Julie pulled awake with a wide yawn when the van stopped at a motel. How long she’d slept, she had no idea. The men had been quiet, the night dark. She’d dozed in fitful spurts, waking every so often with her heart in her throat, her stomach jumping. But Clint was always there, warm and solid behind her, and without a word, he’d calm her with his nearness.
Mojo had wanted to tend her myriad scrapes and scratches, but she’d put him off. She felt stretched to the limits and simply couldn’t abide his touch any longer. He was a nice man—dark and silent—and she knew he wouldn’t hurt her.
But logic wasn’t a part of her reactions at the moment.
They’d run the air-conditioning in the van, and at first she’d been horribly chilled, cold deep down inside herself. The shivers had started after her decision not to go directly home, and she hadn’t been able to still the quaking in her body.
Then Clint had wrapped both massive arms around her, and his heat sank right through to her bones. Sitting in his lap on the cargo area of the van, his hard body touching all along her side, she was able to get a little sleep.
It was the first rest she’d had since the kidnapping, when she’d been taken right out of her bed in the early morning.
“You were asleep, and we didn’t want to wake you,” Clint rumbled in explanation near her ear, “so we didn’t stop for food. But we’ll get something to eat in just a minute, all right?”
Her stomach growled an answer, making her blush. “Thank you.”
Red left the van and went to the small glass-enclosed office. Julie watched him open his wallet, and guilt assailed her. Yet she had nothing with her, no money, no I.D. She’d make it up to them later.
The small motel was seedy, ugly, and mostly abandoned. An assortment of work trucks were parked in scattered disarray throughout the parking lot. What few patrons it boasted were likely congregated in the all-night bar and grill adjoined to the property. Half the security lights were out, leaving the lot in deep shadows. The only real illumination came from the neon signs in the bar and office.
Red returned, then pulled the van around to the back, close to the room he’d just procured. Julie went carefully to her knees and watched through the window in awe. She’d never been to a place like this before, but the men didn’t appear to see anything amiss.
Mojo slid from the front seat, stretched his long, hard body elaborately, then opened the sliding door on the side of the van. Clint helped her to her feet, holding her as if she had two broken legs instead of one sprained ankle. Limp with exhaustion and strain, Julie let him.
Mojo reached into the van for her, and because she couldn’t stop herself, she shrank back.
Stupid, stupid, stupid, she thought.
He would be insulted, take her rejection personally, maybe even think she didn’t like him when she liked him just fine.
It was over now. Thanks to Clint and his friends, she hadn’t been raped, hadn’t been hurt that badly. Mostly she’d just been scared out of her wits. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to dredge up just a modicum of calm reason and courage.
But the idea of anyone else touching her made her skin crawl and her heart stutter. Ashamed of her reaction, she hid her face against Clint’s chest. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s all right,” he murmured. “Mojo understands.” And somehow, being the amazing man he was, Clint got out of the van with her clinging to him like a sticky vine.
Her feet never touched the pavement. Clint swung her up into his arms as if it were expected of him. Red pulled a few duffel bags out of the van, and Mojo retrieved a large first aid kit. After locking the van, the three of them went to the door assigned them.
One door.
Julie gulped. Surely they didn’t expect them all to share a room?
Mojo turned the lock and stepped inside to flip on lights.
The sudden glare after all the darkness made her shy. She knew she looked a wreck, and though logic told her it shouldn’t matter, she hated to be seen so haggard. She wasn’t a beautiful woman, but she always did her best to make a nice appearance. Her clothes were usually tidy, fit well, and her hair was always…
God, what was the use? At the moment she was filthy and sweaty and looked as if she’d been dragged through the dirt, her hair was so tangled. She peered up at Clint’s rugged face, at the way his stormy green eyes watched her, and she managed a smile. “You can put me down now.”
He walked over to one of the double beds and set her on the edge. Thankfully, the room appeared clean, if a bit tattered.
Mojo continued past them and opened an adjoining door. He placed two of the bags inside and set the other on the floor by her feet. Thank God, there were two rooms. But maybe that meant they would give her one on her own.
