Bare It All - Lori Foster

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      Alice gave a short laugh over that dubious compliment. “Thank you. I’ve enjoyed it, as well.”

      “Maybe it’s because we’re both different.”

      Not exactly a subtle hint, but Alice just smiled. “Maybe.” In such a short time they’d settled into an easy alliance. “Bullet wound aside, I’m glad to see that you and Detective Riske both fared so well after everything that happened yesterday.”

      “You worry a lot, don’t you?”

      About everyone and everything. “Sometimes.” Always. “As you said, I’m...different.”

      “Different is good.” Pepper sized her up. “You know what? I think we should do a makeover on you.”

      “On...me?”

      “It’s not an insult, I swear.”

      “I wasn’t insulted.” More like...intrigued. “I’ve never fussed much with the usual female stuff.”

      “You don’t really need to, not with your dark lashes and brows. But it wouldn’t hurt to loosen you up a bit.”

      “Loosen me up?”

      “Is there an echo in here?” Pepper teased, but then suddenly stalled. “I’m rushing things, right?”

      Alice waved that off. “No, of course not.”

      “You’ve probably got better things to do—”

      “I think it’s a wonderful idea.” Would she enjoy being loosened up? Possibly. “I wouldn’t mind looking more fashionable—that is, if it won’t be too much work for you.”

      “Are you kidding? It’ll be fun.” Pepper paused to draw a breath. “God, it’s been forever since I just had fun. Especially with another woman.”

      Alice got caught up in her excitement and her teasing mood. “You won’t expect me to go around in wet dresses, will you?”

      “Reese has to be able to function, so, no.”

      There was more laughter—until a tap sounded on the door.

      CHAPTER SEVEN

      REESE SPOKE THROUGH the closed door. “Are you ladies having your own private party in there?”

      After winking at Alice, Pepper said, “Butt out, Reese.”

      “All right. But you should know that Logan is about to leave the couch to come look for you.”

      Pepper shot off the tub ledge and jerked open the door. Muttering, “He wouldn’t dare,” she rushed around Reese and down the hall.

      Still sitting, hands in her lap, her ankles together, Alice wondered how Reese saw her.

      Was Pepper right?

      Could he actually consider her sexy? Not just available, but a woman he specifically wanted? It was such a foreign concept that her mind blanched over the idea—until she peeked up at Reese and saw the heat in his gaze.

      Hello! He stared intently at her bare feet, her calves, up to her hands clenched together in her lap and then to her breasts, now rising with her deep breaths.

      “Reese?”

      Green eyes met hers. His voice sounded lower, rougher. “Why are you hiding in here?”

      “I’m not.” Knowing he might see her differently—and accepting that she wanted him to—changed everything. Alice felt shy and uncertain as she stood. “Pepper and I were talking.”

      “Oh?” Hands in his pockets, his gaze still moving over her, he leaned on the wall. His casual position blocked the doorway, keeping her in the bathroom with him. “Dare I ask the topic?”

      “Their wedding,” she blurted.

      His mouth curved in an indulgent smile. “Girl talk, then.”

      “Well, sort of.” What did he consider girl talk? “We discussed a lot of stuff. She’s nice.”

      “She has her moments.”

      Her dress might be clingy, but then so was Reese’s shirt, and Alice couldn’t stop staring at his chest. No shirt would have been better, but a shirt outlining every muscle? Not bad. “We’re making plans for some outings together.”

      “You don’t say?” He maintained his casual stance but was now more focused. “What type of outings?”

      “She wants to give me a makeover.”

      Abruptly Reese straightened. “Come again?”

      Rather than go into detail—because, really, it made her feel too silly—Alice said, “And we might go to the shooting range to do some target practice together, too.”

      Blank surprise washed over his face. “Target practice? You...with Pepper?”

      Rushing past that seemed wise, as well. “And I would love to attend the wedding after they finalize plans. That is, if you wouldn’t mind too much.”

      Sidetracked, he stepped farther into the room. “Why would I mind?”

      “Because you’ll be there, and I didn’t want you to feel...I don’t know. Too crowded or anything.”

      He stepped closer until only a few inches separated them. “I don’t know what that means, Alice.”

      He smelled good, all rain-damp and warm. She drew in a deep breath, filling her lungs with his scent. It was enough to leave her dizzy.

      Reese tipped up her chin. “Alice?”

      “I don’t want you to tire of me.”

      Frowning, he lifted his hands to cradle her face. His thumb brushed her cheek. “That’s not going to happen, so don’t worry about it.”

      But of course it could. Maybe not today. And if Logan and Pepper married quickly, maybe not by the wedding. But Reese couldn’t know what the future would bring. “How old are you, Reese?”

      He cocked a brow at the odd question. “Thirty.”

      And yet he wasn’t married, which had to mean he avoided commitment...didn’t it?

      “And you, Alice? Mid-twenties?”

      “Good guess. I’m exactly in the middle.” She felt far older, though. Sometimes she felt so emotionally tired, worn out.

      Defeated.

      “That makes you twenty-five?”

      “Yes.” Making the mistake of looking up at him, Alice said again, more softly this time, “Reese?”

      Watching her with absorbed fascination, he brushed her bottom lip with his thumb. “That other kiss we discussed?”

      The husky timbre in his voice sent her pulse racing. She went on tiptoe, lifting up to him, leaning in.

      Ready. “Yes?”

      “I don’t want to do it here, in Logan’s bathroom.”

      Disappointment dropped her heels back to the floor. “Oh.”

      Reese treated her to a knowing smile. “We need to get going, anyway.”

      So soon? She hadn’t even made it out of the bathroom yet. “Is something wrong?”

      “Other than me wanting to seduce you in a friend’s bathroom? No.” He kissed her forehead. “The weather isn’t letting up, and I’m a little worried about Cash, that’s all. I hope he’s not one of those dogs that spooks over thunder and lightning.”

      The sweet sentiment warmed her even more than the anticipation of his kiss. Could Reese Bareden be more appealing?

      She

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