Bare It All

by Lori Foster

  What an understatement. Reese cleared his throat and tried to get things back on track. “So, you trust this Avery?”

  “Yeah, I do.”

  Logan lifted a brow. “If you just bought the bar, how well do you know her? Is she a woman you’re dating?”

  Pepper snorted. “Rowdy doesn’t date. He just has sex.” Her narrowed gaze held plenty of accusation for Rowdy. “And he had a really annoying double standard about it, too. It was fine for him, but I wasn’t even supposed to look.”

  Tipping his head toward Logan, Rowdy indicated his hold on Pepper. “You did more than look, kiddo, so stop complaining.”

  “And when it comes to you,” Logan said, “I’m glad he was so vigilant.”

  Rowdy lifted one shoulder. “But when it comes to Avery, I’m not doing either.”

  Dash grinned. “Is the ‘no dating’ part hampering the sex part?”

  “Maybe. Hard to tell. But she’s going to be my bartender, so it’s probably best I don’t go there with her, anyway.”

  “Spoken like a rejected man.” Dash lifted his Coke in a salute. “If you can’t get it, deny wanting it.”

  Rowdy smirked.

  Because their personalities were so dissimilar, it surprised Reese that Dash and Rowdy appeared to get along so well.

  “What’s wrong with her?” Pepper asked.

  And the men all laughed.

  “Seriously, kiddo, take me off that pedestal, will you?” Full of fondness, Rowdy smiled at her. “I do get struck down every now and then, you know.”

  Confused by the denial, Pepper crossed her arms. “No, you don’t.”

  “Yeah...” Rowdy slanted a look around the room, then grinned. “She’s right. I usually don’t.”

  “Then that makes Avery either really smart,” Dash said, “or really special.”

  Maybe tonight, Rowdy would figure out which it was. “I’m willing to trust her if you are,” Reese said. “I know some other good cops—officers I trust—who can blend in, as well.”

  “Jesus, Reese, you may as well turn on the red-and-blue lights.”

  Speaking over Rowdy’s protests, Reese added, “Dash, do you think you can stay here with Alice and Pepper?”

  “Sure, no problem.” He commandeered Rowdy’s place next to Cash. “We’ll defend the home front, won’t we, buddy?” Given how Cash’s tail got started, he agreed.

  Logan took over, saying to Rowdy, “You’re not supposed to meet at the bar until midnight, which means it’ll be a late night. I’m going to run home with Pepper so she can get some things together.”

  “I’m spending the night?” Pepper asked.

  “I don’t want you home alone.” Logan cupped her jaw. “Do you mind?”

  “With Alice and Dash as company? Nope, don’t mind at all.”

  “I’ll be back for you as soon as I can, but it might be dawn before we wrap up. You just never know. I want you comfortable while you’re here.”

  “So, I’m grabbing my pj’s and a pillow, huh?”

  Reese would bet his last dollar that Pepper didn’t own pajamas, but he understood that they wanted some time alone. Hell, he’d love a little time alone with Alice, too. Unfortunately, he didn’t see that happening, not until tomorrow at the earliest.

  “I’m sorry I turned my spare bedroom into an office,” Alice said. “They’d probably suggest I stay with you, since your home is so much bigger, but Cash is most comfortable here.” To prove that point, she smiled at Cash, stretched out on his back over half of the couch so Dash could rub his chest. He had one soft black ear hanging off the side of the cushion.

  Yeah, God knew Alice wouldn’t want to inconvenience the dog. She loved him.

  And without planning it, without even thinking it through, Reese said, “I’ll be looking at my own house soon. Cash needs a yard where he can run around.”

  Startled, Alice said, “You want to buy a house?”

  “The idea appeals to me, yes.” Damn it. He shouldn’t have just thrown that out there. It was absolutely the wrong time to go into it. “We’ll talk about it later.”