Without realizing it, she knotted her hands in apprehension. She was a grown woman, too old to be afraid of the dark.
But still her stomach cramped.
Clint stood there looking down at her. “You’re awful quiet all of a sudden, Julie Rose.”
Julie noticed her bloody, dirty knees, the grime on her naked toes. Her eyes burned and felt gritty. “I need a shower.”
All three men stared at her.
At their prolonged attention, she shifted self-consciously. “You said we’d be here for the night, correct?”
Clint nodded. He still stood very close to her, and she appreciated that. “Yeah.” He searched her face. “I thought you wanted to eat.”
“I do. But I need to shower also.” She could smell herself, and that was a truly appalling realization. Not only had she missed her morning shower, but the cabin she’d been taken to had been hot and stuffy and dirty. She’d sat on the floor, been pushed to the ground…Julie curled into herself, reliving those awful moments.
Clint interrupted her thoughts by giving her shoulder a gentle squeeze. “We also need to talk.”
Yes, they had to talk. “All right. But after my shower.”
He looked surprised at her ready agreement.
Red propped his hands on his hips. “We passed a Wal–Mart just a minute back down the road. Want me to go grab you a change of clothes? I’m not great with ladies’ styles or sizes, but if you give me a clue, I can probably at least find you a simple dress and sandals so you’ve got something clean to change into after your bath.”
Clean clothes sounded heavenly. “They’re open all night?”
“It looked lit up.”
Such a generous offer made her feel weepy again. What had she ever done in her life to deserve a rescue from such fine men? “That would just be so wonderful, Red.” And not to push her luck, she couldn’t help adding, “A toothbrush, too? And a hairbrush? And some lotion?”
Red took a step back. He looked at Clint, who shrugged, then to Mojo, who just pursed his mouth.
Red coughed. “Okay, uh, make a list. Mojo can grab us some food from the bar while I’m gone.”
She turned to Clint. Her heart pounded in the now familiar fear. “You’ll stay here with me?”
His eyes warmed and his voice gentled. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Her relief was out of proportion, and she knew it. No, he wouldn’t leave her. He’d come for her, saved her, carried her and protected her.
Clint found a pencil and pad next to the television anchored on top of the chest of drawers. He handed them to Julie, and while she wrote, the men watched her.
Attempting moderation, Julie scrawled down everything she might immediately need. A thought occurred to her, and she hesitated, then decided what the heck. Making sure the men couldn’t see, she wrote panties, size five, at the bottom of the list, then folded it in half.
“Here you go. Be sure to keep the receipts and I promise I’ll pay you back just as soon as I can.”
Red tucked the note into his pocket without comment. He looked up at Mojo. “Grab me a sandwich and beer, will you? And cake if they have any.”
Julie wrinkled her nose. Beer and cake?
She realized Clint still watched her and quickly switched to a smile. “A sandwich sounds wonderful. With chips and pickles and a Diet Coke.”
All three men gaped this time, leaving her flustered and too warm. “What is it?”
“Diet Coke?” Clint snorted. “You should be drinking a milkshake or something.”
Red shoved him, indicating that at least he realized she’d just been insulted.
Julie glared at all three of them. “Did I question your beers with cake? Did I? No, I did not. And for your information, my father drank everything diet, so I just learned to like the taste. It’s not like I’m watching my weight.”
Clint slanted her a sardonic look, and muttered, “Like you have any weight to watch.”
Bristling, Julie looked at Red. “Well?”
“Well, what?”
“Aren’t you going to shove him again?”
Red grinned. “Sure.” And he slugged Clint on the shoulder, but Clint was barely jarred by the action. He just rolled his eyes.
“It’s been a long day and I think we all have better things to do than play around. Mojo, go grab some food, and Red, don’t spend all night shopping. She doesn’t have to dress like a prom queen, so anything clean will do.”
Julie started to object to his tone, if not his intention, and Clint stepped closer. “And you,” he said, not two inches from her nose, “if you want your bath, get moving. Because I for one feel a little responsibility to your fiancé, whether you do or not. We really should give him a call.”
