Hart and Soul Read online

“Dex doesn’t trust me,” Hart said.

  And Lisa agreed. “I don’t either.” She pushed back her chair.

  Joe forestalled her with a hand to her forearm. “We haven’t even ordered yet.”

  And she wasn’t going to. Sitting across from Hart, knowing the indifference he felt, was nearly painful. Her demure clothing might dissuade him from lascivious thoughts, but it did nothing to make her yearning ebb. “I didn’t really come to eat, just to share what I know, and that’s done.”

  Joe stood, too, as did the brothers. Dex looked uneasy; Hart, frustrated.

  “What are your evenings like?” Joe asked.

  Boring, but she wouldn’t admit it. “Why?”

  “I’d like to get everyone together at this place where the fighters hang out. Maybe the guys will show up there and you’ll recognize them.”

  “Oh, um . . .” She did not want to spend an evening with Hart. “Why not just report them to the authorities? Surely they could investigate.”

  “We can’t prove anything. They could say you misunderstood their conversation—but I don’t think you did. I want to catch them 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.” Not touching her was impossible, so he brushed the backs of his fingers over her cheek. “I’m sorry.”

  Behind her glasses, her nose scrunched. “For?”

  “The crack about your clothes.”

  “Oh.” And then, “That was remarkably rude.”

  “And for being a jealous jerk.”

  Her eyelashes fluttered. “What?”

  Damn, he couldn’t take it. He cupped both hands around her neck. “I saw you ogling Joe.”

  She stiffened. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Baloney. He made you all tongue-tied, when I’ve never seen you get that way. You’re usually the most self-confident woman I know.”

  “I am?”

  “Hell, even from the back of the restaurant I could see you blushing.”

  Confusion darkened her soft brown eyes, and her tongue slipped out to dampen her bottom lip. “I was somewhat affected by him.”

  He locked his jaw.

  “I assume that you’ll probably look like him one day. That’s what affected me, thinking of you a few years down the road.”

  “Do you? Think of me?”

  Her eyes narrowed, and she refused to answer. “There are strong family resemblances between you.”

  Hart hid his grin. “All the Winston guys have a certain look about them, or so the women say.”

  “I can imagine.”

  Hart hoped that was jealousy stiffening her lips. To keep her from running off, he changed the subject. “Did you know that my brother, Dex, is a writer? He uses the name Baxter for his novels.”

  She drew back in surprise. “I’ve read him.”

  “So had Christy. She even got smashed one night and quoted one of his love scenes back to him—thinking he was me. Can you imagine how she felt when she sobered up? Dex told her he was a writer, and even showed her the book.” Hart grinned. “Funny shit, huh?”

  “You’re warped. That poor girl had to be mortified.”

  Hart shrugged. “I’m sure Dex made it up to her somehow.” He smoothed her cheeks with his thumbs, and badly wanted to kiss her.

  “Hart?”

  “Hmmm.” He stared at her mouth, almost tasting her. He’d always enjoyed seeing lipstick on women, but Lisa’s bare lips seemed twice as appealing.

  Lisa’s voice shook as she said, “I don’t understand you. Why are you doing this?”

  “This?”

  “Coming on to me.” She caught his wrists, but didn’t pull his hands away. “You are, aren’t you?”

 
“Yeah.” Most definitely.

  She made a frustrated sound. “But you had your one-night stand, and you got your fill, so—”

  “I didn’t.”

  Lisa rolled in her lips, blinked, and waited.

  “Get my fill, that is.” His muscles all tensed; his voice went low and deep. “Damn, woman, not by a long shot do I feel done with you.”

  Hesitantly, she said, “I . . . You mean . . .” But she didn’t finish either sentence.

  “It’s making me nuts thinking about you going out with that putz oral surgeon dude, and what you might have done with him.” His voice went deeper still, rough and raw. “What I’d rather you be doing with me.”

  “Nothing.”

  Hart couldn’t blame her for denying it, but he felt the damn chemistry. Still. She wanted him, maybe not as much as he wanted her, but he could work on that.

