Close to Perfect (12 page)

So much for his plans to someday go skinny-dipping with Tess. Holding back a sigh, Josh glanced at her.

She was still regarding him as she sipped her coffee.

“This place is as tight as a drum,” Hank said.

“Or a prison,” Josh said.

“It's whatever you make of it.” Hank clamped Josh on the shoulder so damned hard his knees briefly bent. Satisfied with that, Hank strolled outside.

Josh kneaded his shoulder and looked at Tess.

Her gaze, this time, was on his cock, which was suddenly blossoming beneath his pajama bottoms because of her attention.

Okay, so he was no longer pissed and neither was she. Taking that as an invitation to move closer, Josh started across the room, then stopped, waiting to be ambushed by another alarm. When it didn't happen, he went around the counter.

Tess continued to sip her coffee as she watched him move to her side. When he casually walked behind her, trying to determine where in the hell she was hiding her gun in that outfit, she asked, “What are you doing?”

His gaze jumped up.

Her cup was on the counter, her gaze on him, those lovely eyes narrowed.

Josh talked fast. “I should've acknowledged you last night, when you said you were here.”

She didn't comment.

He wiggled his brows. “I like the way you handled Libby.”

Tess glanced to the side, then looked back at him, again.

“You really did seem like my girlfriend.”

She arched a brow.

One tough nut to crack. Josh held back a sigh and finally asked, “So where is it?”

That brow lowered. “Where's what?”

He looked down. “Your gun.” He met her gaze. “You said you always have one on.”

“I do.”

Uh-huh. He leaned to the side to get a better look at her back, though not for long. Tess turned around on the stool. Once she was facing him, with her left knee so close to his groin that Josh took a cautious step back, she reached behind herself, and after a moment pulled out a gun.

It was smaller than Josh had imagined, with a short barrel, but it was an honest-to-God real gun.

“Satisfied?” she asked.

Actually, Josh was getting really turned on. Damn, but he liked the fact that she was an ex-cop, even if she evaded all of his questions. After clearing his throat, he asked, “Do you ever wear it in a garter?”

Tess stared at him, then slipped the gun back to where it had come from. “Huh?”

“In a garter.” Josh stepped closer to explain the concept, until her gaze stopped him. He retreated a step. “On your leg, actually your thigh,” he corrected. “You know, a garter, one of those frilly things women wear sometimes.”

Her eyes kept getting wider and wider.

Josh wasn't certain if she was playing dumb or not, so he continued to explain. “I've seen it on TV—surely you've seen it on TV—where those TV cops, at least the female ones, have garters that hold guns and—are you laughing at me?”

She was actually bent over the counter, her head resting on her arm she was laughing so hard.

“What's going on in here? Everything all right?”

Josh looked up to see an older woman hurrying inside. She was about the same age as Hank, built like him, too, though much shorter, with close-cropped salt-and-pepper hair, and really bad frown marks.

Was that Hank's wife?

“Hey, you okay?” the older woman asked Tess as she rubbed her back.

“I'm fine, Sammie.” Tess looked at Josh. “Sorry.”

Sammie gave him a hard stare. “What's Tessie got to be sorry for?”

“She keeps laughing at me.”

“Not at you,” Tess corrected, “at what you said.” Her shoulders continued to shake with laughter.

“Oh, yeah?” Sammie said, then shot Josh a nasty frown. “Whadya say?”

“It wasn't anything bad,” Tess explained. “He just wanted to know if I ever carry my gun in a garter.”

“A garter? What kind of a garter?”

“The kind women wear,” Josh said, then moved his hands to illustrate while he explained. “With lace and maybe some sparkly stuff, and—”

This time Sammie's laughter interrupted him. She asked Tess, “Why would you do that?”

Josh sighed. “It's done on TV all the time.”

“Oh, yeah?” Sammie continued to laugh. “Everyone on TV is gorgeous and rich and miserable. How real is that?”

“Well, you know,” Tess said to Sammie, “I bet you could carry a derringer in a garter.”

“Don't you carry a thirty-eight special?”

“Well, yeah, but I'm just saying, a derringer might work.”

“For what? It's only got two rounds.”

Tess nodded. “That's true. It wouldn't keep
all
the babes away, that's for sure.”

Josh rolled his eyes.

Both women ignored that.

“No matter what you're carrying,” Sammie said, “think of how hard it would be to pull that sucker out of a garter if you needed it. You'd have to hike your skirt halfway up to your navel.”

“I hear you,” Tess said. “And if you're wearing panty hose, that'd be a real killer.”

“Run city. Might as well kiss those babies good-bye.”

“You got that right.”

