Big Girls Don't Cry (7 page)

Sheer terror forced Lexie to throw her arms around Jake’s waist and hang on tight. It took her a full moment clinging to him to begin to let the roar of the bike enter her bloodstream. A thrilling flash of power inundated her. She’d come close to this feeling speeding down the highway in her Camaro, but this was different, raw, explosive. The wind whipping her hair in shiny streaks of gold against her visor and the sun beating down on her bare legs were exhilarating. She clung to Jake’s muscled back and breathed in the subtle mix of expensive cologne and strong man. It was a heady combination. The hum of the engine throbbed between her legs. A potent rush of sensation flooded her. She gathered her strength and squashed down the torrent of doubts and ugly visions from the past. With a supreme effort, she let go of her fears and took Jake’s advice. She gave in to the joy of the ride.

Chapter 6

Jake took one look at her face and breathed a sigh of relief. It could have gone either way. He took a chance and it paid off. Her shining eyes and flushed cheeks were all the evidence he needed that she was as stoked by the ride as he was. Hell, how could he not be? Having the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen wrapped around his back riding an Electra Glide down the highway on a gorgeous evening came as close to perfect as he could imagine. The only thing that made it better was that he‘d have dinner with her – and more, if he could wrangle it. Just the thought made the bulge in his jeans swell. Not much he could do about it. He’d struggled to contain his reaction to her from the first time he saw her.

For the moment, the excitement in her eyes replaced the anger and fear he’d seen since he met her. He realized this must be the way she’d looked before Anthony’s death stole her joy. He prayed that he could keep the agony of the present at bay for at least a couple of hours. He’d give anything to erase the pain haunting her beautiful face. He pushed her in front of him and tossed Pedro the keys to the bike. The boy’s face lit with pleasure.

“Don’t say it, Mr. Jake. I know. I get one scratch on it and I am your slave for life.”

Jake laughed and tossed him a folded bill. “You know it, Pedro. And not more than four blocks either way, you hear? Your mama’s gonna kill me, as it is.”’

Putting his arm around Alexis’s shoulder, he led her into the noisy cantina. The raucous shouts of the waiters and patrons greeted them along with the spicy smells of chilies and roasted meats. A huge woman with a smile as big as her ample chest bustled toward them.

“Ah, Mr. Jake. Too long, too long since we see you.” Peering around him, she gave Lexie a critical once over. Seeming to see the light in Jake’s eyes, a broad grin broke across her face. “Ah, now I see what has kept you busy, kept you away from us.
U
na mujer muy hermosa!”

Jake grinned and gave her a big hug. “Mama Rosita, you know I can’t stay away from you or Carlos. I languish in countries all over the world dreaming about your flan. Mama, this is Alexis, and Alexis, this is Mama Rosita, who makes the best pork taquitas in the world and tops it off with flan as close to heaven as I’m likely to get.”

At that moment, a wiry Hispanic man with dark hair and flashing black eyes came around the corner. His face lit up when he saw Jake. At the most, he came to Jake’s shoulder and Jake had to bend down to give him a hug.

“
Mi buen amigo
. Too long between visits.”

Looking over at Alexis, his face cracked in a smile as wide as his wife’s. He winked at Jake and gave a low whistle. “Mmm,
muy hermosa
, Mr. Jake!”

Alexis smiled a shy smile and Jake pulled her closer to him. After he had finished making introductions to the wait staff who crowded around them, Jake put a protective arm around Alexis’ shoulders, who was looking overwhelmed and a little pale. He’d arranged ahead of time for a private table in the back corner of the patio and guided her through the noisy restaurant to the quiet table he’d commandeered. The subtle smell of desert sage mingled with the fragrance of the citrus trees banking the patio, flavoring the cooling night air with a mix of spicy fragrances. The sky was beginning to darken. A crescent moon hung over the patio, heralding the coming of a thousand stars.

Jake knew the chances that Alexis had eaten today were slim, but didn’t want to pressure her. He knew by now she was fiercely independent.

“Can I start plying you with alcohol?” he asked, winking at the waiter who stood expectantly to the side.

Alexis managed a shy smile that made Jake’s heart trip. He thought again how damned vulnerable she was. He could almost see the tight nerves she was working hard to control.

“I think I’ll try one of the margarita’s you told me about, but no salt please.”

Jake nodded. “Good choice. And Manuel, bring us one of those seafood platters Mama rustles up for me. And don’t forget the hot sauce.”

Turning to Alexis, Jake asked, “I don’t want to be overbearing, but you look as though you haven’t eaten in a while, am I right?’

She shook her head and looked down, then said softly, “I haven’t been hungry.”

He gave her a sympathetic nod. “Let me recommend the Boquia bass. It’s one of the mildest but tastiest fish you’ll find. Comes from a paradise in Columbia. Carlos ships it in. Don’t know of another place in the southwest that does.”

She asked hesitantly, a clear effort to make conversation, “Have you been there?”

“Lake Boquia? Yeah, I have.” He smiled at her. “I’ve been lucky. There aren’t many places that I haven’t been. Unfortunately, some of the most beautiful ones, like Columbia, for example, are the most troubled.”

