CHAPTER THIRTEEN
ROWDY TURNED OUT the lights, pulled back the covers and stretched out along Avery’s side. With one arm he scooped her in close and slid the other under her head.
She was stiff as a board, her hands still clutching the covers to keep them covering everything but her face. Silly woman.
Nuzzling her ear, he said, “Relax.”
“Did you take a pain pill?”
“I don’t need one. It feels better today.”
Even in the darkness, he knew she looked up at him. “Rowdy Yates, you do not need to be noble with—”
He put his mouth over hers, stifling that absurd suggestion. Noble? Not likely. Nobility was not part of his DNA.
She didn’t loosen up, but Rowdy wouldn’t let it deter him. He continued to kiss her, brushing his mouth over hers until her breathing quickened. Taking advantage of her parted lips, he skimmed his tongue over her bottom lip, and heard the catch in her breath. He kept it light, nibbling, teasing—until finally he licked in, slow, deep, taking the kiss from subtle to full-blown possession. He moved over her so that his chest pinned her down and, God almighty, that felt incredible.
Her hands snaked out from under the covers to tangle in his hair and pull him closer.
Out of self-preservation, he lifted his head. “That’s better.”
“Better than what?” she asked breathlessly.
He trailed his fingers through her silky hair, kissed her once more. “You cowering away from me.”
He started to kiss her yet again, but she planted her hands on his chest and shoved.
Grinning, Rowdy moved to his side. “No more kissing, huh?”
“I was not cowering!”
“Could’ve fooled me.”
She rose up, nose to nose with him. “I’m tired, remember? One of us didn’t get any sleep last night.”
“Damn, honey, stop growling like that.” No way could Rowdy take the amusement out of his tone. He was grinning too much for that. “You sound ferocious.”
“Screw you, Rowdy Yates!”
“Eventually.” He caught her before she could shove her way out of the bed, then had to carefully wrestle with her to get her pinned down again without hurting her. “For a weary woman, you have a lot of fight left in you.”
She bucked hard, almost taking him by surprise. He laughed and put a leg over her. “Does this animosity have anything to do with you trying to avoid our talk?”
She went still, then more frantic.
He held her and kissed her forehead. “Settle down.”
“All right,” she huffed, while still straining under him. “But only because I don’t want to hurt your back.”
“Only thinking of me, huh? Good, because I’m tired, too, and if we’re heading out to see your folks in the morning, we both need some rest.”
She turned her face away from his.
Rowdy nuzzled her neck. “What’s going on, Avery?”
“I haven’t been home in a year.”
The same length of time she’d been denying herself? Huh. “Personal reasons?” He was unsure with the whole family dynamic. All he really understood about families was that most were fucked, and few understood real loyalty—the type of loyalty he had with Pepper.
“Very personal,” she whispered.
He cupped her head, brushed his thumbs over her cheeks and tried to wade through the unfamiliar territory. “You dislike your stepfather?”
“Where’d you get that idea?”
Let’s see...because she’d accused him of something, like maybe stalking her via telephone? “You didn’t seem that happy to see him.”
“It took me by surprise, that’s all.” Her fingers toyed with his chest hair, making him a little insane. “And I figured if he was here, something must be wrong.”
Something like...she’d been found? “You were right, I guess, if what he said about your mother is true.”
“It is. He would never make up something like that. He loves her too much.”
So he sounded like a great guy. “Then why did you ask him if he’d been calling?”
“I don’t even know.” She pressed her head back into the pillow and groaned. “It was stupid. I should have realized that Meyer Sinclair would never do anything that undignified.”
“Breather phone calls?” He hoped they were still talking about the same thing.
“Yes. He would never lower himself to anything that ridiculous. It’s not his style.”
“Then the million-dollar question is, who do you think is making the calls? And, no, don’t start retreating again.” He held her face, kissed her hard and fast. “I pay attention, Avery. I remember the first call where the guy asked for you. Then I saw you today on the phone, and I heard what you said to your stepfather. Someone’s been bugging you, right?”
