Tattoo My Heart (Heroes of Seaside Point, Book 1) (12 page)

He ignored the colorful language and continued
. “
And since it’s not in plain sight, are you gonna risk ransacking the house with a cop sniffing around
?”

“
Okay, damn it
!
You made your point. This stuff is killing me
.”

He slapped his partner’s hands when he attempted to wipe his eyes
. “
You don’t want to do that
.”

“
Then get me some relief
!”

He pulled away from the curb and sped down the street
. “
She didn’t see you
?”

“
I don’t think so. I fell off the porch and crawled into the bushes before she hit the lights
.”

“
Woman’s got balls
.”
He stopped at a nearby gas station
. “
Wash that stuff off and then we’ll decide what to do next
.”

His partner cursed again and scrambled out of the car
.

***

Annessa sat with her back to the door and her head in her knees, screaming until her throat burnt.

“Annessa, stop screaming.” Casey’s raspy voice wrapped her like a warm blanket as he pulled her stand. “What happened?”

She lifted her head to see him in front of her wearing nothing but a towel and a scowl, dripping water on the living room carpet.

“Someone tried to get in the house.”

“Why the hell didn’t you come get me?”

“You were in the shower!”

“So?”

“So, you would’ve run out of here buck naked! Did you really want our neighbors calling that in? Yes, I’d like to report a streaker and oh, by the way, it’s Sheriff McIntyre.”

Her breathing began to slow when he pulled her against him and wrapped her with his arms. “Okay, calm down. Did you get a good look?”

“No. It was dark and he ran when I sprayed him with pepper spray.”

“Yeah, your aim is impressive,” he mumbled. He eased her back from him and led her to the couch. “Sit here while I call the department and Travis.”

“No! You can’t tell him.”

“Oh
hell
no, Annessa, we are not going down this road again. Your brother needs to know someone tried to break in the house.”

She opened her mouth to argue but the
no bullshit
look on his face stopped her. “Fine,” she relented. “Tell him about this, but not about my trouble over the phone. Tomorrow night after his shift ends, I promise. Just play stupid for tonight, Casey, that’s all I ask.”

She really expected him to barrel right over her with some sort of cop-driven logic, but instead he eased her to sit and picked up the phone.

“Tomorrow,” he said quietly, his tone not offering any sort of negotiation.

She heard her brother’s booming voice though the phone as he and Casey spoke, not surprised that Travis had lost his cool. He was such an enigma; in an emergency, he was a cool as a cucumber but when it came to one of his sisters, the man had absolutely no control.

Casey, however, never lost control. No matter what the circumstance, he took it in stride, barreling over everyone else with his calm, soothing demeanor. She knew firsthand it was useless to try to defy him; she tested him on numerous occasions and failed.

“I’ll pull deputies on the house tonight and call first thing in the morning.” Casey flinched as he disconnected and then glanced at her. “Twenty four hours, Annessa. I can’t keep this from him longer than that.”

She stood, slid her fingers under the edge of his towel and wiggled them against his damp skin. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” he groaned and moved her hand. “I’m going back upstairs to finish my shower.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Finish?”

With a hearty chuckle he shook his head and headed up the stairs.

***

Inside the office of the fire station, Travis ran a hand across his forehead as he processed Casey’s call, suspicious that his best friend hadn’t told him the whole story about the night’s events. Then again, the poor guy had been doused in pepper spray not too many hours ago. As concerned as he was about Annessa, he knew she was safe with Casey. But was Casey safe with her?

As long as he could remember, trouble always managed to find his sister. Or maybe it was the other way around. One way or another Annessa
always
ended up in the middle of something. He and Casey both had scars to prove it.

With a heavy sigh, he dialed his cell phone. Tonight’s plans would have to change.

Despite his disappointment, a smile split his lips when a breathy hello tickled his ear. “Hey, Verity.”

“What’s wrong?”

He frowned. “What makes you think there’s something wrong?”

“There are only two times you use my name and … we’re not having sex.”

Travis laughed out loud. The woman was entirely too perceptive. “You can’t imagine the evening I’ve had.”

“Try me.”

He relayed the night’s events, relieved to have a confidante. “Long story short, Annessa’s home,” he finished.

Verity’s light giggle oozed through the line and made a beeline for his cock. His anatomy recognized that same small noise as the one she made when his lips were buried between her legs, nibbling on her soft, wet flesh.

“Do you need me to take a look at Casey?”

“He’s fine. I’m more concerned about my sister. I think I should probably stay put tonight.”

“Absolutely,” she agreed, “but I’ll miss you.”

He scrubbed a hand down his jaw. “I’ll miss you like hell, Doc.” He released a long breath. “You could come by the house tomorrow night.”

A several seconds pause almost caused him to panic.

“Annessa is there,” she said finally.

He moved to the edge of the chair and braced his elbows on his knees. “Yes, she is. I’m just thinking maybe it’s time to come clean.”

“We made a deal,” she reminded him.

“My sisters are gown women. Hell, I’m surprised they haven’t figured it out yet.”

While he waited for her argument, he racked his brain for a logical rebuttal. Instead, another of those cock-choking giggles caused him to lose concentration.

“That’s not a decision we have to make tonight.” Her soft silky voice of reason tightened its grip on his dick. “Besides, we can play on the phone, if you’re game.”

He snapped his head up from between his knees and snickered as he stood to press the lock on the door. “Oh baby, you know I’m game.”

