Love is a Battlefield

by Vivian Arend

  “Anyway, I hate to milkshake and run, but I should go,” she told her friend. “I rented a car for the day and I only have it until nine o’clock, and I have a ton of stuff to do.”

  “Dinner and drinks once you get settled?” Kendra asked as they left the little table at the ice cream parlor’s outdoor patio.

  “Absolutely.” Pepper leaned in for a quick hug, then picked up her suitcases and winked at her friend. “We’ll go cruising for some hotties. Two months on the road with Adam and the others really soured me on college boys.”

  Kendra sighed. “Yeah, me too. Call me next week-ish and we’ll figure something out.”

  The two women parted ways on the sidewalk, Kendra heading for the sedan right at the curb, while Pepper lugged her suitcases toward the end of the block, where she’d parked her sporty red rental.

  She reached the car just in time to see a parking cop slide a ticket under her windshield wiper.

  “Oh no!” She dashed over, desperation shooting through her. “I’m here, officer! Please don’t give me a ticket!”

  The cop turned to face her, and for a second she was taken aback by how handsome he was. Wavy black hair, tanned skin, rockin’ bod. He was the most attractive parking cop she’d ever seen in her life.

  “I’m sorry, Miss, but your meter ran out.” His voice was deep and husky, and not at all apologetic. “Got no choice but to ticket you.”

  She bit her lip, torn between arguing and accepting her punishment like a grown-up. After a beat, she decided that picking a fight with a cop was not the way to go.

  “I understand.” She let out a breath. “I didn’t think I’d need more than thirty minutes, but I guess I was wrong.”

  Surprise crept into his tone. “That’s it?”

  She frowned. “What?”

  “You’re not going to scream at me? Kick me? Accuse me of being in cahoots with the devil for having the audacity to write you up?”

  It was too easy to offer a grin in response. “Oh my. I take it that happens to you a lot?”

  “You wouldn’t believe how often.” He lifted the sexy Aviators off the bridge of his nose to reveal his eyes.

  Very nice eyes. Dark brown, with flecks of gold around the pupils. “I want to sympathize, I really do,” she said with another grin. “But you’re the enemy, and I don’t make friends with enemies.”

  He laughed. “Yeah? Well, you’re the perp, and I don’t make friends with perps.”

  “Well, then. Obviously we can never be friends.” She clicked the car remote, walked around to stow her suitcases in the trunk, then headed back to retrieve the ticket.

  The cop intercepted her hand, swiping the paper before she could grasp it. “You know what? I don’t think you need this. I’m in a good mood today.”

  Her lips twitched. “Really? Why’s that?”

  “Because I’m about to ask a very pretty girl out to dinner, and I don’t want to start things off on a bad note.”

  Pepper raised her eyebrows. “I see.”

  In a flash, Sexy Cop tore up the ticket, then held out his hand. “I’m Billy.”

  Billy? What grown man still went by Billy? You’d think he’d start using Bill once he was old enough to realize that Billy sounded like a character from a preschooler’s cartoon show.

  But the guy was hot, so she was willing to cut him some slack. Besides, when it came to names, who was she to talk?

  “I’m Pep—Penny,” she said, shaking his hand.

  “It’s very nice to meet you, Penny.” He cocked his head. “So? What do you say? Will you have dinner with me Friday night?”

  “Hmmm.” She pretended to mull it over. “I guess I could do that, seeing as how you did me a solid and ripped up my ticket.”

  His smile widened. “Good answer.”

  Five minutes later, they’d exchanged numbers, set a time and place to meet, and then Pepper was driving off in the direction of her brother’s office. She hadn’t expected to land a date today, but she honestly wasn’t complaining.

  Truth was, trying to rile Jack up all week had succeeded in getting her hot, and what better way to release all that pent-up sexual energy than with the cute cop who’d let her off with a slap on the wrist?

  Even if his name was Billy.

  Jack stared at the papers in front of him without seeing a single word. He was so tired he couldn’t think straight.