She nodded. “It’s only happened those few times.” And then in a rush, “It could have been a prank. You know, someone who saw my name while he was at the bar drinking and he decided to make a pest of himself.”
“Maybe.” But the fact that she thought it was more made him think it, too. “Do you know anyone who’d want to pester you?”
It took her too long to say, “Not really.”
“Avery.”
“Don’t Avery me. No, I don’t know anyone who would be dumb enough to play juvenile prank phone games. It’s just that...I don’t know. It made me nervous.” She added with blame, “Probably because you’ve got me seeing the boogeyman everywhere I look now!”
“How is this my fault?”
“You’re the one who insists my place isn’t safe.”
Damn, she was good at turning things around on him. “It’s no place for a woman to live, and that’s a fact, not a suggestion.”
“Rowdy?”
The way she said his name made it impossible for him to ignore the feel of her small, giving body under his. “Hmm?”
She slowly laced her arms around his neck. “You remember what the doctor said, right?”
Some bullshit about him waiting for sex. “Yeah, she said for you to take care of me.”
Avery laughed, and even that, the husky sound of her humor, made him nearly frenzied with powerful lust.
“She said three days, and you know it. But you’re making it so hard—”
“That’s my line to you, babe.” He nudged his erection against her hip.
She did this funny little half laugh, half groan. “Tomorrow will be the day, right?”
Meaning she’d hold him to his promise to give her tonight to sleep. That plan had seemed better hours ago than it did now.
His turn to groan, and he didn’t bother holding back.
“Rowdy, stop misbehaving. You know it’s for the best.”
He did, but still he said, “The best would be stripping those cute pajama bottoms off you and—”
Her fingers touched his mouth. “Tomorrow, I promise, I won’t wear pajamas.” She ended that with a yawn, reminding him that she hadn’t had much rest in the past twenty-four hours, and it was his fault.
“Go to sleep, honey.” He moved to the side of her, settling himself carefully so that he didn’t put too much pressure on his back, which, despite what he’d told her, was still tender. He drew her up against his body, and after a kiss to her neck, said, “Tomorrow is Saturday, you know.”
“So?”
“So Sunday the bar is closed. I’ll have you tomorrow when we close up the bar—and all day after.”
She shivered. “Honest to God, Rowdy, I can hardly wait, myself.”
He was still smiling when he felt her body wilt into sleep. Without meaning to, his arm tightened around her and he put his nose in her hair, breathing in her now-familiar scent.
It was so damn odd, especially considering he still had wood, but he liked this a lot. Holding her. Just...being with her. There was a certain comfort to having his little bartender so close.
He didn’t yet know who might have called her, or why she’d seemed so defensive with her stepfather. But he’d figure it out. And in the meantime, she’d be with him, safe from harm.
He had nothing to worry about.
Nothing—except the overwhelming possessiveness he felt toward her. Rowdy rested his chin on the top of her head, closed his eyes and, holding her close to his heart, allowed himself to sleep.
* * *
ROWDY WAS FAR too enigmatic during the drive to her stepfather’s house. Avery had seen him in many moods, but he’d never been this closed off from her. She’d tried to engage him in casual conversation, only to have him give short, succinct answers that didn’t encourage a reply.
“Are you okay?”
He glanced at her. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
“I don’t know. You’re so quiet.” Avery admired his strong profile. They’d slept in—an aberration for both of them—and had to rush to get out of the apartment in time. Rowdy had taken a quick shower but wasn’t freshly shaved. He looked ruggedly gorgeous with the whiskers on his lean jaw, his dark blond hair finger combed. “Is your back bothering you?”
“No.”
“It can’t be comfortable sitting in the car that way.” She’d offered to drive, but not only had he refused to use her car, he’d kept the keys to his own well out of her reach. Men. “I wish you had let me drive.”
