Bare It All

Then he’d noticed her odd intensity, the extreme way she focused whenever she ventured outside, almost as if she watched for the boogeyman. Why would a young, middle-class woman in a good neighborhood need to be so over-the-top cautious, even in broad daylight?

Her softness felt like a lure. Big dark eyes. Baby fine brown hair.

And that soft, full mouth...

The first time he saw her smile—at his dog—something had sparked. Reese couldn’t explain it any more than he could dismiss it, but something about her turned him on at a gut level.

He saw that tempting smile of hers, and he got hard.

Knowing she could come back in any moment, Reese searched through her bathroom, but in his cursory exploration he found only the usual female products. No meds, other than a few OTCs like aspirin and cold pills.

In the spare bedroom set up as her office, he struck gold. With enough time to dig around, he could probably uncover all kinds of info on that elaborate computer network. Paper files occupied a rack on the corner of the desk. She had an external drive set up. Mail filled a basket, meaning he could learn her last name with a simple peek. Everything was so neatly organized that going through it would be a breeze.

But that would be such a huge invasion of her privacy.

Worse than peeking in closets and under beds.

God, it was tempting....

In a belated bid for integrity, Reese shut the door. He’d talk to Alice. He’d ask questions and hopefully get answers, and then he’d decide how to proceed.

Right now, after seeing the guns, Taser and baton, he really did need that coffee.

A few minutes later, he’d just sat down at the table with his second cup when the front door flew open and Alice charged in, Cash hot on her heels.

Reese half rose from his seat. “What’s wrong?”

She halted comically, still breathing fast. Cash looked at her, looked at Reese, and twitched his ears as if awaiting further instruction.

“Alice?”

After blowing out a breath, Alice shook her head. “Nothing is wrong.” She closed the door and simply...stood there.

“Just felt like taking a wind sprint, huh?” Would he ever understand her?

Damn straight he would.

“I had no idea you could move so quickly.” Coffee in hand, he left the table. “I believe your temples are dewy. Did you run all the way in?”

She looked blank for only a moment, then visually searched the apartment as if seeking signs of his intrusion.

Let her look. He’d folded up his blankets. Put his clothes near the door. He’d even buttoned his slacks.

No way would he put on a shirt, though, not when he enjoyed her appreciation. And thinking of her appreciation...

He started toward her.

She locked her gaze to his. “What are you doing?”

Her uncertainty cut deep. “Greeting my dog.” Gently, Reese took the leash from her small hand and unhooked Cash. He knelt down. “Did you miss me, Cash? Did you?”

Alice stared down at him. “You talk to him like he’s a baby.”

“He likes it.” And then, to drive home that point, he said in his most ridiculous voice, “Don’t you, boy? Yes, you do.”

Alice blurted, “I’m sorry I intruded.”

Huh. What was that about? Slowly, so he wouldn’t make her any jumpier, Reese stood. “Let’s go to the kitchen. This is my second cup, but as foggy as I am today, I might need the whole pot.”

“All right.” She marched ahead of him. “I was going to offer you breakfast. Or lunch.” At the sink, she pivoted to face him. “What do you feel like?”

Such a loaded question, and being male, so many inappropriate comments came to mind. But given all her weaponry and secrets, he got right to the point instead of teasing.

“I feel like an explanation.” Or two or three. He helped himself to another cup of coffee, which put him within touching distance of her, and started with her last apology. “When did you intrude?”

“Outside. With your lady friends.”

Ah. What justification would she give for that little display? “You wanted me to get my coffee.” He saluted her with his cup. “Much appreciated.”

“Actually...no.” She rubbed her forehead. “I mean, yes, I did want you to have your coffee, of course. But I...I don’t really understand what I was thinking. I saw you out there with those women and the next thing I knew, I was behaving like a jealous wife.”

Wow. Reese stared at her, flabbergasted. She threw that out there like it was nothing. No reserve at all.

No sense of self-preservation either.

“Again,” she said in that same no-nonsense tone, “I’m sorry.”

Shaking off the surprise, Reese opened her refrigerator. “No problem.” He withdrew her cartoon of eggs.

She frowned. “They’re both very attractive.”

“Nikki and Pam?”

The frown intensified. “Don’t be deliberately obtuse.”

“All right.” If she wanted to dish it out, he could dish it right back. “They’re both sexy as hell.” He grinned like a sinner—or a man ready to provoke. “And they know it, too.”

Alice reached around him and pulled out bacon. “This is awkward.”

She didn’t act uncomfortable. She acted like it was routine to have such an odd conversation. “Nothing with me should be awkward.”

She eyed him, moved around to get out a pan. “I understand they were...trying to attract your interest?”

“With those two, always. They’re relentless in their pursuits.” He put just enough complaint in his tone to sound comically pitiful.

“Oh, poor you. How awful it must be to have sexy-as-hell women hitting on you.”

The bite of her sarcasm was so totally unexpected, he loved it. “Since I don’t want to get involved with either of them, even for a one-night stand, it gets tedious.”