“Now, for me,” Sammie said, “I like an ankle holster. Easy to get to, no muss, no fuss. And what about those pocket holsters. Damn, those are nice.”

Tess quickly nodded. Her eyes sparkled as if she was getting excited. “Have you seen those new ones they're advertising on the Net?”

“From Keep the Peace dotcom?”

“No, that other dotcom, the one that just came online recently. They got stuff that would curl your hair.”

“It's already curled. So impress me.”

Tess readjusted her butt on the stool and talked fast. “There's this new purse holster that's really outta sight—nice, slick leather, smooth as a baby's bottom, with release features that make it always ready to go. And then there's this holster that looks like a pair of briefs, for the guys I would imagine, but it—”

Josh loudly cleared his throat.

Tess paused and looked at him with an expression that said she had forgotten he was here.

So did Sammie, until she suddenly noticed his naked chest and silky pajama bottoms, before she looked at his naked chest again.

Josh's brows were lifted as her gaze finally met his. “Hi. I'm Josh Wyatt.”

“Yeah, I know. Sammie Tufts here.” She put out her hand.

Josh took it and wasn't a bit surprised that she squeezed his fingers nearly as hard as Hank had. He, on the other hand, restrained himself. “So, I take it you're not Hank's wife.”

Sammie looked confused. “Hank who?”

“Rogan.”

“Him?” Sammie laughed so hard, she started to wheeze.

“Sammie's a retired cop,” Tess said. “She's also a friend of my dad.”

“A devoted friend of him and Tessie,” Sammie added, just as Hank had.

Josh nodded, not at all surprised, then sighed as Hank came back in.

“Hey, Rogan,” Sammie said. “You show this boy how to use the new alarm?”

Hank's gaze slid to Josh's chest, before returning to Sammie. “Yup.” He scratched the back of his neck. “Don't know if he got it or not.”

“Maybe we should write it down for him.”

“Tessie already suggested that. She thought we should use his—”

“That's enough,” Tess finally interrupted. “Mr. Wyatt understands what he needs to do.” She looked at him. “Don't you, Josh?”

He arched one brow. If she was talking about hauling her into his arms and kissing her until they both were breathless, then, yeah—he knew exactly what to do, just as soon as he got rid of these guardian angels her pop had sent over. “I'm getting a fair idea.”

She smiled.

“Have a seat,” Josh said to Hank and Sammie. If he couldn't beat them, then he was just going to have to join them. “I'll make all of you breakfast.”

D
espite Josh's best efforts, including changing into a T-shirt and jeans before he made everyone a huge breakfast, Tess knew the meal wasn't going to be a walk on the beach, unless that beach was littered with nuclear warheads.

When his comments were kind, Hank twisted their meaning so that Josh looked like a fool. When he said something neutral, Hank wanted to know why Josh didn't have an opinion.

The poor guy couldn't win.

Sammie didn't make it any better. She saw to it that
the boy,
as she kept referring to him, didn't get anywhere near Tess.

It was awful. Oddly enough though, Josh didn't fire the lot of them right then and there. He responded good-naturedly, even laughing at himself, when Tess knew she would have come out swinging.

Could be he was just punch-drunk from all those insults, or raring to get started on their first day as employer and bodyguard, not to mention pretend lovers. They would kiss, touch, and hug in public, then come back here to sweat out another celibate evening, until the next day when there would be more of the same.

Uh-huh. Why in the world was she feeling sorry for him?

“What are you doing?” he asked.

Tess lifted her gaze from the Mercedes, which was in the same spot she had left it last night. Breakfast was now a bad memory; Hank and Sammie were currently out of earshot, but it was also time to go to work. Maybe that's why Josh was frowning? “I'm getting into the car.”

His frown deepened. “On my side?”

“The driver's side,” she corrected, in a tone much nicer than Hank would ever use. “Technically, it's not called Josh's side.”

He lifted his face and breathed hard.

At last he was acting pissed and Tess was glad. It gave her a chance to admire how dolled up he was for today's press conference to publicize his newest development.

Josh was freshly shaved and shampooed, though his hair was still deliciously tousled. He wore a beige sports coat, brown dress trousers, an ivory shirt, silk tie, dress shoes, and a
fuck this
expression as he looked at her.

“My car, I drive.” He went around the front of it.

As he did, Tess backed away and held up the keys. “Not without these you don't.”

Josh stopped. Planting his hands on his lean hips, he looked down and growled, “Don't make me fight you for them.”

“I won't. I don't want to hurt you.”

He lifted his gaze. He looked like he wanted to spit.

