Thieves Like Us Read online

  She did a mental stumble. Would she? Or was she simply resisting him on principal, trying to push him away?

  She did want to push him away. Having him near awoke a desire she thought Banner had killed, a desire she couldn’t trust. It turned out that attempted murder was a good cure for following one’s heart. She couldn’t risk being with Rocky, not when he made her feel so confused and flushed and—what was the question?

  She stuck her hands in her pockets, feeling suddenly awkward. “It has nothing to do with you. I keep telling you, not everything does.”

  His lips curved up slowly, as if the thought behind his smile kept getting better and better. “But some things do, don’t they?” he said over his shoulder as he headed for the door.

  Butterflies fluttered in her stomach. She watched him leave, staring at the closed door and wondering just how many of her thoughts he had read.

  Seconds later she jumped at his sharp knock. “Lock it,” Rocky called from the other side. “I’m waiting.”

  With new resolve, she marched over and gave the deadbolt a sharp twist. She’d work with him tonight because she’d promised Ellie, but that was it. Life was easier when she avoided Rocky.

  Rocky sat in his car, studying Janet’s condo, thinking of all the ways he could break in.

  It was too easy. If he could think of them, so could a pro, and that’s who would be coming. Someone who wouldn’t be stopped by the best security systems because they would know, as Rocky did, that the easiest way around them was through the front door. If she was too cautious to let someone in, they only had to wait for her to go out. It would be easy enough to overpower her. No alarm, no forced entry. And no one else in the house to contend with.

  He couldn’t watch her all the time. He had work to do, even more than usual with Ellie gone for two weeks. He shouldn’t even be sitting here now; he had afternoon appointments waiting.

  He started the car and pulled out, reassuring himself that she probably had a few days grace before anyone would track her down. But they would. He’d hinted only that it was possible, because he hadn’t wanted to scare her. In truth, it was a certainty. If he had to, he’d insist she leave or he’d park in her driveway day and night. She was probably stubborn enough to make him do it, too.

  He knew she needed to learn to trust herself again. But damn, he hoped they got past this stage soon. It was driving him crazy.

  He’d felt the spark between them the day they’d met. He could tell she had, too, but she was confused and tried to deny it. He couldn’t blame her. Her son of a bitch husband was still out to get her back then, and death threats could be a bit distracting. Even after Banner was in jail, Rocky had respected her need to let the emotional wounds heal. Something that happened sooner than he’d expected. By New Year’s Eve, when he’d seen her efficiently handle several guys hitting on her at Jack and Ellie’s party, he’d thought she was still hiding behind that wall she’d erected. But then she’d given him that look.

  He smiled at the memory. She’d just deflected some poor guy’s advances, then bent to get a can of pop out of the refrigerator. When she’d straightened to find him watching her from the kitchen doorway and realized he’d witnessed the blunt rejection, her cheeks turned pink. He hadn’t determined yet if she just blushed easily, or if it was only when he was around.

  The party noise was subdued in the kitchen, and he spoke without closing the distance between them, afraid to spook her. “Not ready to jump into the dating pool yet?”

  She shrugged.

  “What was wrong with him?” he asked, nodding toward the dining room where the guy had disappeared.

  She popped the lid on her drink and took a sip. “He’s not the right guy.”

  “Is there a right guy?” Hope made him ask.

  That was when she’d lifted her gaze, letting it travel over him before settling with veiled intent on his face. “I’m not sure yet.”

  His heart jumped in his chest. He hadn’t expected the opening, but he wasn’t about to let it go by. The trick was to take it slowly.

  She watched his approach as she took another sip, acting more nonchalant than he knew she felt, judging by the pulsing vein in her neck. He wondered if shooting down a few advances in one night had given her an unexpected spurt of confidence. He wished he felt it, too, because the last thing he wanted to do was come on too strong.

  Sudden laughter rolled through the crowd in the living room, but it faded into background noise as he stood in front of her. The fizz from her can sounded unnaturally loud as he shut out everything but the two of them.