Julie lifted her brows. That was at least one thing she could straighten out easily enough. “I’d agree completely if I had a fiancé. But I already told you that I do not.”
Clint crossed his thick arms over his chest. He nodded to Mojo and Red, who took the hint and left. Then he faced Julie again.
“In that case,” he rumbled, his eyes hot on her face, “I’d like to know who the hell hired me.”
Robert was limp, sated, his every nerve ending still twitching in pleasure, when the distinctive ring of his cell phone made him jump. His home phone was set up to transfer calls to his cell phone. But who would be calling at this time of the night?
Marie was in the shower, singing her little heart out, happy as a lark after the amazing sex they’d just shared. She was so refined, so particular about her appearance—except when he made love to her. Then she was a complete wanton.
Naked, Robert stretched over the side of the bed, snagged his trousers, and managed to retrieve his phone on the fourth ring.
“’Lo.”
“Robert?”
Oh God. He bolted upright, his brain buzzing. “Julie?”
“Yes, it’s me.”
Thoughts whirled, too many too fast to grasp a single one. Relief, fear, confusion. He stared at the bathroom door, willing Marie to linger a little longer. “Honey, where the hell are you?”
“I’m safe now. We’re in a small motel.”
“We?”
“Yes. The men you hired got me away.”
His mouth fell open. Dear God, did that mean Clint Evans had killed Asa, because he knew Asa wouldn’t have given her up without a struggle. He didn’t know how to ask. And he felt a little sick, imagining Marie’s reaction to the loss of her brother. He rubbed his forehead, shaken to the core, overwhelmed with mixed emotions.
“I probably won’t be home until the morning, though.”
In the morning. Robert let out a breath of stark relief and tried to swallow down the emotions choking him. He didn’t want Julie hurt, but Marie would be so upset if Julie came home now. She was insanely jealous of Julie, no matter how many times he told her that he loved her, not Julie.
He’d promised to end things with Julie, and so far he’d been successful in his deception. “I can’t believe it. You’re really safe?”
“Yes.”
“Jesus.” Incredible. Beyond incredible. What would Marie do without Asa? Would she thrive away from that dominating bastard, or would she fall into a decline? “Tell me what happened, Julie.”
“I’m not sure what happened, but someone took me—I don’t know who or why. Did the ransom note say why?”
“Money.” Robert’s tongue felt too thick, his words too heavy. “They said they wanted money. That’s all.”
The shower shut off, making him jumpier with the sudden quiet. He lowered his voice as he climbed out of the bed and reached for his slacks. “Julie…”
“Robert, why did you tell Clint that you were still my fiancé?”
He tripped trying to step into his slacks and banged his knee on the nightstand. “Goddammit.”
“Robert?”
“Just a minute, sweetheart.” Keeping the small phone caught between his ear and shoulder, he held on to the waistband of his slacks and half dressed, then stepped outside onto the veranda. The exposed aggregate surface irritated his bare feet. The sounds of insects droned in the night.
Silently, he closed the sliding doors and moved into the deepest shadows at the far end, beneath a lush flowering vine that scaled both stories of Marie’s quaint home. He could see into her bedroom, but Marie wouldn’t be able to see him.
“Julie.” He tried to sound calm, reasonable.
“Honey, the man I hired has a dangerous reputation. I don’t want you to worry.” He rushed to add, “I think you’re safe enough with him for the night. But I wanted him to think we were still together, to protect you. Regardless of what has happened, I still care deeply for you. And you know…” He hesitated, not sure how far to push her. “Well, you know how I feel. For me, it wasn’t much of a lie.”
Silence greeted him. Julie could be so stubborn, so independent in her thoughts. Why couldn’t she have just a little of Marie’s loving, giving nature?
His tension grew, until finally she said, “I guess that makes sense.”
Robert slumped against the railing and rubbed his face. The changing light in the bedroom alerted him. Marie opened the bathroom door and stepped out, enticingly wrapped in a white towel, her thick, dark hair piled on top of her head. She looked at the empty bed, frowned, and sashayed out into the hallway, calling Robert’s name.
Robert gripped the phone hard. “Julie, is Evans there?”
“Evans?”
“Clint Evans.”