He watched her closely throughout the meal. She sipped on her margarita and moved to Dos Equis beer when he did. She picked at her food, but at least she ate. He steered the conversation to safe topics, her car, his bike, and the places he had been.

He was surprised at her defensive reaction. He’d thought she’d be pleased to talk about her accomplishments. He gave a nonchalant shrug.

“I’m an inveterate snoop. Guess that’s what makes me a good investigator. And yeah, I like to check out a woman before I introduce her to Mama Rosita,” he added with a slight smile.

She frowned, surprising him more, but he pressed on.

“I’ll admit, I did a little investigation on you, but I didn’t have a week so I only skimmed all the tournaments you’ve won and the honors you’ve received. You are something, a true champion, Miss Alexis Beloi.”

In the silence that followed, assessing her rigid body language, Jake decided he had nothing to lose. There were questions he needed to ask, things she needed to know about him.

He drawled, “Well, I guess I’ll take a chance and get my head bitten off. I do have questions, I’d like some answers to. I’m curious, Alexis. What do you hope to learn about your brother’s death on the ‘streets’?”

She stared at him, her eyes flashing with anger.

“I’ve already told you, I’m not interested in talking about my brother’s death with you or anyone else who is ‘officially’ investigating his murder.”

She rose up in her chair reaching for her purse, her hands were visibly shaking. She gnawed at her bottom lip. “So… so this is why you insisted that I have dinner with you? So you could smother me with southern charm, ply me with alcohol, and then get all the information you can from me?”

~~~

Alexis stared at him. How dare he tell her what to do? As though she was an insubordinate that he could dress down, order about. But something in those flashing blue eyes compelled her to sink down in her chair. Grabbing the edge of the table, she leaned forward, barely able to contain her fury. She started to speak, but Jake put up his hand to stop her.

“How, how…do you know that? My nickname. Why? What makes you think you can insinuate yourself in my life? Look for secrets, for ways to compromise me, contain me? You’re no… no better than Chief Burton. No, damn you! You are worse! At least he doesn’t lie to me, pretend he wants to have dinner with me when all he wants is to worm information out of me. You are…despicable!”

Jake responded quietly, ignoring her angry outburst. He nodded as though he had come to a conclusion. “Lexie suits you. It’s softer, not as hard as you pretend to be.”

Chapter 7

“Lexie, Anthony was my friend. He was on my special forces team for eight years. He was one of the finest soldiers I’ve had the privilege to work with and one of the most honorable men I’ve known. We were together in more godforsaken places in the world than should exist. Of all the men I commanded over the years, your brother was the most admirable. If I had to choose anyone to have my back, no matter where or why, it would be Anthony Beloi.”

Lexie was startled. Jake’s expression was intense. He was sincere, clearly moved by his relationship with Anthony. But she felt betrayed, angry that he had kept his relationship with Anthony from her. She was just beginning to trust Jake. Frankly, she liked him. It hurt that he had tricked her into having dinner with him. He hadn’t even told her he knew Anthony. Before she could wrestle with her chaotic emotions, Jake continued.

“There’s something else, Lexie, that you should know, if you don’t already. You were the most important person in Anthony’s life. Whenever we got into deep conversations about what mattered to us, you were first on his list. You were the reason he left the army, why he came to Yuma, so he could be closer to you.”

Lexie felt her chest constrict. She couldn’t stop the words. She’d been thinking them too long to hide them.

Her voice was ragged, as tightly strung as her nerves. “Are you saying it’s my fault? That he wouldn’t be dead if it weren’t for me?”

Jake shook his head and took hold of her hands. She tried to pull away, but his grip was firm.

“You know that’s not what I meant. And you know it’s not true. Anthony’s chosen profession was as dangerous as any in the world. He could have been killed in any one of the missions we were on together. Hell, from the things he told me, his entire life was one near escape from death after another.”

Choking back her anger, Lexie gave in to her sense of betrayal. She didn’t want Jake to know everything about her. She’d spent ten years closing doors to a past she never wanted to revisit. And now this unsettling man she thought she could trust was just one more well-meaning official who thought he could save the poor little abused girl. She didn’t want saving, and she didn’t want Jake. She just wanted to leave. But he was leaning toward her, his forearms on his knees, holding her hands. He pinned that hard blue gaze on her and wouldn’t let her go.

“Lexie, you need to understand. I promised myself I won’t leave this place until I find Anthony’s murderer. And I won’t. But there is something even more important to me. And that is you, Lexie. It’s dangerous out there. Once the killer or killers realize that you are Anthony’s sister, you will become a target. No matter how street smart you are. If we’re right about where this investigation is leading, it’s a hell of lot bigger than one young woman can sort out. Anthony would be furious if he knew you were out on the streets alone seeking his killer. If Anthony was alive, your safety would be his number one priority. Now it is mine. You were his responsibility and now you are mine.”

Lexie jerked her hands free and pushed her chair away from him. She was shaking so hard that she was surprised she could stand, but her fury fortified her. She made a wide circle around him, putting the table between them, and headed for the door.