain, as agreed. I don’t go back on my word, McKade. And if you hadn’t been here Brett and Jesse are so what of it? They also would have told you all about this so you’d know I did as you specified.”

  “I figured you’d wear this privately, for me, not somewhere you’d be showing off your body to countless men. You look like you’re offering yourself…”

  “Careful, Shane. You’re sounding possessive and jealous here. I thought this is all about the two of you having some fun or didn’t you mean that when you said it last weekend?” Brett questioned, knowing his friend was hooked even though he hadn’t realized it yet. Yes, Kiley’s cousin and Jordan’s brother certainly had something strong between them. If only the pair would stop antagonizing each other and see what was right in front of them. Wanting to break the growing tension that filled the silence, Brett tapped the envelope Alyssa held. “Let’s see.”

  “First, tell me if you saw Max today,” Alyssa said.

  “Absolutely. And, as promised, we watched the video Jordan and Kiley sent from the Galapagos Islands. He was playing with a bird with blue feet, just like Max asked him to. I know I don’t have to tell you how happy they look either.”

  “It’s going to tear him apart when that boy dies,” Jesse stated quietly.

  “Yes but he has Kiley now,” Brett pointed out. “She’ll hurt with him and love him through it.”

  “They’ll get each other through it,” Alyssa corrected. “Look at these. Kiley may not have known Max as long as Jordan has but he’s in her heart.” She spread her photos out in front of them. They saw Jordan, holding Max, dancing with Kiley. “Look how happy they are.” Next, she showed them one of Brett in Jordan’s place. “What were you talking about? He looks so serious and she looks like her heart is breaking.”

  Brett was visibly shaken. “He made her promise to make Jordan take Bear when he dies. He said he wanted his sister to be able to have a cat and thought Bear would be happier with Jordan. He thinks the dog will like the new town and is afraid that Jordan will worry about taking Max’s pet from his family. Kiley is supposed to help convince him that Bear belongs with him, not his family, since Jordan gave him to Max in the first place. He wants his two best friends to stick together so they can play and he’ll remember the fun the three of them had and not be sad.”

  “Now look at this.” Alyssa revealed a shot of Shane dancing with Max’s sister, Penny. “The two of you look just as serious.”

  “Penny asked if I would be her special friend, since Max already has Jordan, Brett and Kiley. She wants me to come to school and talk to her class. She also asked if I’d help her pick out the cat once Bear goes to live with Jordan. Then she was afraid that I’d disappear after Max dies, just like Jordan is going to.” Shane looked at the others and saw that the children were affecting all of them, not just him.

  “This is at the end of the song.” Alyssa had a photo of Shane and Penny laughing, looking like co-conspirators.

  “I promised to talk to her class next week if her teacher okayed it. I also agreed to take her to the animal shelters every week until we find the perfect cat.”

  “Are you going to desert her?” Alyssa asked before she could stop herself.

  “I promised I’d visit her as long as I lived in the city if she promised not to fall in with any kids who did things that could hurt her. I’ll keep that promise too. She’s a great kid. So much like Max yet so different too. I’d never intentionally hurt her no matter what you think, Campini.”

  Alyssa nodded slowly before turning her attention back to Brett. “My dilemma is which to give to Kiley and Jordan. He’ll see the expression on her face and surely ask about it. Yours and Penny’s too. On the other hand, I don’t want to keep them from him either, since they’re such good shots.”

  “Why don’t you save this bunch until Max is gone?” Brett suggested after giving it some thought. “Max is right. Jordan won’t want to take Bear from his family, even though he’ll need the dog more than they do. His parents both told me they only let Max accept the dog since Jordan wanted him to have it so much. If you show these to him and we tell him what we were talking about, including you and Penny, Shane, he’ll take the dog without arguing. That will make it easier on all of them.”

  “Good, that’s what I needed to hear.” Alyssa collected her photos.

  “When do we get to see the others?” Jesse asked.

  “After the newlyweds, of course. You know it wouldn’t be right to show you before they see them. I wouldn’t have brought these few if I’d been able to make up my mind on them,” Alyssa stated.