“Yes, he’s right here.”
Memory of those cold, disturbing eyes made Robert shiver, even though the night was uncomfortably muggy. He kept his gaze glued to the bedroom to watch for Marie’s return. “Why don’t you put him on a moment, dear?”
“Why?”
Sweat began dampening his body, and Robert silently cursed. Did she have to question him on everything? “He’s the expert, Julie. I want to hear what he has to say to me.”
She hesitated, as difficult as ever, then answered with a shrug in her voice. “Okay.”
Muffled sounds reached him before Clint’s dark, ominous voice crackled over the line. “I got your fiancée for you, Burns.”
He said that with a sneer, Robert was sure of it. Obviously, Julie had already explained that they weren’t engaged. Not anymore. Had she told Evans everything? Had she told him that she dumped him when she discovered him in bed with Marie?
Robert hoped not. Not that it really mattered, he supposed. Evans had been hired to do a job, a job he’d accomplished, so he’d be paid, and his involvement ended there.
“Thank you. I’m stunned and relieved that you managed it so quickly.” Gauging his words, Robert posed the concern uppermost in his mind.
“You didn’t give Asa my name, did you?”
“It wasn’t necessary.”
That told Robert very little of what had transpired, so he rephrased the question. “Did Asa…put up much of a fight?”
“No fight at all. In fact, he was cordial.”
“But…that doesn’t make any sense.”
As if fed up with the subterfuge, Clint said, “He didn’t have her, Burns. But he helped me to find her.” And with a hint of glee, “I’d say you owe him for his assistance.”
The phone slipped from Robert’s numb hands, hitting the patio hard. He didn’t have her? Shit, shit, shit. Robert snatched the phone back up, took two deep breaths to calm himself, then put it to his ear. “You must be jesting.”
If it wasn’t Asa, then who? Robert felt certain Julie had been taken because of him, not for any other reason. The mystery of it left him scared spitless.
“I’m not a man given to jokes, Burns. Funny that you missed that during our meeting.”
Robert almost groaned. “I didn’t actually mean…”
“No, someone else had her kidnapped.” Clint’s voice lowered even more. “I’m curious as to why.”
In the distance, Robert heard Marie approaching, still calling his name. It felt as though the world was closing in on him. He had to hurry. “Jesus, man, I don’t know why. If it really wasn’t Asa, then…” Inspiration struck, and he hurried on. “That’s just it, don’t you see? Until I can find out who’d do this to her, I don’t think it’s safe for her here.”
There was only a moment’s pause before Evans said, “I’ll agree with you on that.”
Thank God. Robert wiped his brow with a shaking hand. “Then…then perhaps you’ll agree to keep her for a week?”
“Keep her?” Clint asked, and Robert heard Julie’s immediate denials in the background.
He ground his teeth together, wishing that Julie would be docile and agreeable just once. Since falling in love with Marie, Julie and her pushy temperament had really rubbed him the wrong way. Still, he was relieved that she had survived. He was very fond of her, he just wasn’t in love with her and never would be.
He needed her money, only he didn’t want her dead for it. But if she wasn’t home yet…Drew would surely give him more money for her ransom, more money to hire private investigators, more money for anything that was needed. Drew adored Julie, and worried about her as if she were his own. He didn’t have to know that Julie was safe and sound. Robert could extort enough money from Drew to pay off Asa, to reward Clint Evans, and to cushion his departure from Julie’s life.
Brilliant. He was absolutely brilliant. “Listen, Evans, you’re the perfect man to keep her safe.”
“Uh huh.”
“It’d just be until I’ve had time to hire private investigators and to get some safeguards set up. New locks, new security system, maybe even a bodyguard. Not that Julie will like that idea. But she lives alone, damn it, insisting on her privacy no matter what…”
“I’ve noticed that she can be a bit stubborn.” There was a rustling, and Robert heard Evans say, “Ow.” Amazingly enough, humor infused that dark voice when he added, “And violent, too.”
Robert froze. Oh, no. Surely Julie wouldn’t antagonize…no, of course she wouldn’t. She wasn’t that headstrong. And she would be safe with Evans. The man couldn’t get paid if he didn’t deliver her back in one piece. “I’ll double your pay.”
