The Watson Brothers (3 page)

The second they were in their cars, Sam again leaned on the brick wall. He realized his shoulder hurt, turned, and found out his shoulder blades were tender too. And his head…He didn’t even want to know about his damn head. Ariel’s attack had put him down hard. His brains were probably scrambled.

Truth was, he felt like he’d been run over by a Mack truck and standing on his own steam wasn’t all that comfortable.

Ariel looked him over, forcing him to suck it up. “What are they going to do for you that you’ll owe them?”

“Paperwork.” Then, just to taunt her because he felt physically miserable and she looked as bubbly as ever, he added, “That, and they figure I might get laid if they leave me alone with you. If I did, I’ll really owe them.”

Rather than look offended, she blinked twice. “Laid by who?”

“You, sweets. They’re assuming all your furious bluster has to do with sexual sparks, rather than honest dislike.”

After a long, thoughtful moment empty of protests, Ariel nodded. “My car is this way. Should I pretend to help you or is the coast clear?”

After having her fanny on his face, he didn’t want her hands anywhere near him. He had enough fodder for three wet dreams as it was. “I’ll stumble my way there under my own steam, thank you very much.”

Weaving this way and that, Sam trailed behind her, suspicious over her docile agreement to drive him home, and her lack of anger over his friend’s crude assumptions. He was also aware of the sway in her hips and that delectable bottom he’d already manhandled.

Hell, half the things he wanted to do to that bottom were probably illegal in some states.

He forced himself to look away. He had to stop drooling over her, for crying out loud. The woman was a complete and total pain the ass, only a year or two older than a teenybopper,
and
his baby brother’s ex-girlfriend. He had to remember all that.

Sam was none too happy when she took the liberty of opening the door for him. Worse, the car was a beat-up, banana-yellow Pinto. “I won’t fit,” he complained, even as he folded himself painfully inside the cramped front seat.

She slammed the door after him, went around to the driver’s side and got in. After she had the key in the ignition and the engine snarled and screamed to life, she leaned back in her seat with a sigh.

Sam waited for her to put the car in gear and when she didn’t, he asked, “What’s wrong? Are you hurt?” She’d told Fuller she wasn’t, but she was stubborn enough to lie about it. He should have checked for himself.

That thought brought a shudder of excitement. Not a good idea. Not at all.

She stared up at the ceiling. “I can’t drive and hold my dress up too.”

“Ah.” Forcing nonchalance, Sam shrugged and said, “Hey, I’ve seen every female part there is, hooters included, so unless you’re unique in some mind-boggling way, it’s no big deal. Don’t worry about it.”

Appearing stunned by such an outpouring of nonsense, she said, “Fine,” and dropped the torn material. It fell completely below her breast.

Oh Lord. His nonchalance obliterated, Sam swallowed hard, looked away from her bra and how her nipple poked against the silky material. He did what he could to distract himself. He tried thinking about the job he’d just done, the repeat performance he had to put in tomorrow. He considered all the endless paperwork. He even tried thinking about Pete. It didn’t help.

His aching body and splitting head should have been enough to keep him off track, but there was no suppressing those pesky sexual urges. Whenever Ariel was around, they got a stranglehold on his libido.

“Let’s play some music.” Sam fiddled with the radio while she pulled off the side street and into the denser flow of traffic.

“Sure. Help yourself.” Irony filled her tone since he’d already located an oldie station and turned up the volume to listen to, “Ohhhh, love to love you baby…”

Speaking loud to be heard over Donna Summer, she asked, “Mind if I come up for a minute when we get to your place?”

The way she said that, so casually, put Sam on edge. “Why?”

“Don’t look so suspicious. I just thought I could find some way to fasten my dress, maybe a safety-pin or something. I know you have a house, but I live in an apartment and who knows how many people will be around when I pull up. I don’t want to flash the neighbors and I don’t want to start a lot of gossip.”

He didn’t want her flashing the neighbors either. As long as he got her in and out of his place in a hurry, it’d be okay. He could hold off that long. Maybe. “I have a sewing kit you can use.”

“You’re so gracious.”

“Graciousness is hard to find when my head is splitting, thanks to your tackle.”

She stopped at a red light and turned toward him. “And here I thought you were so macho. Let me have a look.”