“I wasn’t sure if we might get followed again, and since I know how to lose a tail, I figured it’d be better if I drove.”
Oh. So it had nothing to do with the man-woman thing? “You could have told me.”
“I just did.”
Exasperation threatened her mellow, well-rested mood. “So were we followed?”
“Haven’t seen me doing any fancy driving, now, have you?”
She supposed that was the best answer she’d get with him in this mood. “I think it’s going to storm.”
He leaned forward to look up at the storm clouds overhead. “Probably.” With a glance her way, he asked, “You have a warmer coat than that?”
They’d each dressed casually, Rowdy in jeans and a black T-shirt that showed off every amazing muscle in his torso, she in jeans and a beige pullover sweater. He’d brought along a flannel shirt; she wore her lightweight jacket.
“I have a regular winter coat, I just hadn’t figured on needing it yet.” For October, it was unseasonably cold with storms rolling in.
“How’s the heat in your apartment? Warm enough?”
Seeing the train of his thoughts, Avery leaned toward him and put a hand on his solid biceps. As always, his obvious strength gave her shivers. “You don’t have to worry about me, Rowdy. I can take care of myself.” His skin was so warm, taut over bulging muscle.
Tonight, after work, they would have sex. It was going to be a very long day, starting with her family reunion.
Under her hand, his arm flexed. “I wasn’t worrying.”
“Showing concern, then. It’s not necessary. I promise I have enough sense to feed and dress myself, and to stay out of the elements.”
He gave her an inscrutable frown. “Almost there.”
She remembered Alice saying that Rowdy could take a punch, but wasn’t good at accepting compliments. Apparently any and all human emotions seemed like weaknesses to him and ranked right up there with compliments.
She knew why, and it tugged at her heartstrings. Scooting closer, she hugged herself up to his arm and put her head on his shoulder. “Thank you for asking.”
He shifted, put a hand on her thigh and said, “If you do need anything, let me know, okay?”
No, she wouldn’t do that to him. His parents had mistreated him. His sister had needed his protection. Society had abandoned him. And women wanted to use him for sex.
At least in this one small way, she could be different. Instead of Rowdy taking care of her, she wanted to take care of him—for as long as he’d let her. “Thank you for coming with me today. I’m sorry that you got put on the spot.”
His hand caressed her leg. “Not a problem, honey. But before we get there, do you want to tell me why?”
“Why what?”
“Why you wanted me along.”
“Meyer suggested it.”
“And you could have told him I’m not anyone’s boyfriend.”
True, but she couldn’t very well tell Rowdy she’d wanted to defend him. If he didn’t like a compliment, he definitely didn’t want her defense.
“Good company?” she offered as her excuse. Given the look he gave her, he didn’t buy that. “It’s true. Don’t get alarmed, Rowdy, but I enjoy being with you. And no, that doesn’t mean I’ll always expect you to—”
“You’re worried about seeing your mom again?”
So he didn’t want to hear her reassurances, either? Fine. She wouldn’t keep telling him; she’d just show him. “No. I mean, it feels a little awkward. I’ve been away for so long and I didn’t leave under the best circumstances.”
“The circumstances being?”
She’d had time to think about this, about how to explain without going into too much detail. “We had a disagreement. Remember, I told you that my folks wanted me to settle down? Well, so did my stepfather. He thought he could hook me up with the perfect guy. Only I didn’t think he was so perfect.” That was all true enough, though it didn’t come close to covering it all. It didn’t tell him how pushy Meyer had been about it, or how abusive Fisher had acted.
It didn’t tell him that no one had believed her, that they’d all believed Fisher’s lies.
“My mother wants to pamper me, and Meyer wants to make her happy, so...they really felt like I should follow some pattern.”
“The pattern being marriage and home and hearth and all that?”