“Double it, huh?”
Marie stepped back into the bedroom.
“Robert?”
“I have to go, Evans. Tell me you’ll keep her safe for me while I do some checking, try to figure out what the hell is going on.”
“That could be dangerous for you, Burns.”
Robert sighed, looking at Marie through the glass doors. “Yes, but I’m willing to risk it.” He’d risk that and more for his Marie.
Evans grunted. “Yeah, I’ll keep her safe.”
Robert turned his back. “Good, that’s good. Call me back in the morning and we can arrange…” Robert looked at the dead phone. Evans had hung up on him. “Well, hell.”
The glass doors slid open with a hiss, and Marie stepped out into the night. “Robert? What are you doing out here?”
He turned to face her and held up the phone with a smile. “Business call. But I’m done now.”
Her beautiful pale eyes narrowed in suspicion. “Business at this time of night?”
“Morning, actually. It’s after midnight.” In many ways, Marie’s eyes were as notable as Clint Evans’s, but for opposite reasons. Marie’s exuded warmth and caring, not menace. “It was just a small problem. I got it taken care of.”
“It wasn’t that woman, your fiancée?”
He smiled at her jealous display. “No, darling, of course not. I told you that’s over.”
“It won’t be over until you end the engagement.”
“And I will. Soon now. I promise.”
The total opposite of Julie, Marie didn’t continue to question him. She smiled. “All right, then.” Stepping into his arms, she rubbed her nose against his chest. “You are such a wonderful man, I can’t believe she’s letting you go.” Her fingers trailed down his chest. “Come back to bed. The sun will be up all too soon and I’m not done with you yet.”
Robert dropped the phone into his pocket and enfolded Marie in his arms. She was wary of every man, but him. She was feminine, luscious, and so sexy, she made his heartbeat erratic. He loved her more than he’d ever loved anything on earth.
If only she wasn’t Asa’s sister, and if only Asa didn’t have it in for him.
“Robert.” She groaned his name while kissing his shoulder, his throat, taking small love bites.
“I want you to live with me. I want to go to bed with you at night and wake up with you in the morning and not have to count the hours.” She toyed with his chest hair, one fingernail grazing his right nipple. “I want to know that you’re all mine, and that other women, especially your fiancée, are out of the running.”
Robert tugged her towel away and let it drop. Her large, dark nipples were already stiffened. He cuddled her lush ass, lifting her naked body up and into his. “There’s no one but you,” he panted, already on the ragged edge, even though they’d just made love less than an hour ago.
“Then let me tell my brother now. He wants me to be happy, he—”
“Sweetheart.” Robert cupped her face, determined to make her understand. Everything depended on her being patient, on her abiding by his wishes. There was still a chance he’d be able to make everything work out, especially if he could get Asa paid back. Never would he let Asa think that he’d used Marie to even the score. But he knew that’s the way Asa’s mind would work.
No, Robert had to pay him his blood money, and until then, Asa couldn’t know about them. “Your brother hates me.”
“No.”
“Yes,” he insisted. “He does. I told you, we’ve clashed in business. But that won’t always be the case.” Robert cupped her neck, kissed her full mouth. “Asa will come around, you’ll see. Then I can leave Julie and we’ll get married and have babies and be happy.”
She smiled up at him, her blue eyes hurt, but accepting. “We’ll have everything.”
“Everything.” Guilt nudged at Robert, but he shoved it aside. He cared about Julie, hoped she would be spared. But didn’t he deserve some happiness, too?
Marie took his hand to lead him inside. Robert held her close and fell with her onto the bed. Fate had intervened, and he’d be damned before he wasted the opportunity. He’d think of something. Somehow.
He had at least a week.
Clint replaced the receiver in the cradle on the wobbly Formica nightstand. He eyed Julie’s anxious expression. “You’re not engaged.”
