by Leslie North
He thought about her naked and sitting over him today. He gave a low groan. Oh, he knew her—in all the ways that mattered. He knew she had a temper, she worked as hard as any guy he’d ever known, and she was used to looking after herself. He knew she had a mole on her left breast and the cutest dimples over her ass. He knew what she sounded like when she came. He knew she was pushy—and far too vulnerable. No one put up that much of a fight to keep others away unless they had softness inside that was too easily hurt.
He ruffled Sunny’s coat. “What are we going to do about her, hun?” Sunny gave a bark. “Yeah, that’s what I thought. I’m pushy, too.” Zach stood up. Maybe it was all those years of looking after his little brother that had left him wanting to butt in and handle the affairs of others. Or maybe it was just something about Lucy.
He knew he should take this slow—maybe all she really did want from him was money. But needing money and wanting it were different things. And he was starting to think that what Lucy needed was a good friend who could look out for her—and who she couldn’t back down with all that bristling of hers.
Or maybe she had some other issues he didn’t know about.
Heading back inside, he left Sunny on the porch with his food and water. He found Lucy in the living room. The house still smelled of dinner—he could hear chicken sizzling in a frying pan—but Zach knew he couldn’t eat. Not with Lucy looking so grim.
With a nod to her, he told her, “We should talk.”
She glanced at him, wary, but she sat down on the couch. He sat next to her.
Hands folded tight in her lap, she glanced at him. “I’ve been thinking, too. And...well, I don’t think I can be with anyone right now. I...I’ve got money problems.”
He took her hand. “Don’t we all sometimes. Will you tell me about it?”
She shook her head. “My problem. I have to sort it out.”
“It’s going to be my problem, too, if it’s coming between us.”
She stood up. “That’s just it. There is no us. What happened today...well, I don’t know if I should say thanks or sorry for leading you on. I...I’m not good news. I...my daddy wasn’t much good and I’m starting to think I’m just too much like him. I...I’m sorry.” Turning, she headed out of the house through the kitchen, almost running away.
He followed her as far as the kitchen door and watched her walk to her room, her head down and her hands fisted at her sides.
From behind, Charlie let out a breath. “Just give her some space. She’s—”
“She’s being pressured to pay off a debt she can’t afford.” Zach turned from the door and faced Charlie. “She’s not going to tell me, but I heard enough with the two of you yelling. Now either you talk to me or I’m going to go have a knock-down fight with Lucy to get to what I need to know. One way or the other I want to hear what’s going on.”
***
Lucy sat in her room, staring at the letter that had come for her today. It was from Martino. It hadn’t gone through the mails, but had been left on the kitchen table. Martino had wanted to make it clear he could get to her—or Charlie—any time he wanted. Locked doors wouldn’t stop him. She read the note again, hardly able to believe it. He’d added a five thousand dollar penalty for late payment. Five thousand! And he wanted the payments moved up to once a week. She groaned and fell back on the bed.
Where was she going to get that kind of money?
Maybe she should just give up and clear out. But who would look after her mom? And Charlie? And if she wasn’t around, would Martino just go after them for the money? He’d already hinted as much. Pressing a hand over her eyes, she rubbed them. Charlie was right—Martino was going to try and pull as much money from her as he could. She was never going to get out from under this.
Turning, she buried her face in her pillow. For a short time today, she’d been happy. When she’d been in Zach’s arms, she’d forgotten about everything except that he left her feeling good about herself—about life. But she didn’t really have a life she could call her own. She had her daddy’s debts—and she was trapped. If she went to the police...what could she even tell them? Martino had lawyers—he’d probably produce some legal paperwork showing how she owed him money because her daddy had signed something. She wouldn’t put it past Martino to fake her daddy’s signature or even hers. Martino had never actually threatened her—not within anyone else’s hearing. He was just really good at making sure she knew he was dangerous.
So she was stuck—trapped.
She had no life—and no future. And nothing to offer a hard-working man like Zach.
