Hard Irish (11 page)

“You must be the pink-house neighbor.” 

At the sound of Jared’s voice, Rocky winced and Dessie grabbed her chest again, this time in true distress.

“I tried to tell you—”she whispered then swung around to Jared.  He was sitting up on the couch looking a little woozy.  “How did you know that?”

“Uh...I just guessed.  She’s got pink flamingos on her pants and there’re a slew of them planted in the yard.”

“Woof.  Woof.”  Pebbles bounded across the room.

“Watch out!”  Rocky ran for Jared, but saw she wasn’t going to make it before Pebbles pulled her flying lapdog routine.  “No, Pebbles.  Sit, Pebbles.  Hell, stand up, Jared!”

Jared didn’t stand up but held out his hand.  “Hey, girl.  You’re a big one aren’t you?”

Pebbles reached Jared and...sat, preening so he could pet her.  Rocky’s jaw dropped open.

“
He
might be a saint, though,” Dessie said, staring at Jared.  “That was a miracle if I’ve ever seen one.  I insist on knowing the name of men I share my orgasms with.  What’s yours?”

Rocky felt as if her cheeks had incinerated.  She loved Dessie to no end and knew when the woman was boxed into a corner she’d come out fighting more outrageous than ever.

“Jared Weldon.  And since we’re on intimate terms, what’s yours?”

The man took both Dessie and Pebbles in stride and didn’t even blink an eye.

Dessie walked closer, looking Jared over.  “Desmond Langford.  Were you at Sally’s Roadhouse last night?”

“You heard about that?”  Jared lifted a brow.

“I told her about the fight,” Rocky said.  “Dessie’s the neighbor I spent the night with.”

Dessie crossed the room.  “Well, it is a pleasure to meet a man who can definitely perform miracles.”

Jared levered to his feet and shook Dessie’s hand.

“What happened to you?”

Rocky hurried over. The last thing she needed was adding Dessie’s worry to the list of complications piling up on her.  “Just a mishap at the job site.  I’m looking after him...tonight.”

“Then I’ll just mosey back home and won’t worry about you then.  Pebbles and I will go watch
Lady and the Tramp
, before I have to be back for the late night session.”

“The dog watches TV?”

“Every minute of a movie.  Even barks and whines depending on what’s happening.  And growls at Cruella De Vil every chance she gets.”

“I’ll have to see that sometime.” Jared said.

“Count on it.  I’ll have you and Rocky over for dinner.  Let’s go Pebbles.”  Dessie headed for the door and Rocky followed, feeling as if life had become a surreal odyssey.  Last night Jared had been a stranger and tonight, well, he was way beyond that status.

Dessie was at the door when Jared spoke up.  “I’d return the favor,” he said.

“Dinner and a doggie move?” Dessie asked.

“No.  You wanted to know what to do with the man who gave you the best five seconds of your life.  I’d return the favor.”

“Did I say they were the best?” Dessie stumbled and Rocky caught her friend’s arm, unsure if she should be amused or flabbergasted that Jared had just out-did her outrageous neighbor. 

“You wouldn’t be so conflicted if they’d been your worst,” Jared replied.

Dessie shut her eyes and exhaled hard.  “They
were
the best.”

Rocky decided to join Jared’s campaign.  “You heard the miracle man, Dessie.  Return the favor.  Put the fire out and maybe you’ll both be able to think straight.”

“Hell,” Dessie muttered as she walked out the door with Pebbles in tow.  “I’m going to burn in hell.”  She looked back.  “You’d better put that pocket guide to use.” 

Rocky shut the door and leaned back on it for support, half-laughing, half-stunned.

“Why does she think she’ll burn for it?  Is the guy married?”

“No.  He’s thirty-something.  She’s fifty-something and she’s been saying ‘no’ to his every move.”

Jared grinned.  “Looks like he found one...she couldn’t say ‘no’ to.”

Rocky suddenly got the feeling that Jared’s mind wasn’t on Dessie’s orgasm confession, but on something else entirely.  Surely he wasn’t considering making a similar move?  Her heart kicked into overdrive and her mouth went dry.

“What pocket guide was she talking about?”

God help her!  Sex was swamping her from all sides.  She scrambled for a lifeline.  “Pizza.  We need some real food and you need to check in with your brother.”

“Saved by the check-in?” Jared said softly.  “I knew there was a reason I didn’t like Jesse’s idea.  This conversation isn’t over.”

