His breath tickled her ear and caused an avalanche of warmth to fall low in her stomach. Her heart constricted. This was a weird feeling. One she’d had before with Scott and never experienced again, warning her that she needed to put a stop to whatever Kage had planned. Her judgment of men sucked.
“You can’t talk to me that way,” she muttered. “I don’t have time to goof around with you. There’s stuff in the office that needs to get done before tomorrow morning, and unlike you, I do my best work at night.”
He grinned, a full-on show that she amused him. Jane snorted. How could she forget how stubborn he could be?
“I’m losing this argument, aren’t I?” She leaned her head back on the seat and looked at him. She’d missed his bossy ways.
He grinned at her. “Yeah, you are.”
No way was she ready to explore the feelings Kage created inside of her. She’d already lived through the embarrassment of his rejection when she’d tried to kiss him years ago. He relinquished her to friend-only status. But, despite being friends, going out to grab something to eat with him was the worst idea ever. It would only open the door to her being hurt again.
Kage drove through town, heading toward Corner Pocket. She stared out the window, trying to ignore the close confinement of the car, the heat she felt coming from him, and kicked herself for not fighting harder. She wanted to keep the ugliness in her life from touching anyone she cared about, including Kage.
Her reaction to him proved one thing. She was pathetic.
Kage reached across the space of their seats and squeezed her hand. “Everything is going to be okay.”
She whipped her gaze toward him. Her head pounded. “What did you say?” she whispered. It dawned on her what going out to dinner meant. “That dumbass. Garrett told you, didn’t he?”
“Yeah.” He glanced at her. “We won’t let anything happen to you.”
She turned away, pain slashing through her. The last thing she’d wanted was anyone knowing what she’d lived through with Scott. Now Garrett and all the others knew how weak she’d become. Why would anyone want her after she let Scott use her as a punching bag?
“Please, can you take me home?” she whispered, struggling to hold back the tears.
His thumb caressed the back of her hand, and she became aware that she’d never let go of him and was in fact squeezing his fingers tight. The last time she latched on to someone, she’d lost four years of her life. It wasn’t going to happen again.
She let go.
“Are you okay?” he asked softly.
She nodded but spoke the truth. “No.”
J
ane was upset that Kage refused to take her home. Instead, he placed his hand over hers and continued driving to Corner Pocket, a local bar run by her friend Charlene.
She only wanted Kage to leave her alone until she could figure out how to handle the threat of Scott coming after her. She’d already created enough problems in her life. Involving more people would make the situation worse. Scott was unpredictable and dangerous. He also had a harsh, unfair attitude toward anyone she knew before him, including Kage.
As Kage pulled into the parking lot, Jane sank farther down in the seat. Garrett, Lance, and Tony’s cars were parked right under the flashing neon sign. “Just great,” she muttered.
It was unfair of him to bring her here when the bar was full of people. If they were alone, she’d try to defend her decision to keep the guys out of her business. She knew them too well to think they’d step down and let her handle Scott on her own. Because they were going to Corner Pocket, there was a good chance she’d run into others she knew, and they’d ask why she returned or about her failed relationship with Scott.
Most of her friends had warned her to take her relationship with Scott slower, but she’d refused to listen. She truly thought at the time she was falling in love. Scott talked a good game and promised her the world. Stupidly, she’d believed him.
Kage led her into the bar and straight to pool table 3 without saying a word. She held her chin high, refusing to cower. Her mistakes were her own, and she’d take responsibility for them.
Garrett stood in front of her, wearing a dark blue Henley, blue jeans, and black boots. His brown hair was swept back from his forehead. He resembled their dad with the worry lines forming between his brows and the stubborn tilt of his chin. Sometimes she found it too painful to look at him, because it brought up the hurt of not being able to see her father as much as she would’ve liked. Time that she’d never get back now that her dad had passed away.
She walked straight up to Garrett, pulled him a few feet away from the others, and glared. “You promised you wouldn’t say anything.”
“I’m not apologizing.” Garrett lifted his mug of beer, drank long, and wiped his mouth off with the back of his hand. “I should’ve done something four years ago.”
“I have no one to blame but myself,” she whispered.
“Don’t put that asshole’s abuse on you. You’re a victim, and you did the best you could do under the circumstances. I’m proud of you for coming home.” Garrett’s chin lowered to his chest and he leaned closer. “But letting the agency protect you is something I’m not going to argue with you about. We’ll keep you safe. Kage wants—”
“Hey, Janie. Welcome home,” Tony called.
She lifted her gaze, forcing a smile as all the boys who worked at the garage joined her and Garrett. “Thanks, guys. It’s good to be back.”
She could see the boys’ mouths harden and blinked away the tears blurring her vision. This was exactly why she’d wanted Garrett to keep her secret. She didn’t want them to see how weak she’d become and feel pity for her. Garrett’s friends had always overprotected her growing up, and she hated putting them in the position of helping her get out of the mess she’d created.
