A Perfect Storm(15)

       
           



       

"It?"

"The whole undercover, covert, infiltration gig. You think Jackson ever  approaches these situations alone? Or Trace or Dare? They always work as  a team."

For him to know that, they had to have done a lot of talking. Did Jackson really trust him so much? Apparently.

She raised her chin. "You don't."

"Until recently, I hadn't tampered in their league. The busts I made as a  bounty hunter were small beans in comparison to what they do. But now,  with human trafficking rings that have reach across the country, even  out of the country, you can bet your sweet little butt that I wouldn't  get in too deep without knowing someone else was on board, watching to  make sure neither of us disappears."

Because that all made sense, Arizona paced away-and immediately felt the loss of Spencer's touch.

Standing where she'd left him in the middle of the floor, he waited.

She knew she'd relent. Heck, she didn't even want to go. Not really. But  she wasn't quite ready to tell him that yet. "What did Jackson say to  you?"

"He wanted me to follow you if you left, and to tail you all night if  necessary." When her eyes widened, he added, "And I would have. I  will-if you don't stay."

Going to the window, Arizona watched the rain start to fall. If she was going to get her bag, she should do it now.

From right behind her, his tone compelling, Spencer said, "Stay."

"You said you wouldn't lie."

"I won't."

"Okay, then … " Turning to face him, she asked in a rush, "If you're not  trying to have sex with me, then why are you doing all this? Why are you  being so … concerned and caring, and protective and understanding and  stuff?"

"All that?" A smile flickered over his mouth. "Okay, the truth. I want  you to see a better way of things. I want you to be able to move on-"

Move on? "As in, be with some dude? Seriously?" The idea was so  ludicrous, she laughed. "What, like in a marriage and all that? Not  happening."

"Doesn't have to be marriage." His gaze moved over her face to her mouth and then back to her eyes. "Could just be a date."

"And you think dates are fun?"

He drew a short breath. "Most of the time, sure."

"You've had dates with Marla?"

"Ah … no."

"Just sex, huh?"

"Arizona … "

"And sex is fun?"

His gaze locked on hers. "Yes."

"Will you tell me about it?"

Face muscles tightened as he flexed his jaw. "What do you want to know?"

So many things, she hardly knew where to begin. "Is it the same with Marla as it was with your wife?"

His eyes darkened with disbelief and, maybe, sadness. "If you mean are  women interchangeable, no. Not to good men. Not when a man cares about a  woman."

That riled her. "So you care about Marla?"

"Not at all like I cared about my wife, no. But as a nice person, yes,  of course I do." Putting his hands on his hips, he dropped his head  forward, then gave in to a short laugh. "God, this is an awkward  conversation."

She didn't care. He offered to explain, and she wanted to hear it, so she waited.

After releasing a long breath, he met her gaze again. "I was up front  with Marla. I didn't lead her on. I haven't led on any woman."

Including her? His bet would curtail her language-but gain him a kiss if  she slipped up. Was that really all he wanted? "So with Marla, it was  sex, but only sex, huh?"

"It's not always about love."

"Boy, do I know that!"

"Sometimes," he continued as if she hadn't spoken, "the pleasure is enough."

"If you say so." She had her doubts about any real pleasure, though. She  sure hadn't experienced it. "So how many women have there been?"

He made a sound of disgust. "They were few and far between. But I am a grown man, Arizona."

So defensive. Sharp with derision, she said, "And you have needs?"

"Everyone has those needs-including you." When she started to shake her  head, he cut her off. "You do. And that brings us full circle. You know  about abuse, but you don't know anything about the real give-and-take  that's supposed to happen between the sheets."

"Not always between the sheets."

He paused. "No." He took a step closer, then stopped himself. "There are  all kinds of sexual encounters, in lots of different places."                       
       
           



       

"And different positions?"

"Positions that you should enjoy." He reached out, but instead of  touching her, he pulled back and ended up rubbing the back of his neck.  "Only it doesn't start with sex."

"No?"

"It starts with an attraction. A mutual attraction."

"Can't prove it by me."

His gaze searched hers, his voice deepened. "I know. That's my point."

There was such gravity in his tone, she rolled her eyes. "Go on. Mutual attraction?" she prompted.

Slowly, he nodded. "Flirting, kissing, a touch or two. Foreplay for an  hour, or a day. Wanted by both people, and shared by both people."

That did sound sort of … not awful. "I know that's how it's supposed to  be." She wasn't a total social misfit. She'd seen romantic movies, and  she'd seen real life. People walking together, talking together. In  sync.

In love.

But he'd just negated the link between love and sex, and she wasn't sure she could ever trust in casual sex.

Almost as if he'd read her thoughts, he said softly, "It can be really good when both people are willing, eager participants."

"And you think I need to experience that, huh?"

"You're a healthy, energetic woman. I'd hate to see deliberate cruelty  turn you off from knowing everything that nature intended."

For reasons she wouldn't analyze, his attitude irked her. "So let me get  this straight. You want to do things to me, to get me all into the idea  of screwing-and then you want me to go off to find some other guy to  finalize the deal?" She smirked at him. "Know what, Spence? From my side  of the table, that sort of makes you sound like a pimp. Only problem  is, I can't figure out what you get from the deal."





CHAPTER SIX


WITH HER BREAKING DOWN his motives to the basest purpose, Spencer had to  admit that it did sound bad. God knew he didn't want to send her off to  anyone else. The thought of another man touching her left him raw with  anger.

But he wasn't the man for her. Even if the age difference didn't exist,  she deserved someone who'd be involved for the long haul. She deserved  someone with a sunny outlook on life.

Not only was he opposed to settling down again, he was about as far from optimistic as a man could get.

"I wasn't trying to coerce you into having sex with anyone." What he  wanted most was for her to not be … damaged. But he sure as hell couldn't  say anything that stark to her. "What I'd really like is to break down  those walls so you can let in people who care about you." He tried a  smile that she didn't return. "All in all, you can be a pretty likable  woman."

With one hand flattened to his chest, she pushed him back a step and  moved out from between him and the window. "Whatever. If I'm staying  over, I want Trace to fix my car."

The quick turnaround surprised him. "You'll stay put?" With me.

She made a gesture of indifference. "For now."

"Then I'll let Trace know." And they could all help keep an eye on her.

Her eyes narrowed. She hesitated, then she turned away. "I better go get my stuff."

It'd take time to convince her of his motives. Spencer accepted that, so he allowed the change of topic. "What stuff?"

"My duffel and laptop case. I'm not as dumb as you and the big macho  boys want to believe." She opened the front door, and a heavy gust of  wind carried a smattering of rain in around her. "Ho boy, look at those  purple storm clouds blowing in."

Spencer closed the door. He could see why she'd keep the laptop close. But the other? "You brought an overnight bag with you?"

"Yeah, see, I had no intention of going back to my motel room tonight."

That surprised him, but he was pleased with her forethought, especially  since she'd made the plans to protect herself, not someone else. He had a  feeling that Arizona deliberately put herself at risk far too often.

Given the downpour, he caught her arm and moved her away. "I'll get your things for you."

"I don't melt."

Already rain dampened the front of her T-shirt and left her face dewy.

Physically, she was the most tempting woman he'd ever met. He didn't  want to test his resolve by seeing her in soaked clothes that would  cling to her shapely little body.