  “Feel like giving it another try?”

  She smiled, a heavy-lidded look that started a slow burn inside him. “I was thinking I might. Sort of a New Year’s resolution.”

  “It’s not midnight yet.”

  She lifted a shoulder. “I’m not a stickler for rules.”

  It was a clear invitation. Still, he moved carefully, watching her reaction as he raised a hand to cup her cheek. She pushed against his palm the tiniest bit, molding her face against his hand, her eyes never leaving his.

  Like touching a live wire, electricity shot up his arm, awakening every nerve in his body. He wondered if his touch had the same effect on her, because her mouth opened, emitting a tiny mew of surprise.

  It was irresistible. While her lips were still parted, he leaned in and kissed her—one long, gentle kiss that melted away the tension and started a low hum through him. Her free hand slid up his shoulder, fingertips pressing into him as she made a satisfied sound in her throat, her tongue finding his for one brief, teasing moment, dancing an invitation to go deeper.

  She pulled back suddenly, alarm flashing through her eyes. He knew somehow he’d crossed a line, that the flare of desire he’d welcomed had been more than she’d expected, more than she was ready to handle.

  “Too much too soon,” he murmured.

  She wouldn’t admit it but didn’t deny it, either.

  Reluctantly, he lowered his hand. “I won’t push, Janet. But—” he brushed a kiss on her cheek, feeling her shiver in response. “We’d be good together,” he whispered before taking a step back. She watched him, her eyes large and blinking anxiously. “Let me know when you’re ready, because I’ll be waiting. The next move is up to you.”

  He’d left her there. Later, when the year counted down to zero and several couples kissed amid the cheers and laughter, her gaze had wandered around the room and found his. He saw heat touch her cheeks again before she turned away.

  She’d been avoiding him for the six months since. But she hadn’t dated anyone else. He understood her problem was not with dating; it was with her attraction to him. He intended to change that, but he’d have to be patient.

  He hoped she’d make a move soon. What they were missing was too good to ignore.

  Chapter

  Three

  Janet opened the door and stared at Rocky incredulously. “You’re wearing that?”

  He looked at his black jeans and black T-shirt, then back at her. “What’s wrong with it?”

  Not a thing. He looked sexy as hell, in a cat burglar sort of way. But that was a different problem. “You said to dress how Bloomfield Hills ladies would expect. I assumed that meant like this.” She indicated her linen pant suit, pumps, and smart little matching handbag.

  “Nice,” he said, giving her an appreciative look. “But that’s not what I said. I said I’d wear what they expect me to. I’m an ex-burglar talking about personal and home security. This is what they’ll expect.”

  She pursed her lips and considered his clothes while trying not to consider the extremely fit body filling them out. “You’re right, that’s what they’ll expect.” They’d probably have fantasies about being burglarized by him, too.

  “And as gorgeous as you look, I think you’d better change into jeans and tennis shoes. Those heels will be slippery, and I wouldn’t want to get that nice suit dirty.”

  “How would you do tha
t?” She narrowed her eyes. “Exactly what is it I’m helping you demonstrate?”

  “Self-defense. I thought Ellie told you.”

  Ellie would pay for this. “She said you were demonstrating security systems. I thought I’d be doing a Vanna White, holding up dead bolt locks while you explained why they weren’t secure enough.”

  He grinned. “We’ll do that, too. But mostly I need you so I don’t have to pick some little old lady out of the audience, grab her around the neck, and teach her how to defend herself from an attacker.”

  She had a feeling none of the ladies, even the little old ones, would mind having Rocky wrap his arms around their neck and hold them close. She was the only one who would feel uncomfortable doing that.

  She might have to kill Ellie.

  “Have a seat. I won’t be long,” she muttered, and left to change her clothes. Thanks to her divorce, she had a closet full of jeans. Banner hated them so naturally, she’d bought at least a dozen pairs as part of her celebration when she was free of the rotten prick. With a white T-shirt and blue jeans she didn’t look like a cat burglar, but at least she was properly dressed for a scuffle with an assailant. A scuffle with Rocky. The thought of being pinned against his chest made her body flush with heat, then go cold with nerves.

