New York's Finest Rebel

When she was lowered—unbearably slowly—along the length of his large body, Jo had no choice but to grasp wide shoulders until her feet hit the cushions. She swayed as she let go. For a moment she even felt light-headed.

‘I knew what I was doing.’ Stepping down, he lifted her onto the floor as if she weighed nothing.

Taking an immediate step back, Jo dropped her arms to her sides. Her gaze lowered to his chest. She should be angry, ticked off beyond belief he had the gall to touch her and—worse still—have an effect on her body. She liked her world right-side-up, thank you very much, and if he knew what he had done to her …

Folding her arms over heavy breasts, she lifted her chin again. ‘The giant footprints you’ve left on my sofa make us even for the half-dozen glasses.’

‘If you’ve got nothing better to do with your time than talk about me to my family, try taking up a hobby.’

A small cough of disbelief left her lips. ‘I have plenty of things to fill my time.’

‘Dating obviously isn’t one of them,’ he said dryly.

‘Meaning what, exactly?’

‘Meaning I may have forgotten why it is you’ve stayed single for so long, but after an hour it’s starting to come back to me.’ He folded his arms in a mirror of her stance. ‘Ever consider being nice from time to time might improve the odds of getting laid?’

‘Since when has my sex life been remotely in the region of any of your business?’

‘If I had to guess, I’d say around about the same time my relationship with my family became yours.’

Reaching for the kind of strength that had gotten her through worse things than an argument in the past, Jo smiled sweetly. ‘Try not to let the door hit your ass on the way out.’

‘That’s the best you’ve got?’ he asked with a lift of his brows. ‘You’re obviously out of practice.’ He nodded firmly. ‘Don’t worry, we’ll soon get you combat-ready again.’

Jo sighed heavily and headed for the door. She didn’t look at him as he crossed the room. But for some completely unknown reason, just before he left, she heard herself ask, ‘Don’t you ever get tired of this?’

Where had that come from?

Daniel stopped, turned his head and studied her with an intense gaze. ‘Quitting on me, babe?’

She frowned when the softly spoken question did something weird to her chest. ‘Don’t call me babe.’

When he didn’t move, the air seemed to thicken in the space between them. Stupid hormones —even if she was in the market for a relationship he was the last man—

‘You want to negotiate a truce?’

She didn’t know what had possessed her to ask the question in the first place and now he was asking if she wanted them to be friends? She stifled a burst of laughter. ‘Did I give the impression I was waving a white flag? I’m talking about you, not me. You look tired, Daniel.’ She pouted. ‘Is the energy required pretending to be a nice guy to everyone else finally wearing you down?’

His eyes darkened. ‘Questioning my stamina, babe?’

The ‘babe’ thing was really starting to get to her.

Taking a step closer, he leaned his face close enough for her to feel the warmth of his breath on her cheeks.

‘Bad idea,’ he warned.

Ignoring the flutter of her pulse, Jo stiffened her spine. Since childhood she’d had a code she lived by; one she still found hard to break, even for the tiny handful of people she allowed to occupy an equally tiny corner of her heart. Show any sign of weakness and it was the beginning of the end. The masks she wore were the reason she had survived a time in her life when she was invisible. At the beginning of her career they gave the impression professional criticism never stung. So while her heart thudded erratically, she donned a mask of Zen-like calm. ‘Am I supposed to be intimidated by that?’

He smiled dangerously in reply. ‘Keep challenging me and this is going to get real interesting, real quick.’

‘Seriously, you’re hilarious. I never knew that about you.’ Raising a hand, she patted him in the centre of his broad chest. ‘Now be a good boy and treat yourself to an early night. Can’t have those good looks fading, now, can we?’ She flattened her palm and pushed him back to make enough room to open the door. ‘What would we use to fool members of the opposite sex into thinking we’re a catch if we had to rely on our personality?’

‘You tell me.’

Moving her hand from his chest, she wrapped her fingers around a muscled upper arm and encouraged him to step through the door with another push. When he was standing in the hall and looking at her with a hint of a smile on his face, she leaned her shoulder against the door frame and angled her chin. Her eyes narrowed. It felt as if he knew something she didn’t.

She hated when he did that.

‘Admit it: you missed this.’

Lifting her gaze upwards, she studied the air and took a deep breath. ‘Nope, can’t say I did.’

‘Without me around there’s no one to set you straight when you need it.’

‘You say that as if you know me well enough to know what I need.’ She shook her head. ‘You don’t know me, Daniel. You’re afraid to get to know me.’

‘Really,’ he said dryly.

‘Yes, really, because if you did you might have to admit you were wrong about me and we both know you don’t like to admit you’re wrong about anything.’ She glanced up and down the hall as if searching for eavesdroppers before lowering her voice. ‘Worse still, you might discover you like me. And we can’t have that, can we?’

Rocking forward, he lowered his voice to the same level. ‘I don’t think there’s any danger of that.’

