Nauti Intentions (35 page)

do.†His voice became commanding, in charge. God, if she wasn’t already in love with Alex, she might have had to fal in love with Timothy. Or make

him adopt her.

“Thank you.†She gave him a quick kiss on his rough cheek and turned back to the waiting area. “If you’l be patient,†she announced.

“We’re opening the banquet room. Seating wil be available soon.†Then she rushed back to the kitchen.

A frantic, vocal argument with Desmond had him placing a cal to extra staff and getting them in, fol owed by a slamming of pans and Italian curses. But

his eyes had glittered at the chal enge.

“I hire my assistant tomorrow,†he announced. “He’l be here by evening. No arguments.â€

“No arguments, Desmond. I swear.â€

Janey rushed back to the dining area, apologized to the waiting couple at the reservation counter, and led them quickly to their table.

Rogue showed up, dressed in leather pants, though a silk blouse topped it off and three-inch heels made her look like a goddess as her hair flamed

around her.

Thankful y, Rogue understood the reservation computer, and she went to work as Tabitha, Janey, and the other waitresses fought to handle the

additional seating and orders. Two more waitresses and three busboys were cal ed back in. Within the hour, the banquet room was fil ed, as wel as wel

as the reservation area.

Janey was rushed, stressed, and loving every minute of it.

Desmond was her angel, though he was cursing like a sailor. His wife and the additional sous-chef were working the kitchen; the extra stoves were in

use for the first time since Janey had taken over the restaurant.

She was in heaven. Natches was even cleaning tables, beneath the eagle eye of his wife, and Timothy Cranston was working the register with patient

confidence.

It was nearing ten when Janey had to begin turning away customers. Her legs were shaking with fatigue, and Rogue and Tabitha were looking beautiful

but harried. Reservations ended at ten; they couldn’t possibly take in more after that.

“I’m sorry.†She shook her head at the group of three men who’d just arrived, dressed in business attire and obviously a little too drunk to

be in public. “Seating is closed for the night.â€

At the head of the group, the older male, possibly in his thirties, frowned back at her, then leered. “That’s not possible. You can take three

more.â€

Behind him were a few other couples. “I’m sorry, sir. If you’d like to make a reservation for tomorrow . . .â€

“Bitch. I’m here now.†He kept his voice low, a warning hiss that had her flinching at the virulence in it. “Find a table.â€

Janey looked around. Timothy was buried at the register, and Natches was busing a table while Alex quickly helped him. Hoyt was across the room

helping wait a table. She didn’t have time for this.

“You don’t want the kind of trouble you’re getting ready to start here,†she said quietly. “I think you and your friends should leave.â€

He sneered. “Trash like you doesn’t tel me when I can leave. Now find me a table.â€

The other two moved, blocking her from sight of Timothy. Gossip was good for business, but a fight wasn’t.

Alex looked back to where Janey stood at the reservation counter. At first, it looked as though she were merely talking to the businessmen standing

around her. But something warned him, some instinct told him she was frightened. It was in the line of her shoulders, the tensed set of her head, and the

indication that her arm was at an unusual angle in front of her body.

“Trouble,†he told Natches quietly and headed her way.

He could see Timothy trying to peer around the register and becoming concerned.

“This is a real y bad idea.†He caught her words as he neared her.

“You traitorous little cunt,†the older of the men rapped out, jerking her wrist, pul ing her hard into the counter. “Give me the fucking table before

I show you what a real man would do for you.â€

A red haze of primal fury enveloped Alex. It washed through his mind, shattered decades of control.

He knew Natches heard; Timothy heard. They moved for the group, but it was Alex who took on the one that had dared touch his woman.

Alex’s hand slapped over the little prick’s wrist, exerting enough force that his fingers immediately loosened. His arm went around the

bastard’s neck and he jerked him back, smiling at Janey’s surprised face over his shoulder. “Be back in a minute, baby,†he ground out

furiously. “You just wait right here for me.â€

Natches had the other man in a similar grip, but Timothy was a brutal, sadistic son of a bitch. The third man was purple, gasping, as Timothy led him

through the shocked bystanders, his fingers curved around the tal er man’s bal s as he forced him to walk.

