he didn’t know Reese that well. But he hadn’t quite
figured Alice as his type. Still, stranger things had happened.
Cash showered Reese with the same enthusiastic welcome Rowdy
had received. Fickle mutt. “That dog loves everyone.”
“No,” Alice said, “he doesn’t.” Hands on her hips, she
addressed Reese with accusation. “You were listening in.”
“I’m a cop, Alice, remember? I’m trained to eavesdrop.”
Catching the back of her neck, Reese held her still as he lowered his mouth to
hers. Alice froze, but she allowed it.
That was fast work.
The kiss lingered, and Rowdy lifted both brows. He meant what
he’d said: he knew women, so he knew it wasn’t in Alice’s nature to get involved
easily. Reese must’ve conjured some magic.
It wasn’t any of his business, but damn it, he felt
protective—maybe of both of them. And wasn’t that a bunch of bullshit? Hell,
Reese was a well-trained, astute, hulk of a cop.
Alice needed a gentle hand, but Reese...well, Alice hid
something dark and dangerous. Rowdy saw it there in her eyes, the same shadows
he faced every time he looked in a mirror. Would Alice’s past cause problems for
a reputable cop?
Tired of being a voyeur, Rowdy said, “You’re going to make her
faint.”
With clear reluctance, Reese pulled back, and Alice struggled
to get it together. It was amusing to watch, and her blush was as pretty as her
smile, as uplifting as her laugh.
“Behave, Rowdy.” She licked her lips, realized what she’d done
and glared at both men.
Rowdy fought off a grin. The lady had grit—which meant she
wouldn’t easily give into fears or intimidation. Whatever she had in her past,
it had to be something substantial.
It was nice that she had Reese’s attention, but that wouldn’t
keep Rowdy from giving protection of his own. After all, Reese was limited by
legalities.
Rowdy...not so much.
Judging by Reese’s possessive posture—with both the dog and
Alice—things were about to get real interesting.
That was just the way Rowdy liked it.
CHAPTER FIVE
T HE DISGRUNTLED LOOK on Alice’s face didn’t
deter Reese. He ignored it, just as he ignored Rowdy’s smug amusement and rapt
attention.
Because he wanted to, because for whatever reason, she was too
damn tempting, he put his mouth to hers again. This time he kept it light, brief
to the point of frustration, and when he lifted his head he smoothed her plump
bottom lip with his thumb. “Where can I store my stuff?”
Somewhat dazed and definitely flustered, she looked around as
if she didn’t know her own apartment.
“I can hang my change of clothes in the hall closet, if that’s
okay.”
She didn’t look at Rowdy. She didn’t really look at Reese
either.
“Alice?”
“Mmm? Oh.” After a deep shuddering breath, she pulled herself
together. “Why don’t I put your shaving kit in the bathroom? I, ah, have a shelf
in there, so it’ll be handy when you need it...tomorrow I guess. To shave.”
Pained, she did a verbal push to get beyond her stumbling speech. “Please do
feel free to use the hall closet for your clothing. It’s mostly empty, so there
should be plenty of room.”
“Right.” Empty for now—but when she got her gun back from
Logan, she’d have yet another weapon stored there. “Thanks.”
With a dismissive smile, she hurried off. Reese shot a
suspicious frown at Rowdy—and saw him watching Alice’s retreat.
No fucking way. Was that interest in Rowdy’s gaze? It better
not be. It damn well better be something else—what, Reese had no idea.
Turning to fully face him, Reese waited until he gained Rowdy’s
complete attention. To ensure Alice wouldn’t hear, he kept his voice low. “What
are you doing here? And don’t give me that bullshit about visiting.”
Rowdy followed his lead and spoke in a near whisper. “She’s
scary.”
“Alice? Don’t be stupid.”
“A dog that doesn’t bark is always the most dangerous.”
“You’re calling her a dog?”
figured Alice as his type. Still, stranger things had happened.
Cash showered Reese with the same enthusiastic welcome Rowdy
had received. Fickle mutt. “That dog loves everyone.”
“No,” Alice said, “he doesn’t.” Hands on her hips, she
addressed Reese with accusation. “You were listening in.”
“I’m a cop, Alice, remember? I’m trained to eavesdrop.”
Catching the back of her neck, Reese held her still as he lowered his mouth to
hers. Alice froze, but she allowed it.
That was fast work.
The kiss lingered, and Rowdy lifted both brows. He meant what
he’d said: he knew women, so he knew it wasn’t in Alice’s nature to get involved
easily. Reese must’ve conjured some magic.
It wasn’t any of his business, but damn it, he felt
protective—maybe of both of them. And wasn’t that a bunch of bullshit? Hell,
Reese was a well-trained, astute, hulk of a cop.
Alice needed a gentle hand, but Reese...well, Alice hid
something dark and dangerous. Rowdy saw it there in her eyes, the same shadows
he faced every time he looked in a mirror. Would Alice’s past cause problems for
a reputable cop?
Tired of being a voyeur, Rowdy said, “You’re going to make her
faint.”
With clear reluctance, Reese pulled back, and Alice struggled
to get it together. It was amusing to watch, and her blush was as pretty as her
smile, as uplifting as her laugh.
“Behave, Rowdy.” She licked her lips, realized what she’d done
and glared at both men.
Rowdy fought off a grin. The lady had grit—which meant she
wouldn’t easily give into fears or intimidation. Whatever she had in her past,
it had to be something substantial.
It was nice that she had Reese’s attention, but that wouldn’t
keep Rowdy from giving protection of his own. After all, Reese was limited by
legalities.
Rowdy...not so much.
Judging by Reese’s possessive posture—with both the dog and
Alice—things were about to get real interesting.
That was just the way Rowdy liked it.
CHAPTER FIVE
T HE DISGRUNTLED LOOK on Alice’s face didn’t
deter Reese. He ignored it, just as he ignored Rowdy’s smug amusement and rapt
attention.
Because he wanted to, because for whatever reason, she was too
damn tempting, he put his mouth to hers again. This time he kept it light, brief
to the point of frustration, and when he lifted his head he smoothed her plump
bottom lip with his thumb. “Where can I store my stuff?”
Somewhat dazed and definitely flustered, she looked around as
if she didn’t know her own apartment.
“I can hang my change of clothes in the hall closet, if that’s
okay.”
She didn’t look at Rowdy. She didn’t really look at Reese
either.
“Alice?”
“Mmm? Oh.” After a deep shuddering breath, she pulled herself
together. “Why don’t I put your shaving kit in the bathroom? I, ah, have a shelf
in there, so it’ll be handy when you need it...tomorrow I guess. To shave.”
Pained, she did a verbal push to get beyond her stumbling speech. “Please do
feel free to use the hall closet for your clothing. It’s mostly empty, so there
should be plenty of room.”
“Right.” Empty for now—but when she got her gun back from
Logan, she’d have yet another weapon stored there. “Thanks.”
With a dismissive smile, she hurried off. Reese shot a
suspicious frown at Rowdy—and saw him watching Alice’s retreat.
No fucking way. Was that interest in Rowdy’s gaze? It better
not be. It damn well better be something else—what, Reese had no idea.
Turning to fully face him, Reese waited until he gained Rowdy’s
complete attention. To ensure Alice wouldn’t hear, he kept his voice low. “What
are you doing here? And don’t give me that bullshit about visiting.”
Rowdy followed his lead and spoke in a near whisper. “She’s
scary.”
“Alice? Don’t be stupid.”
“A dog that doesn’t bark is always the most dangerous.”
“You’re calling her a dog?”
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