Chaos (3 page)

Shane was lounging at the bar, trying to shut down his mind
so he could relax. It had been a very unsettling week, personally as well as
professionally. Ever since he dropped Alyssa off at her apartment Monday
morning she kept popping up in his thoughts, no matter how hard he tried to
banish her from them. She had truly surprised him at his brother’s wedding
reception. He never expected them to end up in his bed, even while he was
teasing her. Then, after lunch with their parents, when she went back to his
apartment with him and stripped as soon as they were in the door, he was even
more astounded by her. Hard to imagine, the woman who plagued his work life for
the previous year by continually putting herself in unreasonable danger, first
with the gang and then with the homeless, becoming his nemesis in his personal
life too.

All week, Shane had found himself watching for her on the
street even though he knew her quest to humanize the homeless through her
photographic skills was complete. He knew she was in her studio, safe for the
moment. Too bad she wouldn’t stay that way. In just a little over a week she’d
be off to join a team of storm chasers. They wanted her to unromanticize their
activities. Apparently too many amateurs thought only of the thrill of a
tornado and nothing of the danger. Alyssa was going to attempt to show the raw
power and resulting devastation through her stark photography. The fact that
she needed to place herself virtually in the path of the storm in order to show
the area before and after it hit didn’t seem to bother her at all. She wasn’t
even sticking around until her cousin got home from her honeymoon with his
brother. Not that Shane could blame her for that. Kiley had made it perfectly
clear that she was frightened and didn’t want Alyssa to go on this assignment.
If Alyssa stayed until Kiley was back, she’d be subjected to another round of
pleading and cajoling.

In the short time he’d known Kiley, Shane had learned that
she could be relentless once she decided something was important. Not that she
was overbearing about it. No, Kiley was extremely subtle and unassuming in
weaving her wishes into your mind. Fortunately, she was also very open,
declaring what she wanted at the same time. And what Kiley wanted was Alyssa to
move to the town where she and Jordan were relocating so that Jordan and Brett
could take over the small radio station they’d purchased. She made it clear
that she was afraid Alyssa would become totally reckless without Kiley’s weekly
visits to remind her that she had someone who loved her and cared if she lived
until the next morning.

Shane winced as he remembered Alyssa warning him that Kiley
would direct her worries on him once she left to join the storm team. He hadn’t
bothered to mention to Alyssa that Kiley had already asked him when he would be
ready to leave the city. She had voiced her concerns that without Jordan and
Brett to check up on him, he was likely to become as reckless as she feared
Alyssa would be.

Then there were the calls he was getting at work from some
kid who was unsuccessfully trying to disguise his voice, probably to sound
older. He had called several times over the past few months, feeding Shane
information on upcoming gang activities. Shane couldn’t figure out what
disturbed him more, the fact that the kid’s information was always one hundred
percent accurate, which meant the kid was close, or the fact that the kid kept
hesitating before he hung up, as if he wanted to say more. Who was he? Why had
he chosen Shane? Most of all, what did he really want? Once again, Shane felt
the icy dread fill him. He knew the chances of the kid surviving long enough
for Shane to find him were very slim. Even if he was the little brother of one
of the higher-ups, it wouldn’t save him if they discovered he was leaking
information.

“Hey, Shane.” Jordan’s friend Jesse appeared next to him. “Want
some company or is that scowl meant to scare everyone off?”

Shane sighed. “Stay if you want, Jesse. I’m trying to push
work out of my mind but not having much success.”

“Won’t happen.” Jesse signaled for a beer for each of them.
“Jordan swears that’s why you’re such a good cop. If you could walk away at the
end of the day and leave it on your desk, you wouldn’t care enough to want to
make the world a better place. Watch it though, Shane. Caring too much will
pull you under if you let it.”

“Who are you, really?” Shane wondered aloud. “I checked into
you and found nothing but dead ends.”

“I know.” Jesse held his gaze. “What do your instincts tell
you?”

“That you’re one of the good guys, just like Jordan says you
are.”

“Then why can’t you leave it at that? He has. Isn’t that
enough for you?”

