by Debra Kayn
But the most talkative of them all waved his hands in front of his chest and smiled, showing off the dimple in his left cheek. She inhaled deeply for the first time since stepping into the bar. Tony was her buddy, the one who always made her laugh. It was impossible to stay upset with his laid-back attitude. His blond, sun-streaked hair and tanned skin looked like he could’ve walked right off the beach carrying a surfboard, yet he wore a leather jacket and boots. Despite his calm disposition, she knew Tony’s carefree demeanor could turn ugly. Years ago, she’d run to him for help when she saw a man beating a dog at one of the houses in town. She watched Tony return the favor, beating the dog’s owner bloody. Kage was there too, holding her back from entering the fray and getting into trouble. Tony had saved the dog, assisted Jane in treating its wounds, and helped her find a new home for the poor thing.
“Whatever.” She pushed against Kage, but he refused to let her go. “You all have fun with your man jokes at my expense. I can see nothing has changed around here.”
The smiles disappeared. Lance stepped forward. Kage’s body stiffened beside her, causing Lance to move back, hands up and grinning big. Before she could give any thought to what passed around the group, Kage picked her up and planted her butt on a bar stool.
“Kage!” She pushed off the counter and had swiveled halfway around when he stopped her. “Stop manhandling me.”
Emotions played with her body and the signals misfired. Her nipples peaked, and she hated how her voice lacked any real conviction. Even his roughhousing turned her on.
“Then don’t push me away.” He leaned closer. “You’re here to have a good time, get out of the house, and hang with your friends.”
She squeezed her thighs together to banish the fluttery sensation his warm breath on her face caused and looked away from him. Geez, talk about bossy and hot. She looked over the group of men and curled her lip. Idiots. Not one of them had the decency to step up and tell Kage to back off or to come to her rescue.
Anyone else would think they were on their sixth drink the way they were smiling all stupid-like, staring at her and Kage, but she knew better. None of them drank more than three beers when they had to work in the morning. Tomorrow was Thursday, a workday.
“Stay put.” Kage walked away.
Other women turned and watched him stroll across the bar. Jane wrinkled her nose, confused why he’d even want to bring her out with the boys. Obviously he could have any one of the ladies here, and they probably didn’t have a whacked-out ex-boyfriend trying to come after them. Yet he’d assigned himself the duty of getting her out of the office, vowing to protect her, and she didn’t know why. He’d rejected her previously, so it couldn’t possibly be that he wanted to be with her or spend time with her.
For a moment, she wondered what it’d be like if it were only the two of them, and not her brother and the other guys out on the town. She sighed. Those kinds of thoughts had to stop.
Kage would never be interested in her. She was damaged goods, and he was too…too…God, he was hot.
“Janie Beaumont-y.” A female singsong voice jerked her away from eyeing Kage’s ass.
She turned, smiling. “Charlene.”
Owner and bartender Charlene Turner bucked all stereotypes. A former burlesque dancer from Vegas, she’d ended up in Bay City, Oregon, opened Corner Pocket, and set about taking care of everyone. Including Jane, before she’d left for college.
Nothing had changed in her absence. Charlene was the one person Jane allowed to come and visit her at the house. She’d wanted to confide in the older woman, but in the end, she’d put on a happy face. Charlene wasn’t fooled, though, because after she left, a stream of her old friends started calling her on the house phone to talk. No one ever asked, but she knew they were curious and concerned about her. The less they knew, the better. That way Scott couldn’t use any of them to get to her.
“It’s good to see you out of the house.” Charlene leaned her elbows on the counter. Her dainty silver bracelets, of which she had at least seven on each arm, tinkled. “Which one of those fabulous boys can I thank for bringing you here tonight?”
“Kage,” she said.
Charlene’s boisterous laugh startled the patrons at the bar and proved Lycra really did keep voluptuous breasts contained in a low-cut top. Everything about her she did big. Her dyed red hair, which she teased, sprayed, and sprayed again to get the maximum volume, stood out, drawing much-wanted attention to her. Everyone knew she was happiest being center stage. Her attire of choice could still be used on the stage or a pole, despite her hitting the age of fifty-five. Nothing stopped Charlene from being who she wanted to be.
“I knew it. That boy’s been chomping at the bit for years. Too much to handle for most women, but not you. I’m surprised it’s taken him this long since you came back to do something about it,” Charlene said.
Jane leaned forward. “What are you talking about?”
“Kage Archer, my girl.” Charlene spotted him and whistled softly. “That man is an eight-cylinder engine purring under a beautiful, chrome-plated hood. A woman would have to buckle in to get a ride out of him.”
“It’s not like that.” Jane sighed, shaking her head. “He’s just doing Garrett a favor. You know how all of the boys are. I’m not the same person they knew before I left for college. I won’t involve them in my life.”
Charlene looked at her. “That’s the stupidest thing I’ve heard. No one can help you, because you refuse to talk about what you’re going through and think you can handle it yourself. You can’t.”
“I am.”
“You are not.” Charlene lowered her voice. “Besides, Kage isn’t looking at you like you’re Garrett’s little sister. That man wants you, and he’s tired of waiting.”