“Pretty much. They saw marriage to the right guy as a lock on a secure future, which for them also equates to happiness.” She slipped her fingers under the sleeve of the T-shirt so she could feel his rock-solid shoulder. She loved touching him, loved the smell of his skin, his incredible warmth. “I wanted to see more of the world.”
“By working in a dive on the wrong side of the tracks?”
She protested that. “It’s not a dive anymore!” Hadn’t been, not since Rowdy took over.
“Still in a shit part of town.” As he turned a corner, he grumbled under his breath, “Your stepfather sure as hell noticed.”
She shrugged. “I like my job.” And she loved... No. She wouldn’t even think about that. “You’re a terrific boss, and Ella and Jones feel sort of like family now.”
“And Cannon?”
“I have a feeling he’ll fit right in.” She looked down the street of impressive homes on large lots and a pang of sentiment curled around her heart. “There, at the end. The gray stone two-story.”
“Jesus.” Rowdy slowed the car. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
She hadn’t quite expected that reaction. “What?”
“It’s a damned castle.”
She looked at the Tudor-style house again. She supposed the stone turrets and expansive arches did bring to mind a castle, only this house had all the modern conveniences and then some. “I told you Meyer was well-to-do.” But honestly, she didn’t think about it. She’d come from that background, so to her, it was just a nice house. Again, the differences in their lives filled her with remorse for what Rowdy had never known. “It’s not a big deal.”
He pulled up to the curb, then just sat there, staring at the house.
“You can pull into the driveway.”
“No, I don’t think I can. Not in this trap.”
“Rowdy.” For her, a car was a car was a car. Sure, what he drove had seen better days, but it got him where he wanted to go and that’s what counted. “It doesn’t matter.”
“It leaks oil. And there’s not so much as a dry leaf on that damned driveway.”
“Oh.” Trying for some errant cheer, Avery said, “So we’ll have a nice brisk walk up to the house.” She slipped on her jacket. “Let’s go.” Now that they’d arrived, she was anxious to see her mother.
Face set in stone, Rowdy put the old Ford in Park and turned off the engine. He pocketed the keys and opened the door to step out. As he stood there looking toward the grounds of Meyer’s home, a gust of wind played with his hair and plastered the black T-shirt to his back.
Beneath the soft cotton, Avery could make out the outline of his bandages. Leaning toward the driver’s side, she asked, “Your back is still okay?”
With an effort he pulled his gaze from the house. “What? Yeah, it’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”
He sounded cross. She’d have to remember to stop fussing so much.
Shrugging into his flannel, Rowdy said, “Why do I have the sudden suspicion we might be underdressed?”
“They’re not that hoity-toity, I promise.” Stepping out, she pulled her jacket close around her. “Wow, that wind is cold.”
Rowdy moved around the car to her and put his arm over her shoulders. He took in the expanse of the home with brooding displeasure. “Might as well get this over with.”
Was he really dreading it so much? Because it meant nothing to her, she hadn’t even considered how it might make him feel to have wealth thrown in his face. His reaction showed her insensitivity.
She wasn’t better than other women, not if she ended up making him uncomfortable, forcing him into unfamiliar situations.
Drawing him to a stop, she looked up at him. “We don’t have to go in.”
One eyebrow lifted. “You want to hang outside in this cold?”
“No, I mean we can just turn around and go back.” With a hand gripping each side of his open flannel, she leaned into him. His hands automatically went to her waist. “Meyer will understand if I say I need to reschedule. I can come back later, tomorrow maybe—”
“I don’t think so.” Rowdy bent to nip her bottom lip, then slowly soothed it with his warm tongue. “Tomorrow you will be naked, open and under me.”
Her stomach took an excited tumble over those suggestive and descriptive words. “That sounds perfect, but I could come—”
“Several times.” He closed his mouth over hers, his tongue just barely teasing her lips, slipping inside to touch her tongue then retreating again. “Guaranteed.”
She had difficulty thinking when he did things like that. “Come here, in the morning, or early evening, and we could still spend the majority of the day together.”