Too bad. Tess got tough. “I'm your bodyguard. I'm driving you, Josh, and that's final.”

He dropped his hands and continued to approach.

Tess walked backwards down the drive as she talked fast. “You don't know anything about defensive driving or vehicle formations, or anti-ambush, or counteractions, or—”

“The hell I don't,” he interrupted as he continued to advance, while she continued to retreat. “I danced around the insults from those two friends of yours this morning, didn't I?”

“They're my dad's friends,” she corrected, “and from where I was, you weren't doing so good.”

Josh stopped, shook his head, then advanced again. “I'm the man, so I'm—”

“Oh,
please,”
she interrupted, “you're the man so that makes you the better driver?”

“Fine. Have it your way. You're as good as me.”

“Tell me something I don't already know.”

“Tess, you are going to give me those keys.”

“Not a chance.” She continued to retreat.

He continued to advance. “If I apologize for being a man, will you give me the—”

Her laughter interrupted him. “Like I'd believe that?”

“Ah, so you're glad I'm a man. Well, that's good to know.”

“Like I hid it during our kiss?”

Josh smiled. “That was nice wasn't—”

“It'd be nicer if you did what you were told.”

“Sure you really want that?”

“I am not giving you these—”

“Oh, Josh! Over here!”

Both he and Tess stopped at that shout.

It came from a young woman on the other side of the gate, which was just ahead.

She wore a red bikini bottom, while her long black hair clung to her naked breasts. Josh frowned, not believing this. She looked as if she had just stepped out of a pool, unless that was baby oil glistening on her tanned flesh. As she regarded him, her forefinger ran up and down one of those iron bars, stroking it, fondling it as she probably wanted to do to his cock.

“Let's take a swim,” she said.

Josh's gaze continued to follow her forefinger. “That Libby?” he asked Tess.

“Nope.”

“You mean this is a new one? Aren't your friends supposed to be guarding my gate?”

Tess didn't answer.

Josh looked over his shoulder, then shouted, “Hold it!”

Tess did not. She was already on her way back to the car, moving more like a world-class sprinter than a dancer, despite her heels.

Did she honestly think she could outrun him? Without breaking a sweat, Josh easily caught up, took her arm, pulled her away from the driver's side door and into himself.

Tess's eyes and mouth widened in surprise.

Josh used the moment and his body to so quickly back her into the hood, Tess lifted her right leg until her pale yellow skirt was hitched more than halfway up her thigh.

God, that looked nice.

Tess didn't seem to notice. Her gaze darted to his hand as Josh cradled the side of her face, keeping it still, then leaned down to her and murmured, “Now's a good time to prove that we're romantically involved to get rid of that lunatic at the gate.”

Tess arched one brow. “She can't see us from here.”

Who the fuck cares?
“You owe me,” Josh murmured, then covered her mouth with his own. This time there was no hesitation or restraint. He plunged his tongue inside and took what he wanted, what he needed, making this kiss as wild and savage as he felt.

Now, he was in charge, and Tess didn't seem to mind that one bit. She surrendered immediately, completely, suckling his tongue until a moan escaped the back of Josh's throat, and his cock strained against his clothing. He ground his hips into hers until Tess knew the pain she was putting him through. As if that pleased her, Tess wrapped her leg around him, pulling him even closer. Josh moaned again, and deepened the kiss.

Tess allowed it. She encouraged it. There was no stopping her now. She didn't care if that young woman, Hank, Sammie, and her father were all nearby watching. This moment belonged to her and Josh.

Lifting her hands, Tess drove her fingers through his silky hair, keeping his head still so that he wouldn't dare lift his mouth from hers. Pushing his tongue aside, she drove hers into his mouth, then pressed her hips into his until she could feel every inch of his impressive rod.

Even that wasn't enough, nor was this kiss, though they were both finally breathless.

As Josh rested his forehead against hers as they both heaved air, a car honked.

Tess flinched, hitting her cheek against his nose. Rubbing it with his fingers, Josh quickly backed away from her and swung his head to the side.

“Oh, hell,” he whispered, “don't tell me.”

“You two ready to get started, or what?” Hank shouted. He was leaning out the window of his car that was edging towards them.

“Yeah,” Tess shouted to him, then murmured to Josh. “Okay. I won't tell you.”

As she went to the driver's door, Josh said in a voice only she could hear, “We're not through, Tess. Not by a long shot.”

She looked at him, but already Josh was moving to the passenger side, yanking the door open and sinking into the seat.

On the drive to the office, Tess kept her gaze on the road, while Josh pouted.

Here he was, a grown man, but being treated like a freaking little kid as Tess chauffeured him to work, while that psycho Hank brought up the rear, and possibly used this trip to think up more insults.