“I guess. I still don’t understand why you have to be so
secretive, but fine. Jordan trusts you so I’ll accept that for now. Seriously
though, you’re not going to involve him in anything that would hurt him or
Kiley, are you?”

“Never. I do not take risks with friends. Ever.” Jesse
looked fierce for a moment before breaking out in a smile. “We’re on the same
side here. I can tell you that much. Now let’s have a beer and both work on
forgetting the week we just put in.” Looking to change the subject, he asked,
“How’s the sexy Alyssa? I was surprised when you left the reception together. I
didn’t think you even liked each other.”

“I’m not sure we do.” Shane wondered who else had noticed.

“Hey, guys.” Brett interrupted his thoughts. “What are you
having?”

“Evening, Brett,” Shane replied. “It’s shocking to see you
here. I’d have thought you’d be out with your flavor of the week by now.”

“Damn, Shane, what’s with you?” Brett looked hurt. “Usually
you at least ask how I am before you start picking on me.”

Shane mumbled an apology as Jesse laughed. “He does have you
pegged though, Brett. I’d think, now that Jordan’s decided to settle down that
you’d start looking too.”

“No thanks. It’s great for him but I’m not interested. I’ll
be too busy for the next six months even if I was ready. I have to wrap
everything up at the ad agency and figure out how to be the managing director
of the radio station. I probably won’t have time to date let alone devote the
kind of time and energy needed for a serious relationship. But back to your
rude assumption, Shane, I’m here to meet someone before I go hook up with my
companion for the evening.”

“Who are you meeting?” Shane asked, wondering how soon he
could politely escape. Stopping for a beer wasn’t having the effect he’d hoped
for. He’d rather go home and brood alone.

“You mean…” Brett began, only to be interrupted by Jesse’s
low whistle.

“Holy Christ, would you take a look at that!” They followed
his gaze to the woman in the doorway.

She was impatiently tapping her foot, quite a feat in the
four inch spike heels she wore at the bottom of her black, fishnet stockings.
Shane’s eyes roamed up her shapely legs to her clothes, if you could call them
that. She seemed to be wearing some sort of jacket, miles too big for her but
somehow arranged perfectly, showing off her delectable shape. The lapels of the
coat, which Shane finally recognized as a tuxedo jacket, dipped precariously
low between her breasts. At her neck, she wore a bow tie. There was a man’s hat
tipped over her face, shadowing it. Making a quick sweep of the room, she made
eye contact, staring the mostly male crowd into silence. Looking directly at
Shane, she curved her lips into a seductive smile and started toward him.

It was Alyssa! Shane realized even as his mind balked at the
truth. She was wearing what he had to assume was his tuxedo jacket. According
to the terms of their weekend challenge. Since he’d delivered on his end,
coaxing her body to twenty-four orgasms in twenty-four hours, here she was, out
in his jacket. What a stupid thing for him to demand. Shane assumed that at
most she’d wear the jacket in his living room. He never would have held her to
his terms that she wear it out for a drink with him in public. But it had
backfired on him, big-time. Damn, if she didn’t look incredibly hot! And the
whole bar seemed to agree with him. Judging by the looks on their faces, more
than a few guys wanted to find out what, if anything, she had on underneath the
coat.

Alyssa stopped inches from him, stepping between Jesse and
Brett to get that close. She handed a large envelope to Brett and looped her
arms around Shane’s neck, causing the jacket to ride up even higher. Leaning
forward and pulling him toward her, Alyssa caught his astonished mouth before
he could speak. She kissed him deeply and passionately, hearing groans
throughout the room before she released his lips. “I guess that makes us even,”
she murmured so only he could hear.

Shane was speechless as he continued to stare at her. No words
would form in his head. He felt every inch of her body pressed against him and
wanted to devour her on the spot.

“That’s an awfully appealing look on you, Alyssa,” Brett
interjected, reading the intent in Shane’s eyes.

“Oh yeah,” Jesse agreed, amused by the scene in front of
him.

“Hi, boys,” Alyssa greeted them as she reclaimed her
envelope. “It was nice of you to meet me here, Brett. I know you have plans so
I won’t keep you.”

“Let’s move to that table over there where we can spread
out.” Brett ordered a round of drinks before herding them to the table.