  That’s what happened when a woman moved into his apartment and insisted on traipsing around in bits of nothing. And they weren’t even deliberately attractive bits of nothing. They were just…mostly not there, and Jack was getting tired of having to take matters in hand every fucking night and still waking up with morning wood that could help a Scot win the championship at caber toss.

  Thank God Pepper had finally healed enough that makeup would cover the last tinges of her facial bruises. Not only because he was happy she’d healed, but it meant this morning had been the last time he’d have to watch her ass move under her loose sleep shirt—his T-shirt that she’d stolen and never given back.

  He never wanted her to leave, but he couldn’t wait for the torment to end.

  “It’s a sad, sad case.” Dean’s smooth drawl finally broke through Jack’s haze, and he glanced up to discover his friend standing only inches away. More like squatting, his head in line with Jack’s. The smartass had pulled an old-fashioned detective’s microscope from somewhere, and was peering through it, one eye squinting at Jack, a forlorn expression on his face.

  “What the hell are you doing?” Jack demanded.

  “Elementary, my good man. I’m looking for your motivation.” Dean dodged out of the way as Jack swung at him. “Also, your sense of humor. Both seem to have vanished recently.”

  “Fuck off.”

  Parker’s brows rose. “Well, I thought Dean was kidding, but you are being an ass. I agree with him—what’s up with you?”

  “Nothing.” As if he was going to admit to Parker that his issue was a certain redhead who used to follow them around. Back then one of her worst sins was dropping her licked lollipops on his jeans. No way would he admit he’d been getting an entirely new type of sticky over Parker’s little sis.

  Thankfully, Parker stopped the inquisition. “All right, let’s get to work. We’ve got that end-of-summer gala we need to get moving on.” He gave Jack another concerned glance. “This isn’t something to do with you and Charlene, is it? You’re not having any trouble working with her, are you?”

  Hell, discussing the anniversary party planning was a welcome distraction. “I’m not dating her anymore—I already told you that—and things are okay between us. Talking with her about the details isn’t a problem.”

  “Good, because she asked to have you as point man. You’ve got a Skype meeting with her and her parents next week.” Parker rifled through some papers Didi had arranged for him. “We’ve already secured the venue—good job on that one, Dean.”

  “Easy enough when you’ve got contacts.” The other man shrugged and offered a grin. “The coordinator of bookings and I go way back.”

  Maybe it was because Jack wasn’t getting any these days, but for once Dean’s hound-dog ways weren’t so amusing. “Is there anyone in all of San Francisco you haven’t slept with?”

  “Nope. I thought we already established that the other day,” Dean said cheerfully, and his smug face had both Jack and Parker looking for something to throw at him.

  Dean’s phone went off, and he grabbed it, glancing at the screen. “Sorry, guys, I need to take this.” He gave Jack a serious glare. “Michael Frederick, the bookings coordinator at the hotel, is finally able to give me the tour.” He got to his feet and grabbed his jacket. “Catch me up when I get back. If I go now, I’ll beat rush hour.”

  Parker handed over the sheaf of papers. “I’m confused. You mean you actually organized an event without sleeping with someone?”

  “It’s a rare change to my modus operandi, I admit it. Don’t expect it to happen too often.
I was trying it out for variety.”

  Jack closed his eyes for a moment while Dean and Parker bantered a bit more. Only when the room went silent did he look up to see what was going on.

  “You really okay?” Dean had vanished and Parker had settled on the edge of his desk, and his expression as he stared down was full-out concern. “Maybe it’s not my business, but I haven’t seen you like this for a long time. Not since you went through the hell of your dad dying.”

  This was an entirely different type of torture than that had been. Part of his exhaustion came from being teased with what he still couldn’t take, Pepper, and the rest from the guilt of keeping a secret from Parker.

  “I’ll be fine. Just a lot on my mind.”

  “As long as you know you can talk to me about anything,” Parker offered.