“You’re not listening, babe. Tomorrow, all day, you’re mine.” He slid a hand down her back to her behind. “It’s going to take every available hour for me to get my fill.”
Would it really be that simple for him? Once they had sex, however many times in one day, would he have his fill and be done with her?
Probably, yes, and the reality of it saddened her, but she wouldn’t saddle him with her effusive emotions. He’d been honest with her all along; she knew their relationship would be very short-lived, and she knew what he wanted from her—sex.
Somehow, when things ended, as she knew they would, she’d just find a way to deal with it. “All right, then. If you’re sure you want to stay, we may as well go on in instead of giving the neighbors a show.”
His narrowed gaze abruptly scanned the area, and he smirked. “The houses are all so far apart, I seriously doubt anyone can see us.” He did release her, though, taking her hand instead and starting them up the drive.
Smiling, Avery let him tug her along. She liked the way his large hand engulfed hers, how his long, strong legs covered so much ground so easily.
The way his worn jeans hugged that sexy backside of his.
The man was totally put together, and tonight she’d get to explore him—naked—head to toe. Regardless of what he said, she’d show care for his back. But there were all sorts of creative positions they could use.
She wanted to try them all.
At the top of the driveway, surrounded by manicured landscaping, Rowdy stopped and stared at the silver BMW parked there. Avery went cold from the inside out. She knew that damned car and—
“Well, hello, you two.”
Eyes flaring, she twisted to face the front entryway...and there stood Fisher Holloway. Residual fear tried to emerge, but she fought it back. Today, now, she had nothing to fear.
She had Rowdy Yates with her.
That meant she had the upper hand.
She’d spent a very long time gaining her independence, building up walls against the hurt and putting the past behind her.
No way in hell would she let her uncertainty show. Not to this man.
She narrowed her eyes, and with venomous sarcasm said, “Fisher. What a surprise to see you here.”
* * *
ROWDY NO LONGER had the urge to leave. Hell, no. He wanted to stay, and he wanted to get answers.
Like for starters, why was the very car that had been following them parked front and center in her stepfather’s driveway? Had Meyer lied? Had he been tailing them? And if so, why?
When Rowdy turned to see who had welcomed them, he gave thanks to Mother Nature for the physical gift of his height and bulk. The clown smiling at Avery like a long-lost lover wasn’t a slouch. In fact, he looked like a damned linebacker and stood right at six feet.
But Rowdy was bigger and taller, and that gave him the advantage of smiling down on the other man.
No jeans for this bozo. No, he wore creased charcoal slacks and leather shoes and some designer-style polo. Rowdy spotted a chunky gold ring on his hand and a gold chain around his neck.
He fought to keep his lip from curling.
Avery scooted closer, and that one small telltale gesture, more than anything else, sharpened his senses.
The other dude stopped smiling at Avery long enough to come down the walkway and extend his hand.
“Hello. You must be Avery’s...friend who Meyer told us about.”
Rowdy took the hand, amused when the man tried to tighten his grip. “Rowdy Yates. Avery works for me.” He squeezed back, and Fisher’s smile slipped.
“Fisher Holloway,” he said around a near grimace. “I’m a close family friend and a business associate.”
Rowdy let him off the hook, releasing his hand and nodding toward the silver BMW. “Is that your car?”
Fisher shoved his hands in his pockets. “One of them, yes. She’s about ready for a trade-in, though. Why, you looking for a new ride?”
“No, and I couldn’t afford that anyway. It’s nice.”
Fisher bent his knees and laughed. “And what? You can’t afford nice?”
“Not that kind of nice, no.”
Avery suddenly shoved herself in front of him. The move was so absurd—her stance so obviously protective—that it left Rowdy chagrined.
“That’s not what he meant, Fisher, and you know it.”
Such a snarling tone from Avery. On his behalf? Had he misunderstood her nervousness?
