Bare It All (22 page)

CHAPTER TWENTY

A
LICE
BARELY
HELD
back her groan. Like a dog with a bone, Reese
didn’t want to let it go. “It would be...better if you didn’t bother him.”

Displeasure caused a muscle to tic in his jaw. “Better for
you?”

“Better for everyone.” Now that he’d removed his touch, she
felt bereft. Physical contact with Reese always made her feel more settled.
Putting a hand on his forearm, Alice gave him the truths he wanted. “If it’s
that important, I’ll tell you. I swear. But it’d be nice if you trusted me even
half as much as you want me to trust you.”

“Shit.”

She smiled. “I know. You don’t like it when I turn things back
on you. But it’s the same principle, Reese.”

“Not even close. He’s a loose end—an unknown variable.”

Alice shook her head. “He’s not a threat. Not to you and not to
me.”

“Maybe. But that’s something I’d like to conclude on my
own.”

After a lot of needless prying. “Why?” She didn’t want to
change Reese, so she had better learn to understand him. “Because you’re a
detective?”

“There’s that, and the fact that I want to protect you.”

“I’m not in any danger.” Nothing immediate, anyway.

“Jesus, Alice. You don’t
know
that.” Frustration carved a scowl in his features, delineated every muscle in
his arms and shoulders. “A woman is dead. Another woman is on the run. And you—”
he scalded her with a burning glance “—put yourself into the thick of it.”

“None of that has anything to do with Trace.” Yet. But if Trace
thought there was any danger to her...

Shoot.

Probably another truth she ought to share with Reese. She
sighed, and even that made Reese more alert.

“All right,” he said. “Let’s hear it.”

It was kind of a nice thing, having all that single-minded
concentration from a man like Detective Reese Bareden. “There’s no reason for
you to reach out to Trace. If he doesn’t want to connect with you, he
won’t.”

Stopping for a light, Reese locked his jaw, waited.

And Alice added, “But if he does...you’ll be hearing from
him.”

Going rigid, Reese slowly turned his head to stare at her in
disbelief. “Just like that?”

“I told you he had great contacts. Now you’ve seen how great.”
The light changed, and Reese turned back to the road, maneuvering through the
traffic.

Hands flexing on the steering wheel, Reese gave one nod of
grudging acceptance. “He didn’t want to be investigated, so he officially closed
that option.”

“Yes.” Unofficially, though, Alice knew Reese would continue to
pry.

“He must have some high officials in his back pocket.”

Reese continued to look at this all wrong, staying suspicious
of Trace. Or...maybe as he said, he was jealous. Hoping to pacify him, she said,
“I’m sure I won’t, but if I hear from him, I’ll tell you immediately.”

“Even if he tells you not to?”

She ran her fingers over his thick forearm. The hair there was
soft, his skin warm, his muscles so well defined. “He wouldn’t,” she said
simply.

Reese groaned. “God, you’ve got him on a pedestal.”

Of course she did. Trace was that kind of man.

But then, so was Reese, and he was the man she wanted. Now,
tomorrow.

Forever.

Her mouth went dry—with acceptance and with uncertainty. She
needed to know if Reese’s heart was involved. Falling in love alone would
be...well, tragic. And she’d had enough tragedy in her life.

“Could you maybe take a day or two to think about it? To
try
to trust my judgment on this?” She cut him off
before he could complain over her request. “And then, if you still want to
know—”

“
Need
to know.”

“—I’ll tell you.”

Quiet, thoughtful, Reese took the road toward their apartment
complex. “One condition, Alice.”

Her pulse sped up. “What is it?”

“I stay with you.”

That sweet, familiar ache pulsed between her legs. “In my
bed?”

Satisfaction kicked up a wicked smile. “That’d be my
preference, but it’s always up to you.” He shifted, stretching out one leg. “I
meant in your apartment.”

“Oh.” How would that work? Them living like...roommates? No,
thank you.

As if to convince her, Reese said, “I don’t want you alone
until I’m sure that there isn’t any danger.”

Had they come full circle? She sighed. “Danger from Trace?”

