To Protect the Heart of a Brazen Woman [Brazen Sisters 6] (Siren Publishing Classic) (9 page)

Neither of them spoke as Jake continued to drive through town. When he turned off the main road, Bobbie didn’t need to ask where he was going. She’d driven this route enough times to know they were headed to his house.

“You said we were going to your shack.” She surprised herself with the flat tone of her voice.

“Cabin,” he clarified. “And we are, but you were right. We need to switch my truck for something less conspicuous.”

They passed the little dirt road that led to a vacation house and then the one that would have taken them to his brother’s place. Jake turned on the rutted dirt lane that led to his house. Bobbie watched silently as it came into view. Most people wouldn’t have thought a gingerbread Victorian house would be Jake’s style. They probably would have expected a rambling log house like his brothers’. But Bobbie knew it suited him, even if it was a little sparse. He needed to fill it with kids, and then it would be a perfect fit.

Jake backed the truck up to the three-car garage and got out. Bobbie didn’t follow him. She needed a few minutes to clear her head. She’d never been the wishy-washy type. She knew what she wanted and went after it. Win or lose, she gave it her all. So all the wavering feelings she’d been experiencing since her return were slowly driving her insane.

She heard the garage door open and turned around in her seat. Bobbie saw Jake take a couple of boxes out of the back of the truck and load them onto a trailer attached to his four-wheeler. Damn it, he was smart and sexy, a combination that turned her on. They’d be able to get to the cabin virtually unseen if they kept to the woods. Even better, she thought as she eagerly hopped out of the truck. She’d have a reason to wrap her arms around him. Their closeness would probably drive him just as crazy as it would her, but it would be so worth it.

* * * *

Jake loaded the trailer without looking at Bobbie. He couldn’t take the risk of her seeing how much he wanted her. He’d thought he had a handle on his emotions, but whenever she came near him he wanted to ignore all his instincts and claim her for his very own.

For years he told himself she was too young and innocent to get involved with him. She hadn’t experienced enough, though he didn’t like the idea of her experiencing anything with anyone but him. Just the thought of her with anyone else made him want to hit something. Hell, when she left he’d lost it. For the first two days, he didn’t talk to anyone unless necessary. Then, during his sparring session with Beau, he’d let his anger loose and given him a black eye. Beau hadn’t taken it well and returned the favor, kicking his ass in the process. They both knew what his issue had been, and his brother had no problem pointing out that it could be easily rectified.

Jake, in a moment of pure desperation, had gone after her, but halfway there he came to his senses. The very same day, he’d agreed to that stupid date with Kerri. Even though he’d stressed they’d be going as friends, he’d told himself he was a free man and could see whoever he wanted. It had been a test of sorts, and his heart had proved him wrong. It had been an evening of torture that he knew he’d come to regret.

That sure hadn’t taken long. The Brazen women had barely given him the time of day since then. Their husbands were a little more understanding, but he figured they may have felt a little bit of pity for him. After being the stubborn ass he was, he really didn’t deserve their sympathy. His brother and friends had pointed out on numerous occasions that if he didn’t do something about his desire for Bobbie, it was going to eat at him until there was nothing left. Jake was beginning to believe them. Still, he wasn’t exactly sure what he was going to do. Between her leaving and Patrice’s threats, he’d been pushed him into admitting she was important to him. The question was what the hell was he going to do about it?

Deep down, Jake knew his reason for not letting all their flirting go any further than a few heated, stolen kisses was because he was afraid. His brother had gone as far as to call him a coward. Hell, he’d face flying bullets and worse, but one sexy woman had him quaking in his boots. Jake knew once he got a taste of her he’d never be the same. God, she was so young. What if one day she changed her mind about loving him?

He finished loading the trailer and couldn’t find a reason to stall this any longer. “We should get going.”

Bobbie smiled as she stepped out of the way. He climbed on the Quad Runner and drove it out of the garage. Bobbie closed and locked the door before climbing on behind him. He handed her a helmet and waited for her to put it on. She slid behind him and rested her hands on his shoulders. It wasn’t enough for him. He pulled back on the throttle, shooting them forward. As he had hoped, her natural instincts kicked in. She wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing herself against his back.

Her hands were close enough to his dick that it got the impression she might touch it and hardened. Or it could have been her perky breasts pushing against him that made him want to yank her in front of him and give her a real ride. He was glad she couldn’t her him groan above the rumble of the engine. Jake made the decision right then and there that he needed to give her whatever she asked for. He wasn’t going to make the first move, but he’d be damned if he denied either of them any longer.

By the time they reached the cabin the sun had fully set. Between the darkness and the trees they would have been invisible, but the headlight and rev of the engine gave them away. Against Jake’s edicts, Bobbie helped him unload the small trailer. Bobbie believed in pulling her weight in any situation. This wasn’t any different, unless she focused on the fact someone might be hiding out there in the woods, watching them, waiting for a chance to do her harm. Once they started, the job was quickly completed.

During her trips in and out of the little house, she couldn’t miss noticing it had been scrubbed clean since the last time she’d been there. She wondered how much time Jake had been spending there, and with who? He was focused on whatever he was doing in the kitchen, so she grabbed her bag and headed for the bedroom.

Bobbie tossed what she thought was her duffle onto the bed. She yanked the zipper across it, planning to pluck out a towel and some clothes and go take a shower long enough to forget where she was. One glance inside made her laugh. She didn’t even try to hold it back. Not caring if Jake heard her, she laughed loud and hard and it felt so good.

She pulled the back the sides of the bag to get a better look inside. Lying in neat, folded piles under a stack of lingerie catalogs were her sexiest bras and panties. Under those were a bunch of T-shirts she was pretty sure she’d outgrown and her shortest shorts.

