Page 9 of Fearless Protector
Bobby Ray let’s out a loud huff.“You’re going to make me say it?Do you know what they will do to me?”
“Do you know what I will do to you, or the Larussios will do to you if you don’t?”
His eyes dart around the room, taking in his position, contemplating a few minutes before he decides that battling with me or the Larussios is just not going to be in his best interest.“They thought Lacy and Jules could be used as a bargaining chip to get Cole to sell some of his land.They’re still looking for a way to get their casinos into the area.”
“Yeah, and their drugs, women, and guns too.Cole won’t sell.”
His head snaps up.“One of these days those Bernatellis are going to give you what’s coming to you for sticking your nose in business that doesn’t have anything to do with you.”
“If I were you, I’d eat your dinner.It may be the last hot meal you get for a while.”
“You said you wouldn’t turn me over to the Larussios if I gave you what you wanted,” he whines.
I walk to the door and open it.“Right, but I didn’t say anything about not handing you over to Sheriff Cates,” I tell him, closing the door and rigging up an outside lock with another of the cuffs.
Chapter8
PJ
The minute Mason and Bobby Ray are out of earshot, Jules nudges me.“What kind of man runs around with three pairs of handcuffs in his bag?Tell me that?”
I grin.“He’s a bodyguard for some pretty bad ass people from what I heard.I’m pretty sure they come in handy on the regular.”
Jules laughs, settling into the seat next to me.“Well, we only have one bad guy here.”She leans in close.“What the hell is he planning to do with the other two sets?Maybe he plans to use them to capture the woman he’s had his eye on since he blew into town.”
I smirk, putting more than a healthy share of spaghetti noodles on my plate, carbs be damned.I don’t tell her I’d gladly succumb to a little handcuff treatment, or that spanking he threatened earlier, but I’ve already been rebuffed once.That’s not going to happen again, no matter the reason he didn’t take me up on my offer.
My mind is sobering, and my heart just can’t take the pain.I rolled the dice and came up empty.I don’t plan on taking that chance again.
Mason walks back into the room and slides into the chair next to me and across from Jules.She hands him the bowl of noodles.I wait until after he finishes putting a heaping pile on his plate before passing him the sauce to go on top of it.
Our fingers brush, and my cheeks warm with embarrassment, excitement, and just plain human attraction.I avoid Mason’s eyes and focus on the food in front of me, but the warmth of his gaze continues to settle on my skin while his touch stays on my mind.
Jules finishes first, starts putting things away, and running water to wash dishes in the old porcelain cabin sink.I finish just as Mason does and start clearing the rest of the dishes while he snags the last of the rolls left on the plate.“I’m going to go check on Bobby Ray one last time and then get some sleep.Don’t stay up too late, ladies.It’s going to be a long day tomorrow.”
The kitchen is cleaner than it’s probably ever been when we hear the shower start.
Jules yawns and covers her mouth.“I’m so tired.Hopefully the weather will clear.I can’t believe this is happening the night before Lacy’s wedding.We’re supposed to be there with her on her special day.I’m going to go get some sleep.Hopefully we can get into town.”
“It’ll all work out.Go get some rest.I’m going to be right behind you.I want to shower quick too.I showered before I left for the party, but all the grease from the bars is lingering, like a heavy film all over my hair.I smell like French fries and who knows what we’ll have time for in the morning.”
Jules tiredly nods, making her way down the hall while I finish up a few things, stalling until I hear the shower turn off and the door open and close down the hall.I walk quietly toward the main bathroom, and the fresh scent of soap lingering in the air hits my nostrils.The same scent that was all over Mason’s skin as he held me close on the dance floor and out on that bluff.
A wet bar of soap is sitting on a clean cloth on the ledge of the shower.I pick it up, inhaling deeply, thinking of that long, delicious kiss.But that’s the last thing I should be thinking about right now.I should get in the shower, get rinsed off, and go to bed.
Tomorrow will be a better day.A special day when I see one of my best friends walk down the aisle with a man she adores.I eye the green duffle bag that Mason probably forgot when he went to bed.I wonder what’s underneath the large gray towel that he’s left tossed on top of that bag.
None of my nosey business…
I turn on the water and run a hand under the faucet, testing the temperature.Thank goodness he didn’t use all the hot water up.That would have been just the way to top off my day from hell.Instead, it’s nice and warm and feels good, even if it’s not the rainwater showerhead that I have at home.
I get in and pull the dark navy marina-like shower curtain.One glance down at the mangled mess of soap that sits on the tub ledge has me reaching for the one I know damn well is Mason’s and not Bobby Rays.
I inhale its freshness.I may smell like a man tomorrow, but I’ll smell like a damn good one.I use the clean washcloth and lather his scent all over it, using it to wash away all the booze, grease, and smoke along with the weariness of the day.
By the time I’m ready to get out, the water is turning cool.I shiver as I open the shower curtain and a rush of cool, air hits me.I grab Mason’s towel and wrap around myself, soaking in its warmth and the delicious smell of him and the familiar scent of his soap.
I eye my clothes with a grimace, not relishing the idea of wrinkly clothes tomorrow.I sneak a peek toward Mason’s bag, then back at my clothes.I’m unzipping his bag before I have a chance to talk myself out of it and pulling out a black t-shirt.My undies will do, freshly put on tonight.I couldn’t care less if they wrinkle; besides, his boxers would fall to the floor the moment I put them on.