“No offense intended, honey.” Fisher smiled at Rowdy in a knowing, man-to-man way. “I was just jesting.”
Locking his jaw, Rowdy took Avery’s upper arms, lifted her and physically set her to his side. “It was accurate all the same. I can’t afford a car like that.” Where the hell did this guy get off calling Avery “honey”? Did they have a past?
Was it even in the past?
Still riled, Avery said, “Rowdy owns his own business and he’s putting all his assets into that.”
Assets? What assets? If he sold everything he owned, he still wouldn’t be able to afford that car.
“A bar, right?” Fisher shared a smug smile. “Meyer said it was really...quaint.”
“Then he was trying to be polite.” Rowdy took Avery’s hand in a bid to control her absurdly defensive tendencies. “I’m sure you’ve never been there, have you, Fisher?”
“Afraid I haven’t had the pleasure.”
Bullshit. He’d scoped out the place, so why lie about it? “You sure? Could’ve sworn I saw that exact car just recently.”
Avery didn’t hear the accusation, but Fisher got it loud and clear. “I doubt mine is the only silver BMW on the road.”
No, but it was the only one with those exact plates. Rowdy shrugged. “A car like that stands out in my neighborhood.”
“Hmm. In my neighborhood, it’s not that different from every other car.”
Score one for the dirtbag. Rowdy let it go before Avery did catch on. The last thing he wanted to do was ruin her reunion with her mom. “Should we go in? I know Avery is anxious to see her mother.”
“And vice versa,” Fisher said. He gestured for them to precede him. “I told Meyer I would bring you both in. They have a light lunch set up in the sunroom.”
What the hell was a sunroom? As Rowdy stepped past Fisher, his skin prickled with warning. He didn’t like having the guy at his back. His instincts were rarely wrong, but this time, he knew the uneasiness could have been from...
Jealousy.
Dark, ugly, mean jealousy.
From the second Fisher had smiled at Avery with warm familiarity, Rowdy had wanted to mangle him.
Either Fisher didn’t realize his peril, or he was confident enough to discount it, because he moved to Avery’s other side and, walking too close to her, said in intimate undertones, “It’s good to see you again, Ave.”
Ave? What kind of nickname was that?
Avery’s hand tightened on Rowdy’s and her voice went a little shrill. “Why are you even here, Fisher?”
“Meyer invited me. And of course I agreed. I’ve missed you.”
What, was he invisible? Rowdy didn’t mind being ignored, but not so Fisher could attempt to move in.
“Is that how you tell it?” Avery asked.
“When it comes to you, Ave, I always tell the truth.”
She growled something incoherent.
Rowdy had no idea what all those nuanced comments meant, but they were being slung around so freely, he felt bludgeoned by them. For certain, Avery and Fisher had a history.
Did that history include sex?
Or worse, love?
Maybe that’s why Fisher had been hanging around, covertly checking up on her. In his shoes, Rowdy might have done the same. If she left this area to go slumming in his, only a moron wouldn’t have been concerned. And Fisher might be a dirtbag, but he probably wasn’t stupid. He’d understand the trouble that would come Avery’s way.
Trouble like...Rowdy Yates.
“While you’re here,” Fisher murmured, “I’d love for us to have a chance to talk. Privately.”
Fuck that.
Rowdy was ready to speak up when Avery said, “No.”
Good. So she wasn’t keen on a private chat, either. Suited Rowdy just fine.
Before stepping through the open front doors, he brought Avery around in front of him, which effectively put Fisher at his back again. If he had to bodily keep them separated, he would.
The role of jealous boyfriend was about as comfortable as a cactus seat, but he didn’t give a damn.
“I’ve been a close confidant to Meyer and Sonya,” Fisher said. “I’ve comforted them while you were away.”
Avery trembled. With anger? Upset?
As they stepped into a massive foyer, Rowdy looked around and badly wanted to leave—with Avery thrown over his shoulder, if necessary.