“Actually, I was talking about the bastards using women as drug
mules.” He shook his head, correcting himself. “But, yeah, your mysterious
wraith, too. Hell, anyone from your past. Or...basically, anyone or
anything.”

Alice licked her lips. “How long do you think that’ll
take?”

“Days. Weeks.” He checked the rearview mirror, switched lanes.
“No telling, really. In cases like this, we could get a break tomorrow or still
be floundering months from now.”

Months! If it weren’t for women being in danger, she’d hope for
the latter. “I see.”

Reese shifted his shoulders. “If that’s a problem, remember
that I still have my own place and a job that sometimes keeps me away for the
better part of the day. I won’t be underfoot.”

Why did he look so uncomfortable? He kept adjusting his big
body as if trying to settle in. “I wasn’t worried about that.” But if he only
wanted to be with her as protection, should she tell him that she loved having
him around for any reason?

“I like that Cash will be with you during the day.” He glanced
at her, then away. “But at night, I want to be right there with you.”

“Okay.” Hopefully, he’d solve the case quickly, but in the
meantime she’d have an opportunity to make him fall in love with her. “I have a
condition of my own.”

He gave a nod of acceptance. “I’m all ears.”

“No sleeping on the couch.” And to make certain he understood,
she added, “If you’re there, even if it’s just in the capacity of a detective, I
want you to...sleep with me.”

“Sleep, huh?” The quirky smile lifted into a full-fledged grin.
“I can handle that.”

“I mean it, Reese.” She wanted no misunderstandings. “Even if I
do something that annoys you. Or if we argue. You don’t get to shut me out.”

He surprised her by laughing. “I don’t move in on women just to
play cop, Alice. I’m worried, true, but I wouldn’t get hard every time we talked
if I only had protection on my mind.”

Her gaze shot to his lap, to the impressive bulge there, and
she let out a breath. “Oh.” She reached for him, intent on touching. Stroking.
“Good.”

He caught her hand, kissed her fingers. Fondness softened his
humor. “If we start that, I’m liable to wreck. Just give me five more minutes,
and we’ll be home.”

“Okay, but hurry.”

He answered by accelerating. “You’re one of a kind, honey. Do
you know that?”

Probably. Not many women had spent a year in captivity, forced
to work for a monster. That experience had forever changed her, giving her a
unique perspective on life. She knew what she wanted, and she’d go after it.

Reese might not realize it, but she wanted him.

For however long she had, she’d do what she could to win his
heart.

And she’d start with Pepper’s plan...as soon as she worked up
her nerve.

* * *

W
OODY
S
IMPSON
LEANED
back on the brick wall of the college bookstore,
eyeing the merchandise as it passed. Sophomore girls with explosive sexual
appetites, a few young teachers flattered by his attention, a volleyball coach
with strong legs.

He admired them all, but it was the timid freshman, her load of
books hugged to her chest, her expression flustered, that drew him.

With Cheryl soon to be out of the picture, he needed a
replacement to keep up with demand. The little babe with her insecurity and
anxious hope would be easier to handle than the others. He watched her as she
peered around the campus, a little lost, a lot vulnerable.

Perfect.

Pulling his hands from his pockets, Woody started toward
her.

Sometimes it was too damn easy.

But in the back of his mind, he thought about a woman who might
be more of a challenge. She’d certainly gotten the best of that dumbass
Hickson.

His heart started tap-dancing in his chest. He wanted her. To
tie up loose ends. To punish her.

To experience her—in every way he could think of.

To prove that no bitch would best him, ever.

Cheryl would lead Hickson to her.

And Hickson would deliver her to him.

Smile predatory, body hungry, Woody stepped aside—and “bumped”
into the freshman. Her stack of heavy books went scattering.

“Oh, damn.” Catching her shoulders, Woody stared into her
startled eyes. “I’m sorry. Are you okay?”

She stared up at him, stunned, breathless, her lips slowly
parting.

And just like that, another one bit the dust.

* * *

O
VER
THE
NEXT
eight days, Alice and
Reese fell into a wonderful routine.