  If Jack had his way, they’d be putting that one to the test soon enough. “Let’s get back to work. What else is on the master timeline? I’ll make sure I cover as much as possible when I meet with Charlene and her parents online, since the rest of the time it will just be Charlene dealing with us.”

  Not even fifteen minutes later, a firm knock rattled the door. An all too familiar dark head popped through the opening, makeup concealing the fading marks around Pepper’s right eye. Her bright gaze shot straight to meet his, even as she spoke to both of them. “I suppose it’s not kosher but I evaded you guys’ secretary. I figured you kind of already knew who I was, so I didn’t need an introduction.”

  Did she realize she licked her lips before changing her focus to her brother?

  Parker left the paperwork to open his arms wide, obvious pleasure on his face. “Finally. Good to have you home, sis.”

  He wrapped her in an enormous bear hug that Pepper returned wholeheartedly. She squeezed him tight, her head barely poking up high enough to be seen. Yet the minx still had the audacity to make an “oh my God, ouch” face at Jack over her brother’s shoulder.

  Since the whole point of her staying at his place had been to avoid causing bloodshed, Jack let the moment go. But he added her current mischief to the list he was making. The one for which he was going to extract revenge for every single moment of suffering.

  He intended to get payment in full.

  “Welcome home,” Jack offered, rising to his feet.

  She had to have a death wish. The exasperating woman let go of Parker and danced across the room, damn near diving at Jack so he was forced to catch her. Her body slammed into his, leaving no opportunity to hide the instantaneous response she pulled from him every single time.

  “So good to see you again, Jack.” She clung on tight like a monkey, and he debated which of his two first responses would get him in less trouble. Peel her off immediately and make Parker wonder why he was acting like she had cooties. Or he could let her remain Velcro’d against him and let her discover that the longer she wiggled, the harder his cock got.

  The thick length was no longer a subtle thing between them.

  Surprisingly, it was Pepper who gave the solution to his dilemma, dropping her feet to the ground and easing her body away. And strangely, there was a hint of something in her eyes that was more than just the mischief he’d become accustomed to seeing far too often.

  “I’m glad you made it home safe. Mom and Dad sent word that we’re having a family barbecue next weekend to celebrate.” Parker returned to his chair, his grin still wide.

  Pepper twisted in his direction but stayed close by Jack’s side. Close enough he caught a whiff of the scent of the body wash she’d used in the shower that morning, and he shifted to a different position and willed his cock to ease the hell off.

  “I told them I thought it was a great idea. Not just as a welcome home, but because I still need to meet Lynn.”

  Parker’s grin got even wider. “You’re going to love her.”

  “You love her, big bro, and that’s good enough for me.” Pepper hauled a chair over and swung it around, throwing her leg over to straddle the seat. She rested her arms on the chair back, the long black strands of her hair hanging over one shoulder. “So, what’s the news? I’ve got a ton of things to do, and I only have wheels for a short while.”

  “I can help you find a—”

  She waved a hand. “Talk, talk, talk. We’ll discuss that at the barbecue, or is that why you called me over?” Pepper tilted her chin down, suddenly serious. “You didn’t buy me a car already, did you?”

  “Of course not.” Parker looked indignant. He slid some papers across the desk. “Here’s what we need your help with for the next month.”

  Her relaxed body language vanished, and she sat up straighter, as if a pole had sprouted through her spine. “What do you mean, ‘need my help with’? Is this like, ‘hey, sis, good to have you home and can you help with some things around the house?’ Or are we talking something a little more formal?”

  She stood up and grabbed the papers, a crease deepening on her forehead as she shuffled through them.

  “It’s for DreamMakers.” Parker didn’t seem to be aware of the warning signs Pepper was giving off. Or maybe after a week of living with her, Jack had clued in to spotting when her pressure points began to build up steam. “Those are your first assignments.”

  Pepper didn’t say anything, and that was scarier than anything that had happened to this point.