  She held silent, but he saw the questions—and the uncertainty—in her eyes. Did she think he planned to move away from her?

  “Time for us to go,” Pepper said. But as she passed Reese, she said sotto voce, “I vote for a house near us, just so you know.”

  Reese smiled at her. “You think you could tolerate my proximity?”

  “To be closer to Alice, sure.”

  So, she assumed Alice would be part of the deal? What did Alice think? Reese tried to see her face, but she kept her head down.

  Logan and Pepper left with the promise that they’d be back before eleven.

  Rowdy and Dash hung around.

  “So,” Alice began. “I have an idea how we could draw out the bastards without putting Rowdy at risk.”

  “No,” Reese and Rowdy both said at the same time.

  Dash wisely stayed out of it.

  “Instead of DeeDee luring Rowdy, I could lure Hickson.”

  “No,” Reese emphasized more firmly.

  “And ‘bastards’ sounds funny when you say it, Alice. It doesn’t suit you.”

  She glared at Rowdy for that bit of censure. “Cheryl will be calling me. We all know she’s been pulled into the scheme, that she’s being used. I won’t leave her to deal with that alone, and they’re probably going to insist on seeing me personally. So why not—”

  At her dogged persistence, Reese thought his head might explode off his body. “No, and no.” Dear God, even hearing her speculate on such a thing made his guts twist in dread. “You’re not going anywhere without me.”

  She folded her arms over her chest. “I need to know that Cheryl is safe!”

  Reese leaned into her temper. “Trust me to take care of it!”

  She jabbed a finger toward Rowdy. “Why doesn’t he have to trust you to handle things?”

  Dash snickered but cut the sound short when the front door opened, and a large man walked in. In a single glance, Reese took his measure, making note of everything.

  A black T-shirt, bulky from a Kevlar vest underneath, was tucked into casual tan slacks. He hadn’t even tried to conceal the black leather holster that held a Beretta, or the utility belt loaded with extra magazines, a stun gun, a baton and a knife.

  From the corner of his eye, Reese saw Rowdy pull Alice behind him. Dash joined him, and together they protected her with a solid wall of male muscle.

  Cash, unaccountably, sat up but made no move to attack.

  His gun already in hand, Reese stepped in front of them all.

  The big man looked from Reese’s face to the gun, and back to his face with chilling indifference. “You’re protecting her?” And then, looking past Reese: “Alice, he’s protecting you?”

  Son of a bitch. Reese kept his aim steady. He had a good idea who had just come calling. But he wasn’t at all sure how he felt about the impromptu visit.

  * * *

  OOPS, ALICE THOUGHT as she recognized that whiskey-smooth voice.

  New levels of testosterone throbbed in the air, along with razor sharp tension.

  Rowdy tried to shrug off her hands when she gripped his shoulders and peered between him and Dash. She saw the fair, straight hair, still a little too long, and those incredible golden eyes.

  Gratitude welled up anew, and a smile threatened, but Alice didn’t dare. Not just yet. Not while Reese stood there, armed an
d dangerous.

  Licking her dry lips, Alice nodded. “I believe he is, yes.”

  He accepted that without question, saying casually to Reese, “Put the gun away.”

  “I don’t think so.” A muscle ticked in Reese’s clenched jaw. “Who the hell are you, and what do you want?”

  Alice skirted around Rowdy so she could whisper to Reese, “Put it away before he puts it away for you.”

  If anything, Reese became more aggressive in stance and attitude. He stepped in front of Alice again.

  “Sorry, Alice, but insulting a man’s ability definitely won’t help.” Unconcerned, as if Reese, Rowdy and Dash were no threat at all, he came farther into the room, walking to the couch to sit down.

  Okay, so she could see him discounting Dash. Not that Dash wasn’t big and rock solid, but he didn’t have the same level of...menace, maybe, that Reese and Rowdy exuded.