Janey stared, wide-eyed. The glass door closed, and seconds later those in the waiting area were rushing for the door as wel .

“Now, that was interesting,†Rogue drawled as she eased up behind her. “You do know Alex and Natches left their table unfinished, right?â€

“They’l kil them.†Janey started for the door.

“Oh, no you don’t.†Rogue caught her arm as Chaya looked up from where she had taken over for Timothy at the register.

“Rogue, Alex wil kil them,†she whispered. “I know Natches wil .â€

“Then we’l send flowers.†Rogue rol ed her eyes. “Give it a break; let the men do their thing. We’l do ours and coo over their little

boo-boos and tel them how heroic they are.â€

Janey swung around in outrage. “You’re as crazy as they are.â€

To which Rogue pouted prettily. “Now, Janey, let’s not bring the question of sanity into this.†Then she grinned. “And I’m proud of

being crazy, remember?â€

A yel filtered in from outside, laughter, a whoop.

“Damn. I’d like to see that fight.†Rogue sighed. “I’l go finish their table; you stay put.†She glared at Janey. “Don’t

chal enge Alex when he’s in defensive mode.†She grinned. “Unless you want a little some-some against the wal rather than a bed.â€

She sauntered off then, waving a busboy over and putting him to work. She marshaled the waitresses and busboys as though she had been born to

give orders.

Janey turned to Chaya as the customers rushed outside to watch after paying for their meals.

“Stay,†Chaya mouthed with a fierce look.

Stay? Like she was a puppy. A dog.

“This isn’t going to be good for business, Jane,†Hoyt spoke behind her.

Turning, she stared at the young man who didn’t have a hope of managing the restaurant by himself. Hoyt was capable, but even with the two of

them, they couldn’t keep up.

He was frowning, his gaze disapproving.

Janey pasted on a smile. “That’s what I thought about the bombing of my apartment last night.†She flinched as another whoop filtered

through. “I bet we’re packed tomorrow.â€

She turned away from Hoyt and rubbed her wrist, then flinched at the sound of a siren in the distance. God, just what she needed. She breathed out

wearily. She needed more help, because sure as hel , tomorrow was going to be even busier.

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Alex stood back as the sheriff and two city cops arrived. Three less-than-courageous jackasses were writhing on the blacktop as he, Natches, and

Timothy leaned against a nearby car.

The crowd that had gathered to see a good, brutal bloodletting was mumbling in disappointment. It didn’t take long to put three soft-core little

bastards to the ground.

Mark and Tyrel were inside watching Janey. They’d slipped into place as Alex, Natches, and Timothy headed outside.

As the sheriff’s car and the city cops pul ed in, Timothy stepped forward, badge in hand.

“Special Agent Timothy Cranston.†He smirked at Zeke as the sheriff bit back a curse. “Cuff ’em and take ’em in. I’l fol ow along

behind later.â€

“Charges?†Zeke sighed as the two police officers moved to cuff the three men despite their protests.

“We’l start with endangering a federal agent and move on from there.†Timothy hitched his pants and grinned placidly back at Zeke. “Is

that a problem?â€

“Probably,†Zeke bit out. “Cranston, I’m just about tired of you trying to run my county.â€

Timothy waved the objection away. “Don’t worry. The chief of police real y likes me. I can just deal with him.â€

Alex stared at the dazed assailant who had dared to bruise Janey’s delicate wrist. He could feel his shoulder throbbing; he was bleeding again, but

fuck it. His fist in that little asshole’s face was worth it.

Adrenaline was stil surging through him, though. There had been no outlet for the fury that pounded through him, and now it was turning into something

more. Another man had dared to touch Janey, to insult her. He turned his head and glared at the crowd gathered around.

