Free Agent I1: Tristan [01] The D.I.R.E. Agency by Joni Hahn Page B

at her waist screamed louder. It told her she didn’t want Cody Brewster and his high-handed attitude. It told her Cody would never make her body sing like Tristan had last night. It told her Cody was a mistake.
    Rachel shook her head. “Cody, just go.”
    Cursing under his breath, he pointed a finger at her. “This isn’t over, Rachel.”
    “Yes, it is.”
    He stalked to the door and flung it open. “We will get married. You’d better get used to the idea.”
    Rubbing her hands up and down her arms, she watched him go. Sitting on the wrong side of the Brewster’s wrath was not a smart thing to do in Creekmore.
    Stalking to the door, Rachel shut it and turned around.
    “What the heck did you think you were doing?”
    With a bright flash of light, Tristan appeared in front of her, forcing her back against the door. “Letting you know I was here.” He braced his hands on either side of her head.
    Rachel swallowed hard. “By kissing me on the neck? By… she glanced down at her chest.
    A small, mischievous smile lit his face. “By what? Touching your extraordinary breasts in front of another man?”
    The subjects in question tingled just listening to him talk about it. “A… a tap on the shoulder would have sufficed.”
    He nuzzled a spot behind her ear. “But, not nearly as fun.”
    Rachel’s heart raced in her chest. His citrusy scent, his lips on her neck were driving her mad. “I, I couldn’t think.”
    “Mmm, me either.” His hand skimmed up her ribcage.
    Her breath caught. “What are you doing?”
    “Seeing if you’re telling the truth.” Cupping her breast, he kneaded it with unparalleled expertise.
    Rachel nearly collapsed to the floor. “Oh… really?”
    “Yes, it’s a D.I.R.E. interrogation tactic.”
    Rachel felt him smile against her throat.
    What was she doing? She didn’t want a temporary affair. He was only here for a few days, and then he was off to save the world. She had to stay sane, stay focused on how she would pay the bills now that she didn’t have Cody to take care of it for her.
    “Tris, no.” She pushed him away. “I’m sorry I gave you the wrong impression last night. It was a crazy day. I was drunk, and high on Europe. Just because you’re staying here doesn’t mean sex is for the taking.”
    Straightening, he glared down at her with a fierce frown. “That’s not what I thought.”
    “Well, that’s what this looks like.”
    He backed away, hands in the air. “Backing off. I won’t touch you again.”
     
     

Chapter 7
     
    “Ben, you’re out of socks again,” Rachel said, as she dug through his dresser drawer.
    Ben Adams grumbled as he sorted the cards in his hand. “You take all that time to write my name on the socks and they take ‘em anyway. I see other people wearing my socks all the time. I don’t want them back after that, so I throw them away.”
    Straddling a chair, Tristan sat across the table from the old con artist. Ben lived at the assisted living center connected to the hospital. The old man liked to appear helpless, but Tristan had quickly surmised he had a mind like a steel trap.
    He threw down two pair. Ben laid down a full house.
    Cursing under his breath, he watched Ben scoop up the pile of quarters in the center of the table. The old man was also a card shark.
    “So, you just showed up and carried her out of the church?”
    Nodding, he glanced at Rachel. Things had been stilted between them since he’d stupidly, idiotically groped her and kissed her in front of Brewster. Watching Cody try to claim her had brought out some primitive, territorial crap inside of him. He had absolutely no claim on Rachel whatsoever, but logical thought had not been an active participant during that exchange in the bride’s room.
    The scent of orchids still filled his nostrils. When her breath hitched, he’d thought she offered the side of her neck for his leisure.
    Wrong again, Jacobs .
    He’d told himself he wouldn’t sleep with her again. He