Each one of them was scary in his own right. They’d kill or be killed protecting those they loved or were hired to protect. The guys were certified in weaponry and martial arts, and, if pushed into a corner, were street smart enough to kick ass without making a sound.
They were more than best friends, who’d grown up together playing baseball in the summer and hanging out at each other’s houses. They were brothers. They trusted each other with their lives and weren’t afraid to put their loyalty on the line.
When Garrett shifted his focus in college to criminal investigation while obtaining his auto body certifications to join their dad in business, he shared his idea of opening the agency and asked the other guys to join him. No one who knew them was surprised to hear of their plans.
They continued to train with the best to provide investigating services, bodyguard duty, and protection for others, standing up for those who didn’t have the power to fight for themselves. She wouldn’t allow them to go head to head with her ex-boyfriend. She couldn’t live with herself if they got hurt because of her.
Despite how qualified the Beaumont Body Shop guys were, they were only four men. Scott had many men at his fingertips to call in to do his dirty work. Men with no loyalty or integrity. Scott’s men would outnumber the Beaumont guys. She’d heard enough of the rumors and witnessed plenty of unspoken looks to understand that Scott thought he was untouchable. He’d kill anyone who got in his way.
That’s why she never told Garrett what she stole from Scott when she ran. If the guys knew she was carrying something Scott wanted, something so big he’d kill everyone to get it back, they’d react drastically. As long as Scott needed her alive, she was saving all their lives.
She took a step toward her brother, but Kage tugged her back to his side, looping his arm around her waist. His hand landed on her hip and stayed. She caught her breath, leaning against him, wanting to leave but knowing she wouldn’t because touching him calmed her soul. Garrett’s eyes went to Kage, and a slow nod passed between the two men. The unspoken conversation confused her, and she didn’t like not knowing what was going on in their heads.
Lance elbowed Tony, and their eyes landed on Kage too. She frowned.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
“It’s about time. That’s all I’m saying,” Lance muttered.
Lance leaned against the bar beside Garrett, black T-shirt stretched across his broad chest, black jeans, and black cowboy boots. It wasn’t lost on her that his black goatee matched everything about him. Although Lance attracted a lot of women, he couldn’t compare to Kage’s size and quiet strength. Kage made her feel feminine and protected, yet he gave her strength.
She turned to Kage. “What’s Lance talking about? Time for what?”
Kage shrugged, pulling her tighter against him. His hand low on her back forced her to place her own hand on his hard abdomen to keep her balance, but she didn’t try to pull away. She stayed there because, at the moment, without him acting like an anchor, she might cry over how disconnected she felt from everyone and how long she’d been gone from home. She’d missed out on their lives—and that was the last thing she had wanted to do. Not getting any clues from the others, she looked at Tony for an answer.
But the most talkative of them all waved his hands in front of his chest and smiled, showing off the dimple in his left cheek. She inhaled deeply for the first time since stepping into the bar. Tony was her buddy, the one who always made her laugh. It was impossible to stay upset with his laid-back attitude. His blond, sun-streaked hair and tanned skin looked like he could’ve walked right off the beach carrying a surfboard, yet he wore a leather jacket and boots. Despite his calm disposition, she knew Tony’s carefree demeanor could turn ugly. Years ago, she’d run to him for help when she saw a man beating a dog at one of the houses in town. She watched Tony return the favor, beating the dog’s owner bloody. Kage was there too, holding her back from entering the fray and getting into trouble. Tony had saved the dog, assisted Jane in treating its wounds, and helped her find a new home for the poor thing.
“Whatever.” She pushed against Kage, but he refused to let her go. “You all have fun with your man jokes at my expense. I can see nothing has changed around here.”
The smiles disappeared. Lance stepped forward. Kage’s body stiffened beside her, causing Lance to move back, hands up and grinning big. Before she could give any thought to what passed around the group, Kage picked her up and planted her butt on a bar stool.
“Kage!” She pushed off the counter and had swiveled halfway around when he stopped her. “Stop manhandling me.”
Emotions played with her body and the signals misfired. Her nipples peaked, and she hated how her voice lacked any real conviction. Even his roughhousing turned her on.
“Then don’t push me away.” He leaned closer. “You’re here to have a good time, get out of the house, and hang with your friends.”
She squeezed her thighs together to banish the fluttery sensation his warm breath on her face caused and looked away from him. Geez, talk about bossy
and
hot. She looked over the group of men and curled her lip. Idiots. Not one of them had the decency to step up and tell Kage to back off or to come to her rescue.
Anyone else would think they were on their sixth drink the way they were smiling all stupid-like, staring at her and Kage, but she knew better. None of them drank more than three beers when they had to work in the morning. Tomorrow was Thursday, a workday.