  “How can you say that?” Moving closer to her, Hart hid her from view of the street with his body. He put his palm beneath her breast in the silky blouse, right over her heart. “Your heartbeat is pounding double time.”

  She drew a breath, nodded, and admitted, “You always do that to me.”

  Hell, yes. “Well, then . . .”

  She licked her lips again. “I meant that I did nothing with the oral surgeon dude—who, by the way, is not a putz at all.”

  Hart grinned at how she mimicked his words, even as he felt encouraged. “Really? Nothing happened? Not even a little something?”

  Her chin lifted. “If you want the painful truth, the entire night was a bust.” Her eyes narrowed in accusation. “And I had looked forward to that night for more than a week!”

  “Why did nothing happen?” God, he needed to know.

  Lowering her head, she mumbled, “You . . . distracted me from my original intent.”

  Never before had a grumbled accusation made him semihard, but that confession did. “I won’t say I’m sorry, Lisa. Not when I still want you.”

  Heat warmed her cheeks, and her expression turned chiding. “You’re too bold.”

  The weight of her breast rested over the back of his hand, but he didn’t dare cop a feel, not here, damn near in the street, where anyone could see . . .

  A thought occurred to him, and he asked her, “Are my cousin and brother watching us through the restaurant window?”

  Looking beyond him, she scowled. “Yes, they are.” And with that, she shoved him away.

  Hart sighed. “Let me pick you up tonight. It’ll give us a chance to sort this out.”

  “There shouldn’t be a ‘this’ to sort out.”

  Maybe not, but that didn’t change the facts. “Let’s face it—there is still something between us.”

  She surprised him by looking resigned. “Fine.”

  Now it was his heart thumping. He couldn’t help but press his luck. Tentatively, he broached possibilities. “Given that we’re both mature, reasonable people, maybe after we leave the bar, we could pick up where we left off?”

  Her chest swelled with a deep breath. “I don’t know.”

  “Yes, you do.” He leaned down to put a light kiss on her mouth. “You want me, Lisa. God knows I want you. In a couple more weeks I’m going to have to leave for a training camp, and I won’t be back until after the fight.”

  “When is the fight?”

  “Not for a few months yet, and while I stay in shape, fighting shape is something altogether different. I’ll put in at least six weeks of specialized training. There won’t be much time for anything else.”

  “Ah, and you’re going to be celibate again?”

  So much skepticism. He grinned at her. “Unless you want to travel with me.” Actually, that teasing comment had merit. Could a dentist get that kind of time off? He didn’t know. But he fingered that frothy bow at her neck and said, “If you find time to visit, I promise to be available.”

  “And other than me?”

  “Celibacy it is.” Without Lisa, the thought of doing without wasn’t all that repugnant. “You might not believe it, but the only woman I want right now is you.”

  “Right now,” she acknowledged.

  Her gaze holding his, she reached behind herself, shifted, and opened the car door. She slipped away from him and got behind the wheel. For several seconds she just sat there, appearing to be in deep thought.

  Finally she closed the door, rolled down the window, and said, “All right.”

  Heat washed over him, tightening the coil of tension and lust. “Yeah?”

  She nodded. “As you said, we’re both adults. And truthfully, I haven’t gotten my fill either.”

  Damn, the things she did to him should be illegal. He nodded with ripening anticipation. “Sounds great.”

  “But one thing, Hart.”

  Caution edged in. “What is it?”

  “This time the lights stay on.”

  Hart moved uneasily in his seat, his gaze glued to Lisa at the bar. He’d been watching her for hours now. She spoke with everyone, flirted, and damn, she looked great. He almost regretted bringing her here. When she’d answered her door, the thought of taking her straight to bed, and to hell with their plan, had almost sidetracked him.

  In fact, if it hadn’t been for Lisa and her no-nonsense manner of business first, pleasure later, that was exactly what he would have done.

  He hated seeing other guys come on to her. He especially hated seeing her encourage them.

  Joe’s elbow gouged his ribs. “Stop staring at her, will you? She’s going to catch fire, you look so hot under the collar.”

