Reckless (Brazen #2)(4)

But then he yanked his head away with a soft curse. He curled his fingers around her arm and all but dragged her to the front door.

“Stay out of trouble, Nikki,” he said in a resigned voice. “Next time you come into the station in cuffs, I’ll let you stay in jail overnight. It’s not a joke, and it won’t be fun.” She reached up to touch his cheek. “If you’re on duty, you could keep me company.” He scowled. “I don’t keep the prisoners company, Nikki. Bear that in mind next time you want to play your stupid games.”

She arched one brow as she let her fingers slide down his chest. “Game? I’m not playing a game, J.T. You know what I want. I haven’t made any secret of that. I’ve been more honest than you. You want me. I know it, and you know it, but you deny it with every breath you take. So who’s playing games?” Not giving him time to react, she breezed past him and shut the door behind her. She walked over to the couch and flopped down with a weary sigh.

What a night. She hadn’t been sure what to do in order to get arrested, and truth be told, she’d been terrified. She’d never even been inside a police station before, much less in jail with handcuffs.

But with J.T. going to such lengths to avoid her, she’d had no choice but to infiltrate his hidey hole. Starting a wee altercation at Tucker’s Bar seemed a good idea at the time.

Oh, it hadn’t escalated to much. No doubt J.T. had put the fear of God into the local men about even looking in her direction.

By the time Toby had shown up, the excitement was over, but she’d insisted he take her in. In handcuffs. She grinned. She’d known J.T. would blow a gasket when he saw her handcuffed. It had been worth it to see the look on his face.

She sighed and closed her eyes as she leaned her head against the back of the couch.

He wasn’t going to the café anymore. He wasn’t going home, apparently, not after she’d shown up there a few nights ago. And now he’d likely avoid his office. Where else could she hunt him down?

The Morgans. She grimaced. No doubt he’d run out to the ranch where he was sure she wouldn’t show up.

Her mind raced to figure out a way around his next move. Jasmine was back in town.

And married to Zane. Which confused Nikki, because she’d always been sure that Jasmine was pretty hung up on Zane’s older brother Seth. She shrugged. Maybe Jasmine had settled. That wasn’t her problem. Her problem was making damn sure J.T. couldn’t avoid her forever.

She and Jasmine weren’t best friends by any stretch, though Jasmine had never been rude, unlike the rest of the good people of Barley. Jasmine had her own difficulties back in the day, but she’d always had the protection of the Morgan brothers and J.T. as well. If Jasmine weren’t married, Nikki would be jealous of the fact that J.T. had never tried to avoid Jasmine. In fact…hmmm. Hadn’t he hauled Jasmine out of Tucker’s Bar on more than one occasion?

Jasmine had to know J.T. pretty well given how close her husband was to J.T.

Maybe…just maybe she should look Jasmine up. Give her a visit to catch up. Okay, not that they had any catching up to do. A few hellos in town didn’t a friendship make, but hey, she was willing to play nice if it got her closer to her goal of seducing one J.T.

Summers.

***

The heat was ungodly. Hot air blew through her hair as she drove her convertible down the dusty drive of the Sweetwater Ranch. The sun scorched over her skin, leaving her feeling parched and dry. July in south Texas. Only an idiot would live here. And only an idiot would fall in love with a man who had no intention of ever leaving this Godforsaken place.

Oh hello, my name is Nikki Durant, and I’m an idiot.

She pulled up to the sprawling ranch and cut the ignition. How desperate did it make her to come all the way out here to enlist the aid of a girl who might very well tell her to get lost?

With a resigned sigh, and the realization that she’d lost any and all pride when it came to J.T., she hauled herself out of her car and traipsed up to the front door. Right now she’d kill for air conditioning.

She rang the doorbell, and a few seconds later, an older Hispanic lady answered. The lady smiled welcomingly.

“Uh, hi,” Nikki said lamely. “Is Jasmine home?” The woman beamed at her. “I’m Carmen. Come in, come in. Jasmine is in the kitchen.”

Nikki stepped inside and closed her eyes in absolute pleasure as the frigid air washed over her damp hair. Carmen pointed across the room and nodded.

Nikki walked nervously toward the kitchen, or what she assumed was the kitchen since Carmen had disappeared. She heard distant voices and quickened her step. When she rounded the corner, however, she put the brakes on, and her mouth gaped open.

Jasmine was in a lip lock with Seth, who was not her husband. He had her backed against the counter, and their bodies were molded tightly against each other.

Oops didn’t even begin to cover it. Despite the fact that it was certainly none of her business, anger washed over Nikki. She liked Zane. Liked him a lot. He’d been her childhood hero when he’d stepped between her and three other kids who were determined to beat her into a pulp. And the fact that his wife was cheating on him with his brother pissed her off.

“Uh, Jasmine, it appears we have company.”

Seth’s voice, husky from passion, hit Nikki all wrong. Her eyes narrowed as she glared at Jasmine. Never mind that she’d come here to enlist her help with J.T. Right now she wanted to kick her ass.