That hadn't been part of this deal. Nowhere in the contract did it say he had to accept this extra, snotty protection. That wasn't something Josh was going to pay for.

And he'd tell Tess that, too, just as soon as he figured a way to get his point across without pissing her off or hurting her feelings. Josh didn't want her pissed or hurt. She might just hold out on him in public rather than giving him another great kiss that they wouldn't be sharing in private.

Swearing beneath his breath, Josh looked out the passenger side window, then stared at Sammie who was already staring at him from her car, which was in the next lane.

He wondered if this was only a coincidence, a chance encounter, then figured it wasn't, since she kept pace with this car rather than passing.

Great. He was surrounded by Pop's
very
devoted friends who were all armed to the teeth.

Well, screw that.

“This has to stop,” he said, then looked at Tess to make his point, which he quickly forgot.

Her lips were still bruised from his kiss, although she didn't seem to mind. She wore a lingering smile and an expression that said she hadn't heard him at all; she was reliving that moment in his arms.

As she inhaled deeply, luxuriously, sunlight rippled over her suit. This one was almost as nice as the one she had worn yesterday, though it had a back slit in the skirt, rather than one on the side.

And why not, since she didn't carry her weapon in a garter.

Josh arched one brow, then looked at her shoes. They were the same ivory shade as his tie and hiding her toes.

He frowned. What was the matter with her? He liked those other heels.

“Was this your idea?” he asked.

It was a moment before Tess seemed to hear him. She lost that lingering smile, before meeting his gaze. “Was what my idea?”

“To have us chaperoned by Bonnie and Clyde.”

She laughed.

Josh turned his head away before Tess saw his smile. He was supposed to be pissed—hell, he was pissed, but he was only human. As far as Josh was concerned, there wasn't a man alive who wouldn't be moved by Tess's laughter. It was as musical, as intoxicating as her voice.

Inhaling deeply, he glanced out his window. Sammie was still in the next lane, only this time she was frowning as if she was really pissed.

Why? His hands were on his thighs, not Tess's. She was driving his car, and he was allowing it. Hell, he was being an unbelievably good boy, even though Tess was now leaning toward him, delivering her soft, powdery scent.

Turning his head towards her, Josh inhaled as deeply as he could.

Tess looked at him, then back to the radio. Once it was on a station she liked, with that music fairly loud, she said, “Better be careful what you talk about.”

Was she kidding? “Why? Are you wearing a wire?”

“Sure.”

Uh-huh. “I don't believe it. Pull the car over, I want to frisk you.”

Tess gave him one of her cop stares. “In your world that would be called foreplay.”

“You have a problem with that?”

“My colleagues might.”

“You're evading my question, just like you always evade—”

“They can hear what you're saying, Josh.”

Huh? “What do you mean?”

“We've modified your car's communication system so that Hank and Sammie can hear what's going on in here—just in case anyone tries anything and you need the truth to fight a future lawsuit.”

Josh sagged farther into his seat. This was worse than prison. There, a man wasn't tempted by a woman as luscious as Tess—just by folks who looked like Hank and Sammie. He sighed.

“It's for your own protection,” Tess said.

He looked at her. “And I guess yours doesn't have anything to do with it, huh?”

Okay, so maybe it did a little; maybe her dad was glad that Hank and Sammie were listening in. Even so, it was in Privacy Dynamics' protection package. They weren't treating Josh any differently from other clients, except for Hank's constant criticisms, of course.

“Can it be turned off?” Josh asked.

“Sure you want that?”

“I trust you, Tess. The question seems to be, do you trust—”

“There,” she said, reaching under the dash. “It's off.”

“Thanks. I enjoyed our kiss this morning, how about—whoa, watch it,” Josh interrupted himself, “you nearly sideswiped that guy.”

She mumbled, “I was giving him a warning. He was staring at you. Could be another fan.”

Josh rolled his eyes.

Tess muttered an oath in Spanish.

“What was that?” Josh asked.

She pretended not to hear.

Josh regarded her a moment more, then lifted his hands to the back of his head and got really comfortable. “As I was saying about our kiss, I—”

This time he was interrupted by a prolonged honk from behind.

Tess's gaze moved to the rearview mirror. Hank was gesturing and mouthing that the communications device wasn't working.

Tess looked at Josh. “Hold that thought.” She leaned over and turned the device back on.

Josh lowered his hands, then drummed his fingers against his thighs.

“It won't be so bad, really,” she said.

“You got that right. They're not coming into my building or my office.”

“Well, not your personal office,” Tess said. “There, you can be alone.”