Circe's Recruits 1: Roane (16 page)

Everything was fine. We just happened to run into Simon Dunn on the way.”

“I want details.” Ace drummed his fingers on the table. His fingernails lengthened, and she swallowed, growing nervous even while a part of her was fascinated. She’d never seen any of the guys change.

Ace dug his nails into the tabletop.

“We were in a mall,” Kelly said quickly. “We were looking at some clothes in a store, and there he was. Simon glanced at Caitlyn and waved. He said ‘Nice to see you.’ If Caitlyn hadn’t dragged me away, I wouldn’t have known who he was. He seemed so pleasant, so normal.” So handsome, she didn’t say, but the look on Ace’s face suggested he was aware of Simon’s appeal.

“I’ll kill him.” Ace’s quiet announcement worried her, so much so that she reached across the table and took his hand in hers.

“It’s okay, Ace. He didn’t do anything more than that. He and his buddy saw us. They made sure we saw them. Then they walked away. I had my gun. Caitlyn had her claws.” Kelly frowned. “But they really didn’t want us. I felt his indifference.”

“What?” Ace ran his fingers over her hand, and the heat that traveled through her body would have knocked her on her ass had she not already been sitting down.

She swallowed hard and jerked her hand free. Ace’s tension, thankfully, abated.

“I just meant that you could tell he was sending us a message. They don’t want Caitlyn.

At least, not now.”

“Then what do they want?” Hale murmured.

Kelly wished she knew. Though Simon had breezed by them with little fanfare, later, on the ferry, she’s met his friend again.

While Caitlyn used the restroom, she’d waited outside by the railing, taking in the summer breeze off the Delaware Bay.

The same male who’d walked with Simon earlier suddenly stood next to her. Brown hair. Even features. Nothing out of the ordinary, save he was tall and obviously muscular in jeans and a T-shirt.

Then he sniffed her. Like a dog. He smiled and turned into six feet, three inches of blatant intimidation that she was savvy enough to beware.

“You take care, Kelly Malloy,” he said in a low rumble. “I’ll be seeing you later.” He licked his lips and bent to whisper in her ear. “Count on it.” Frozen in fear, she’d stood there like a damned idiot when he sniffed her again.

The bathroom door opened and caught her attention. Caitlyn came out with a frown.

“What’s wrong?”

“There’s…” No one stood by her. “Not a thing.” Kelly forced a smile. “Can’t wait to get back and see the look on Roane’s face when he sees what you bought him.”

“Kelly?” Hale looked concerned.

Forcing yet another smile, Kelly shook her head. “Wish I knew what they wanted. But you know, I’m kinda glad I don’t. I figure if I stick to policing Doc and his bad habits, some of my cleanliness might rub off on you guys,” she directed around the table.

They laughed, but Zack and Ace watched her carefully, as if sensing there was more she hadn’t told them. Admit to this booth full of testosterone that she’d been threatened by one of the PPA? No way.

Kelly had no intention of giving up her independence any more than Caitlyn had. She knew how to use a gun, and she’d be damned if she’d let those jerks with the PPA scare her into kowtowing to cheap threats and intimidation. So the guy who’d sniffed her had freaked her out. Sniffing wasn’t illegal. Zack and Ace did it all the time.

“What?” she asked when Zack smirked.

“For a woman who wasn’t hungry, you nearly ate all my fries.” She had a bad habit of eating off his and Ace’s plates. “If you two weren’t so slow, I wouldn’t be able to do this.” She took his last fry, dipped it in ketchup, and tore it in two.

“Now, Derrick. I believe you owe me fifty. Hale, we’re even. And you two…” She paused when she caught the intense look the “boy toys” shot her. “Twenty each.” Derrick swore. “You did something. There’s no way Caitlyn fell for Roane’s sorry-assed gifts. Flowers.” Derrick snorted. “Gimme a break.”

“I still say it was the sex.” Hale grinned. “Hard for a woman not to fall for a man who can ring her bell. Right, Kelly?”

Feeling more than uncomfortable at being the center of attention, Kelly scowled. “I wouldn’t know.” She glared at Zack and Ace. “What are you two smiling at?”

“So I guess you and Stephen are on the outs? That’s too bad.” Ace sounded way too hopeful to be sincere as he and Zack slapped their money on the table.

Kelly didn’t bother to reply. She had no explanation as to why such a nice man bored her to tears. Stephen was tall, handsome, and charming. He didn’t curse in front of her, and his kisses were warm and pleasant.

He was dull.

“Stephen’s very nice.” Her defense sounded pitiful, as evidenced by the knowing grins passing around the table. Yeah, Stephen’s nice. He’s just not either of you. She stared at Zack and Ace, hungry for the two men she wanted with her last breath. Was Caitlyn right? Did they both feel for her, even a little bit, what she felt for them?

“So, Kelly.” Zack paused. “You want to hit a movie tonight?” The others stared at him, and if she wasn’t mistaken, the large male flushed. “With the rest of us. We were thinking of seeing the new Bond movie.”

Ace glared at him. “Bullshi -- I mean, that’s crap. We’re going to that horror flick.” Hale sighed. “I thought we’d agreed on that political thriller.” Then Derrick added his two cents, and the intimacy of the moment passed. Kelly didn’t feel left out, though. She belonged to this odd group, who felt more like a real family than her father back home. Kelly’s heart eased when around these men. They might not realize it, but they needed her to keep them real. To keep them organized and human, aware of what living around a female entailed. And she finally admitted to herself how much she might really need them.

Her gaze lingered on Ace and Zack. The pair noticed and smiled, their eyes glowing with the promise of something special, something just for her.

Maybe I need to take control of the situation with these two. Something inside her cheered at the notion. A flare of aggression took Kelly by surprise. It was with some effort that she swallowed down the demands building at the base of her throat.

“Tell you what, guys. We’ll see the political thriller tonight and the horror flick next week. Zack, I already saw the Bond movie with Caitlyn, so I’m out.” He sighed. “Now, how about we go double or nothing? I say Caitlyn’s pregnant within the next six months.”

“Three. You’re on.” Derrick gave her the fifty he owed her and bet another twenty.

As the others scrambled to catch up, Kelly scratched her arm, smoothing the itch under her skin, and downed another aspirin.

“Headache?” Ace asked quietly as the others argued.

“It’s nothing.” Nothing some hot sex with you and Zack won’t cure. She started. The low growl resounding in her mind was very much not her own. Ace shifted, and she caught his scent, like warm vanilla and an unidentified spice, one she could never mistake for anyone but him. Her fingers suddenly tingled, as if something needed to come out. She stared at her hands, alarmed and trying desperately not to show it.

It was definitely time to see Doc again.

Soon.

Marie Harte

Marie Harte is an avid reader who loves all things paranormal and futuristic, but especially all things romance. Reading romances since she was twelve, she fell in love with the warmth of first passion and knew writing was her calling. Twenty-three years later, the Marine Corps, a foray through Information Technology, a husband and four kids, and her dream has finally come true. Marie lives in Georgia with her family and loves hearing from readers. To read more about Marie, visit www.marieharte.com and check out her blog at http://www.marieharte.blogspot.com.