He needed her to show Reese’s confidence—and, by God, she would.
She straightened and said to Pepper and Dash, her voice no longer uncertain, “One more minute, right?”
Dash gave her a grave nod.
“Great. Then I have time to dig out Cash’s toys.” She smiled at the dog. “What do you say, buddy? Wanna play?”
He tipped his head, studying her with his big brown eyes, his tail giving a tentative thump.
“You do!” she said with enthusiasm. “Well, come on. Let’s find the toys.”
Cash hunkered back on his haunches, his tongue out, his expression excited. When Alice headed into the small living area, Cash beat her to it, sticking his head under the couch and coming out with a squeak toy.
Laughing, Alice took it from him and tossed it down the hall. While Cash raced after it, she found two more toys under the couch, then another under the chair.
Pepper caught on, and, on hands and knees, she helped Alice locate the dog’s many toys.
Dash tossed the squeak toy again and said, “Thirty seconds.”
Her heart squeezed into her throat, but Alice hid it, piling up the toys and calling Cash over. He dove into it, scattering things everywhere.
Laughing, Pepper grabbed up a stuffed cat and played tug of war with the dog.
Dash took Alice’s elbow and helped her to her feet. “Time to go, sweetheart.”
“Okay.” A deep breath helped only marginally. “Please keep him occupied and...and happy.”
Pepper’s eyes were serious, but her tone lighthearted. “Will do. Don’t worry, Alice.” She let Cash have the cat and reached for a knotted rope. Cash immediately lunged to get it, growling playfully.
“Thank you,” Alice whispered. As quietly and unobtrusively as possible, she snatched up her purse and keys and walked out, easing the door shut so that Cash wouldn’t hear.
Unwilling to risk throwing off the plans, she went down the steps and out the front door without hesitation.
As her feet hit the pavement of the parking lot, it occurred to her: If her mood had upset Cash, what had it done to Reese? Never did she want to be a distraction for him.
She put up her chin and headed for her car. With every step her pulse rushed until she almost felt light-headed. When would they try to grab her? Would they run her car off the road? Wait until she parked near the bar? Try to grab her on the way in, or after she was already in the bar?
Imagining any of those scenarios scared her half to death. But she didn’t falter, she didn’t slow down or—
“Hey, Alice. How’ve you been?”
She froze. Oh, no. No, no, no. Slowly, feeling like the victim of a bad joke, Alice turned, and found Nikki and Pam bearing down on her.
* * *
REESE GAVE A soft curse. Even from his position at the other side of the lot, hidden inside a nondescript van, he could see Alice striving for a way out. She looked a little shell-shocked, though she quickly tried to recover. From the looks of it, Nikki and Pam were just returning from a night on the town. Decked out in tight, short dresses and high-heeled sandals, their voices too loud and their strides a little wobbly, they caged her in.
His phone gave a low buzz, and he lifted it to read a message from Rowdy. Boss himself will grab Alice.
Unwilling to question Rowdy’s resourcefulness or let his attention waver from Alice, he sent Rowdy an acknowledgement and then forwarded the message on to Trace.
With that done, Reese scoped the area around the parking lot, but he saw no one other than Nikki, Pam and Alice.
Attempting to rush past the neighbors, Alice tried to dismiss them with a fast wave. It didn’t work.
Nikki said, “Hey, hold up.”
Stay cool, Alice, Reese silently encouraged her. But he could hear the voices carrying on the otherwise quiet night. Nikki was worked up, even pushier and more brazen than usual.
Blocking Alice’s path, Nikki said, “So. You and Reese still doing the nasty?”
Alice opened her mouth, but Pam beat her to it, saying, “Course she is. You don’t think a girl’d give that up, do you?” Pam tried to high-five Alice, but lost her balance and Alice had to practically support her.
“Tell him I’m still willing,” Nikki insisted. “Anytime, anywhere. And I guarantee I can do things for him that you’ve never even heard of.”
“Oh, um...” Alice struggled to right Pam, but she seemed content to lean on Alice. To get rid of her, Alice said, “Okay, sure, I’ll tell him.” Not.
“To hell with that,” Pam insisted. “You need it more than Nik does. I swear, honey, you were about the most stuck-up, prudish woman I’d ever met. Now, since Reese has been givin’ it to you regular, you’re much nicer.”
With a solid shove, Alice managed to peel Pam off her side. “I was never stuck up.”
“Ha!” Nikki leaned into her face and almost fell off her high heels. “You were a bitch.”
“Not true, Nik,” Pam insisted. “She was just miserable, being so alone and all.” And then in a loud aside to Alice, “We shoulda taken you out and gotten you laid sooner. But, you, clever girl, you held out and got the real prize.”
“Reese?” Alice guessed.
“God, yes.” This time Pam fell against Nikki and they both stumbled. “He is so hawt.”
“Yeah,” Nikki said. “So, c’mon, dish. How is he in the sack? A stud, I bet. Right?”
“None of your business,” Alice admonished them both. “You should go in, maybe get some sleep.”