After an hour of wallowing, she got up and drew a hot bath. She soaked for another hour, dried off and slipped into baggy sweats. She had a faint headache from hunger and knew she’d better eat something. She headed back to the house and slipped in through the kitchen door. The rest of the house seemed quiet. One light had been left on in the kitchen and Charlie had left a plate on the table for her. Lucy dug out the fried chicken from the fridge and sat down at the kitchen table to eat.
She’d just polished off a thigh when Zach showed up in the doorway of the kitchen.
He stared at her, eyes dark and unreadable. He’d pulled off his boots, which was why she hadn’t heard him coming, but he still had on his shirt and jeans.
Eyebrows lifting, he crossed his arms. “You want to talk now?”
Getting up, she carried her plate to the sink. She put it down and turned, leaning her palms on the counter behind her. “Has it occurred to you I don’t want sympathy and I don’t need your help. It’s my life and my problems. You and Charlie—” She waved a hand. “Why can’t either of you get that?”
“Because you look like you’re about to break. Now I’m not stupid. I put two and two together. You owe money, you’re being pressured, and you’re trying to handle something on your own that’s going to beat you into the ground. So here are your choices. Let me—and Charlie—help you. Or go on stomping around like you’re five and I’m going to go fix things for you anyway, and then you can keep on sulking.”
She came over and stood in front of him so she could punch a finger into his chest. “Back off, cowboy. I don’t like either of those choices.”
Grabbing her hand, he spun her around so her back was to the wall. He put his hands on her waist and held her there.
“Damn, woman—what is it about you that just gets under my skin.” He put his mouth on hers, his lips crushing hers. She got a hand on his shirt and bunched it in a fist. She needed this—she wanted not to keep thinking about her problems.
Curling her fingers around his shirt, she yanked it open, unsnapping it. She put her hand on his hot skin and moaned. He slipped his hands under her sweat top and found her breasts. He rolled the tips between his fingers and she gave another moan.
Pulling back from her, he grabbed her sweat pants and pulled. They slipped down, already so baggy they wanted to fall off.
“Well?”
“Well, what?” she asked.
“You going to undo my jeans or make me do all the work?” He grazed his fingers over her hips and dipped into the wetness between her legs. “Tell me.”
“Tell you what?” she asked, looking into his eyes. They’d darkened like the night sky.
He smiled and stroked his fingers into her. “Tell me you what you want me to do.”
He kissed her neck and brought one hand up to pinch her nipple. She curled one hand over the bulge in his jeans and started undoing the zipper. He stepped back from her and dropped his hands form her body. “Tell me. You just have to tell me.”
“Fine I want you, damn it.”
He smiled and stepped closer. “What do you want me to do?”
“I want you to fuck me damn it. Now. Here. Hard.”
He put his hands on her hips and pressed his chest against hers. In the next second he was devouring her mouth with his own. She clawed at him, trying to get closer. She got his jeans open and his hard length into her hand. H
e gave a moan, grabbed her hips and went down on his knees in front of her.
He slipped two fingers into the small patch of dark curls between her legs and started working his fingers in and out. He slid the pad of his middle finger up and down over her clit. She dug her fingers into his shoulders. His mouth followed the path of his finger and she moaned. He worked magic on her with that clever tongue of his, moving from her clit to her entrance and back again to take long swipes. He slipped first one and then two fingers inside her, working them with a slow slid that left her burning. Panting hard, she put hand into his hair and tugged at his curls.
He took her clit to suck it hard. She exploded, her body shuddering. Standing, he grabbed her hips and pulled her up. “Wrap your legs around me.”
She did, and wrapped her arms around his neck. He positioned himself at her entrance and slipped inside, pinning her to the wall with his hips. Slowly, he pushed inside her. He gave a deep moan. Leaning over her he took her lips. The orgasm hit her hard and left him gasping for breath. She could feel him pulsing inside her, releasing his seed.
Brushing the hair from her face, he pulled back. “Lucy...?”