Without his permission she caught his left ear and turned his head. “Ouch,” she said in sympathy. “It looks like you’re bleeding a little.”

Reaching to the back of his head, Sam located a lump, and a spot of blood. “Damn.” No wonder his head hurt so much. “It’s fine,” he lied. When she started to protest, he said, “Green light. Let’s go.”

They were cruising right along, going about forty miles an hour when she suddenly said, “They were right, you know.”

He’d been so busy trying to ignore her warm, softly scented body beside him, her words caused him to start. “Who’s that?”

“The other officers.”

“Fuller and Isaac?”

“I suppose. You didn’t introduce me so I don’t know their names.”

She made it an accusation, setting his teeth on edge. “It was hardly a social affair, if you’ll recall.”

Silence reigned until he said, “All right, I give. What were they right about?”

Without him realizing it, they’d left the main road and were now in the suburbs, close to his moderate house.

She turned down his tree-lined lane. “You getting laid. That is”—she hesitated, peeked a look at him, then forged on—“if you want to.”

Several things happened to Sam at once. His stomach bottomed out, his eyes widened, and his dick gave a proud salute.

Well hell. What was she up to now?

The silence was enough to squash her. Ariel didn’t want to look at Sam again, not when her first glimpse had shown him to be anything but interested. Horrified, yes. Shocked, yes. But not interested.

Unfortunately, whenever he was around, she couldn’t seem to
not
look at him. From the day she’d met him, he fascinated her.

It wasn’t just his awesome physique that drew her, though that was pretty eye-catching. He was tall, muscular, mean, and lean. He had the attitude of a man in charge, spoke as if he expected to be obeyed, and had confidence down to a fine art.

And it wasn’t just his incredible, look-into-your-soul blue eyes, so different from his brothers’. Sam had inherited his mother’s eyes, while both Gil and Pete looked more like their father with chocolate brown eyes. They all had inky black hair though, and thick lashes. They were all handsome—just in different ways. Gil was sophisticated, suave. Pete was fun-loving and playful.

Sam was all basic male, rough-edged and rugged and keenly capable of handling any lethal situation.

He was also a pretty nice guy, though his gruff manner and burdening responsibility often hid that fact. Best of all, he was a bona fide hero through and through. When his family needed him, he stepped up to the plate without complaints. On the job, he did what had to be done to make things right. His brothers looked up to him, his mother depended on him, and his fellow officers respected him. He was like Superman only real. And sexier.

Finally, with an uncertain laugh, Sam said, “Come again?”

Ariel cleared her throat. His tone of disbelief didn’t exactly bode well, but she’d made up her mind. “You know when I said I went to the bar to be sure?”

“Yeah, right. Sure there wasn’t anyone else—whatever the hell that means.”

“It means I wanted to be sure there wasn’t anyone else who appealed to me. But there isn’t. That’s the third bar I’ve been in this week.”

A thundercloud would appear passive next to his darkening expression. “You’ve been hanging out in bars?” His teeth actually clenched, fascinating her. “Do you have any idea what’s been happening around the area bars lately?”

She hadn’t, but judging by what he’d done tonight, she assumed some muggings were taking place. Because she didn’t want a lecture, she just shrugged.

His eyes turned red.

To pacify him, she pointed out her other visits. “I’ve also been to two nightclubs, the grocery, the park, and three concerts. Sorry, but there is no one else who appeals to me.” She drew a long breath and admitted the stark truth. “You’re the only one.”

At that moment, Sam looked to be choking on murderous intent.

“Say something.”

He didn’t, he just sat there, steam coming off his head while his face colored and his fists curled. Ariel honestly didn’t know if he fought the urge to take her or strangle her. Not that she was afraid of him. Never.

Sam protected people—he didn’t abuse them.

Because she and Pete had stopped by his house once, she knew where he lived. She pulled into the blacktop drive and turned off the car. She didn’t at first look at him, not when it felt like he was frying her with his gaze. When she finally worked up the nerve, she turned to him.

“Well?”

Through his teeth, he snarled, “Inside.”

Oh good. At least he wasn’t throwing her off his property already. She considered his grudging command a positive step. Slipping out of her car, she managed to hold her dress up, drop her keys into her purse, and close the door. Sam made no gentlemanly moves toward her, but then, he was badly beaten up.

