Rules of Protection(44)

“Afraid I might tarnish your precious halo?”

“Nope. I want to channel your energy into something else, in hopes you’ll behave yourself from now on.”

“A reward for good behavior?”

Jake nodded. “Sure. What do you want?”

I considered my options, though I didn’t have many to choose from. But there was one thing I truly wanted. Well, besides that. “I want to go somewhere. I’m tired of sitting around here.”

“Nope. Not going to happen. Pick something else.”

“Come on, Jake. I’m like that colt in the barn. I need to be able to stretch my legs, but you keep fencing me in. I need to get out of here, even if it’s only for a little while.”

He thought about it for a second, then let out a hard breath. “Okay, fine. God, I hope I don’t regret this,” he said, running a hand through his hair. “Tomorrow evening, I’ll take you out.”

“Really?”

He nodded. “Yes. But not for long, and we have to stay low-key. Is it a deal?”

“Deal,” I said, grinning. “Wow, your halo is really glowing tonight.”

Jake flipped off the lamp. “Yeah, yeah. I’m a regular angel.”

“Well, it’s better than acting like a nun,” I said, before pausing to roll my mind over a drunken thought. “Wait a minute. Do angels have sex?”

“Go to sleep, Emily.”

…

Earlier in the day, Jake called Cowboy and arranged for him to bring the Explorer by before dark. When I heard him pull in, I figured we’d be leaving soon. I dabbed my lips with shiny, clear gloss and misted myself lightly with perfume. I wanted my outing with Jake to be memorable, and the last look in the mirror had brought a smile to my face.

The flowery halter dress had a vintage, romantic feel, but paired with white strappy heels and a wide belt cinching my waist, the dress transformed into a traffic stopper. Junior’s daughter had great taste.

Jake poked his head in the bedroom door. “Are you ready—” He stopped and stared with a stunned expression. “—to go?”

“Yep.” I moved past him toward the cottage door. His head turned to watch me, but his feet stayed planted. “Coming?”

“Uh…yeah, of course.” Only then did he move to the door. He opened it, but paused. “Emily,” he said, hesitating again. “You…uh, look great.”

I smiled. “Thanks. You, too.”

His blue plaid shirt wasn’t anything fancy, but it brought out the blue coloring in his gray eyes. His denim jeans emphasized his long, muscular legs and were tight on his ass. What more could a girl want?

Jake held the door for me, and I stepped out onto the porch. A shrill wolf whistle pierced the air. Cowboy leaned against the fender of the Explorer wearing faded Wranglers, a white muscle shirt, old work boots, and his white straw hat. He motioned his finger in a circle, wanting me to spin. I happily obliged.

He looked me up and down. “Mmmm-mmm.” He didn’t need to give me a verbal compliment. The fiery spark of desire in his eyes, as well as a hint of the green-eyed monster when he glanced over to Jake, was compliment enough.

I hadn’t seen desire in Jake’s eyes when he came into the bedroom. If anything, he looked more like a scared bunny crossing paths with a hungry coyote. What happened to him being the big, bad wolf? I chalked it up to the fear of going into town with the woman he stole from witness protection—it’s bound to make anyone a little nervous.

Jake drove and I sat in the front passenger seat, though I don’t know why, since I wasn’t alone. Cowboy said he’d sit in back, but he spent most of his time leaning over my shoulder, breathing on my neck. I think he was looking for a mountain view, but with my average-sized chest, he was sorely disappointed. Most he could hope for was a glimpse of the twin peaks.

Once we dropped Cowboy off at the fire station, Jake drove the back way toward Liberty County. I thought it was funny, since all the ways were the back way to me, especially when surrounded by thickets of trees.

“Your friend is flirtatious.”

“And persistent,” Jake added. “I think you’ve caught his attention.”

“What do you mean?”

Jake shrugged. “He’s never met a woman he couldn’t have before.”

“Quantity over quality, huh?”

“I don’t know if I’d go that far,” he said with a smirk. “The women he’s been with have never complained about quality control. It’s more like he’s an avid hunter, and it’s open season year round…as far as women go.”

“Oh, I get it. He’s all about the bag and tag…but with no limit?”

“That’s right,” Jake said, laughing. “Cowboy needs a woman who challenges him. Most of them tend to fall over with their legs in the air. It’s no fun hunting if the game comes to you and commits suicide at your feet.” Jake glanced over at me as he drove. “Is he bothering you?”

“Cowboy? No, he’s harmless…I think,” I said with a laugh. “Is he bothering you?”

He grinned. “Did he hit on me and I didn’t know it?”

“No, I mean, does it bother you that he’s hitting on me?”

Jake didn’t hesitate. “Not at all.”