“Natchesâ€â€”his voice was overly loud—“the next asshole that touches my woman may never be found again.â€

Natches stared back at him in mocking disbelief. “Yeah, wel , I might help you hide the body.â€

Zeke rubbed his hand over his face in frustration as Timothy chuckled. Alex stared at the crowd. He couldn’t forget Janey’s accusation, her

belief that he was ashamed of her, ashamed of his relationship with her.

The thought slammed into his mind. Blood surged through his veins. He left Natches and Timothy to deal with what he could see was Zeke’s anger

building. He pushed through the crowd, aware of several couples fol owing him out of the cold.

He entered the restaurant, his gaze meeting Janey’s, seeing the worry, the concern, the acceptance that he was going to pretend he was doing no

more than defending a friend.

Fuck that.

He stalked to her, pul ed her from behind the reservation counter, and as he curved his fingers around her neck and her lips parted, he pressed his lips

against hers. His tongue delved inside her mouth, taking her gasp and fil ing her with his lust.

He felt her hands press against his abs, her fingers curling, her lips softening. And he pul ed back.

“Next time, yel for help, dammit,†he snarled. “And the next bastard that tries to manhandle you might not survive it.â€

He moved her, gently, back behind the register counter, then parked himself directly behind her. Fuck it. Fuck everyone that wanted to gossip. Screw

the bastard watching her. At least now he knew Janey wasn’t undefended. And as far as Alex was concerned, she never would be.

TWENTY-ONE

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“That was so wrong, on so many levels.†Janey slammed the office door closed after Alex passed through it behind her, just after midnight.

He hadn’t left her side. If she went to the kitchen, Alex went to the kitchen. His hand would lie low on her back, or curl around her neck. He’d

touched her often enough that she was one big, blazing hormone by the time they walked into the office, and pissed off over it.

“What was wrong?†He arched his brow and crossed his arms over his white shirt. He’d rol ed the sleeves back, displaying his muscled

forearms. His biceps bulged beneath the sleeves. She just wanted to jump his bones right now, but she was mad him. Furious with him.

“You beat those guys up,†she snapped. “Al you had to do was push them out the door. You didn’t have to hit them.â€

“I wasn’t alone,†he pointed out mildly. “Natches and Timothy helped, you know. You’re not yel ing at them.â€

“Natches wouldn’t listen if I did,†she argued, then gave him a scandalized look. “And you want me to jump on Tim? Geez, Alex, that’s

like jumping on Santa Claus or something. He’s a sweetheart.â€

Alex stared back at her in horror. “My God, don’t put Santa Claus and Timothy’s name in the same sentence. That should be il egal,

Janey.â€

“Don’t be mean to Tim, Alex, and it’s total y beside the point. You did not have to go out and fight. It was insane and so completely

unnecessary,†she retorted furiously, thrusting her fingers through her hair in frustration. “Do you think it’s the first time it’s happened?â€

She didn’t expect his reaction. Before Janey could respond, he had her against the wal of the office, lifting her, pul ing her to him.

“It’s the last damned time it’s going to happen,†he bit out, practical y snarling in her face.

“I don’t need you babysitting me, Alex.†She would have pushed at his shoulders, but she was afraid of hurting the wound. Instead, she tried to

push at his chest, and he wasn’t moving.

The problem with Alex not moving was that the arousal that had been building al day was only growing worse now. With his body pressed against her,

the feel of his erection pressing into her lower stomach, she was beginning to burn for him.

“I’l be damned if I’m going to let those jackasses talk to you that way.†Anger fil ed his voice, his expression.

His hands gripped her hips, no bruising, but firm as his gaze lit with fury.

“For God’s sake, Alex. It won’t be the last either. You can’t just beat everyone up.â€

“Watch me!†His head lowered, his expression furious as his lips pul ed back from his teeth. “Oh, baby, you just fucking watch me.â€

Her lips parted to argue. She had the argument on the tip of her tongue, and it was a damned good one. Something about him just being one man. But

he stole the words. He stole her thoughts. His lips covered hers and he stole her senses in a kiss that sizzled clear to the soles of her feet.