A routine broken only by spontaneous lovemaking. Many mornings
Reese woke aroused, which meant he woke her with kisses...everywhere. Twice he’d
come home for lunch...which Alice now knew meant a sandwich that he practically
swallowed whole and fast, hot sex that he deemed “a quickie.”

Every single night, regardless of how late he got in, he wanted
her. In the shower. The kitchen. Her office. The bed.

They’d even ended up on the floor once.

Alice never objected.

She felt immersed in pleasure, her body in a constant state of
tingling awareness. Fast or slow, in the bedroom or spread-eagle on her desk,
the man knew how to send her over the edge. His stamina amazed her, but then,
given his size and fitness, she should have realized he wouldn’t tire
easily.

Most mornings before Reese left for work, he took Cash for a
jog. It gave Alice an hour to herself, but even then, Reese kept a cell phone on
him, and he never left without first gaining Alice’s promise that she’d lock the
door behind him.

Cash loved it. As soon as he’d see Reese in his running shorts,
he’d head over to the door and wait by his leash. Alice had coffee ready for
Reese when he returned. After showering and getting dressed, he’d join her for
breakfast at the table. Before heading off to the station, he always patted
Cash, and he never forgot to kiss her goodbye.

It all seemed so domestic and so...enduring.

Cash felt it, too. In such a short time the dog had flourished.
He no longer felt the need to stay right on top of them. They could actually
leave the room without him following.

While Cash didn’t exactly pine for Reese when he left for work,
he still went berserk when Reese got home again.

In no time, Alice not only caught up with her work, but she
also took on a new client who designed and built children’s playground
equipment. Of course, that made her think of kids, but she always snuffed the
thought. Her relationship with Reese was still too new to start daydreaming
about a family together.

Usually he got in by six. On those nights, they took turns
cooking dinner and cleaning up afterward. But when circumstances dictated it,
Reese could be out ’til well past dinner. A few nights ago, after a robbery at a
local diner that left three people injured, he’d followed leads that kept him
gone through half the night. In the end, he’d managed to catch the two men, and
got beat up a little in the process. Nothing serious, but the bruising of a
black eye lingered still.

As yet, they hadn’t found out anything about the murdered girl
or Cheryl’s abductors. Reese and Logan shared a lot of private calls, and
occasionally Rowdy stopped in for a hushed conversation.

Knowing Reese wanted to insulate her from his police work
didn’t make it any easier to be excluded. Just as she tried not to worry, Alice
also tried not to smother him with too many demands. Reese hadn’t asked anything
more about Trace, so in return, she tried not to ask too many questions about
the case.

It would all be easier if she knew Reese was falling in love
with her. He was kind, caring, attentive and beyond sexual.

But did any of that equate to an emotional commitment?

Or did it just reiterate that he was a great guy?

So many times, she’d thought to implement Pepper’s plan. The
idea of taking charge in bed,
taking charge of
Reese,
was incredibly tempting. She would love to have him so
sexually excited that he shared his innermost thoughts.

About her. About their future—if they had one.

So far, Reese hadn’t given her a chance. He left her so
exhausted each night that he woke up before her every morning. If she smiled at
him, he was on her. If she looked at him over-long, just admiring him, he took
it as an invitation—which, she supposed, it was.

The chemistry between them hadn’t waned and, in fact, seemed
hotter than ever. Could that turn to love? God, she hoped so.

She paced the floor, wondering how to implement the plan, when
she heard Reese’s footsteps in the hallway.

An hour early!

Cash got to the door before she did; Alice stood there,
probably looking guilty. After all, she’d been plotting his seduction and
working herself up in the bargain.

As he came in, Reese knelt to say hello to Cash. Alice saw only
the top of his head, the set of his brawny shoulders in his dress shirt, but she
sensed a problem.

“Reese?”

“Should I take this beast out?” He rubbed Cash’s neck.
“What’dya say, boy? Wanna go out?”

Since Cash had been out twice already, he only sat there
wagging his tail without encouraging Reese.

Alice strode forward. “What’s wrong?”

“Who says anything is?” He reached for the dog’s leash.