Another second passed. Reese pried her hands from his shirt and kissed her knuckles. "Soon as I find Cheryl, I'll let you know."

"Thank you."

"And Alice?" He took a step away.

"When I get done with all this, you and I are going to have a nice long talk."

Now, why did that worry her? She promised, "I'll wait up," and then, head and heart filled with jumbled emotions, Alice watched him go.

It wasn't until an officer gave her a funny look that she realized she was smiling. Reese loved her.

In the middle of pandemonium, with hysterical neighbors and lights and sirens, Alice figured she just might be the happiest woman alive.

CHAPTER TWENTY-.

NINE.

AFTER SENDING OUT the second text message, Rowdy started toward Avery, determined to keep her well away from Hickson. As it turned out, he didn't need to do a thing.

Avery was already moving off when Dougie, the bartender, slid into the booth next to Cheryl. The poor girl scooted over, pressing herself as far into the corner as she could go.

Rowdy was relieved that both men ignored her. They leaned in close for a private conversation.

Damn. So Avery had been right.

Dougie and Hickson definitely knew each other.

For several minutes, Rowdy lounged in a corner, watching the exchange, wondering at what point he should intercede.

Even with his mind buzzing and his senses on alert for possible deceptions, he found himself repeatedly searching for Avery. Made sense, he told himself.

Tonight would be dangerous, and he didn't want any woman hurt, most especially a woman he employed.

A woman who turned him on.

Scanning the crowd, Rowdy still didn't see DeeDee, but he spotted Avery taking an order from a trio of young men on the opposite side of the room. Avery was her usual all-business self.

The guys wanted more.

It wasn't unusual for barely legal idiots of the male persuasion to play grab-ass with waitresses at run-down bars.

The unusual part was Rowdy's urge to flatten all three of them. Rather than fight it, he moved toward her. If DeeDee showed up and saw him, well, so what?

She'd know he didn't like bullies.

He was almost within reach when he heard Avery say, "Last warning, bud.

You will either keep your hands to yourself, or you'll leave. Understand?"

Grinning, the idiot reached for her ass, saying, "Or we could-"

Rowdy caught his wrist and squeezed.

"Or you could go home with a broken bone or two."

Wincing in pain, the guy said, "Hey, dude, let up."

"Apologize to the lady first."

"Fuck you!" He tried to swing with his other hand.

Rowdy used a grip on his wrist to twist the younger man's arm up and around behind his back. "Wrong answer."

One of his buddies charged, but he was drunk and weak. Rowdy easily moved to the side and tripped him. He wiped out on the floor, gaining grumbles from some of the other customers.

The third fool rose, chest butting Rowdy. "Asshole! Turn him loose."

"Sure. Soon as he apologizes."

"I said, let him go!" He took a short swing, punching Rowdy in the chin, and his head snapped back.

Smiling, Rowdy worked his jaw-and popped the guy. Even using his left hand, he sent the smaller man falling over a chair.

Unruffled, Avery lifted a brow. "Are you done?"

"Almost. Soon as he tells you how sorry he is for manhandling you."

"Sure, sorry, whatever." When Rowdy tightened his hold, he said more sincerely, "I'm sorry!"

Rowdy released him.

Now free, the punk said, "I'm calling the police!"

"Want me to do that for you?"

He flexed his arm, sullen. "No."

"Then get out and don't come back."

Rowdy encompassed all three of them in his stare. "Any of you."

Arms folded, Avery stood silent as all three guys hustled for the door. She didn't look at all appreciative of his interference. And, really, now that he'd let off a little steam, Rowdy knew he'd overreacted.

"You can't go running off business."

But hell if he'd admit it. "I can do any damn thing I want. It's my place."

She gave him a measuring stare, then made a rude sound. "Like you'll even remember them if they come back a week from now."

Now there's where she didn't know him well. "I'll remember."

That had her propping her hands on her trim hips. "Hate to break it to you, Rowdy, but if you carry on like that with every guy who gets out of line-"

"There are more?" He searched around the bar. "Here, tonight? Where -" His gaze snagged on DeeDee as she strolled in. She wore a body-hugging black pull-on cotton dress that fit like a man's undershirt, leaving more on display than it covered.

Out of nowhere, Avery gave him a hard shove.

Because he'd been distracted with DeeDee's appearance, she took him off guard, and Rowdy actually staggered back a step. "What the hell?"

She went on tiptoe to snarl into his chin, "You should change the name of this place!"

"Yeah?" Amused by her temper, Rowdy caught her arms to keep her close. "Suggestion?"

"Yes. Call it Getting Rowdy. " She shoved away from his hold and said in a grumble, "That's what every attractive woman does, right?"

"Catchy.

They get rowdy with Rowdy." Pretending to give it some thought, he nodded. "I like it."

"Ohhhh, you're..." She trailed off, clearly trying to find a word insulting enough to match her mood.

"Waiting to get you, Avery." He tweaked her chin. "That's what I'm doing. Waiting to get you." And with that, Rowdy walked away before he did something stupid-like kiss her with DeeDee watching.

Ten minutes later, seated in a booth, Rowdy wished for an interruption. He knew brazen women. Hell, he liked brazen women.

But not when they wanted to screw him first and then assist in his murder.

DeeDee did indeed appear to want both.

Leaning her boobs into his side, sliding a small hand over his thigh and licking his ear, she tried to convince him to go to her car.

"I want you so bad, Rowdy," she breathed.

Where the hell was Reese?

Half crawling over his lap and catching his chin, DeeDee planted a hot, wet one on him.

The second she got her tongue out of his mouth, Rowdy lifted his beer, intent on using the alcohol to sterilize things- and his gaze clashed with Avery's from across the room.

With a killing glare, she turned away.

Damn it, he needed Avery to know that it meant nothing. Except...why should he explain himself to her? They'd be working together, so she was bound to see him hook up.

He enjoyed sexual variety.

Eventually he and Avery would get together-because he knew the chemistry was there-but she needed to understand that it was sex, and only sex.

Not a commitment. Not an invitation for more.

No matter how much she intrigued him.

"Rowdy..." While straddling his lap, DeeDee rose to her knees. And right there in the bar, wedged into a booth, she tried to open his jeans.

Time to make a strategic retreat.

Rowdy caught her hands. "Hang on, honey. I'll be right back." Fucking Reese, running late.

He'd gotten the text from Trace that they were on their way, but another two minutes and DeeDee would molest him.

He bodily lifted her to the side, ignoring her pouts and the way she stroked his junk as he slid out of the booth seat. "Don't move."

"Hurry," she said.

Suddenly in a killing mood, Rowdy strode over to where Dougie and Hickson shared a booth. He wouldn't hurt a woman, even one as revolting as DeeDee, so he needed to find another outlet.

When he stopped beside them, both men looked up in mingled surprise and suspicion.

Itching for a little violence, Rowdy said to Dougie, "You're fired."

"What?" Dougie gave an incredulous laugh. "Who the hell are you?"

Rowdy took great pleasure in introducing himself. "I bought the bar.

And since I'm not a scum-sucking bottom feeder-" n o t anymore "-I don't want your ilk hanging around.

You're through here. Collect your shit and get out."

Dougie and Hickson shared a look.

"I didn't hear anything about a new owner."

"No? Guess that tells you just how important you are, doesn't it?"

Dougie clenched all over.

Try it, Rowdy thought. Please.