“I’ll get the pizza menu while you call,” Rocky tried to hurry from the room before the situation could slide back into that moment of the utterly outrageous made seemingly possible.  Jared. Sex. And the pocket guide all happening right that moment.  She’d never admit it, but she wanted it
bad
.

“Rocky,” Jared said, his voice soft and deep.

She stopped and glanced back.

“You can relax.  I won’t be storming your citadel.”  She nodded and turned away, but still heard his whispered, “
Yet.
”  Her stomach clenched and heat flushed her every nerve.  She tingled...everywhere, telling her that storming wasn’t going to be necessary.  A hot breath would knock her over in a heartbeat. 

Jared nearly collapsed back onto the couch.  At the moment he couldn’t even storm an anthill.  He didn’t know what in the hell was wrong with him.  He slid the Glock he’d pulled out at the sound of a stranger’s voice back into his overnight bag on the floor next to him.   Then sweaty and shaky, he re-elevated his foot and drew in several deep breaths until the about-to-pass-out feeling dissipated.

As sharp as Jesse was, the man would pick up on the least note of anything in Jared’s voice.  Jared wanted to blame his rapid pulse and weak knees on the image of him falling to his knees and sucking Rocky’s “no” away, but was afraid the weakness stemmed from his leg.

Either he’d passed his spring-chicken prime, or the damage from the planter was taking a greater toll on his system than he realized it would.  Once steady, he dialed Jesse, hating the feeling that his big brother had had any right on his side.  Jared had to admit that if Rocky was under assault at that very moment and he had to go balls to the wall to save her; there was a slight possibility his body wouldn’t hold up in the fight.

That fact galled his gut and he wondered if he should bow out and let Jared send a “real” bodyguard.  He thought about Rocky’s appeal and her vulnerable state and realized that the only men he’d trust to watch over her, would be one of his brothers.  Maybe just Jesse or Jackson, one of his
married
brothers, considering the identical twin factor he shared with James, and hell, Rocky was one powerful temptation.

That meant he had to get his shit together.  No more narcotics.  He’d take Tylenol to take the edge off and suffer.  Pumped and ready, he called Jesse.

“I didn’t think you’d call,” Jesse said as he answered his cell.

“Didn’t want to, but you’re right.  It makes sense and makes her safer, which is all that matters.  Though you didn’t have to wipe my ass so thoroughly in front of her.”

“Ha.  Considering what you’re pulling, you need to have your ass reamed.  Not wiped.  Why the charade?”

Jared glanced in the direction Rocky disappeared.  “It’s complicated.”

“Best keep the deceit rope short, it has a way of hanging a man really fast.”

“I hear ya.”

“So what’s the situation there?”

Jared explained the security set up and the deadbolt situation.

“I’ll send a man out in the morning to set up a perimeter alarm and change the locks.  It’s on the house.”

“It’s her house, so let me run it by her and let you know in the morning.”

“All right.  You need anything else?  How are you feeling?”

“Good.  Not one hundred percent, but enough to handle the situation.  I think we’re set for the night though.  I’ll text you for the midnight check.”

“That works.  Have you spoken to James?”

Jared winced.  Considering the gist of their last conversation, Jared had been putting of getting in touch with his twin.  “Not yet.”

“I have. He said to tell you that last dollar bet was not only binding but he’d multiplied it exponentially.  Care to explain?”

“No.  Damn, but he’s going to be a bitch to live with.”

“That anything new?”  Jesse laughed.  “Don’t know what it is about twin-karma, but James called me this afternoon and hired us, too.”

“For what?”

“Seems as if a couple came bearing cash for your spec house.  All great, but he got a strange vibe.  They’re in such a rush that he wants to know why.  I’m running a background check on them before any formal papers are signed.”

“Can’t hurt.  Maybe we need to do that on Rocky’s ex.”

“Do I look as if I just fell off a turnip truck?  This is my business.  That’s already in the works, along with the man’s father, Roxanne’s business partner.  We should have a report by midday tomorrow.  Do you know her father suffered a stroke about a month ago and is coma-bound in a nursing home?  She’s been officially in charge of the company since, but from what we’ve uncovered, she took charge about eight months ago when they were skirting bankruptcy.  Seems she turned the company around.”

“Christ.  I didn’t know about her dad.  But after seeing her in action on the jobsite, I have no trouble believing the company’s turnaround.  Thanks for the heads up.”

