Leslie Kelly – Bare Essentials: Naughty, But Nice (страница 15)

“Such as why you didn’t tell me when you first hit town,” Tag said lightly, not feeling light at all.

Cassie picked up the purse she’d set on the counter. “You know what? Never mind.”

“But—” Roxy made a frustrated sound when Cassie pivoted away and headed toward the door.

“Thanks anyway,” Cassie called over her shoulder.

Not even her curvy little ass could sidetrack him now. With one last glance at Roxy, who lifted her shoulders to indicate she knew as much as he did, he followed Cassie.

Who gave no indication that she even noticed.

“Cassie,” he said as she strode out of the station and into the early evening.

Her heels clicked on the asphalt. Everyone she passed took a good long second look, both men and women. Some started talking. Cassie didn’t so much as look at a single one of them.

“Cassie,” he said again, but as she was having no part of him, it left him following her like some damn puppy dog. But she’d tweaked his curiosity—and concern—and if there was anything more dogged than a curious, concerned cop, he didn’t know what it was.

At her car, she opened her purse. Slid on sunglasses.

“Cassie.”

Pulling out her keys, she opened her door, and would have slid inside if he hadn’t put a hand on her waist.

Going still, she stared down at his hand, which looked large and imposing on the paler, softer skin of her very tantalizing middle. “I paid the debt the other night,” she said very quietly. “We’re even, remember?”

With a rather unprofessional oath, he dropped his hand. “Do you think I care about that?”

“You’ve got a penis, don’t you?”

He sucked in a slow careful breath because something about her stoked his temper every time. “You wanted the teddy bear, I won it for you.”

“Thank you, Mr. He-Man. And I paid your price.”

“That’s right,” he said, keeping his voice even with effort. “End of story.”

“Then why are we still talking about it?”

“Because you brought it up!” Lord, she could try the patience of a saint. He took a deep breath. “I want to hear about the restraining order. About your threatening mail.”

“Yeah, well that was a private conversation and you were eavesdropping.” But she seemed less hostile now and he forced himself to relax.

Forced himself to be the calm cop he knew he was. And once he did that, he had to admit it bugged the hell out of him that she thought he’d insist on more “payment” for that damn teddy bear.

Had she really never met a guy who didn’t want something from her? He knew she didn’t have a father around—never had. He knew what Biff had wanted from her. But what about others? Hadn’t there been others? Anyone who’d just been there for her? Given her attitude, he had to doubt it. That thought unsettled him to the core, and if the kiss hadn’t so rocked his world, he might have spared a moment to feel guilty he’d asked her for that much.

Then he realized something else, that she was avoiding looking at him, and when he took a good look, he saw why.

She was uncomfortable around him. Interesting. If she’d paid the debt, and it was as over as she’d said, why wouldn’t she look at him? “Cassie, talk to me.” He paused. “Please.”

With an exaggerated sigh, she tipped her head and looked skyward. “You know me. Wild Cassie Tremaine. I go looking for trouble. Just ask anyone.”

“Pleasantville isn’t Mayberry,” Tag said. “We have our fair share of village idiots.” With his cousin leading the pack.

“Surely you’ve heard the stories.”

“And I sincerely doubt any of them are true.”

Her gaze jerked up to his. Oh, yeah, he’d managed to surprise her. Had no one ever believed in her?

“I’m just having some trouble with an obsessed guy, that’s all,” she said finally.

“A fan?”

“Sort of.”

This he didn’t like. He imagined, given her chosen occupation, she faced similar problems all the time. That she actually needed a restraining order was deeply disturbing. “How serious is the trouble?”

She lifted a shoulder and didn’t look at him.

“Serious enough for a restraining order.” He turned her to face him, left his hands on her bare upper arms because he wanted her unsettled enough to talk. “I can find out with or without you, but I’d rather you tell me.”

“It’s not that big of a deal.” She shrugged him off. “I’m safe here. Nothing bad can happen in Pleasantville, right…Sheriff?”

“Do you have a thing against all cops or just me?”

“Oh, definitely all cops, but especially second generation ones.”

It wasn’t the first time he’d wondered. “You know my father.”

“I grew up here, didn’t I? Right here in good old Pleasantville, where, like I said, nothing bad could ever happen.” Her laugh didn’t convince him, but mostly because it wasn’t humor in her eyes now but…hurt? If he had to guess, he’d have said plenty of bad things had happened to her, right here in Pleasantville.

“Look, I just…had a long night last night and got a little spooked. Okay?”

“I can’t imagine you being spooked for anything less than a good reason.”

“I know. I’m so tough I’d scare away the mob.”

She didn’t look so tough right now. “Cassie. You’re scaring me.”

“Look, Pete’s just a typical guy. He thought he could have something I didn’t want to give him, and he’s pissed. He’ll get over it.”

“Pete. A…lover?”

She ripped off her sunglasses, her eyes gleaming. “None of your damn business. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m headed to the lake for some time alone.”

“It’s going to be getting dark soon.”

“Thanks, Einstein.”

He looked into the open convertible. Miss Priss lay asleep on the passenger seat, next to a picnic basket and a book. “The Rogue’s Kiss?” he asked in surprise, staring at the historical romance novel with the half-naked guy on the cover.

“Do you think underwear models can’t read?”

“You read…romance?”

“Shockers, isn’t it?”

What was shocking was the layers to her. Who’d have thought Cassie Tremaine would have a romantic side?

She sank into the car, started it. “Unless you didn’t meet your ticket quota for the week, back off. I’d hate to run over those toes on my way outta here.”

Risking it, he held open her door. “Is that why you’re in town? To get out of the limelight for a while to avoid this guy?”

“I’m in town opening—”

“Bare Essentials. Yeah, yeah.” He gripped the hand that would have slid on her sunglasses again. “I’m not buying that anymore, Cassie. You’re here because you’re scared. How long are you staying?”

“Until I feel like hitting the road again. Now move.”

He did, only because he felt the tremble in her fingers and it shocked him. Vulnerability? He’d seen a flash of it before and dismissed it because it was unthinkable. The smart-ass, tough-as-hell Cassie couldn’t be vulnerable.

Or was she? He couldn’t help but feel that he’d missed something about her. That there was more to the tall, incredibly beautiful, distant woman than she wanted everyone to see.

He watched her peel out of the parking lot, heading toward the lake. It frustrated him that he’d been unable to figure out who the hell she really was.

He went back inside the station, thinking maybe he’d just try harder.

Roxy looked at him with a raised brow. “What’s up with the lingerie lady?”