Run the Risk

Staring down at her, anticipation heightened, Rowdy waited to see what she’d do or say. He had a feeling she wouldn’t bore him.

“Good grief.” She tipped her head way back and stared into his eyes. “You’re big!”

Pleasure warmed him. She warmed him. “I think you mean tall.”

Still looking him over, she asked absently, “What?”

“You’re commenting on my height, yes?”

“Of course. You’re what? Six and a half feet?”

“Six-four. But as to me being big…” He touched her chin. “Wanna find out?”

She finally caught on, but rather than be insulted by his come-on, she laughed.

Laughed.

“That wasn’t a joke.” For some reason, the sound of her laughter turned him on more.

Still amused, she said, “Sir, you are too outrageous.”

Her mouth looked even sexier when she smiled like that. Such a soft, full mouth. No lipstick. Nothing to get in the way of a nice, deep kiss…

She waved a hand in front of his face. “Are you still with me?”

He was with her just a little too much. “Yeah.”

“Then perhaps you’d like to focus—no, not on me.” She nodded back at his table. “You have a bevy of women waiting on you, so we really should wrap this up.”

A bevy? He glanced back. Sure enough, his small table now overflowed with women—and it did look like they were waiting. Impatiently so. Not a big deal. He’d had females after him most of his life.

Let them wait.

But when he turned back to the waitress, she was already gone, disappeared into the milling crowd. Well, damn. He wouldn’t chase her again. When she came to bring him another beer, he’d get a name and take it from there.

Until then…he surveyed the women at his table with narrowed eyes. Even the brunette from earlier had rejoined them.

They acted warm and friendly—flirtatious women looking for a good time and a little fun, and he had no problem with that.

They didn’t really engage his awareness. Not like the waitress had. But for right now, for an hour or so, he’d take what he could get.

No, he didn’t forget about Logan or Pepper, but with time to kill, why not make use of the company?

Unfortunately, almost an hour later, it was a different waitress who came to offer him another beer. When Rowdy asked after the petite gal, he was told she’d gotten off half an hour ago.

She’d left without saying goodbye.

Playing hard to get?

He could play. He enjoyed a good game every now and then. He’d be back at the bar over the next few days, and eventually he’d find her again.

Putting her from his mind, he paid his tab, and amidst complaints and more pouting, he bid farewell to the lovelies.

As he went back out to the parking lot, he surveyed every dark corner, shifting shadow and person passing by. The caution was now an ingrained trait; he never took safety for granted.

He saw nothing and no one of interest.

Time to thwart Pepper’s annoying neighbor. Everything else, including cute waitresses, would just have to wait.

CHAPTER SEVEN

“OH,  ROWDY, NO.” Distrust for her brother’s plan added a quaver to Pepper’s voice. “I can’t believe you’d ask me to—”

“Just keep him busy, that’s all you have to do. I’ll be in and out in a flash.”

Somehow this might backfire. It was dangerous. Too dangerous.  “I don’t want to.”

Resolute, Rowdy said, “Do it anyway.”

With her heart hammering, she dropped to sit on the edge of the couch. “Please, Rowdy. Stop and think about this. There’s no reason—”

“I know what I saw, Pepper. You started this, so now I have no choice.”

Unfair! He made her feel guilty for making one small move toward companionship. “You’re a bully.”

“You have twenty minutes, so don’t leave me hanging.” He disconnected the call.

Folding her arms around her middle and leaning forward, Pepper struggled with a vortex of emotions—the guilt her brother had just heaped on her. Sadness, exhaustion at continued deception, a yearning for something different, something real.

She also felt sharp anticipation.

Rowdy wanted her to keep Logan preoccupied so he could put the GPS tracker on his truck. She knew only one way to truly ensure Logan stayed busy. Definitely not what her brother had in mind, but still—

Suddenly, as if she’d summoned him, Logan called to her from his balcony. “Sue?”

At the sound of his voice, her heart stuttered and her eyes flared. Logan! Had he heard her conversation?

For only a moment, she knotted her hands in her hair. And then, because she’d just mussed her ponytail, she pulled out the band and refastened the mass.

How much had he heard?

“Sue, are you all right?”

Enough to make him worry. What to do now?

Pushing away from the couch in a rush, she slid the screen aside and stuck her head out to the balcony. Standing there with the blue sky as a backdrop, his dark gaze vigilant, he nearly took her breath away, he looked so good. Rugged. Sexy.

The same as always.

A little wistful, Pepper waggled her fingers at him. “Hi.”

Concern narrowed his gaze. He looked her over as if seeking an injury. “Everything okay?”

“Yes.” Think, Pepper. He’s going to ask,  so come up with a story and fast.