Bare It All

Alice slumped a little. “Yes.”

“What’d you do now?”

“Well—”

Reese startled everyone when he snarled, “Even with me standing here, you two are doing it!”

Rowdy slowly straightened, at the same time releasing his sister. “Doing what?”

“Confiding,” Pepper said with a grin. “Reese doesn’t like how close the two of you are getting.”

Alice tipped her head back to see Reese. He had his eyes narrowed in a way that made her uneasy.

Didn’t seem to bother Rowdy, though.

Still, to be on the safe side, she hurried to explain. “We’re just friends.”

“Men and women are never just friends,” Reese said, his hostility coming through loud and clear.

“Usually, I’d agree with you.” Rowdy folded his arms over his chest. “But not this time.”

“You see?” Alice stopped leaning out of Reese’s hold and instead cuddled in closer. “Rowdy and I already cleared up any issue of sexual attraction. That was one of the first things we discussed.”

Reese dropped his incredulous gaze down to her.

“Shit,” Rowdy said. “It’s not like that, Reese, and you know it.”

With silky menace, Reese asked, “Do I?”

His provoking tone finally started to get to Rowdy. “You damn well should.”

Logan choked. “Jesus, Reese. Get your shit together, man. I’m almost embarrassed for you.”

Reese seemed uncaring what anyone else thought.

But Alice cared, darn it. “This is absurd. Rowdy isn’t interested in me, and I’m not interested in him. Not that way. It’s just...well, he’s like a girlfriend.”

Rowdy shot around to stare at her. “I am not your girlfriend, Alice.”

Pepper barked a laugh; Logan rubbed his mouth.

Worse and worse. Alice drew a breath, let it out slowly. “I didn’t mean that in an insulting way, Rowdy. Anyone can see you’re all man.”

Falling into her brother’s shoulder, hanging on to his arm, Pepper laughed harder.

“Damn it, Pepper, you’re not helping.” Rowdy handed her off to Logan. “Can’t you control her?”

“Not even when I have two good arms.”

Alice spoke over Pepper’s hilarity. “I only meant that I’m comfortable talking with you. Period. Only talk.”

“Glad you cleared that up.” Rowdy nodded toward his sister. “Seriously, though, if Reese is going to go red-eyed over it, Pepper can help you with...that stuff, instead.”

Pepper looked shocked. “What stuff?”

“C’mon, kid. You know you’d be better at this than I am.”

“Me? What do I know about any of that? You’re the only one I ever confided in.”

“And now me,” Logan insisted again.

“I’m sorry.” Starting to feel like a complete imposition, Alice rubbed her forehead. “This has gotten out of hand. I didn’t mean to bother—”

Reese spoke up, saying, “You’re not a bother, Alice. Ever.” He frowned at Pepper and Rowdy both.

“True,” Rowdy said.

“And actually,” Pepper chimed in, “I did enjoy shopping and hanging out and stuff. I haven’t really had anyone to do that with either. Not for a really long time.”

Reacting to Pepper’s somewhat sad admission, Rowdy and Logan both reached for her, each one grabbing an arm to pull her into his side. While the men sorted out that one, over Pepper’s grumbled complaints, Reese tipped up Alice’s chin.

Speaking in a low whisper, he said, “You won’t mention that to anyone.”

“What?”

Disbelieving, he said succinctly, “What you told me in the car.”

“Oh. No, I won’t.” And then, a little worried: “Will you?”

“Not today, no. I need time to think about things before I decide how to proceed.”

Of course he did. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.”

His hand left her chin, cupped around her jaw. “I’m sorry I got angry. But no more lies, Alice, not even lies of omission.”

Oh, so he hadn’t been upset with Rowdy? It was the whole killing Murray thing that had him so hostile?

She didn’t realize that the others had gotten quiet and were listening in until Reese said, “Seeing how the two of you seem to relate so well, I’m fine with Rowdy being your girlfriend—if you still want him.”

Her face went hot. She glanced back and saw everyone watching in various stages of amusement. Rowdy had his hands on his hips, his head dropped forward as he shook it.

“I didn’t mean it like that.” Alice pushed at Reese, but he didn’t budge. “Don’t get everyone riled up again.”

Wearing the slightest of smiles, Reese held her closer. “Stop shoving away from me, okay?”

He sounded so sincere, she nodded. “Okay. Sorry.”

“And stop apologizing,” Rowdy added. “It isn’t necessary.”

Reese gave him a look, and Rowdy lifted his hands in mock apology.

Pepper spoke up. “I’m not sure how great I am at being a girlfriend, but I’m happy to try. And now that I’ve started on wedding plans...Reese will be the best man, Rowdy will give me away, so...would you want to stand up with me?” She rushed on, saying, “It won’t be fancy at all. Just Logan’s family and our group here. But...I sort of want the whole white dress and veil and flowers.”