Annessa spent the whole next day nervous as hell. Partly because now she was sure someone followed her and partly because Casey was undeniably angry. Not to mention the fact that her brother wouldn’t let her out of his sight. So, there she sat on the steps of Engine Number Five in the middle bay of the Seaside Fire Department, watching Cpt. Travis Dupree shine the already-glistening fire truck.

“Come
on
, Travis. I’ll be fine. The alarm company was supposed to be finished by noon. It’s five o’clock.”

“No. Casey will be here to get you in a few minutes. Then you can go home and do whatever it is you two do when I’m not around.”

Suddenly, keeping company with her brother just got a whole lot more fun.

“So Trav,” she said as she braced her feet against the side of the truck, “what do you suppose Casey and I do when we’re all alone?”

“Don’t know and don’t care.” She noticed her brother’s biceps flex with the force of his motion.

“Want me to tell you?”

He stopped in mid-rub and shot her a glare. “You are evil, baby sister.”

She turned her head to see Maverick stroll through the open garage door. “Betcha Mav knows.”

Maverick frowned. “Knows what?”

“Don’t ask,” Travis mumbled.

“Travis doesn’t know what Casey and I do when we’re alone at the house,” she answered.

Maverick glanced at Travis and then back at her. “I’m not sure you should share that information, Annessa.”

Her eyes widened. “You too?”

“We all helped raised you. That’s not information we need at this point.”

Her shoulders shook with her giggles. “Fine. Forget I said anything.”

“Gladly.” Maverick nodded at Travis. “I’ll be upstairs.”

As soon as Maverick topped the stairs, Travis cleared his throat. “Casey loves you, Annessa.”

She lifted an eyebrow, somewhat stunned by Travis’ remark. Not because it wasn’t true, but because the words slipped out of his mouth.

“I love him too, Travis,” she said quietly. “I’m just not sure what that means.”

Travis stopped wiping the truck, squatted in front of her, and pushed a wayward piece of hair over her shoulder. “It means you should forgive him and put the past behind you.”

Now
she was shocked. “You know about that?”

“No particulars. I only know that something went insanely wrong and now it’s time to fix it. For both your sakes.”

“Vanessa told you?”

“No. Casey’s my best friend, almost my brother. I can read him almost as well as you, brat.”

She gave her brother a weak smile. “I’m trying, I really am.”

Travis stood and threw the towel at her. “Try harder.”

Annessa caught the towel and tossed it from hand to hand while she digested her brother’s advice. Perhaps holding Casey responsible wasn’t entirely fair. Maybe her juvenile, infatuated brain hadn’t thought things through before she planned to seduce him. Honestly, the timing sucked and even worse, she hadn’t had a clue what to do. Now, however, she knew exactly what turned him on.

“It’s awfully quiet in here.”

Annessa lifted her gaze to see Casey braced against the rear bumper of the truck. Her nipples responded with their usual standing ovation.

Travis snorted. “For a change.”

She grinned and threw the towel at her brother. “Ha, ha.”

Travis wadded the rag into a ball and grinned. “She’s all yours, McIntyre. I’ll see you two after my shift.”

Casey nodded as Travis climbed the stairs then turned his gaze back to her. “Do you still want to see that building?”

She paused a moment to interpret his question. Purchasing the property meant coming home. For good. She wanted that more than anything – as long as he stayed too.

“Why?”

He shoved his hands into his pockets and shrugged. “I’ll take you.”

A grin split her lips. He could pretend nonchalance all he wanted, she could read him just as well as he read her. His gesture was the same as handcuffing her to him. Again.

“I’d like that.”

He grasped her hand and led her to his truck, letting go only to open the door. “Inside, short stuff.”

“Thank God for step rails,” she mumbled as she climbed up and into the cab.

“I had them added just for you.”

Although she realized he was probably teasing, she still couldn’t help but wonder if that was another of his sly attempts to show her he was serious about convincing her to stay. Hoping, maybe.

“Seatbelt,” he reminded her.

Once he sat behind the steering wheel, he buckled his own belt then laid an open palm on the seat between them in silent invitation. Without a second thought, she placed her hand there, warmed when his fingers threaded hers.

“Did you talk to your brother about your shadow?”

His question brought sordid reality right back to the forefront of her mind. “No. I promised you I would tonight. I’ll tell everyone, all together.”

“No more running, Annessa.”

“I promise.” She gave his hand a squeeze.

He started the engine and drove away from the Fire Department, headed for the neighboring town. Annessa sighed and relaxed back against the leather seat, safe and secure for the first time in the last week. She’d been so stupid to try and avoid him; she knew full well the only place truly safe was with Casey.

She settled into comfortable silence as he drove, his thumb stroking the top of her knuckles. The gentleness of his touch both soothed and excited her. With each pass over her skin, his strength strangled her fear in a chokehold and teased her libido senseless. Something told her if she and Casey ever ended up between the sheets, the linens would not wrinkle – no, they would tangle. She gave herself a mental eye-roll. If? More like, when.

“How’s business?”

She smiled. His warm, husky voice only proved her point. Her hormones were now screaming at the top of their lungs. “Very good. Dorie’s considering hiring another planner.”

“Is that why you want to leave?”

“I don’t know that I want to leave Los Angeles. I just think it’s time for me to branch out on my own. I’ve made a lot of contacts there who have encouraged me. “

He gave her a cursory glance. “Sounds promising. But that’s not all.”