She heard the question in his voice but she didn’t know what he was asking. She wet her lips and trailed a hand down his sweaty chest. “This doesn’t mean you own me.”
“Not looking for that. Now are we going to talk or are we going to fight.”
Unwrapping herself from him, she pushed on his chest. “I’d best make some tea. It’s a long story.”
She talked as she filled the kettle and scooped tea leaves into a china pot. Zach sat at the kitchen table, his shirt undone but with his jeans zipped, and looking like a man who’d been ridden hard and put away wet. He also looked good enough that she was having a hard time keeping focused on her story and not on putting her hands on him.
With the tea made, she sat down opposite him and picked up her cup. “I’m not looking for hand outs. I don’t need some kind of knight to swoop in and save me. I just want—a way out.”
He gave a nod. “Got that. And from the sound of it, Martino’s one greedy bastard. I can see why Charlie wants to take a gun to him.”
Lucy tightened her cold fingers around her hot mug of tea. “That would just put her in jail for murder.”
Zach smiled. He put his hand over hers. “It might. But for what I’m thinking, we’re going to need Charlie. You want to wake her and get her down here?”
She shook her head. “I don’t know...I...I’ve been used to taking care of myself. Myself and my mom. I don’t like dragging you into this.”
“You’re not dragging—I’m pretty well pushing my way in, so you’d better get used to that idea.”
She gave him a sideways stare. “I’m not sure I can. I don’t like owing others.”
“Which is what got you into this. If you’d told Martino to go screw himself from day one, that you didn’t have to pay your dad’s debts, he’d...”
“He’d have sent some of his guys to pay me a visit—and put me in the hospital.” She shook her head. “He knew I was an easy target. No family. No one to help me.”
He put his hand over hers. “That’s not who you are.”
“Just what are you thinking?”
Leaning back, he sipped his tea. “I’m thinking greed always kills. So, if you’re up for it, let’s see how greedy Martino is. Now go wake Charlie.”
Chapter Ten
Zach sat at the blackjack table and smiled at the redhead tucked against his side. He won another hand, collected his chips and slid one into the top of the redhead’s tight blue dress. “Go get us a round of drinks, sweetie.”
She gave him a practiced smile, turned and headed for the bar, working that killer dress of hers and those heels. He’d have to be dead not to look, but what he really wanted was to see Lucy in a dress like that.
Glancing over to the door, Zach saw Lucy come in—baggy jeans and her work shirt flapping—and head for the back office. She kept her stare locked in front of her. He played another round, heart thudding—almost time. Lucy came out of Martino’s office, her face pale. Zach threw in his hand, scooped up his chips and headed after her.
He caught up with her at the door. “Hey, Lucy!”
She turned and lifted her chin. Arms folded she glanced at him. “Zach Collins. What do you want?”
“So is this how you spend the money I pay you?”
She propped a fist on her hip. “That’s none of your business.”
He grabbed for her arm and she jerked away. From the corner of his eye, he could see the redhead hovering behind him, two martini glasses in her hands.
“What do I have to do to get you to keep your distance? I don’t like you touching me. And I don‘t want you.”
The words came out like a slap and for an instant Zach stepped back—hell, he almost believed it. He swallowed hard. Turning away, he grabbed one of the martinis from the redhead and lifted the glass. “Here’s to you Lucy Ennis. May you get what you deserve someday!”
She grabbed the other drink from the redhead and threw it at Zach’s face. He dodged just in time and the redhead got the martini down the front of her dress. She let out a shrill screech and froze, mouth working like a fish.
Glancing back, Zach saw Lucy storming out of the casino, pushing past the guards at the door.
Just as well, Zach thought. The two burly men headed toward the scene he and Lucy had just enacted didn’t look happy. He handed the redhead a handkerchief, and said, voice loud, “What’s a guy have to do to get a little respect around here—and some real action!”
The thick-necked guys in dark suits came up to him. The man on the left leaned closer. “Mr. Martino would like a word with you.”
The redhead was still quivering, but trying to pat herself dry. Now she froze. Zach smiled. “Who?”