“I’m not done yet.  She also runs a free summer camp for kids to teach them about construction.  She won the Savannah Women’s Society humanitarian award last year.”

Jared swallowed hard.  Jesse’s tone of voice was as hard-assed as he’d been at church yesterday.  “So what are you saying?”

“You’d better be there because you care and not because you’re looking for a fuck.”

Jared gripped the phone; sure the damn thing would crack in two.  “I’m not sure if I want to plaster your face or buy you a drink.  Maybe both.  Who the fuck do you think I am?”

“A Weldon who just might have woken up and seen the light.  We’ve all been in no-man’s land, bro.  Let me know if you run up against anyone we need to look at.”

Jared drew several deep breaths.  Not sure he liked all of the shit swimming around inside his gut and his head.  “I didn’t say it earlier so I’m saying it now.  Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.  Try and avoid being a landing pad for concrete missiles, okay?”

“I plan on it.  Meanwhile how’s that matter that had James so wrung out yesterday?”

“Still in the stratosphere of implausible.  But I’ve taken and will take every precaution. Just so you know, I’m taking dad out fishing this weekend and had planned on asking you to join us, but that’s out of the picture now.”

“We’ll do it when I’m back on my feet.”  Rocky came back into the room.  She had a menu, a bottle of Tylenol, and a drink in her hands.  Gifts from the gods.  Jared mouthed a thank you in her direction.  “For now I’ll text you at midnight and talk to you tomorrow.”

“Right.  Good night.”  He disconnected and smiled, taking the drink and the Tylenol from her.  He took two extra-strength tabs and downed half of the Gatorade.  “Jesse offered to set up a perimeter alarm and change your deadbolt locks for free in the morning.  Is that all right, or would you prefer he doesn’t?”

Her expression became puzzled.  “For free?  Why would he do that?  I mean, I’m not even a paying client and he doesn’t know me at all.”

Jared shrugged.  “That’s Jesse and his wife Alexi.  If there’s a need, they’re going to fill it.”

“Like you?” she said, moving closer and sitting on the sectional so she could face him.

“Me?”  He frowned.  Philanthropy was so not a part of his living-it-up-bachelor life.

“Yeah.  You.  Last night.  Today.  You keep stepping up to the plate.  Why?”

Talk about laying things on the table, but that was how she played her cards.  Direct and honest.  That last thought clogged his throat.  He took a long drink then met her curious gaze.  “You,” he said softly.  “Do with it what you want, but I looked across the bar last night, saw you and couldn’t look away.  I’m hoping I am here with you now because you feel it too.  The attraction that goes beyond a second glance but dives immediately into a hungry want, but there’s time to sort that out when exes and planters aren’t dive-bombing you.  Right now, I am starving for food.  I think all I’ve had today was a cup of coffee early this morning.  So what kind of pizza do you want?  If it has sauce and cheese, I’m good with anything.”

“Anchovies?”

Jared held back a flinch.  He’d never had anchovies and imagined they’d be similar to salty sardines with a crunch.  Something he’d eat if he were on a desert island and starving, but to mix fishy with his cheese didn’t sit right.

She laughed.  “You should see your expression.”

“What?  I didn’t express.”  Surely he had a better poker face than that.

She lifted a brow, adding to the mischievous gleam in her green eyes.  “You look like a kid facing spinach flavored ice cream.”

He narrowed his gaze.  “Do you like anchovies on your pizza?”

“No.”

Hell.  “Then why bring them up?”

“Just testing.  You did say anything.  I’m flexible on the pizza, pepperoni, supreme, spicy BBQ.  My one must is garlic bread with extra, extra, extra cheese.”

“You’re a triple-X woman then.”

“What?” Her voice rose several octaves, almost as if she were guilty, and it was his turn to laugh.

“When you like something then you don’t just want extra.  You want extra, extra, extra.  Wanna wager a bet that I can guess what else you like triple-X of?”  He lowered his voice to a deep rumble.

She swallowed as if parched and her pupils dilated.  She might play life close to the vest, but a little gamble flipped her switch.

“What?” she whispered.

“You asking what I want to wager or what do you like?”

“Both.”

“Wager first.  At a time of my choosing, I’ll bet you a repeat of last night’s kiss that I can name some things you like extra, extra, extra of.”

“Hmm...make it a time of
my
choosing and you’ve got a bet.”