  “As it should be,” Brett agreed, catching the way that Shane was watching her. “Jesse, our ladies await. Shall we leave these two to their own devices? Although, by the look on his face, I bet we can guess what they’ll be up to.” He laughed as Shane scowled at him. “Honey, be gentle with him. I don’t think he’s really ready for a woman like you.”

  “If he can’t handle you, keep me in mind,” Jesse joined in the teasing. “I’m more than ready to step in for him if you ever need me.”

  “Thanks, I’ll remember that.” Alyssa winked as they were leaving, just to see Shane’s reaction. He sat back, folding his arms across his chest and stared at her until Alyssa squirmed uncomfortably. “What are you thinking, McKade?”

  “Lots of things, Campini.” He sounded deadly and his face went carefully blank.

  “Care to tell me? Or would you like me to leave you alone?”

  She didn’t have a chance to move before he clamped his hand on her arm. “You’re not going anywhere without me in that outfit.” He stared into her eyes. “You really are insane, aren’t you?”

  “Get your hand off me,” she warned, not looking away. “I will go where I want, when I want and with whom I want. It’s none of your business. We don’t have any kind of arrangement and, with the way you’re behaving, I’m not sure I want to be here with you right now.”

  “Don’t push me.” Shane tightened his grip. “I will follow you around all night if I have to but there is no way I’m leaving you on your own, looking like that. Men are pigs and will jump to conclusions. If I’m not with you, one of them may forget the rules of polite society and attack you. I couldn’t live with myself if I let that happen.”

  “Oh, I see. You’re just being a Good Samaritan, looking out for my welfare. Well, I don’t need you or your protection. I can take care of myself, McKade.” She pried his hand off her arm. “Good night, stud.”

  “Pixie Queen, why do you have to be so difficult all the time? Hell yes, I’m concerned for your safety. But that’s not all of it.” He suddenly looked as tired as he felt as he slumped in his chair.

  “What’s the rest?” Alyssa was caught off guard by the softness in his voice.

  “You. Campini, Monday morning, when I dropped you off at your apartment I thought I’d had my fill of you. Tonight, you show up looking like the seductress you are and it’s all I can do to keep my hands off you. I never knew my tuxedo could turn me on like it does with you in it. As much as I feel that spending more time with you is more dangerous than jumping into a fire, drenched in gasoline, I want you. God damn, I want you so badly that I can taste you. I’d like nothing more than to toss you up on this table and lick you from head to toe and back again. You’re going to burn me, I know it. We’re a disaster waiting to happen. I
should make sure you’re safe and walk away but I don’t think I can. This is pure insanity and I know it. Why the hell are you doing this to me?” He was getting angrier with each word.

  “Just what the hell do you think I’m doing? You’re the one who came up with this idea, if you’ll remember correctly. I told you, I don’t go back on my word. You never once said I was to wear this for you alone. You said I had to wear this for a drink with you. Where did you have in mind when you said that? And maybe, just maybe,” she paused, chest heaving with her own mounting anger, “you’re the one who’s going to burn me. Maybe I’m the one walking into the fire because, let me tell you, I want you just as much as you say you want me. I’m not a coward though. I won’t back down from this just because it feels a little dangerous. It’s up to you now, McKade. Are we going somewhere so you can slide that iron shaft of yours into me once you figure out there’s nothing under your jacket or are you going to wimp out on me and leave us both unsatisfied?”

  Shane stared as her words sank in. Finally, he stood, pulling her with him. Wordlessly he dragged her out of the bar and across the lot to his pickup truck. Silently, Shane thanked his luck that the light above it was out. Instead of letting Alyssa in the passenger side, he startled her by sliding into the seat. “Prove it,” he growled, already lowering his zipper.

  Alyssa stood and stared, speechless with shock. He couldn’t be serious. Did he really expect her to have sex with him, in his truck, in a parking lot where anyone might see them?

  Shane noticed her hesitation as he freed his hard cock from his pants. “Who’s the coward now? There’s no light. The windows are tinted so no one’ll see in once the door’s closed. I’m calling your bluff, Campini. Slide on or tell me to take you home.”

  Alyssa glared as she tossed the envelope of photos on the driver’s seat. “Fine, McKade. You want me like this then hold on and let’s see if you can keep up.” With that, she straddled him, slammed the door behind her, raised his jacket so he could see that her claim was true and guided him into her.