Bare It All

Through tight lips, Alice explained, “We don’t have that type of relationship.” In fact, she wasn’t sure what type of relationship they had. A couple of times now Reese had hinted about an attraction, but was it just teasing?

And if it wasn’t, what then?

“Oh, honey,” Nikki commiserated. “That must’ve been torturous for you, having a man like him so close but not getting the advantages.”

“It’s great news for us, though.” Pam elbowed her friend. “He’s still up for grabs.”

Alice couldn’t fathom their attitudes. “So you’re both interested in Reese?” How would that work? Neither of the women felt possessive?

Pam shrugged. “I do my best to get his attention, but Reese is a master at being polite without encouraging too much.”

Nikki agreed. “I’d be on him in a heartbeat if he’d give me a signal. He’s so delectably big and brawny.”

Big and brawny were not attributes that Alice generally admired. Not in a man who showed too much intimate interest in her.

But for whatever reason, Reese was different, and her heart raced every time he got near.

“He’s very compassionate,” Alice said, then suffered through some curious expressions from Nikki and Pam. “It’s true. He saved Cash. Someone had put the dog in a cardboard box and left him in the middle of the street.”

“Probably because he pees everywhere!” Nikki laughed.

Alice didn’t find it at all funny. How could anyone be that heartless? Luckily, Reese had cared enough to investigate when he saw the box, and once he’d discovered Cash, he’d taken him to the vet, adopted him and loved him. True, Reese spent too much time away, but he made sure the dog had proper care.

With her.

She sighed. “Reese is one of the kindest men I’ve ever met.”

Nikki grinned at her. “Yeah, and despite his big hard body and that incredible face, I’m sure it was his kindness that you noticed first, right?”

No, that quality might not be what first drew her attention to Reese, but it was definitely what got past her defensive walls.

“He’s also a police detective, honest and protective of others.”

Pam snickered. “And with as long as we’ve been talking, the big, bad cop just might be in the shower right now.” She gave Alice’s shoulder a pat and started away with Nikki. “If I was you, I’d hurry in and join him.”

“Have some fun for me, Alice.” Nikki smiled as she followed Pam. “We want to hear all the juicy details tomorrow!”

Alice was too frozen to say her goodbyes. Until Pam’s parting remark it hadn’t sunk in that she’d left Reese Bareden, a detective, alone in her apartment.

Oh, good Lord.

There was no telling what he’d find if he decided to snoop. And for a detective, snooping no doubt came naturally.

“Cash, come on, boy. Let’s go!”

Ears lifted, eyes bright, the dog jumped up, always ready for some excitement.

Good thing, because it seemed to Alice, wherever Reese Bareden went, excitement definitely followed.

* * *

WHILE ALICE LINGERED outside, saying God knew what, Reese did a quick surveillance of her apartment. Her bedroom was plain to the point of painful, not at all like most females’ rooms. In lieu of a frilly comforter, she had a simple beige quilt over a full-size bed. Utilitarian curtains were pulled back to allow in the warm summer breeze. Not a single piece of clothing showed out of place. Other than one photograph sitting on her dresser, she kept her surfaces clutter-free. He approached the picture for a better look.

She’d had shorter hair when the photo was taken, and beside her sat a girl some years younger. A sister? They shared the same eyes, hair color and the same lush mouth. Alice looked happy in a way that Reese hadn’t yet seen.

Carefree.

Relaxed.

The Alice he knew never looked quite that tranquil, and seeing the contrast in the photo bothered him.

He strode to her closet to look inside.

Her very basic wardrobe hung in neat array, with her shoes lined up side by side on the floor. A shoe box on top of a shelf drew his attention, and he lifted it down.

Inside he found the heavy Glock that she’d carried into his apartment yesterday. Again he remembered the weapon in her hand and the look in her eyes.

“Shit.” He returned the box to the top of her closet and closed the door. He started to leave the room, hesitated, and instead looked under her bed.

Not a speck of dust, but he did find a lethal retractable baton. Scowling, he opened her nightstand and saw a Taser.

“Son of a bitch.” How many people did she expect to fend off? And what the hell had happened to her to make her think all the weapons were necessary?

None of it gelled. Alice was a first-class introvert. Painfully solemn and withdrawn. Sort of...quietly dignified. She reminded him of his third grade teacher, minus the bun and support hose. He curled his lip, disliking that comparison a lot—especially given how she turned him on.

There had to be something twisted in that.

At first, Alice Something-or-other—he really needed to learn her last name—had felt like a challenge. He didn’t want to think himself conceited, but women didn’t ignore him, so her disregard had piqued his interest.

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?