  Dex, in typical brotherly fashion, said, “But she does look sexy as hell, Joe. How can he resist? Especially with every other guy in the bar ogling her.”

  Hart rubbed his chin. “She’s a damned chameleon, always changing on me, one day looking like a librarian, and the next like . . . I don’t know. A complete hottie.”

  “We wanted her to attract male attention, doofus.” Joe sipped at his drink. “Although, I gotta tell you, with that fitted dress and exposed cleavage, the glasses are overkill.”

  “Yeah,” Dex said. “She does wear glasses with a certain panache.”

  “It’s called elegance,” Hart mumbled.

  Joe agreed with a nod. “She was attractive and appealing enough in the shapeless suit with matronly shoes at the bottom of those extra-long legs.” He took a sip of his drink. “Like this . . . well, it makes me wonder why you’re dragging your feet.”

  Hart’s jaw worked as he gnashed his teeth together. Joe was right; no matter what, Lisa turned him on.

  Tonight, she looked downright incredible. The trim but classy cream-colored dress ended just above her knees. Pearl buttons marched from the hem to the heart-shaped neckline, where she showed off the upper swells of her breasts. Her high heels made her legs look longer than ever.

  “She does have great legs,” Dex agreed. “Looks like most of the guys here have noticed too.”

  Hart scowled at them both. “I’m glad you two can have your jollies at my expense.”

  Joe chuckled. “Why don’t you just give it up and admit you’re sunk?”

  “Sunk?” Yeah, he was, but he didn’t need to admit shit to his cousin or his brother. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Flattened,” Dex clarified. “Head over heels. Boggled and blinded. All that good stuff.”

  “Don’t worry,” Joe told him. “It only hurts until you stop denying it, and then it’s not so bad.”

  “Oh, shit.” Hart forgot his objections to Joe’s claim when Lisa slipped off the barstool. She gave him a quick, sultry glance before strolling toward a table where two men sat.

  “She hasn’t approached anyone else,” Dex pointed out, all teasing gone. “You think those are the guys?”

  Joe said nothing. He was too busy sizing up the dudes at the table. He had
that certain look about him that spelled trouble.

  For the other guy.

  When one of the men touched her arm, Hart wasn’t able to stand it. Knowing how unscrupulous and dangerous the two men could be, he didn’t want Lisa anywhere near the bastards. He started to rise.

  He got yanked back to his seat by Joe. “She’s fine, Hart. Nothing will happen in here. Let her do her thing.”

  Lisa had moved out of reach with a laugh, so Hart sank back into the chair. “If they touch her again, I’m breaking their arms.”

  “You’ll get your chance.” Shrugging, Joe stayed alert, but didn’t stare. “But for now, you’re too obvious. I’ve got them in my sights, so why don’t you chat with your brother or something?”

  “Yeah,” Dex said, taking the hint. “Tell me how you talked Lisa into coming to the bar with you. Last time I saw her, she looked ready to skin you alive.”

  “I reasoned with her.” Hart didn’t want to make small talk, but he didn’t want Lisa’s efforts to be wasted either.

  “There,” Joe said. “She’s on the move again. No, Hart, you stay put. I’ll trail her out and see what’s what. I’ll call you when I know it’s clear and no one is watching us.”

  Dex took pity on him. “You trust Joe. You know he won’t let anything happen to her.”

  Hart watched as Joe, staying several yards behind, followed Lisa out of the main bar area, without looking like he was following her. When they were both out of sight, it was all he could do to contain himself. He should be the man looking after her, not his cousin.

  Dex tried to engage him in conversation, but Hart couldn’t seem to center his thoughts on anything or anyone other than Lisa.

  In a dozen different ways, he wanted her—to talk with her, protect her, laugh with her, and tease her. He enjoyed matching wits, arguing with her, and God knew he loved making love to her.

  Tonight he’d have her again, and he planned to make it so memorable, she’d stop trying to push him away.

  Suddenly a busty, perfumed woman stood in front of their table. She wore a short, fitted black dress that hugged every inch of her lush body, and extremely high-heeled strappy sandals. Pale blond hair and bright red lips gave her a Marilyn Monroe look.