She loved his old two-story house. It had a poured front porch complete with an overhang and wooden swing. The shrubbery was original and thick and outdated, but it made a nice contrast against the red brick. Enormous oaks lined the street and during the day, squirrels scurried everywhere.

At his father’s death, he’d inherited a large sum of money. She didn’t doubt that Sam could have afforded a posh, upscale home in an exclusive neighborhood. She was glad he hadn’t moved.

When she reached Sam’s side, he took her arm in an implacable grip and started her in a trot toward the front door. Some elderly neighbors in the house to the right hailed him, forcing him to stop.

“Evening Sam.”

Sam groaned, slowly turned and waved at the two people visible by their front porch light. “Booth, Hesper. What are you doing up this late?”

Ariel giggled. It was only eleven thirty.

“The dog had business to take care of. Her old bladder just gives her fits.”

Ariel’s giggle got caught in her throat. She looked in the yard and saw the most hideous creature she’d ever clapped eyes on. An obese bulldog squatted by a bush, turned to sniff, and then lumbered back to her owners, who praised her as if she’d created gold.

“Who’s your lady-friend?” Hesper asked with a nosiness reserved for the old or very young.

Sam leaned in close to Ariel’s ear. His hot breath teased her when he growled, “Stay here.” Then he moved away to the neighbor’s porch railing. They spoke quietly so Ariel couldn’t hear what was said.

Seconds later, both elders looked over at her with awe and horror. Ariel frowned. Just what had Sam told them? He returned, took her arm again and said, “Let’s go.”

“What did you say to them, Sam Watson?”

“Keep your voice down. This is a quiet neighborhood.”

His walkway could use a good sweeping, she decided as her toes kicked through scattered leaves. Even the porch was littered with leaves and acorns.

As if he knew her thoughts, he said, “A recent storm blew crap everywhere. I’ll get to it when I can.” Using a key, he unlocked the front door and held it open for her.

She stepped into the inky darkness, then felt his hands close gently but firmly on her upper arms. With bated breath, she waited for a kiss, but got bodily moved out of his way instead, so he could turn off an alarm. “Wait here.”

Left alone, Ariel tried to get her eyes to adjust to the darkness. When the lights blinked on, she squinted. “Why don’t you have a wall switch by the front door?”

“The light’s out and I haven’t had a chance to change it yet. I’ve been working overtime on the bar muggings. Let’s go to the kitchen. I have a feeling it might be the safest room.”

“Why?” She trailed behind him.

He gave her a long look. “No place to get laid.”

Refusing to let him derail her, Ariel grinned at his sarcastic wit. “There’s always the countertop. Or the table. Maybe even the floor—”

His rough palm covered her mouth. “That’s enough out of you.” She mumbled against his palm and he lifted his hand. “What?”

“Tell me what you said to your neighbors.”

His mouth curved in a sinful smile. “Sure. I told them you were a prostitute who’d ratted out her pimp, and I had to keep you close so he didn’t kill you.”

“Oh.” He expected her to be insulted, so she asked instead, “Have you ever been with a prostitute?”

“No.”
He didn’t bother to hide his indignation at all. “Now behave for a minute so I can think.”

While his back was turned, Ariel pulled out a chair, sat down and lifted her skirt to examine her scraped, bruised knees. They hurt, but Sam was in much worse shape than she so she tried not to complain.

“Now about this…what the hell?” He’d turned with a scowl on his face, only to pull up with a different type of anger. “You said you weren’t hurt,” he accused.

“Just a little. Nothing serious.”

Muttering under his breath, Sam whipped off several paper towels, folded them, and doused them beneath cold water. He came to her and knelt down. “Hold still.”

Despite his order, she jumped when the icy towel touched her raw scrapes. “Sorry.”

“Damn.” He dabbed at both knees, removing small bits of dried blood, gravel, and dirt.

Before Ariel could figure out what he intended, he flipped her skirt up higher. “Sam!”

When she tried to shove her skirt back down, he caught both her hands in one of his and held them up and against her breasts, almost shoving her out of her chair. “Shush. I want to see if you’re hurt anywhere else.”

She had to brace her feet apart to keep from toppling over. “This is outrageous!”