She waved that away as unimportant, when Clint knew it was anything but. “No. We used to be, but that ended a while ago. Robert was afraid you’d take advantage of me if you knew I was…available.” She made a face. “Dumb, I know. But he thought if—”
“Not so dumb.” Even now, seeing her there on the bed gave him ideas—ideas only a real bastard would act on. Clint stood, determined to put some space between them. “I’ll run your bath. Sit tight.”
“I’d rather have a shower.”
“I’d rather you didn’t try standing on your sprained ankle.” He ignored her disgruntled rumblings and went into the miniscule bathroom. When he turned on the tub faucet, the water spat and sputtered and ran cold before finally settling in a warm, steady stream. He laid the bath mat on the floor, set out a towel and washcloth, and did his best not to picture Julie Rose’s slim, naked body settling into the tub, lounging back, sleek and wet…
“Shit.” He rubbed his face with both hands.
“Clint?”
“Nothing.” He stepped through the doorway and surveyed her huddled form on the edge of the mattress. She looked exhausted, her eyes puffy, her shoulders slumped. Yet she tried so damn hard to hide it all.
The urge to lift her into his arms and pamper her shook him. “Why don’t you soak until Red and Mojo get back? That way you can put on clean clothes when you get out.”
“Clean.” Her smile tilted. “I’ll never again take the concept for granted.”
Despite the roiling mix of emotions, Clint indulged his own smile. She was a trouper, fighting hard to hold herself together. He propped his shoulder against the doorframe. “You said you weren’t engaged anymore. What happened?”
After folding her arms around herself, she looked away. Her shoulder lifted in a negligent shrug. “Robert was seeing someone else. I caught him at it.” She made a small sound of humor. “Quite embarrassing for all concerned.”
Clint went to her and helped her stand. He was thinking things he shouldn’t, but knowing that didn’t help clear his head. He gave up with a show of exasperation meant to hide the depth of his interest. “You don’t look particularly broken up about it.”
“No. I care for him and nothing will change that. He worked for my father, and now for my uncle and father’s estate. I’ve known him a long time. But we weren’t right for each other, not for marriage.”
Lifting her to spare her ankle—or so he told himself—Clint cradled her to his chest and carried her into the bathroom. Julie Rose didn’t object; she just twined her slim arms around his neck and laid her head on his shoulder.
Trusting. The woman was far, far too trusting.
“I’d already realized that marrying Robert would just be a convenience.”
“A convenience how?”
She shrugged. “There wasn’t anyone else I wanted to marry, and I’m getting older.”
“You’re still young enough.”
“I’m almost thirty.” She lifted her head with a sigh. “And my uncle approves of Robert, so it seemed an ideal situation.”
Ideal for whom? Clint slowly lowered her to the tile floor. He bent to turn off the tub and gave in to his curiosity. “Why the hell would your uncle care one way or the other?”
Amused irony lit the darkness of her eyes. “He’s my closest relative, and he was also my father’s business partner.”
“So now he’s in charge of the estate?” Robert had told Clint plenty, but he wanted to hear it from Julie Rose, too, to get the truth in case Robert had lied.
Nodding, Julie said, “He’s the one responsible for doling out my funds and trying to keep me on the straight and narrow. He teases me that it’s quite a daunting task.”
Robert had claimed Julie Rose was wild, indiscreet. Clint crossed his arms, affronted on her behalf and not yet ready to leave her to her bath. “Yeah? How so?”
“It’s silly really.” For just a moment, she looked lighthearted, free of the strain and hurt from the past day. “Uncle Drew is very old-fashioned, as was my father. He thinks a woman should be pampered and protected. And he’s scandalized if a woman dates too often, parties too hearty…”
“Has sex?”
Her mouth twitched with that innate humor he’d first seen in her photograph. “Yes. Because I’ve had a few relationships but haven’t yet married, he worries about my reputation, and about my trust fund. He thinks that men pay me attention to get my money.” Her chuckle was husky, sexy, surprising Clint. “Not that I’m a femme fatale or anything. I mean, you’ve seen me.”
Clint narrowed his eyes, and suddenly the memory of her velvet breast against his chest stirred the air between them. “Yeah. I’ve seen you.”