“Stay put.” Kage walked away.
Other women turned and watched him stroll across the bar. Jane wrinkled her nose, confused why he’d even want to bring her out with the boys. Obviously he could have any one of the ladies here, and they probably didn’t have a whacked-out ex-boyfriend trying to come after them. Yet he’d assigned himself the duty of getting her out of the office, vowing to protect her, and she didn’t know why. He’d rejected her previously, so it couldn’t possibly be that he wanted to be with her or spend time with her.
For a moment, she wondered what it’d be like if it were only the two of them, and not her brother and the other guys out on the town. She sighed. Those kinds of thoughts had to stop.
Kage would never be interested in her. She was damaged goods, and he was too…too…God, he was hot.
“Janie Beaumont-y.” A female singsong voice jerked her away from eyeing Kage’s ass.
She turned, smiling. “Charlene.”
Owner and bartender Charlene Turner bucked all stereotypes. A former burlesque dancer from Vegas, she’d ended up in Bay City, Oregon, opened Corner Pocket, and set about taking care of everyone. Including Jane, before she’d left for college.
Nothing had changed in her absence. Charlene was the one person Jane allowed to come and visit her at the house. She’d wanted to confide in the older woman, but in the end, she’d put on a happy face. Charlene wasn’t fooled, though, because after she left, a stream of her old friends started calling her on the house phone to talk. No one ever asked, but she knew they were curious and concerned about her. The less they knew, the better. That way Scott couldn’t use any of them to get to her.
“It’s good to see you out of the house.” Charlene leaned her elbows on the counter. Her dainty silver bracelets, of which she had at least seven on each arm, tinkled. “Which one of those fabulous boys can I thank for bringing you here tonight?”
“Kage,” she said.
Charlene’s boisterous laugh startled the patrons at the bar and proved Lycra really did keep voluptuous breasts contained in a low-cut top. Everything about her she did big. Her dyed red hair, which she teased, sprayed, and sprayed again to get the maximum volume, stood out, drawing much-wanted attention to her. Everyone knew she was happiest being center stage. Her attire of choice could still be used on the stage or a pole, despite her hitting the age of fifty-five. Nothing stopped Charlene from being who she wanted to be.
“I knew it. That boy’s been chomping at the bit for years. Too much to handle for most women, but not you. I’m surprised it’s taken him this long since you came back to do something about it,” Charlene said.
Jane leaned forward. “What are you talking about?”
“Kage Archer, my girl.” Charlene spotted him and whistled softly. “That man is an eight-cylinder engine purring under a beautiful, chrome-plated hood. A woman would have to buckle in to get a ride out of him.”
“It’s not like that.” Jane sighed, shaking her head. “He’s just doing Garrett a favor. You know how all of the boys are. I’m not the same person they knew before I left for college. I won’t involve them in my life.”
Charlene looked at her. “That’s the stupidest thing I’ve heard. No one can help you, because you refuse to talk about what you’re going through and think you can handle it yourself. You can’t.”
“I am.”
“You are not.” Charlene lowered her voice. “Besides, Kage isn’t looking at you like you’re Garrett’s little sister. That man wants you, and he’s tired of waiting.”
“He does not w—”
“Look at you.” Charlene straightened. “Wavy, full hair with natural ginger highlights women can’t even pay their stylist to create, eyes the color of whiskey that intoxicate Kage whenever he looks at you, and boobs that I wish I had in my younger years. You have enough spirit inside of you to keep a man on his toes, and that’s what every man wants. Kage’s not immune to it.”
“You’re biased, because you’re my friend,” she said. “I’m trouble.”
“I love you. Don’t be talking down about yourself. Sure, you lost yourself for a while, but you’re back. Kage knows it. He’s always known it. That boy has had his eye on you before you even knew he was looking. I’ll tell you, a man who’s waited that long isn’t going to sit around while you pull yourself out of the pond of self-pity you’ve thrown yourself in. Mark my words, Kage’s marking his territory.” Charlene lifted her brows and leaned closer. “Big-time.”
Jane swallowed and stared across the room in disbelief. “No…”
“Yes, darling. That man wants you in his bed and in his life. He’s not someone who changes his mind.” Charlene laughed, squeezed Jane’s hand, and then glided down the bar to help a customer.
It’d always been Kage for her. Even clear back when she wanted her first kiss to be with him. She’d planned, dreamed, and patiently waited until the timing was perfect. Or, so she thought.
She’d curled up on the couch with Kage when he crashed in the living room at her house after attending a bachelor party with her brother and had drunk too much to drive home. She’d been seventeen, trying to assert her newfound womanly feelings on the one man who made all those emotions explode inside of her.
He’d turned her down cold.
To add hurt to the humiliation she experienced, he’d kissed her forehead, turned her toward her bedroom, slapped her ass, and sent her away.