  Parker carried on, unaware he was adding fuel to the fire. “The most immediate priorities are the promotional materials, then we will definitely need your expertise when it comes to the end-of-summer gala. We’ve never organized anything of that magnitude before, so having you on board is perfect timing.”

  “Isn’t it just?” Pepper purred, her voice going sickly sweet.

  Jack backed up slightly, wondering if it would be too obvious if he crossed his arms over his groin and covered his balls.

  But even as the imminent shit-storm gathered power, there was another emotion itching up his spine. The fighting between these two—that part Jack had not missed. Not one fucking bit.

  In the land of the clueless, Parker was living high and mighty. Jack’s best friend frowned. “Isn’t it?”

  “I’m busy.” Pepper threw the papers back on the desk.

  Parker opened and closed his mouth a few times before tossing her a glare of doom. “You don’t want to start right away? I thought you wasted enough time on your road trip that by now you’d be happy to have some money coming in, or were you planning on sponging off Mom and Dad for the next—”

  “Fuck you, too, brother.” Pepper folded her arms over her chest and glared laser beams at him.

  Utter disbelief crossed Parker’s face, as he’d obviously missed exactly where he’d gone wrong.

  Actually, Jack’s sympathies were with Pepper on this one. “I don’t think she intends to sponge off anyone.” He stepped forward so she had to look at him. Time to be a peacemaker between the siblings before they really got going. “Isn’t this what you thought you’d be doing when you accepted the job?”

  “What job? What job offer?” Pepper snapped back. “I never got asked anything about shit-all, and you know that’s usually part of getting a job. At least that’s what I’ve always heard.”

  “But you knew that I was going to hire you,” Parker insisted. “It makes no sense for me to need a photographer and digital programmer and then hire someone other than you. Not when you’ve got all the training.”

  “Doesn’t change the fact that you’re supposed to ask me.”

  Parker rolled his eyes. “Pepper. I have a job for you. Would you like to come work for me?”

  She shot to her feet. “See? You do know how to be a civilized human being when you try. And the answer is no.”

  She headed for the door.

  “Hold on.” Parker stepped in front of her, and Jack waited for the violence to begin. Fortunately, his friend was smart enough to realize when he’d pushed too far. “Okay, maybe I went about it the wrong way. But we really do need you. I thought this is wh
at you wanted.”

  “I don’t know if it’s what I want, okay? I need some time to think about it.”

  “But it’s a job.”

  “Working for you. My big brother.”

  Parker frowned. “What does that have to do with anything?”

  She sighed, a huge, soul-sucking sound like she’d lost the will to live. “That right there is part of the problem. That you don’t have the slightest idea that working for you could be anything other than peaches and sunshine.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “And that’s why I need to think about it. That, and I have a job interview—” she glanced at her watch, “—in thirty minutes. I’ll have to get back to you.”

  She was out the door before Parker could say another word.

  Jack stifled a groan. The old bickering like cats and dogs had set his nerves on edge, but this time an entirely new emotion colored his usual wish that they can the fighting.

  “What the hell were you thinking?” The words exploded out before he could stop them.

  His friend spun around. “Not you too.”

  “Yes, me too.” Jack thought through everything he had just witnessed. Pepper might have been driving him mad, and she still had some growing up to do. And the two of them needed to chill the fuck out instead of resorting to snapping at each other. But still, Parker had made one enormous mistake. “Did you really assume she would start working for you?”

  “Working for us, and yes, why not? That’s what family does—they take care of each other.”

  Jack stared at Parker in shock. “That wasn’t taking care of her. That was telling her what to do and expecting she’d do it. Whether or not it’s what she wanted.”

  “Of course it’s what she wants. She went to school for media and digital promotion, and that’s exactly what is on this list.” Parker shook the papers in the air.

  Clueless in San Francisco. “Are you sure you’re actually living with Lynn?”

  “What the hell kind of question is that?” Parker folded his arms over his chest, a tower of absolute frustration as he squared off against Jack.