A Perfect Storm(37)

       
           



       

But now, this moment, he was so aware of Arizona tilting ever closer to  violence that nothing and no one could divert his attention. Terry  Janes's deliberate cruelty toward the smaller man would cause Arizona to  see red. He knew, because he abhorred bullying, too.

A surreptitious glance at his watch showed they had another twenty-two  minutes. Not much time to come up with a solid plan to extricate her  from the situation without notice.

But more than enough time for Arizona to start removing heads.

* * *

LOCKING HER TEETH against the need to lash out, Arizona made a move to help Joel.

Janes said, "Don't."

He spoke with such command that she paused. But she couldn't bite back her censure. "That was cruel."

"No, that's life. Don't make the mistake of encouraging him with  kindness." Leaning forward, Janes caught her hand and pulled it toward  him so that she had to lean over the small round table. Now that he had  her close, he didn't have to speak loudly to be heard. "Joel is like a  mongrel. If you feed him, he'll never go away. Even with me kicking him  every so often, he comes back."

She could practically feel Joel's trepidation as he struggled to collect  his things off the floor. And she felt Janes's intention, both sexual  and controlling; he made no attempt at subtlety.

The reasons to demolish him kept adding up-especially when he reached out to finger her hair.

In a low, crooning voice, he murmured, "I bet you're this silky and warm all over."

Even though her skin crawled, Arizona didn't pull away. The differences  between Spencer and a scumbag like Terry Janes had never been more  obvious. She should be concentrating on her next move, but instead, she  thought about how Spencer made her feel. Around him, her worries lifted.  He gave her respect and affection.

He gave her equality.

Such a hero.

Sure that she'd find him seething, Arizona glanced toward Spencer. He was still in the same spot, sitting in the booth.

But the a-hole now had the redhead sitting with him, all spooned up to  his side, his eyes closed as she sucked on his neck, one of his hands  cupped over her rear.

That son of a …

Yeah, so maybe it was for cover, but did he have to be so convincing?

So that no one would notice her anger, Arizona let her gaze slide right  on past him and turned it into a "searching for an escape" type of look.

"Now, don't go getting nervous on me." Janes wrapped her hair around his  fingers, holding her like a leash. "You and I have unfinished  business."

Hoping to reestablish her scam of demure naïveté, Arizona whispered, "It's getting late."

Mouth curving in a malicious smile, he tugged a little harder on her hair. "But I thought you were interested in a job?"

"Oh." Right. A job. She started this, so she needed to finish it. "I am."

"Well, honey, bars stay open late, and as a new hire, you'd have the  shittiest hours. That means being on the clock until closing." Under the  table, his feet encased hers. "Is that going to be a problem?"

Only then did she realize that poor Joel had slunk away. But where did  he go? She peeked around and didn't see him. "No problem at all."

She made a point of not looking toward Spencer again. The way he'd been going at it, she might see something she didn't like.

Or rather, something she disliked even more than what she'd already seen.

Man, would she give him hell later.

"Glad to hear it." Janes let her hair drop and refilled their glasses. "I like you, Candy."

Yeah, well, he wouldn't-not after he really got to know her. She batted her eyes at him. "You are so … sweet."

His expression held no amusement. "Down the hatch. Then I'll show you  around the place, get you all set up. You can start tomorrow."

"That soon, huh?"

"Is that a problem?"

"Nope." Somehow she'd figure it out. She had to go to Dare's for her  stupid birthday-a circumstance she'd never anticipated-but starting work  at the bar would give her the perfect excuse to cut things short, to  make the trip as quick as possible. "Actually, that'd be great."

"Good. Let's drink to our new association, then."

Another drink would put her over the limit. She already felt the buzz as  the alcohol flooded into her system. The place felt warmer, as if the  air-conditioning had died. Heat flushed her face, left her skin dewy. "I  don't think I should-"

"To work here, you gotta be able to hold your liquor."                       
       
