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Julius flashed a broad grin. “You look tense, buddy.”
“Who asked you?” he bit off.
Jennings and Julius laughed outright, solidifying Clay’s belief that these guys werenotSentry material. He needed to get back to searching for people who were.
“Just tell me when you’re about to depart. You can leave your truck for my use.”
At that moment, Lark came back outside carrying a glass of tea in each hand. Jennings grinned, but Julius concealed his interest in her a bit more. Only the corner of his mouth quirked up.
“I brought you both some tea.” She handed each a glass and looked between the brothers, oblivious that they were both eyeing her up in a very obvious way. At least it was obvious to Clay.
Then again, he was more attached to her, right? Meaning he’d known her longer. Hell, he knew her when she cuddled stuffed animals, though he didn’t doubt she still would if he put one in her hands.
Jennings took a sip and drank it all in one endless swallow. When he lowered the glass, he let out a refreshed gasp. “Almost as good as Momma’s.”
She beamed. “Seeing as your momma’s from the South, I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Clay all but rolled his eyes at the exchange.
With a grin, Jennings passed the glass to Lark. Then he slapped Clay on the shoulder as he passed him on the way to Clay’s truck. “Any woman who makes tea that good’s a keeper, man. You ready, Julius? It’s time to get this bomb on the road.”
* * * * *
As Lark watched the bomb being driven away by the Abel brothers, she felt a huge wave of relief sweep through her. It crested and washed through her system, leaving her feeling…cleansed.
Clay, standing beside her, remained as stoic as a cop in a mob.
She pushed out a deep sigh. “That was the heaviest burden I’ve carried in my whole life! And that’s saying something after Andrew joined up, then Mom died and I spent months in that group home.”
“Jesus, Lark. I’m sorry all that happened to you.”
Clay’s voice pulled her attention around to him. He stood next to her looking like an avenging cowboy angel. If only he had a set of wings, he would definitely fit the role of one of those childhood images of angels of light and mercy that came to the rescue of children.
She gave a light wag of her head to dispel the thought. “I don’t say these things to bring on your sympathy, silly. It’s just part of my life, so I talk about it.”
“I know.” His lips twitched at the corner. “You don’t hold back from anything, do you?”
“There are a few things…” She raked her gaze over his body, from the top of his hat to the boots on his feet. Every line of his muscled body in between left her feeling more than a little hot and sticky despite the cool breeze teasing the curls on her temples.
“You need to stop looking at me that way.” His throat worked on a swallow.
“What way, Clay?”
“I have no business in your thoughts.”
“Even if those thoughts were already in the gutter?”
He groaned. “Even worse. I also have no business in your bed.”
“Who said anything about a bed?” She reached for the hem of her top and tore it off to reveal her bra.
Clay staggered back a step. Where was that stoic man now?
“Lark.”
“You can’t warn me away from you, Clay Lexis. I know you want me too.”
He closed his eyes and then reopened them. “How do you know?”