  “Idiot,” she told herself, pushing it out of her mind. This was business. If she didn’t think and just did it, she’d be okay.

  She returned to find Rocky having a one-sided conversation with Jingles. A smile started to curve across her mouth, but she squashed it flat, refusing to be suckered in just because he was gorgeous and liked her cat.

  He stopped talking when he heard her.

  “What were you telling my cat?”

  “We were just talking about my cat. He wants a play date with my cat, Fluff.”

  “Fine with me, as soon as he gets his driver’s license. You’re getting white hairs all over your shirt.”

  “I’m a cat owner, I have a lint brush in the car. Ready?”

  She was never going to be ready for this. “Let’s go.”

  She sat off to the side of the room, expecting to be bored. Despite what she thought was a good performance of looking indifferent, she was fascinated.

  So were the Lady Sparks. The women’s group was dedicated to bettering themselves and their community, and Janet had no doubt they were learning a lot about security tonight. But despite their open notepads and ready pens, no one had written a word. They didn’t need to; with the sort of rapt attention they were giving Rocky, she was sure they’d remember everything he said.

  He was right about his clothes. As soon as he introduced himself as a reformed cat burglar-slash-jewel thief, the Sparks had perked up, appraising him with interest. When he told them how he and Ellie had started from nothing and made a success of Red Rose Security, he could have gotten dates with at least three of them immediately. Of course, he’d flashed his crooked smile, and who could resist that? Most of them were old enough to be his mother, but charm was charm.

  She should have guessed that a man with his gift for smooth talking would be able to keep an audience interested, even in the nuts and bolts of security systems. Somehow thinking of him as an ex-con had prevented her from seeing that he was just as instrumental as Ellie in turning Red Rose into a profitable and respected business. Damn, another point in his favor.

  Rocky’s talk was so absorbing she nearly forgot she had a part to play until he shoved a table aside, clearing a large area of floor at the front of the room. “I promised to teach you some basic self-defense techniques,” he said. Standing there in those snug jeans and a T-shirt that molded to the muscular contours of his chest, he looked like someone who could threaten their safety in more ways than one. He put his hands on his hips, looking more authoritative. “But I have to warn you about something first.”

  In the few seconds while he paused, Janet could feel a slight tension in the room. She had to hand it to him, he was good at this.

  “I will not show you how to protect yourself from someone with a gun.” He scanned the audience with a serious look, ensuring he had everyone’s attention. “If you are ever in that situation, your options depend on the circumstances. He would want you to be quiet and he might want to take you someplace safer. Safer for him means more dangerous for you, so you don’t want to go. First, if anyone can hear you, scream. And second, if he’s not holding onto you, run. That’s it. Thinking you can disarm your attacker is foolhardy. I’ve practiced martial arts for fifteen years, but I’m still not faster than a bullet.”

  His self-deprecating smile allowed them to relax. There was a lot more to this guy than she’d ever suspected.

  “Okay, time to show you ladies how to protect yourselves.” Rocky rubbed his hands together. “Normally my business partner, Ellie, would play the victim, but since she couldn’t be here her friend Janet has agreed to help out.”

  Janet got a smattering of polite applause as she stepped to the center of the floor beside Rocky. He grinned at her before addressing the audience, and she felt the usual self-conscious heat begin to spread inside her. Boy, was she in trouble; he hadn’t even touched her yet.

  “Our scenario takes place in the park. Janet will be the pretty, unsuspecting victim. I’ll be the creepy, albeit devilishly handsome, stranger who attacks her.” Warm hands landed on her shoulders and nudged her back. “Start over there, Janet, and walk toward me. We’re just two people passing on the hiking trail.”

  He could have just pointed. Obviously, he was going to use any excuse torture her.

