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He took hold of her upper arm and pulled her along with him to the couch. The large, overstuffed cushions practically swallowed her small frame. “Please, don’t worry. This guy will get caught, and you’ll be back in your apartment in no time.” When her gaze wouldn’t meet his, River started to wonder if there was something else bothering her. “What is it? You’ve been quiet ever since you got that phone call.”
“It’s nothing,” she mumbled.
River wasn’t buying it. He crouched down low in front of her and looked her in the eyes. “This place has everything you could ever need. For once, let me pamper you. I only want you out of harm’s way.” When had her happiness become so important to him? “Sammy needs my help at the restaurant, but I’ll only be gone a little while.”
“Wait, you’re leaving?” Her gaze shot to his. “But I thought we could have dinner together. Maybe watch a movie or something. There’s an Abbot and Costello marathon this weekend.”
He flicked the tip of her nose with a finger. “That sounds pretty great. I won’t be gone long, I swear.” His voice turned deep with desire. “I cannot say that it doesn’t give me a secret thrill to have you here all to myself.” His groin tightened at the thought.
Her pretty brown eyes brightened. “Really?”
“Hell, yeah,” he groaned.
She smiled and shook her head. “You’re driving me crazy these days, River Jennings. Completely batty.”
He bobbed his eyebrows. “If you only knew what I wanted right now, you’d run for the hills.” She was such a tempting little thing. His mind kept imagining her naked, lying contentedly across his bed, all sleepy from his loving.
River hated to do it, but he needed to go. They needed the extra help at the restaurant, and he couldn’t leave his brothers in the lurch. When she leaned against the back of the couch and pulled her legs up underneath her, River cursed under his breath. The tempting picture she presented nearly drowned out all his good intentions. He would make it up to her later. He would make it up to both of them later. He’d see to it.
“I really do have to go, sunshine,” he explained.
“You make me crazy,” she muttered as she glared at him.
River leaned down and touched her lips with his index finger. “So you tell me. All the time.” He leaned in and had to hold back a chuckle when she stiffened and turned her face away, not allowing him to kiss her on the lips. So stubborn. He kissed her cheek instead. “I’ll be back as soon as I can,” he murmured. “I promise.”
She shrugged. “Don’t hurry on my account.”
He quirked a brow at her. “That mouth of yours is going to get you into trouble one of these days,” he vowed as he strode from the room.
As River reached his car, he realized his phone was beeping, signaling a new text message. Christ, his concentration was shot all to hell just thinking of Jeanette’s sweet body safely ensconced in his apartment. There was something damned enticing about that knowledge.
He retrieved his cell from the front pocket of his jeans and checked the messages. Sammy, asking about Jeanette. River smiled. Sammy would always look out for those he loved. He sent a quick text back to let him know of the new developments before getting in behind the wheel and revving the engine to life.
The sooner he took care of things at the restaurant, the sooner he could get back to Jeanette.
Chapter Six
Jeanette didn’t know how she’d gotten herself into such a mess. Her whole life seemed to be a series of near misses. She attracted chaos like sugar attracted ants. She took a deep breath and willed her wildly beating heart to calm down. But how was she supposed to remain calm in the wake of all that had happened? Any sane person would be going nuts right about now.
She sighed and got to her feet. Her stomach rumbled. She supposed if she was to be detained, she might as well get something to eat.
Her spirits rose and her anxiety began to ebb at the tempting prospect of being near River 24-7. He was by far the handsomest man she’d ever met, in a dangerous, outlaw sort of way. A little thrill of anticipation ran up and down her spine at the thought of his return. Even now, thinking of the kiss he’d given her made her imagine other, more inti
mate things. Curiosity had her wondering what he would look like nude. Jeanette groaned as an image popped into her mind. Heat curled through her, and she marveled at the peculiar sensation.
Her stomach rumbled again, and a wave of dizziness overtook her. Food. That’s what she needed. Food and another pain pill. Then she’d wait for River to return. She intended to have a talk with him about his high-handedness, and afterward she’d seduce his socks off. The thought made her heart leap. She ignored it and kept her mind on her stomach. If she were to go up against River, she’d need to keep up her strength.
Just as Jeanette polished off a bologna-and-cheese sandwich and some chips and washed it down with her meds, the doorbell rang. It sounded again before she could reach it and pull the door wide. An older, short, gray-haired woman with a floral print blouse and navy slacks stood on the other side. Jeanette smiled.
“Wanda, hi.” She stepped out of the way to let River’s mom enter. “Come on in.”
“I’m sorry to barge in, but I baked a fresh batch of those chocolate cookies with the marshmallow on top—the ones River is so fond of—and I wanted to bring them over before I forget. My mind isn’t what it used to be.”
Jeanette smiled. “You’re as sharp as ever, and you know it.” She led her to the kitchen. “Want a glass of tea?”
“Oh, that sounds lovely, dear. Thank you.”
She poured a glass of iced tea for each of them, then motioned to the table. “River had to go to the restaurant, but he’ll be back soon, I’m sure.”