Julie realized how that sounded, and she blanched. “That is, I mean…”
To save her from further ramblings, Clint reached out and brushed her downy cheek with the back of his knuckles. Every time he touched her, she went as still as a deer caught in his headlights—and for some reason, that turned him on. “Why should a sexy woman keep herself chaste? That’s just dumb.”
Her eyes widened. “You think so?”
“Yeah.” He couldn’t keep his narrowed gaze from drifting over her. “I think so.”
A long moment of silence stretched between them before she found her voice. “Well, I’m hardly sexy…”
Clint could see her vulnerability, her desperate need for a compliment. It was strange, because he’d expected her to be jumpy around guys after what she’d just been through. And she was, just not with him.
Thumbs in his pockets, his stance as un-threatening as he could make it, Clint said, “You’re sexy, Julie Rose.”
Her eyes widened even more. She swallowed hard, turned pink, and got flustered. It was cute. She was cute.
He couldn’t help but smile. “Don’t go fainting on me again.”
“No, I won’t.” Nervously, she crossed her hands over her middle. “Uncle Drew considers Robert an excellent catch. He thinks because we’re from similar backgrounds, Robert will make me happy. And once I marry, the trust fund gets turned over to me and my husband. Robert already has money, so Uncle Drew knows he’s not after my wealth.” She sighed. “It did seem like a good idea. But then I found out that Robert hadn’t been faithful.”
A thousand questions buzzed through Clint’s head. The more he knew about her, the easier it’d be to find her kidnappers. “You caught him in the act?”
“Yes, and got quite a rapid education.” Her eyes twinkled, and she whispered as if sharing a scandalous confidence. “I’d had no idea that stuffy, proper Robert could be so kinky.”
The hypocrite, Clint thought with annoyance, remembering how he’d accused Julie Rose. “So you broke things off?”
“Not immediately.”
“Well, why not?” Clint didn’t mean to sound so surly when he asked that question. Not that Julie Rose seemed to notice. She merely shrugged.
“I don’t know. My life was sort of up in the air. I’d been subbing in this small, wonderful community, and I kept thinking how nice it’d be to teach there full-time. I realized that I didn’t really love Robert, because the idea of moving away from him didn’t bother me at all. But I do want to marry and have kids some day, and if I ended things with Robert, I wasn’t sure I’d ever have another chance.”
“But then you busted him in the sack with another woman.”
“A really beautiful woman. She’s everything I’m not.”
“Meaning?”
“She’s…” Julie held her hands out in front of her chest. “Voluptuous. Very fashionable. And sensual. I felt…I don’t know. Insulted, of course, because we were engaged. But sort of hurt, too. Not because I loved Robert, but because he’d chosen another woman over me. Bruce encouraged me to free myself. He said I deserved better than Robert.”
Clint’s eyebrow lifted. Another man in her life? “I agree, but who’s this Bruce? A boyfriend?”
She grinned as if his assumption pleased her. “No, of course not. Bruce is Bryan’s twin.”
“Bryan?” How many damned men did she know? “Who the hell is Bryan?”
“An ex–bounty hunter turned businessman. Bruce is his brother. They’re identical twins. Bruce is also a preacher, and recently married. He’s a wonderful man, but we’re only friends.”
Jesus. A bounty hunter, a preacher…But if Bruce talked her into breaking ties with Robert, then Clint had to respect him. To get her back on track, he said, “Okay, I’m with you so far. You and Robert aren’t engaged anymore, but the two of you have remained friends?” If they weren’t friends, that’d give him one more reason to suspect Robert.
“Very good friends. Uncle Drew thinks it’s just a lovers’ quarrel, that we’ll get back together, but Robert and I both know that won’t happen.”
“I don’t think Robert knows it at all.”
“He does.” She looked prim as she said, “I made it most clear to him.”
“You made it clear to Drew, too?”
Wincing, she said, “I tried. But he worries so much. I hate to dissappoint him.”
Drew sounded like a pain in the ass, to Clint. Was she surrounded by judgmental users and takers? “You should be careful about who you trust, Julie Rose.”
Her lips parted. “You’re not suggesting Robert was behind my abduction, are you?”
He narrowed his eyes and shrugged. “Honorable men don’t cheat on women.”
