LITMIR.BIZ

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razz her, because she took the bait so easily, he asked, “Would you like me to give you a drumroll?”

      She turned to face him. “I beg your pardon?”

      She looked honestly confused. He tried to hide his grin. “Every good striptease needs music.”

      “I’m not stripping!”

      He shrugged, amused by the blush on her cheeks that was visible even in the dark interior of the truck. She was apparently unused to masculine teasing, maybe even to men in general.

      He snorted at his own foolishness. It was men like himself, coarse and inelegant, that she wasn’t used to. He imagined she had plenty of sophisticated guys clamoring for her attention. And that fact nettled him, even though it shouldn’t. Grumbling, he said, “You should try it. Everyone should experience stripping just once. It’s a rush.”

      She held her coat together with clenched fingers, her look incredulous. If she knew him better, she’d know what a lie he’d just told. He hated taking off his clothes in front of so many voracious women. But she didn’t know him, and most likely never would. He should keep that fact in mind before he did something stupid. Like what, you idiot? Like promising you’d take care of her gun dealer for her, so she could take her cute little backside and big brown eyes back home where it’s safe? No, he most definitely couldn’t do that, no matter how much he’d like to.

      They came to the entrance to Crystal Lakes. “Which way?”

      He’d startled her. She’d practically jumped out of her seat, and he was left wondering exactly where her mind had been. “Which way to your place? You didn’t think I’d take you to my apartment tonight, did you? In case you haven’t noticed, lady, it’s after midnight. And I’ve put in a full day. Tomorrow will be soon enough.”

      The truck was left to idle while they stared at each other. Finally in a small voice filled with suspicion, Emily said, “You’re not just getting rid of me, are you? You’ll really help me?”

      Those eyes of hers could be lethal. He wanted nothing more than to tug her close and promise her he wouldn’t leave her, that he’d take care of everything, that he’d…She looked so damn vulnerable. It didn’t make a bit of sense. Usually people with big money went around feeling confident that money would get them anything. They didn’t bother with doubts.

      Irritated now, he rubbed the bridge of his nose, then said in a low tone, “Since I haven’t gotten my thousand bucks yet, you can be sure I’ll be sticking around.”

      After heaving a small sigh, she said, “Of course.”

      Now, why did she have to sound so disappointed? And why did he feel like such a jerk?

      “Left, up the hill, then the first street on the right.”

      Judd knew he had no business forming fantasies over a woman who blushed every time she spoke. Especially since he’d have to keep her close, more to protect her than anything else. She didn’t understand the magnitude of what she was tampering with, the lethal hold gun dealers had on the city.

      An idea had been forming in his mind ever since he’d realized he couldn’t discourage her from trying to save the world. He’d thought, if he became aggressive enough, she’d run back home to safety.

      Instead, she’d only threatened to find someone else to help her. And he couldn’t let that happen. She might get herself killed, or maybe she’d actually find out something and inadvertently get in the way. He’d worked too hard for that to happen. He wouldn’t allow anything—or anyone—to interfere. He would get the bastard who’d shot Max. But damn, he’d never expected Emily to openly accept his plans.

      Crystal Lakes, as exclusive and ritzy as it was, sat only about twenty-five minutes from the lower east side. It was one of those areas where you could feel the gradual change as you left hell and entered heaven. The grass started looking greener, the business district slipped away, and eventually everything was clean and untainted.

      Emily pointed out her house, a large white Colonial, with a huge front porch. It looked as if it had been standing there for more than a hundred years, and was surprisingly different from the newer, immense homes recently built in the area.

      There were golden lights in every window, providing a sense of warmth. A profusion of freshly planted spring flowers surrounded the perimeter, and blooming dogwoods randomly filled the yard. All in all, the place was very impressive, but not quite what he’d expected. Somehow, he’d envisioned her stationed in real money. Any truly successful businessperson could afford this house.

      Judd stared around the isolated grounds. “Do you live here by yourself?”

      She nodded, not quite looking at him, her hands clasped nervously in her lap.

      “No husband or little ones to help fill up the space?”

      “No. No husband. No children.”

      “Why not? I thought all debutantes were married off at an early age.”

      He didn’t think she’d answer at first, but then she licked her lips and her skittish gaze settled on his face. “I was…engaged once. But things didn’t work out.” She rushed through her words, seemingly unable to stop herself. “I bought this house about a year ago. My parents don’t particularly like it—it’s one of the smaller homes in the community. But it was an original estate, not one built when the Lakes was developed. It’s been renovated, and I think it’s charming.”

      She said the words defensively, as if she expected some scathing comment from him. Judd didn’t like being affected this way, but there was something about Emily that touched him. He could feel her emotions, had been feeling them since first making eye contact with her. And right now, she seemed almost wounded.

      Very gently, he asked, “Did you see to the renovations yourself?”

      “Yes.”

      He looked around the dark, secluded yard and shook his head. “Your parents approve of your living here alone?”

      “No, but it doesn’t matter what they think. When my grandmother died, she left me a large inheritance. My parents expected me to buy a condo near them and then invest the rest using their suggestions.” Her hands tightened in her lap and she swallowed. “But I loved this house on sight. I’d already planned to buy it, and receiving the inheritance let me do so sooner than I’d planned. I don’t regret a single penny I spent on the place. Everything is just as I want it.”

      “What if you hadn’t gotten the inheritance?”

      “I would have found a job. I’m educated. I’m not helpless.” She gave him a narrow-eyed look. “But this way, I don’t have to. I’m financially independent.”

      And alone. “How old are you, Emily?”

      She raised her chin, a curious habit he’d noticed she used whenever she felt threatened. “Thirty.”

      He couldn’t hide his surprise. “You don’t look more than twenty.” Without thinking, he reached out and touched her cheek, his fingertips drifting over her fine, porcelain skin. “Twenty and untouched.”

      She jerked away. “Are we going to sit in the driveway all night? Go around the back, to the kitchen door.”

      He shouldn’t let her give him orders, but what the hell. He put the truck in gear and did as directed.

      The darkness of the hour had hidden quite a few things. There was a small lake behind her property, pretty with the moon reflecting off its surface. Of course, there were some twenty such lakes in the Crystal Lakes community, so he shouldn’t have been surprised.

      “Is the lake stocked?”

      “Yes. But it’s seldom used. Occasionally, one or two of the neighborhood children come here to fish. My lake is the most shallow, so it’s the safest. And it’s the only one on this side of the community. Most of the lakes are farther up.”

      “You

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