The guy jerked a thumb to the back office. “He runs the place.”
“Good. Now we’re talking.” Giving the redhead a pat on the butt, Zach smiled. He handed her five hundred in chips. “Keep my seat warm, sweetie. And see if you can dry off.”
Tugging his Stetson down, Zach followed the hired muscle. He’d already sized up the rest of the place. These two had to be bodyguards, the rest all looked like rented security. Martino didn’t have a large operation. No wonder he’d put the squeeze on Lucy. You always needed cash to expand, and he had already figured out that Martino was only hired management here. Possibly skimming, and definitely looking for the funds to open his own place.
He followed the suits down a long hallway with dark paneling and prints of Indian dancers to a set of large double doors. Thick carpeting hushed their steps. One of the suits opened the door, the other positioned himself with his back to the doors. Zach stepped inside.
Martino looked up from a large ornate, oak desk. To the right a bank of monitors flashed different views of the casino. Good. Martino had had a great view of the argument with Lucy.
Coming around, Martino gestured to one of the two leather armchairs in front of his desk. He perched on the edge of the desk and smoothed his suit. Zach didn’t miss the budge underneath the suit, or how it was cut to allow a handgun to be carried. “Mr. Collins. I do like to meet with our exclusive Player’s Club members, but we haven’t had that pleasure yet.”
Zach sat in the chair, crossed one boot over the other and glanced around. “Nice place you run. Don’t usually go to many of the Indian casinos—play’s not high enough. But you seem to let the riff-raff in here.”
Martino’s mouth tightened. “I’m sorry that you...you had an altercation with...”
“Lucy dammed Ennis. Girl works for me. Didn’t know she had a mouth on her when I took her on. Thought she’d be good for a roll in the hay, but she’s a ball breaker, that one. How the hell do you know her?”
Mouth thinning, Martino stared at Zach. “And just why do you have taken an interest in her?”
“Like I said—she works for me.” Zach leaned forward. “Now th
at friend of her—that Charlie. That’s the real reason to want to get to know Lucy Ennis.”
Martino blinked. “I’m afraid I don’t...?”
“You got anything to drink around here?” Zach pushed his hat back. “A fellow gets thirsty talking so much.”
Standing, Martino moved to a sideboard. He came back with two tumblers with whiskey. Zach took a sip. “Ah, so this is where you keep the good stuff. Anyway, that Charlie—been trying to get hold of her land. Leased it to me, and damn, if she’s not sitting on oil enough to make a man smile.”
“Oil?”
Zach glanced around. He stood and leaned closer to Martino. “Woman’s sitting on millions and she don’t know it.” He threw back his drink. “And now that that Lucy Ennis has me thrown off the place all because she was shaking her little fanny at me and I noticed.” Zach faked a high voice. “‘Oh, don’t put your hands on me! Ha! As if she’s not begging for it!” He threw an arm over Martino’s shoulders. “I just need a way to make that woman sell!”
Martino shrugged off Zach’s arm. “I think you’re fooling yourself if you think there’s oil on Charlene Hopkins’ land.”
Grinning, Zach pulled out a piece of paper. “Oh yeah. Read that report.” Frowning, Martino took the paper and went around his desk. He sat down and glanced at the page. Zach waved at it. “Geologist’s report. Got a fellow over here from Houston. One of the best. That land’s got oil all right. But Hopkins won’t sell—not with that little friend of hers in the way. That’s why Lucy’s hanging around here—don’t I know it. She’s making like she’s Hopkins’ best friend, so Hopkins will cut her in on that land. That’s what little Miss Gold Digger wants—a rich haul.”
Eyes bright, Martino looked up. “You really think Lucy Ennis is that close to Charlene Hopkins?”
“Close as blood kin, those two. Hell, you should have seen Hopkins come after me with a gun when she figured out I’d copped a feel out behind the barn.” He winked at Martino. “Bet you know what I mean. If I could figure a way to put the screws to that Lucy Ennis, I’d do it in a hot minute.”