She understood why her sisters had packed the catalogs, since they each had to pick two outfits for Georgie’s surprise bachelorette party. It was all Frankie’s idea. She’d decided since it was the only party they’d ever get to throw they were going to do it in grand style. Bobbie figured she was right because they all knew if they tried to do it to Frankie, they may not survive. All Frankie’s excitement and posturing made Bobbie think she was hiding, or up to something. Due to Bobbie’s current situation, she was going to have to wait to find out what it was for a little while longer.

As for the clothes her sisters had chosen, it seemed her sisters were of a collective mind to flaunt her in front of Jake and see what happened. She’d like to find out, too, but Jake was under enough pressure. Even though she planned to use this time to find a way to make him admit that he wanted her, she wanted to do it her way. She was afraid going along with what her sisters planned would make the next few weeks almost unbearable. Especially if he thought it had been her plan. That just wouldn’t do. She walked back into the main room and found Jake at the small table in the kitchen area unloading boxes.

“I need to go back to the house.”

Jake didn’t even glance up from his task. “Bobbie, you agreed this was the best thing to do.”

“I know, but—” Jake held up his hand and she stopped talking.

“Look, we can’t go back. Not yet. Maybe in a few days we can sneak back for a quick visit.”

He just didn’t understand the trouble he was asking for. “Jake, I need—”

He growled as he lifted his head and looked at her. “Whatever you forgot obviously wasn’t that important. Besides, I’m sure I’ve got whatever it is.”

“I don’t think so.” She gave a slight shake of her head, barely holding back a laugh.

“I’m sure I do. See?” He started pulling things out of the box and lining them up on the table in front of her.

He was right. He had everything. He had the shampoo she used, her favorite bodywash, a toothbrush, and her brand of toothpaste and mouthwash. He even brought a hair brush and hair bands, but it was the last thing he pulled out of the box that shocked her. The twelve-ounce tub of vanilla body lotion was the same brand she used after every shower. Only this one was much bigger and more expensive than she usually bought. All of the other stuff he would have been able to pick up at the store in town—one of the cashiers might have told him what brands to buy—but not that.

She reached forward and picked up the lotion. This he could have only gotten online. No one around here carried it. The closest store that carried it was seven hundred fifty miles away. Not even her sisters knew where she got it. They’d asked her dozens of times, but Bobbie liked keeping it her little secret. Obviously, Jake had figured it out.

“How long have you know about the threats?” She ran her finger across the fancy silver filigree label.

He shrugged. “A few days. Why?”

Why?
Because that meant he would have had to order the lotion at least two weeks ago, since it took that long to get there. And the company didn’t rush delivery. She’d found that out firsthand a couple of months ago when she’d run out. After having to use regular moisturizing lotion for two weeks she had made sure that never happened again. So that meant Jake had to have already had the lotion on hand.

She knew she should just come right out and ask Jake why he had it, but she was a little afraid to hear the answer. Somewhere in the back of her mind the thought that he may have bought it for someone else tried to work its way to the surface. His supposedly just-friends dinner with Kerri was still too fresh for her to ignore the possibility. Still, she had to wonder why he’d want another woman to smell and feel like her. Could he be thinking it would be that easy to find a substitute for her? She truly hoped not. There was a way for her to dig up the information, but it would mean calling in some favors.

“Bobbie.” Hearing her name as a sigh on his lips broke her out of her negative musings. “Please don’t look at me like that.”

Bobbie had no idea how she’d been looking, but he obviously didn’t like it. “Sorry.”

“Look I’d rather you not be involved in this at all, but you are and there’s no changing that. Can’t we just try to make the best of it?” He sounded so sincere, and Bobbie really wanted to spend some time alone with him.

She nodded, earning a smile from Jake before he went back to unpacking the supplies. With nothing left to do, she grabbed her backpack off the chair and walked over to the couch. She pulled out the romance novel she’d picked up earlier that day for Jessie. Her sister would be pissed when she remembered Bobbie hadn’t given it to her. Jessie had already waited two weeks for it, but now she’d have to wait a little longer.

At least Bobbie would have a little entertainment while she was stuck here, but instead of focusing on the words, she thought back to the duffle bag lying on the only bed in the place. Whether he knew it or not, they’d be sharing that bed tonight, because there was no way he’d be comfortable on the lame excuse for a couch that was taking up most of the space in the main room. The only other option was the floor. Bobbie knew she’d never get any sleep knowing he was uncomfortable. Okay, more uncomfortable than her, because the bed didn’t actually look that comfy, either.

She knew Jake wouldn’t give in easily with his noble sense of right and wrong. It would take some doing to make him see she was right, but Bobbie could be pretty persuasive when she wanted something bad enough. Her biggest weapon was going to be Jake himself. She’d just have to hold back on the tidbit that she’d be dressing scantily until after he agreed to share the bed with her. Then if he had any complaints she would just remind him that he said whatever it was she needed could wait.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Jake wasn’t doing this for fun. It was part of his job to protect her, but he was right. They could at least try to enjoy their time together. And really, it wouldn’t hurt for her to have some time to relax and clear her head before school started next week. That was if they caught Patrice so she could get back to town and start her classes on time.

* * * *

Jake released a shuddering breath as he shoved cans of soup into the cabinet. Twenty minutes and she already wanted to go back. Not the best start, but at least she caved in pretty easily. Not that it was a good thing when it came to her. One thing he loved and hated about Bobbie was that she was always four or five steps ahead of everyone else.

He’d seen it with her sisters. She always knew what was going on before they did. He didn’t know how she did it, and truthfully, didn’t want to. Jake loved the thrill he felt when he knew something she didn’t, but there was always retribution when she found out he didn’t tell her. He smiled, remembering how pissed she’d gotten at him for not telling her that he found out Joey’s husband had dabbled in information gathering for the government.