Double the Heat by Deirdre Martin, Lori Foster, Elizabeth Bevarly, Christie Ridgway Read Free Book Online Page B

in the act.”
    “Yeah,” Hart grumbled, “and I have to trust everyone that I won’t get maimed.”
    “Sissy,” Dex accused, surprising Lisa with the insult until Hart laughed.
    She said, “Don’t worry, Skippy. I’m sure you’ll do fine.” But she was worried.
    “Skippy?” Dex repeated in confusion. “Hart ‘Skippy’ Winston. I like it.”
    “Don’t start,” Hart said with a dark scowl.
    Lisa stewed. Would Hart be injured? Could he possibly even be . . . killed? Hoping for reassurance, she said to Joe, “Do you have a foolproof plan?”
    “Actually, it’s Hart’s plan, but I don’t see a problem with using him as bait. At the very least, it’ll be expedient.” Joe squeezed her shoulder. “We need to expose the guys, or Hart will forever be looking over his shoulder. And I can tell you from experience, anyone determined to get to him will manage it eventually. So can I impose on you to join us?”
    She didn’t want to, but what choice did she have? Without looking at Hart, she nodded. “Yes, of course.”
    “Great. Let’s get started tonight, say nine o’clock. Does that work for you?”
    No way would she admit that most nights, nine o’clock found her in her pajamas on the couch watching DVDs. “That would be fine.”
    Joe gave her brief directions on how to get to the bar. “We’ll hang out till midnight, unless you spot the guys before then. And if you don’t . . . we’ll go back the next night.”
    “I’ll pick you up,” Hart told her.
    “Actually, you won’t.” Without another word to Hart, she bade Joe and Dex good-bye and made what she hoped appeared to be a steady exit when in truth, conflicting emotions left her churning. She’d be with Hart tonight, and every night until they found the guys.
    Given her weakness around him, maybe she should buy herself a chastity belt.

Four
     
    Lisa no sooner walked away than Hart slouched back down in his seat.
    Dex gave him a pitying look. “You should have walked her out.”
    “So she could snub me some more?”
    Joe laughed. “She’s not what I expected.”
    Immediately on the defensive, Hart turned to him. “She’s gorgeous when she lets herself be.”
    “That’s plain.” Joe smirked. “I’m not blind or anything.”
    Dex laughed. “Remember, brother, Joe sees through feminine disguises.”
    “Wasn’t much of a disguise, if you ask me,” Joe said. “In fact, I always took more sedate clothes as a dare, if you get my drift.”
    “I get it,” Hart snarled, knowing Joe had eyes only for his wife, but still pinched with jealousy.
    When Joe only laughed again, egged on by Dex, Hart said, “So what was unexpected?”
    Dex spoke before Joe could. “She’s a hell of a lot more engaging than most of the women you seek out.”
    “Yeah.” He had to agree with that. She certainly engaged him—on many levels.
    “Funnier, too, with that prickly wit of hers,” Joe said. “She put you in your place.”
    “Yeah.” And Hart had to admit he liked where she put him. He glanced toward the exit.
    “You could probably still catch her,” Joe told him, “and apologize properly for being such a dumb ass.”
    “I don’t know . . .” She’d made it clear how she felt about him.
    “She knew I wasn’t you,” Dex announced. “Right off. No hesitation. Didn’t you tell me that was a rarity?”
    “It’s unheard-of.” Hart stewed for three seconds more, then bolted from the table to go after Lisa.
    Joe sighed. “I guess this means I’m picking up the tab?”
    Hart didn’t slow down. His brother and his cousin could both afford lunch, and besides, he hadn’t even eaten.
    He spotted Lisa unlocking her car across the street. “Lisa!” He jogged toward her.
    She looked up, shielded her eyes with a hand, and waited.
    Hart had to smile at the picture she presented. Joe had nailed it—she was a challenge, and that damn tie at her throat only made him want to untie it.
    “What is it?” she asked.
    “A lot of things.”