           



       

"Sure. And I can." She could hold it, she just couldn't control her  temper when she imbibed too much. "It's just that I've already had a  few-"

"Decide now." Intolerance put an edge in his tone. "You want the job or not?"

So he would make it a stipulation to the deal? Bastard. "I want the job.  I need the job." More important, she needed a tour of the building.  Back entrances, windows and escape routes-she had to know the ins and  outs of the structure. And she needed to know if a raid would put forced  workers at risk, if he stored his victims here, locked up, or if he  moved them elsewhere, how many people were in the building.

There were still too many unanswered questions.

Lifting the shot in a toast, Arizona stared, unflinching, into the eyes of the devil. "To a new tomorrow."

He raised his glass. "To you, Candy-and an exciting night to come."

Yeah, a night where she'd dismantle him. "Hear, hear." Together, they knocked back the shots.

Whoa. Liquid fire cut through her, numbing her tongue and her brain,  pooling like an inferno in her guts. She shook her head to clear it from  the rush, wiped her mouth and set her glass next to his.

"Is that taking the edge off?"

Yeah, and she needed her edge. "Whoa." She shook her head again, but it didn't help. "I think I'm getting drunk."

"You're softening." He rubbed at his mouth, scrutinizing her. "I like it."

Before he could pour her yet another, Arizona pushed back her chair and stood. "I'm ready for my tour."

Janes came to his feet also. "You're ready, all right." He put an arm  around her shoulders and pulled her into his side. They each wore  sleeveless shirts, so they had a lot of skin touching.

Puke, gross, disgusting.

Her stomach actually pitched, but she drew a deep breath to settle it  again, and, pretending to stumble into him, she shot an elbow into his  belly.

"Shit." He jerked her around hard, and his hands bit into her upper arms. "Careful, damn it."

Giggling, Arizona flattened her hands on his narrow chest. Not much  muscle there. Put to the test, she thought she could probably take him.

She relished a chance to find out.

She leaned into him and giggled again. Looking up into his eyes, she  smiled. "You know, I think maybe I've had just a little bit too much to  drink."

Slowly Janes's anger faded away beneath blistering intent. "Girl, I think you've had just enough."





CHAPTER THIRTEEN


SPENCER SEETHED IN SILENCE as Arizona smiled, teased and generally  sucked up to Janes. She held on to him like a lifeline; he couldn't tell  if she was really that wobbly, or if it was one of her insane ploys.

Either way, as he'd warned her, seeing another man's hands all over her was impossible to bear.

He got especially enraged when Janes stroked her hair with one hand, her backside with the other.

I'll kill him.

If Arizona didn't beat him to it.

She'd already landed one elbow and just now managed to get a knee into  his groin. Janes looked livid, ready to punish her-until Arizona  snuggled into him again.

She was so devious with her push/pull game.

Tangling a hand in her hair, Janes yanked back her head and put his face near her neck.

Spencer knew he had to do something, and fast.

How to get away from the redhead without causing a scene?

Several times now, she'd almost consumed him, and keeping her interested  while stalling hadn't been easy. If anything, his delay tactics had  fired her up more. At one point she'd tried to get inside his zipper,  offering him a hand job right there in the booth.

Despite all her efforts, he hadn't felt a single twinge of interest. Not  when he wanted only Arizona and not while she played with danger.

Ignoring the warmth of the woman's mouth teasing his ear, Spencer quickly took in the setting of the bar.

He needed some inspiration.

Misunderstanding, Red whispered to him, "Let's get out of here."

"Yeah." Maybe he could stumble his way up front with her. Maybe he could-

Expression dark, Terry Janes turned with his hand clamped hard on to the  back of Arizona's neck, keeping her pinned close to his side, half  dragging her as he started toward the back of the bar.

Fuck it.

Ready to rush him, Spencer stood-and suddenly the artist was there,  tripping up Janes as he tried to show Arizona another picture he'd  drawn.