  Still, Dash was an imposing male. Not as imposing as Reese, of course, but—

  Cash, who’d watched the proceedings with interest, didn’t appear to mind sharing the couch. Those piercing golden-brown eyes took in the dog, scratched under his chin without a word, made a friend.

  Cash thumped his tail in open welcome.

  That should have put Reese at ease, but apparently he didn’t trust Cash’s judgment any more than he did Alice’s.

  “You’ve got two seconds to explain,” Reese told him.

  Those compelling golden eyes came back to Alice’s face.

  He smiled.

  And she felt more flustered.

  “First a cop, and now these two.” He nodded toward Rowdy and Dash. “You’ve been getting around, Alice.” Pleasure took the threat from his compelling stare. “I like it.”

  A blush crawled up Alice’s neck and spread out over her face. “Oh, um...” Again she tried to squeeze out from between the men, but Rowdy held her back. She gave up. “They’re just friends.”

  “But the big one is more?”

  Lord, they were all big, but she knew who he meant.

  “Damn right I am,” Reese said.

  Feeling very self-conscious, Alice gave a small nod of agreement.

  His smile widened into a grin. “You’re allowed, you know. And you more than deserve a little fun.”

  The easy demeanor didn’t reassure Reese at all. “Who the fuck are you?”

  Sitting back, arms stretched out over the back of the sofa, muscled thighs relaxed, he took Reese’s measure. “I’m Trace.”

  Finally, Alice thought, she could rid herself of the last big barrier between herself and Reese. As dangerous as the night would be, as surprised as she was by the unexpected visit, she was thrilled that Trace was here.

  Now he could tell Reese anything he needed to know, and there would never again be secrets between them.

  * * *

  ALICE’S SAVIOR. Her knight in shining armor.

  No way in hell would Reese relax his stance. “So you’re the wraith.”

  “I’ve been called that, yes.” He looked past Reese and frowned. “I’d appreciate it if they’d stop manhandling her.”

  Reese narrowed his eyes. “Turn her loose, Rowdy.” But he added, “I don’t want you near him, Alice.”

  She made a sound of exasperation. “He’s not going to hurt me.”

  “You’ll stay away from him all the same.”

  “Fine.”

  “Fine.”

  Trace grinned. “She was more timid when last I saw her.”

  Alice took immediate exception to that. “I was never timid.” Moving forward a step, her thumb to her chest, she said, “I’m the one who—”

  Reese said, “Alice, no.”

  She glanced back at Rowdy and Dash, both brimming with curiosity, and pinched her lips together.

  “When was the last time you saw her?”

  Trace’s brows went up. “She hasn’t told you?”

  Worried, Alice shook her head. “Only as much as I had to.”

  Trace took that in, then made a decision. “Let’s get through this, and then we can talk. I’ll tell you anything you need to know.”

  “Yeah.” Reese nodded. “You will. But for now, tell me why you’re here. What do you think we have to get through?”

  At the same time, Trace sat forward. “You have a problem.”

  “Several, in fact.” Reese lowered the gun, but even when he reached out to Alice, he didn’t take his gaze off the intruder.

  Full of trust, maybe even relief, Alice put her hand in his and moved to his side.

  “So, seriously,” Dash said, without Rowdy’s suspicion. “Who are you? Some type of Rambo?”

  Scrutinizing first Dash and then, more thoroughly, Rowdy, Trace held silent.

  Understanding his dilemma, Reese assured him, “They’re trustworthy.”

  “You sure about that?”

  As thorough as Trace appeared to be, he’d surely already done his own background checks. If he was worried about Rowdy, he needn’t be. “One thousand percent.”

  Rowdy couldn’t quite hide his discomfort with that much faith.

  Mouth tipping in a barely there smile, Trace said, “Your more colorful friend seems to have doubts.”

  Reese didn’t have to look to know who Trace meant. “He’s still coming to grips with it himself. But I’d trust him with my life.” He pulled Alice closer. “Or hers.”