Blue eyes lit like the hottest flame, he glanced up at her. “You sitting on my face was outrageous. This is just concern.”

Ariel gulped.

“Now be quiet.”

Mortified, her mouth snapped shut. She
had
sat on his face. At the time, she’d been so worried about protecting him she hadn’t paid much attention.

He found one large bluish bruise on her thigh. “How’d this happen?”

Ariel peered down at the mark. With both their heads bent, her blond curls brushed up against his silky black hair. “I don’t know. Maybe when I jumped on that guy’s back and we all crashed into the stairs.”

“Anything else?”

Since he was on his knees in front of her, more caring than insulting, she showed him her elbow. It was raw and stung every time she flexed her arm. His mouth flattened in displeasure. “I ought to turn you over my knee for that damn stunt. Look at you. You’re a mess.”

So much for caring.

“Let me get some ice; then I’ll fetch my first aid kit.”

“I don’t need you to doctor me.”

He had his back to her, digging in his freezer. “Tough. My house, my rules, so I’m doing it anyway.” Within minutes, he had ice crushed inside a damp dish towel and he pressed the freezing compress to her thigh. Ariel almost came out of her seat. The cold prickled so badly she tried to shove it away.

“Leave it,” he ordered, keeping it firmly in place until she subsided. He took her hand and put it over the compress so that she had to hold it. His commanding gaze bore into hers. “I want to see it there when I get back, you understand?”

“Yes sir.”

His eyes narrowed. “A show of respect from you at this late date is beyond suspect, so stow it.” Then softly, with exasperation, “I’ll be right back. Sit tight.”

Ariel leaned out of her seat to watch him trot from the kitchen, into the hall, and up the short flight of stairs to his bathroom. Once he was out of sight, she lifted the ice away and fell back in her chair.

None of this was what she’d expected. Not that she’d known what to expect, but worry over a few paltry bruises…She heard him returning and quickly replaced the ice pack, wincing at the bitter cold.

He eyed her when he reentered, his expression stern. “I hope you learned a few things tonight.”

“Yeah, that you’re surly when you’re hurt and that you don’t like women coming on to you.”

He moistened a gauze pad with antiseptic and again knelt in front of her. “Wrong. I’m not all that hurt and I love when women come on to me. I just don’t like little girls flirting when they don’t know what they’re getting into.”

Seething, Ariel said, “If you don’t stop accusing me of being a child, I’m going to—” She screeched when the antiseptic hit her scrapes, burning like a brand. Her legs stiffened and her hands gripped the sides of her seat.

“Sorry.” For once, his voice was gentle, caring. Sam leaned forward and blew his warm breath over her knees.

A new ache filled her, one of overwhelming sexual hunger. She’d wanted him since the first time she saw him. She remembered that moment in vivid detail. Pete had taken her with him to his family’s regular Sunday get-together. A storm had knocked a thick elm over in his middle brother’s backyard, damaging a fence. Sam was there, shirtless, sweaty, tanned, and so sexy she’d stood dumbfounded for several moments while he swung an ax, cutting up the fallen tree alongside his brother, Gil. The muscles in his strong back had flexed with each movement. His biceps bunched and knotted. His hands were big, lean, his strength undeniable.

“Ariel? You didn’t faint on me, did you?”

Taking a breath, she opened her eyes and locked gazes with him. He had one hand on her thigh, holding the ice pack there, the other gently touching her chin. The breath sighed out of her. “I want you so much.”

He lurched back as if she’d kicked him, jerking to his feet in a rush. “You look besotted, damn it. Knock it off.”

She couldn’t reply, could only stare at him with all the love and hunger she felt plain in her eyes.
Please
, she silently pleaded, and got a wary frown from him in return.

“Here’s a new rule. You have to be quiet while I finish this up. Understand?”

She stared.

“Answer me, damn it.”

“Yes, all right.”

He moved back to her cautiously. “Give me your elbow.”

This time she bit her lip when he swabbed the remaining cuts and scrapes. She didn’t want to be a wimp in front of him. She didn’t want him to feel sorry for her.

He finished off by applying ointment and some bandages. Then he backed up. “All done. Now.”

“Now what?”

“About this…wanting me business.”

There was nothing she could do but wait and see what he had to say.