A Perfect Storm(41)

"We work with them when possible. Sometimes we have to exclude them so  they don't get in the way, but we do not commandeer their authority when  it's avoidable, and we never consider them expendable."

He knew they didn't harm innocent bystanders, but the rest was news to  him. From what he'd observed so far, the trio recognized only their own  command. "Good to know."

Arizona turned in the seat and treated him to a dreamy-eyed smile.

Places on his body that were already jumpy twitched in redirected  interest. She reached for him, but Spencer caught her hand and held it  still. Thinking of how the lights had gone out, he said to Dare, "So it  all went down already?"

"It did. I can explain later, but a situation arose that forced my hand and gave us enough reason to move in ahead of schedule."

Arizona stiffened. "What do you mean it went down? What? The bar?"

He shushed her while rubbing his thumb over her knuckles and, then to Dare added, "You got Carl?"

"I sent two officers around to that room off the alley to collect him. I  got Terry Janes myself." Amusement entered Dare's tone when he said,  "You can tell Arizona that Janes resisted."

No, he wouldn't tell her a damn thing. Not yet anyway. Resistance would  mean Dare had had to restrain Terry, and that meant he'd probably  pulverized the guy. The last thing Arizona needed was more encouragement  toward fighting.

Instead, Spencer concentrated on getting the facts. "He was the one running things?"

"He hasn't admitted as much yet, and we don't make assumptions."

"What do you think?"

"My gut tells me something more is going on."

"Damn."

"We'll have confirmation soon."

"The workers?" Arizona asked.                       
       
           



       

Spencer repeated her question.

"Everyone we could find is now safe."

He nodded to Arizona and saw her slump back in relief. It touched him  that she'd been so genuinely concerned for people she didn't know.

Dare added, "We got info on another group of young Hispanics in transit.  They would have mostly been used for labor at a nearby motel, but a few  of the females were intended for trafficking. They should be freed  within the hour."

Incredible. "So Janes spilled his guts about that?"

"No, but he will." Before Spencer could ask, Dare said, "Actually, it  was two bozos I found around back in a van. But I can catch you up on  that later."

Like hell. "Tell me now." His gaze landed on Arizona. And because he  already knew it, he said, "They were there for her, weren't they?"

"Afraid so." Dare didn't mince words. "The driver did most of the  spilling, but both men were anxious to share." He paused, then added, "I  can be convincing."

Again, he had to reach for lost control. But he had to think of Arizona.  He had to get her to his house, and he had to find a way to convince  her to stay away from dangerous situations. "So now what?"

"Whenever we can keep a low profile, we do. We'll continue to oversee things, to ensure we get the results we want."

"Meaning no one walks away?"

Dare didn't reply to that. "We have a good relationship with the special  agent in charge. He's organized an effective task force, and he has all  the contacts he needs to take this through the proper legal channels."

Catching Arizona's wandering hands again, Spencer shook his head at her and whispered, "Stop that."

Dare laughed. "She enjoyed herself?"

"Seems like."

Still amused, Dare said, "Get her home safe, Spencer."

"Working on it." Since he held the phone, he ended up playing one-handed patty-cake with Arizona to keep her from molesting him.

His resistance was on shaky ground already-he didn't need her enticement, too.

She pretended to pout, then put her head back and closed her eyes on a lusty yawn.

"We're heading to my place now." The sooner he got her tucked in for the night, the sooner he could loosen his knotted muscles.

"Great. For the time being, keep her there. At least until we meet at my  place. We'll catch up then." And with that Dare was gone.

Frowning with new concern, Spencer folded the phone and put it back in his pocket.

"What now?" Arizona asked.

He shook his head. Did Dare want Arizona to continue staying with him  because someone had gotten loose? Or was it just a precaution?

"You're keeping something from me." Resentment chased away her lethargy and had her gathering steam.

"No." To forestall the fireworks, Spencer said, "I'm just a little amazed that it's all over."

"Did they have to kill anyone?"

He frowned over her bloodthirsty tendencies. "Dare said he'll fill us in  on the details when we get to his place tomorrow." He hesitated, but he  needed her cooperation right now. "For the time being, he wants you to  stay with me."

"Mmm." Rather than argue, she asked, "And how do you feel about that?"

"It's not a problem for me." Hell, the only problem would be if she tried to leave him now.

At his answer, Arizona gave him such a wanton look that his guts  cramped. He felt tortured, bordering on a loss of control, and she  wanted to … flirt?

Trying not to stare at her mouth, he said, "What's up with you?"

With a secret smile, she lifted one bare shoulder. "I did a side-by-side analysis, that's all."

He had no idea what to make of that. "I don't follow."

She released her seat belt to turn toward him. After taking her gaze  over him, his chest, his shoulders-his lap-she looked into his eyes and  said huskily, "You, Spencer Lark, stand out."

"Among those scumbags?" He turned toward her, too. He had one arm along  the back of the seat, the other draped over the steering wheel. "Jesus, I  hope so."

"Definitely when compared to them, but from all other men, as well."

Her admiration put another crack in his already weakening resolve. Spencer tried scoffing at her. "You're drunk."

"Yeah, a little." Easing closer still, she said, "But it's not like I'm totally shit-faced or anything."

Did she curse on purpose? "You're not thinking straight."

"Actually, I was thinking about it a lot even before the whiskey. Even before I walked into the bar."                       
       
           



       

Good God. Feeling cornered by her intent and his own heated interest, he asked, "About what?"

"You. How you look. The things you do, and why you do them." She drew a breath and her eyes grew heavy. "How you make me feel."

"I panic you," Spencer reminded her. Okay, so during that last kiss he'd  given her, she hadn't exactly been fighting him. And before going in  the bar, she'd kissed him. A barely there kiss, but still …  "I have to  coerce you into every single-"

"No, you don't." She shook her head. "Not anymore."

Spencer considered her assurances. She might think that now, but she  wouldn't if he put it to the test. If he kissed her as he wanted to.

The way he craved.

"Okay, then." He'd give her a more thorough taste that would help to  remind them both of how she really felt and of everything she still had  to overcome. "Maybe you ought to pay up?"

She gave a quizzical look.

"You cursed, Arizona." Trusting that she'd shy away, he pushed her. "A whole lot of curses, actually."

"Hmm. Well, damn." She breathed a little harder, a little faster. "Guess I forgot myself."

Could she find a more inventive way to make him suffer? "Arizona … "

"But what the hell, right?" Her twitching smile proved a taunt; she  deliberately threw out the curses. "These are extenuating  circumstances."

Anticipation rode him, amped up his determination and his lust. "You're playing with fire."

"I know. But not cursing has been a real … " long, dark lashes lifted, and her gaze locked on his " … bitch."

That did it. She asked for it.

Hell, she begged for it.

And why not? It'd probably take no more than one real kiss before she'd be backing up and rethinking her brazenness.

She didn't really want him.

She didn't really want any of this.

Set on his course, Spencer said, "Time for me to collect, then, so sit still."

But she didn't. As he leaned toward her, she licked her lips and suddenly launched herself at him.

Taken off guard, he didn't resist as her mouth landed on his, not brief,  but open, hot. He tasted the sharp bite of the whiskey first and then  the sweetness of her tongue as she took his mouth without reserve.

Oh, God.

He tried to pull back.

Sort of.

He got his hands on her upper arms … but didn't quite push her away as he meant to.