Author: Jaci Burton

AJ slid his hand on the back of her neck, his touch comforting—not demanding anything of her. “I think that’s the least of your worries right now. They’ll manage. We’ll take you home.”

“You can just drop me at my car.”

Pax slid his hand in hers. “We’ll take you home. If you did see the guy who killed Larks, he might have seen you, too. And he might be looking for you.”

That hadn’t occurred to her. “You think I’m in danger?”

Pax shrugged. “Don’t know yet, but it’s a possibility. We’re coming home with you.”

She stopped dead, her gaze flitting between them. “No. I’m fine. I can take care of myself.”

“We’re coming home with you,” AJ said, affirming Pax’s statement. “If you don’t want us inside your house, we’ll hang outside. Either way, we’re staying at your place to keep watch over you.”

Part of her warmed at the thought of AJ and Pax being there. Another part of her prickled with unease—and something else she thought long dormant—at having both of them inside her home. It implied an intimacy that both intrigued and unnerved her.

Ridiculous. She was worrying needlessly. All they wanted to do was protect her. But she didn’t want babysitters. She’d long ago learned to look out for herself.

“I’ll go home alone.”

AJ tilted his chin down, his gaze direct. “We’ll be following you, like it or not.”

She blew out a breath, knowing it was useless to argue. “You don’t have to stay outside.”

“We’ll take you back to your car, then follow you to your place,” AJ said.

Teresa went outside with them and looked at the bikes parked in the lot.

She hadn’t been on a bike in five years. Not since . . .

“You can ride with me,” AJ said, pulling her away from thoughts she shouldn’t be thinking. So she was going to climb on a bike again. Big deal. She wasn’t going to be alone this time.

She put on the helmet he handed her, and realized she’d have to lean against him and hold on for the short ride over to the bar. She could do this. It wasn’t intimate contact. Just . . . contact. And wasn’t it time she got on with it, anyway?

AJ got on his Harley and she climbed on the back. He half turned and gave her a smile. She started out leaning against the backpad, but it had been a while since she’d ridden, and she was used to riding on her own bike, not on the back of someone else’s. This was entirely different and she felt a little off balance. And AJ was a bit of a speed demon on the roads, especially since the hour was late and the streets deserted. She adjusted her position and leaned against his back, tentatively wrapping her arms around him. He felt solid and steady, comforting as the bike dipped to the side around the bend in one of the roads. She closed her eyes and let the speed and the wind flow through her, feeling weightless and unburdened for just a few moments. It felt right to be pressed against a man again, to breathe in the earthy scent of him, to feel the hard push of his muscular back against her breasts.

It had been so long. For a moment there she allowed herself to just . . . settle.

This is what she wanted, what she needed. A man again. A man who knew nothing about what had happened to her, who wouldn’t make judgments or be wary.

They pulled into the parking lot of the bar, the entire front area surrounded by garish-looking police tape pronouncing her pride and joy as a crime scene. Teresa got off the bike, wanting nothing more than to go inside and clean up the blood staining her wood floor.

AJ moved up beside her. “You can’t go in.”

She continued to stare at her front door. “I know.”

“Come on. It’s late. Let’s take you home.”

They drove the three short blocks to her house—formerly her parents’ house. Joey liked his condo, where he could hang out with his friends, have barbecues and use the pool. After their parents died, he’d insisted Teresa take the house. She offered to sell it and split the equity with him, but he didn’t want it. He had a job and his own place and wanted Teresa to have it. Admittedly, she’d always loved the old place and it reminded her of everything safe. And if that meant she was clinging to a lifeline, then she’d take that small comfort.

AJ and Pax pulled their bikes in right behind her car in the covered carport. She unlocked the front door and waited for them to come up onto the cement porch, each of them toting one bag. She cocked a brow. “That’s it?”

“We travel light,” Pax said with a grin.

She couldn’t imagine taking a road trip using only one bag, but they were guys. They probably only had a change of underwear and a razor. She flipped on the light switch and held the door open for them. Their presence seemed to dwarf her tiny living room. She remembered AJ being here with Joey when they were younger. Not much had changed since then, other than a few pieces of furniture. Teresa had stripped off the threadbare wallpaper and painted, brightened the colors up a bit. Otherwise it was just an old house that she loved.

“Bathroom is down the hall to the left.”

AJ turned to her. “I’ve been here plenty of times, Teresa.”

“Oh yeah.” She’d forgotten how often AJ used to come over to hang out with Joey. This had been like a second home to him, since AJ and his stepfather never got along. And her parents had loved AJ like he was one of their own kids, so he had always been welcome there. Which meant Teresa got to see a lot of him, too, something she certainly hadn’t minded since she’d always been madly in love with him, from the time she was twelve until he disappeared off the radar when she was eighteen. She wanted to ask him where he’d been. And those badges he and Pax had flashed . . .

“So are you and Pax cops?”

AJ skirted his glance to Pax.

“Come on, honey,” Pax said. He took her by the hand and pulled her onto the sofa. “Let’s sit down and we’ll explain it to you.”