“You’re here to meet Brett?” Shane finally found his voice.

“Keep up, stud.” She smiled wickedly as she squeezed his
knee under the table. “You told me that you’d be here tonight. Or wasn’t I
supposed to take that as an invitation? I printed out some of the pictures from
the reception and wanted you guys to see them so I asked Brett to meet us here.
I hope you don’t mind.”

“Of course he doesn’t mind.” Brett laughed at the expression
on Shane’s face. “I take it neither of you is going to explain that getup?” He
looked from one to the other hopefully. “I guess not. See, Jesse, we postpone
the beginning of our evening and they still treat us like outsiders.”

“Hard to believe, Brett,” Jesse chimed in. “Although, to
wear a man’s tuxedo in public, well, maybe the reason is private and we don’t
really want to know.”

“Just shut up,” Shane managed through his gritted teeth.

“Relax,” Brett advised. “We’re just trying to rile you since
you look ready to take on the whole room. Don’t worry, Shane. That kiss made it
crystal clear that this hottie is already taken. No one is going to infringe on
your territory.”

“Jesus, Campini, what were you thinking, walking in here
like that? What if I hadn’t been here?” Shane turned angrily to her.

“I’m fulfilling my part of our bargain, as agreed. I don’t
go back on my word, McKade. And if you hadn’t been here Brett and Jesse are so
what of it? They also would have told you all about this so you’d know I did as
you specified.”

“I figured you’d wear this privately, for me, not somewhere
you’d be showing off your body to countless men. You look like you’re offering
yourself…”

“Careful, Shane. You’re sounding possessive and jealous
here. I thought this is all about the two of you having some fun or didn’t you
mean that when you said it last weekend?” Brett questioned, knowing his friend
was hooked even though he hadn’t realized it yet. Yes, Kiley’s cousin and
Jordan’s brother certainly had something strong between them. If only the pair
would stop antagonizing each other and see what was right in front of them.
Wanting to break the growing tension that filled the silence, Brett tapped the
envelope Alyssa held. “Let’s see.”

“First, tell me if you saw Max today,” Alyssa said.

“Absolutely. And, as promised, we watched the video Jordan
and Kiley sent from the Galapagos Islands. He was playing with a bird with blue
feet, just like Max asked him to. I know I don’t have to tell you how happy
they look either.”

“It’s going to tear him apart when that boy dies,” Jesse
stated quietly.

“Yes but he has Kiley now,” Brett pointed out. “She’ll hurt
with him and love him through it.”

“They’ll get each other through it,” Alyssa corrected. “Look
at these. Kiley may not have known Max as long as Jordan has but he’s in her
heart.” She spread her photos out in front of them. They saw Jordan, holding
Max, dancing with Kiley. “Look how happy they are.” Next, she showed them one
of Brett in Jordan’s place. “What were you talking about? He looks so serious
and she looks like her heart is breaking.”

Brett was visibly shaken. “He made her promise to make
Jordan take Bear when he dies. He said he wanted his sister to be able to have
a cat and thought Bear would be happier with Jordan. He thinks the dog will
like the new town and is afraid that Jordan will worry about taking Max’s pet
from his family. Kiley is supposed to help convince him that Bear belongs with
him, not his family, since Jordan gave him to Max in the first place. He wants
his two best friends to stick together so they can play and he’ll remember the
fun the three of them had and not be sad.”

“Now look at this.” Alyssa revealed a shot of Shane dancing
with Max’s sister, Penny. “The two of you look just as serious.”

“Penny asked if I would be her special friend, since Max
already has Jordan, Brett and Kiley. She wants me to come to school and talk to
her class. She also asked if I’d help her pick out the cat once Bear goes to
live with Jordan. Then she was afraid that I’d disappear after Max dies, just
like Jordan is going to.” Shane looked at the others and saw that the children
were affecting all of them, not just him.

“This is at the end of the song.” Alyssa had a photo of
Shane and Penny laughing, looking like co-conspirators.

“I promised to talk to her class next week if her teacher
okayed it. I also agreed to take her to the animal shelters every week until we
find the perfect cat.”