  “All right then.” He slid his enigmatic gaze to Reese. “Tell him whatever you like.”

  Alice’s hand squeezed his—a silent request that he not expose Trace more than necessary.

  Shit. Returning the gun to his holster, Reese flagged Rowdy and Dash forward. “We might as well sit down.”

  Dash wasted no time in grabbing a seat. “So, what is it? Hired mercenary? Military elite?”

  Keeping the explanation short, sweet and to the point, Reese said, “He helped Alice escape after she was taken by a human trafficker.”

  Dash went still and silent. “No shit?”

  Trace smiled. “More like Alice helped me when I made moves to shut down the whole sick enterprise. She’s incredibly resilient, and she has more courage than most, along with a phenomenal amount of initiative.”

  As if the praise flustered her, Alice went bright red. “You know that’s not true.”

  “I don’t lie,” Trace said. “And I don’t exaggerate.”

  “Oh, well...thank you.”

  Warm with pride, feeling incredibly possessive, Reese kissed her temple.

  “Supposedly, no one ever gets to see you.” Rowdy crossed his arms over his chest. “So, what are you doing here now?”

  Reese answered before Trace could. “We were followed today.”

  Lifting a brow, Trace showed his surprise. “You knew?”

  “I’m not incompetent.”

  Brows now furrowed, Trace said, “Obviously not.”

  “Who followed us?” Rowdy shifted his gaze from Trace to Reese. “From where?”

  “A woman. She was at the scene.” Reese sat on the arm of the chair and patted his thigh. Cash immediately came to him. Alice stood behind him, her hands on his shoulders, silently supportive. “She followed us to the station, and though I didn’t see her after we left, I’m assuming she might’ve followed us here, too?”

  “Who is she?”

  “Your date for the night.” Trace sat forward, forearms on his thighs, hands loosely laced together. “It’s more than probable that someone
plans to come in and grab Alice while you’re distracted at the bar.”

  That drew Rowdy back. “So, I’m not the mark?”

  “Hard to tell. I wouldn’t discount any danger toward you. But I think it’s more likely they’re after her.”

  “Because she saw Hickson. She’s a witness.” Accepting the reach of Trace’s influence, Reese went cold inside.

  Trace gave an affirmative nod.

  Because he hadn’t been privy to all the details Alice had shared, Rowdy grew more suspicious. “You know all this, how?”

  Trace looked at Reese, and Reese sighed in annoyance. “I was snooping into Trace’s background—something he shut down real quick using impressive contacts—but I assume that made him curious about me.”

  “Given your connection to Alice, I was already curious. But, yes, I did a little more digging at that point.”

  “You’ve kept up with her?” Reese asked.

  “She knows I’ve been watchful.” Tipping his head, Trace studied Alice. “She had the means to reach me if it ever became necessary. But I haven’t intruded. Alice wanted it that way.”

  “It wasn’t necessary,” Alice said, waving off his words. “You’d done enough.”

  “Enough being...?” All sorts of scenarios went through Reese’s head.

  “I cleared her of any involvement with the trafficker.”

  “She wasn’t involved.”

  “I’m glad you understand that. But cops do like to dig around and draw their own conclusions.”

  Reese sawed his teeth together over that—because it was true. Without Trace’s help, Alice might have undergone extensive interrogation and endless interviews.

  “I got her the weapons of her choice, and the CCPs to go with them.”

  Dash whispered to Rowdy, and Rowdy replied not quite as softly, “Conceal and carry permits.”

  “Ahh.”

  Hands holding tight to his shoulders, Alice said, “He helped me get back to living my life.”

  “That was all you, Alice. Like I said, you’re resilient.”

  It struck Reese then: he owed Trace, probably more than he could ever repay. The man had kept Alice safe, but at the same time, he’d honored her wishes, giving her the room she needed so she could stay her beautiful, wonderful self. That couldn’t have been easy.