“I’m sorry.” She dragged her finger across her forehead. “My manners suck. Would you like something to drink?”

AJ sat at her other side. “We’re fine. You look like you’re about to drop. You need some sleep.”

“I can’t even think about sleeping right now. My mind is filled with visions of the fight, of what I saw. I keep replaying it over and over in my head. I’m sure I’m right.”

“We’re sure you are, too,” Pax said. “You did everything you could. You told the truth. Let the evidence uncover the rest.”

She lifted her hopeful gaze to Pax. “Do you think the evidence will point to the guy who actually killed Larks?”

“I don’t know. We’ll just have to wait and see. But AJ is right. You look tired.”

“I’m not tired. I’m tense as hell.”

“Turn around.”

She cocked a brow. “Why?”

“I’ll rub some of that tension out of your shoulders, help you relax a little. Maybe you’ll get sleepy.”

He didn’t have a leering grin on his face, just concern. Teresa turned, facing AJ. This would be a good test. She was alone in her house with two men. She hadn’t had any man in her house except Joey. Not since before . . .

No use thinking about that. She was tense enough already.

AJ watched intently as Pax laid his hands on Teresa’s shoulders. He pressed in light and gentle, using just his fingertips along the muscles between her neck and shoulder.

“You are tight.”

“Been a rough night,” she said.

He moved along those muscles, then to the nape of her neck, sliding his fingers into her hair, the palm of his hand resting on the back of her head. Tiny pinpricks of sensation skittered along her skin. Relaxation warred with distinct interest, and she was shocked to discover she enjoyed Pax touching her. She dropped her chin to her chest and he increased the pressure, moving from her neck to her shoulders again.

“AJ, why don’t you rub her neck while I do her shoulders.”

“Sure.” AJ scooted in, lifted her legs and draped them over his lap. “Rest your head against me, honey.”

She did, letting her head drop against his chest. He slid his fingertips against her temples, making gradual circles there. Teresa didn’t want to say a word. This just felt too good. AJ in front of her making magic movements with his fingers, erasing all the tension from her head and neck, and Pax behind her working kinks out of her shoulders.

She was surrounded by two men, caged between them. And she wasn’t freaked out, wasn’t panicking, was allowing them to touch her freely. In fact, she became more aware of Pax’s warm breath caressing her neck and the feel of AJ’s steely thighs under hers. Despite the arctic temperature of the room from her well-running air conditioner, she was flushed with heat. Not panic hot, just . . . hot. Every time Pax’s fingers sailed along the naked flesh of her shoulders, her nipples tightened, and the feel of AJ’s hands in her hair caused goose bumps to break out across her skin.

“Does it feel good?” Pax asked.

“Yes. It feels great.” Really great. She felt like the sea, undulating waves crashing lazily against the shore. She let out a soft moan, loving their hands on her.

And then they stopped. AJ stood and moved away.

Dammit. They didn’t know, couldn’t know.

“How about something to drink now?” AJ asked.

His voice was laced with something Teresa couldn’t quite comprehend.

“Um, okay.”

She stood and went into the kitchen, not understanding what had changed.

SIX

PAX PEERED INTO THE KITCHEN TO MAKE SURE TERESA WAS occupied before leaning close to AJ. ���What the fuck was that about?”

“We can’t do this.”

“Do what?”

AJ tilted his head. “You know what.”

Pax tried to remember what he’d done when he was touching Teresa. Nothing. He’d massaged her shoulders and that was it. “I was giving her a back massage. She looked tense as hell.”

“And you know damn well what that leads to. We’re not going there with Teresa.”

“Jesus, man, do you think every time I touch a woman it’s because I want to fuck her? I was trying to offer her some comfort.”

“Right. And you asked me to join in. Don’t play the player, Pax.”

Pax shook his head. Maybe AJ was right. Consciously he wasn’t even thinking about that, but there was no doubt he was attracted to Teresa. Maybe without even thinking about it . . .

“I know where we stand with her. But maybe you can leave it up to her.”

“I don’t know, Pax. She’s been through enough tonight. And it’s not like we’re going to stay and . . . well, you know.”

Pax flopped onto the sofa and laced his hands together behind his head. “I’d like to. Stay. And well . . . you know. With Teresa.” He waited for AJ’s reaction, figuring his friend would get pissed off. Instead, AJ just cocked his head to the side and slid a glance into the kitchen.

“You want to stay here? Just like that? What about the road trip?”

“She’s in trouble. So’s Joey. You know how it is. You take care of your friends. I just figured you’d want to hang out until this was settled. And it’s not like we had a destination in mind.”

“Okay. Good. Thanks.”

Pax shrugged. “I believe Teresa. I think someone in the Fists did the deed. But why would someone kill the leader of his own gang?”

“Because he wanted to become the leader?”

“Maybe. There are a lot of ways to oust a gang leader without killing him.”

AJ stood and paced the room. “If the majority of the gang agrees.”

“So what you’re saying is that maybe this was a coup of sorts. That not everyone wanted Larks taken down.”