“He does not w—”
“Look at you.” Charlene straightened. “Wavy, full hair with natural ginger highlights women can’t even pay their stylist to create, eyes the color of whiskey that intoxicate Kage whenever he looks at you, and boobs that I wish I had in my younger years. You have enough spirit inside of you to keep a man on his toes, and that’s what every man wants. Kage’s not immune to it.”
“You’re biased, because you’re my friend,” she said. “I’m trouble.”
“I love you. Don’t be talking down about yourself. Sure, you lost yourself for a while, but you’re back. Kage knows it. He’s always known it. That boy has had his eye on you before you even knew he was looking. I’ll tell you, a man who’s waited that long isn’t going to sit around while you pull yourself out of the pond of self-pity you’ve thrown yourself in. Mark my words, Kage’s marking his territory.” Charlene lifted her brows and leaned closer. “Big-time.”
Jane swallowed and stared across the room in disbelief. “No…”
“Yes, darling. That man wants you in his bed and in his life. He’s not someone who changes his mind.” Charlene laughed, squeezed Jane’s hand, and then glided down the bar to help a customer.
It’d always been Kage for her. Even clear back when she wanted her first kiss to be with him. She’d planned, dreamed, and patiently waited until the timing was perfect. Or, so she thought.
She’d curled up on the couch with Kage when he crashed in the living room at her house after attending a bachelor party with her brother and had drunk too much to drive home. She’d been seventeen, trying to assert her newfound womanly feelings on the one man who made all those emotions explode inside of her.
He’d turned her down cold.
To add hurt to the humiliation she experienced, he’d kissed her forehead, turned her toward her bedroom, slapped her ass, and sent her away.
A deep hidden part of her wanted to jump up and go to Kage, ask him if everything Charlene said was true. But, having lived in hell the last four years, she knew she would only be setting herself up. No matter what Kage wanted, or she wanted, a relationship of any kind was out of the question.
Garrett and his friends wandered toward the pool
table. As long as she could remember—even before they were of legal age—they’d gathered at table 3 and relaxed over a couple games of pool a few nights a week. She swiveled her stool to put her back toward the room. She’d eat and go home, hopefully with Garrett. From here on out, she’d be more careful and not let Kage catch her alone.
Just as the thought crossed her mind, Kage pressed his hand low on her back, sat beside her on the empty stool, and swung her around until she faced him, her legs inside his. “Whatever you’re thinking, stop it.”
She ducked her chin. “None of you were supposed to know. Garrett promised. I didn’t want you to find out…”
He placed his hands on her thighs. “That was your first mistake. It’s our job. You’re our job, because we’re friends. We all have a history together, and I care about you.”
“I know,” she whispered.
“We’re experienced and trained to handle situations like the one you’re in. Unfortunately, we deal with more women than we like who are in your exact position and need help.”
“But you of all people know what could happen. Scott’s not working alone. He’s not going to let me walk away. He might not come tonight or next week, but he’ll eventually show up, because all I am is property to him. He’s greedy and mean,” she said. “I should never have come back here.”
Her gaze lifted. His jaw ticked. She’d done everything wrong from day one. Going to college meant spreading her wings, and she not only flew, she’d gotten far away from who she was and then latched on to the first person who made her feel good about herself.
Kage tensed, letting his protectiveness show. She laid her hands on top of his. “There was nothing you could’ve done.”
“I could’ve saved you,” he muttered.
She smiled sadly. He had no idea how much she wanted to go back and do the right thing, to call him or Garrett the first time she suspected Scott was not a real estate broker but doing something illegal, but it was too late. “Let’s not talk about it anymore.”
“Okay. I’ll leave it alone for now.” Kage paused as the waitress brought two beers and set them on the counter. He watched her leave, then said, “From now on, you’re with me twenty-four/seven.”
“What?” She shook her head. “That’s not necessary. I’m staying at the house, and—”
“I’m not going to argue with you. It’s done.” He picked up his mug. “Garrett’s agreed.”
“Oh, no, you are not staying with me.” She tried to extract herself from between his legs, but he refused to let her go. “I can’t be around you.”
What he was telling her was impossible. Garrett could watch out for her. She worked at night. She’d stayed safe for the past three weeks. Scott hadn’t called or found her. If Kage stayed with them at the house, she’d do something stupid.
“Really, Kage. You need to stay far, far away from me. For your own safety.” She squeezed his hand. “Please.”
His eyes went soft and he flashed a grin. Her stomach fluttered. She couldn’t even sit beside him without melting.
“I’m serious.” She raked her teeth over her bottom lip.
He kept looking at her in amusement, his smile growing bigger. “Me too.”
Damn him. He wasn’t taking her seriously. She was only entertaining him. “You’ll see. I’ll destroy everything.”
“Baby, get this. I’m not telling you no this time. You got it?” he said.
Heat rushed to her cheeks as she remembered the last time he’d denied her. His gaze softened and she swallowed, overcome with the power and acceptance radiating off him. Her sex pulsed and dampened at what he was implying would happen between them if she let it.
“It’ll never happen.”
His gaze intensified. “It’ll happen.”
“I won’t let it.”