A smile brightened her eyes. “I agree, but he hired you to save me, yes?”
“Yeah but…” She wavered on her feet, making Clint curse softly. He caught her to him. “Damn it, I’m sorry. Here you are ready to collapse and I’m shooting the breeze.” He dipped his head to see her face. “Julie Rose? You okay?”
“Yes, I just…I guess I’m hungrier than I thought.”
That damn worry pushed at him again. He channeled it into anger, because anger he could deal with. It was more familiar to him than worry. “They didn’t feed you at all, did they?”
She shook her head. “I received only a few drinks of water.”
“Bastards.” He held her shoulders. “Maybe you should eat first…”
Wrinkling her nose, she leaned back from him and said, “The bath is my first priority. Go. I’ll be fine.”
Still he didn’t move. There were shadows under her soft eyes, amplified by the whiteness of her skin. “Do you want me to help?”
Her mouth fell open while color rushed into her face, making her less wan. “No.”
“You’re sure?”
She pokered up with insult. “I’m a big girl. I’ll manage just fine.”
“Big.” Clint shook his head and cautiously released her delicate body. “Not quite.” He headed for the door. “I’ll be right outside. If you need me for anything, don’t hesitate. You’ve been through an ordeal, so don’t push yourself, okay?”
“Yes, sir.”
Clint grinned reluctantly. “Smart-ass.” He went out, pulling the door shut behind him. Julie Rose had grit, he’d give her that.
A minute later he heard the soft splash of the bathwater, telling him she’d gotten in the tub.
Telling him that she was naked.
He closed his eyes, but that only made the images clearer.
Luckily, for his peace of mind, Mojo returned a few minutes later. He balanced a tray filled with sub sandwiches, a pitcher of beer, a can of Pepsi, and assorted snacks.
He set the food on the dresser, and his dark eyes went unerringly to the bathroom door. “She’s in the tub?”
“Yeah.”
“You talk to her fiancé?”
“Robert Burns.” Clint practically snarled the name. “We talked. Only they’re not engaged. The bastard lied about that.”
“No shit?”
Clint nodded. “To protect her from me.”
“Idiot.”
“Yeah, he is. But then, I realized that right off.” Which was why he’d bugged Robert’s office. He’d call in first thing in the morning and listen to any conversations that might have transpired.
Mojo seemed to read his thoughts. “Think the recording will tell us anything?”
“I hope so. But I’m not taking any chances.” Clint watched Mojo to judge his reaction to the altered plans. “I’m not letting her out of my sight till I know it’s safe.”
Mojo gave him a long look, but said nothing.
Ten minutes later, Red came in, toting a large bag fully stuffed. He closed and locked the door behind him, then looked toward the bathroom. “She still in the tub?”
Clint frowned. He knew damn good and well where his thoughts were, so he could easily guess what the others were thinking, too. He didn’t like them picturing her naked. Hell, he didn’t even like himself picturing her naked. “You know women. I suspect she’ll be in there awhile.” He nodded toward the bag. “You get everything?”
Red grunted. He upended the bag over the bed and dumped out the contents of light, feminine clothing. “She had me buy panties.” He picked up a pair of miniscule nylon underwear and waved it at Clint. “Size five. Can you believe that? If Daisy sees the charge on our credit card, I’m going to have a hell of a time explaining.”
Smiling, Clint took the underwear. “Daisy trusts you or she’d have divorced you by now.”
They were chuckling when the soft sob struck them all at once. It was just a small muffled sound, but it was a sound that struck terror in most male hearts.
Clint jerked to attention, Mojo stilled as if he’d turned to stone, and Red frowned fiercely. Another small, nearly silent sob reached them.
“Damn.” With a helpless expression, Red looked at the other two. “She’s crying?”
Clint was at the bathroom door in an instant. He paused, shook his head with uncertainty, and tapped lightly. “Julie Rose?”
He heard sniffling, then a husky, “Go away.”
Like hell. He said over his shoulder, “Wait here,” and got a mute, horrified response from his friends.
He didn’t wait a second more. Clint opened the door and walked in.