  She followed directions, walking the few steps forward that brought her to the center of the room. Not sure what to expect, she was half braced for an attack, but he walked past her with barely a glance. The hairs on the back of her neck seemed to sense him behind her, straining toward him. The Sparks might not see him as creepy, but it was a good description of what he was doing to her.

  Two steps past him she was suddenly jerked from behind and hauled against him. Rocky’s right arm encircled her neck, while the other crossed just beneath her breasts, holding her close. Her gasp might have sounded like a dramatic effect to the entranced women, but it was as real as her thundering heartbeat.

  Her head was against Rocky’s cheek, and she felt his breath on her forehead. He was so close she could smell his shampoo or soap—something fresh and vaguely spicy. It was almost enough to make her forget she was supposed to resist him, not melt into him.

  “In this situation, Janet’s instinctive reaction is panic and fear,” he told the women.

  Her instincts must be a little off. Her heart was pounding hard enough, but the energy surging through her felt more like excitement.

  “Most women would struggle to get away, which would be completely ineffective. Show them, Janet.”

  Obediently, she twisted and fought against his hold. Finding her right hand free, she pulled at the rock-hard muscles of his arm where it circled her neck, accomplishing nothing. He still held her fast against his chest. She tried to look upset about it.

  “Now, this is what I want you all to remember. Even though she seems helpless, she has weapons. Men call it fighting dirty, but really it’s fighting smart. I’m not following the rules by attacking her, so neither should she. She can bite, and if her hands are free, she can scratch.” He turned his head toward her and lowered his voice. “Bite me.”

  It sounded so intimate she nearly blushed. Instead, she closed her teeth on his arm, meeting corded muscle. Her tongue registered a faint taste of salt and the tickle of coarse hairs. She knew her actions were supposed to look desperate and violent, and couldn’t figure out why she felt suddenly shy. It’s not like it was some kind of love bite. She bit down harder.

  Rocky didn’t react. “You might find this distasteful, especially since muggers aren’t known for their good hygiene.” He waited for the laughter to stop. “But I want you to bite into his arm hard, like it’s filet mignon and you haven’t eaten in two days. You�
��re trying to tear out a chunk, not make dainty dental impressions. And don’t stop there. You have fingernails—use them like claws. Janet . . .”

  His lips brushed the top of her head as he spoke, and she went weak all over. It seemed he had a few unorthodox weapons himself.

  “She can reach for my face,” he told the women. She followed his direction, reaching back over her head. Her fingers touched his nose and cheek. “Don’t hesitate,” he stressed to the audience, adding, “I’m not talking to you, Janet. You can hesitate.”

  She held her hand up to his face and watched thirty women grin at Rocky as he told them how to gouge and rip at an attacker’s face. They looked eager to try it. When he instructed them to inflict vicious pinches on whatever body parts they could reach, she saw avid interest in the gazes that followed her hand down to his thigh, where she clutched a handful of denim-clad muscle.

  “Your feet are weapons, too,” he told them. “Especially if you’re wearing heels. Stomping a three-inch heel into someone’s toes can be pretty effective if he isn’t expecting it.”

  This part she already knew. Ever since the horror of seeing Ellie held tightly against Banner with a gun in her side, she’d wondered what she would have done if it had been her. Along with her teeth, her feet had seemed the strongest weapons. She was ready for Rocky’s next move.

  “If you’re wearing something soft, like Janet’s tennis shoes, you can always bash away at his shin. But no tentative moves, make it a good hard kick.”

  She did. Not enough to hurt him, but she didn’t aim at his shin, either. That was for old ladies with limited range. Lifting her leg, she sent a sharp jab sideways, hitting the side of Rocky’s knee.

  Taken by surprise, he stumbled, giving her enough room to duck out of his grip, and push him off balance. She turned with a triumphant look, just in time to see him land on his butt.

  His startled expression turned into a rueful grin as the audience laughed and clapped at her success. “That works, too,” he acknowledged.