He hovered within an inch of her mouth. “It’s already happened. Now you know. Deal with it.”
“Never. Garrett won’t let you stay after I talk to him. He’s my brother. Family trumps best friends.” She held on to the bar, pulled her legs out and over the top of Kage’s, and jumped to the floor.
Moving before he could catch her, she hurried across the room and straight to Garrett. There was no way anyone was going to tell her how to live. She was done with that crap. She hadn’t fought her way out of one situation only to end up in another one she didn’t want or need.
Garrett leaned against the pool table, a pool stick in his hand, lining up a shot to the corner pocket. She grabbed a cue off the rack, pushed her way between her brother and the table, and held the stick in front of her, while she backed Garrett away from his game.
“Hey!” Garrett straightened. “What the hell are you doing, sis?”
Men at the other pool table moved forward. Several catcalls came over the noise from the bar. She ignored them all.
“Tell him.” She pointed the stick across the room. Lance and Tony drew closer, grinning like two fools. She disregarded their amusement and concentrated on her brother. “Tell him he is not staying with us.”
Garrett planted the end of his pool stick on the ground between his feet. “He’s not.”
Relief swept through her. At least her brother still had some common sense left in his head.
She sagged in relief, letting Garrett take the pool cue from her. “Good. I knew you wouldn’t allow him to push—”
“You’re staying at his house,” Garrett said, tossing the stick to Tony.
Her heart skipped a beat and she recoiled. “What?”
Garrett moved around her and lined up his shot. “We decided the safest place for you to be is away from our house. Scott knows where to look for you, and he doesn’t know where Kage lives. You’ll be safer there. He’s the best and he can protect you, sis. You know that.”
“No…” She shook her head, unable to stop her hands from shaking.
Garrett looked up from the table at her. “Do it for Kage, sis. It was either let him take care of you or kill Scott.”
She squeezed her eyes closed and swallowed hard before looking across the room. Kage sat watching her, intense and ready to pounce.
Garrett moved close. “He’s hurting. You should’ve seen him, sis. He went crazy when I told him, and you know he never loses control. Let him take care of you. Let him do what he needs to do to keep you safe.”
“I’ll only hurt him more. I’m no good for him. My association with Scott is going to drag Kage down. You know he’s sworn to stay far away from any kind of trouble, and you’re just asking for Scott to walk right up to his door and knock. We both know if that happens, he will answer,” she whispered, without taking her gaze away from Kage.
“Kage has his reasons.” Garrett lowered his voice. “It’s a done deal. You’ll stay with him until this business with Carson is over, and we know you’re safe.”
She didn’t know how long she stood there, but when Kage lifted his chin and mouthed Come here and pointed at the food he’d ordered for her, she returned to his side. She’d never let anyone she loved get hurt on account of her. She rubbed her hands over her hips, nervous about staying with him. Around Kage, she became distracted, and she couldn’t lose sight of why she’d come home.
Chapter Three
Kage unlocked the front door of his house, took Jane inside, set the alarm, and flipped on the light. He did all that without letting go of her hand. He still had to keep checking himself, so he wouldn’t move too fast. He didn’t want to rush her after everything she’d been through.
He’d waited for the moment Janie walked back into his life, and now she was here. Years ago, it almost killed him to turn down her offer, her tempting lips, her innocence He squeezed her hand. She wasn’t going anywhere.
He was in a better place in his life, no longer under the control of his uncle and stable enough to keep her protected from anything that could happen. He’d worked hard to make sure no one ever questioned his loyalty, his word, his integrity. He came from people who made running drugs
their life. He was not one of them.
His biggest regret was rejecting Janie. He’d done it because he was unfortunate enough to have the last name of Archer and the stigma that came along with being connected to the underground. He’d taken those years without her to grow stronger, more determined, more stubborn for the day he’d prove his worth to her. Now he finally had the chance and he wasn’t letting her go, no matter how much she wanted to deny she was still attracted to him.
The simple thought of her hurting or her being hurt enraged him.
Earlier, he’d wanted to go after Scott Carson. No one, especially someone who had one foot on the other side of the law and abused women, deserved to breathe the same air as Jane. If he’d known the kind of shit she was living through, he could’ve done something about her situation. Then she’d be in his bed, and Scott would be in a cold grave.
Jane’s cat walked into the entryway and she gasped, tugging her hand from Kage’s. He let her go and watched her swipe the cat off the floor and into her arms.
Bluff meowed a long string of cat words. Kage shook his head. It had seemed silly to ask Tony to leave the bar early to pick up Jane’s things from the house, including catching the cat from the shop, but seeing her smile made him happy.
Always sexier than hell, she was even more beautiful than the last time he saw her at her dad’s funeral. She wore her cinnamon-colored hair to the middle of her back, leaving it loose and tousled. Her high cheekbones gave her an air of sophistication to a perfect heart-shaped face. When she laughed, her lips curved up on the corners naturally, putting everyone she met at ease.
Despite her beauty, he couldn’t ignore the way her self-confidence had taken a hit. He noticed her reluctance to talk, and at the bar she kept herself from looking at the others in the room. His Janie had always been the life of the party. She loved being the center of attention.