Jo searched his too-blue eyes, suddenly questioning if he even remembered how the war between them began. Looking back, she realized she didn’t; what was it that made him so much more difficult to get along with than every other member of his family? Everyone got to a point where they started to try and make sense of their life. She was at peace with a lot of the things she couldn’t change. But since Daniel was the only person she’d ever been immature around in her entire life, she couldn’t help but wonder why. Apparently he wasn’t the only one in need of a good night’s rest.

She rolled her eyes at the momentary weakness. ‘Whatever you tell yourself to help you sleep at night.’

‘I sleep just fine,’ he said tightly. ‘You don’t need to worry about me.’

‘I wasn’t—’

‘Just do us both a favour and stay out of my business. If you don’t, I might start poking my nose into yours.’

‘I have nothing to hide,’ she lied. ‘Do you?’

‘Don’t push me, babe.’

She managed to stop the words or what? leaving her lips, but it wasn’t solely the need to strive for maturity. There was something else going on; she could feel it. It was more than the chill in his gaze, more than the rigid set of his shoulders or the unmistakable edge of warning in his deep voice. What was it?

As if he could read the question in her eyes, Daniel frowned and turned his profile to her. A muscle tensed on his jaw, suggesting he was grinding his teeth together. But even if she had the right to ask what was wrong, before she had the chance, he turned away. When she ended up staring at his door again, she blinked and shook her head.

Well, Day One had been great.

She couldn’t wait for Day Two.

CHAPTER TWO

‘Is it just me or does coffee taste better when they make those little love hearts in the foam? It’s funny the things that can make a difference in how we feel.’

JORJA DAWSON had breasts. Considering he was a man and she was a woman, part of Daniel’s brain had to have always known that. Fortunately, in the past, they had never been pressed against his chest in a way that made them difficult to ignore.

It was the kind of intel he could have done without.

Judging by the way the tips of those breasts were beaded against the material of her tight-fitting top before she hid them beneath folded arms, the spark of sexual awareness had been mutual. She should just be thankful he had an honourable streak. If she ever found out he’d been as aware of her as she was of him, she would have a brand-new weapon at her disposal. One that, were she foolish enough to use it, would leave him no choice but to launch a counterattack with heavy artillery until she offered her unconditional surrender.

In terms of fallout, it would be similar to pulling the pin on a grenade he couldn’t toss to a safe distance.

Number two on his list: sister’s best friend.

Since every guy on the planet who didn’t have long-term plans knew to avoid that minefield, it wouldn’t matter if she wore nothing but lacy underwear to go with the shoes he would have been happy for her to wear to bed. She could have pole-danced for him and he would still resist the urge to kiss her.

‘Whatever you tell yourself to help you sleep at night.’

When the echoed words led directly to the memory of the unspoken questions in her eyes, he pushed his body harder in the last block of a five mile run. She’d hit a nerve but there was no way she could know he wasn’t sleeping. Or that he was sick of waking up bathed in a cold sweat, his throat raw from yelling. It had to stop before he did something stupid in work again or was forced to look for another apartment. He would damn well make it stop.

But distracting himself from the problem with thoughts of Jorja Dawson’s breasts wasn’t the way to go about it.

Slowing his pace to a walk, he shouldered his way into a busy coffee shop and pushed back the hood on his sweatshirt. After placing his order, he looked around while he waited for it to arrive, his gaze discovering a woman sitting alone by the windows. It was exactly what he needed: another woman.

Questioning if he was forming a fetish, he started his assessment with her shoes—a pair of simple black patent heels with open toes—before he moved up the legs crossed elegantly beneath the table to a fitted skirt that hugged her like a second skin. Nice. Continuing upwards, he was rewarded with a glimpse of curved breast between the lapels of a crisp white blouse as she turned in her seat. Then his gaze took in the smooth twist of dark hair at the nape of her neck in the kind of up-do that begged to be unpinned so she could shake her hair loose. She was even wearing a pair of small, rectangular-framed reading glasses to complete the fantasy.

But when she turned again, he shook his head. Used to be a time he was better at sensing the presence of the enemy.

She looked up at him when he stopped for a paper napkin at the condiment station beside her. ‘Are you kidding me?’

‘I can’t buy a cup of coffee now?’

‘You can buy it somewhere else.’

‘This is the closest coffee shop.’

‘You can have the one two blocks down. This one is mine.’ She returned her attention to her computer screen. ‘It’s my work space every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning.’

‘I must have missed the notice on the door,’ Daniel said as he pulled out the chair facing her and sat down. He smirked when she scowled at him. ‘Good morning.’

After an attempt to continue what she was doing while he looked through the window at the steady build of people headed to their offices, she sighed. ‘You’re going to be here every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, aren’t you?’

‘Not a morning person, I take it.’

‘This is your plan?’ She arched a brow when he looked at her. ‘You’re going to be there every time I turn around until you wear me down and I move? Wow … that’s …’

‘Effective?’

‘I was going to say adolescent. I can’t tell you how reassuring it is to know the city is in the hands of such a mature example of the New York Police Department.’

When her fingers began to move across the keyboard again, Daniel realized he didn’t have the faintest idea what she did for a living. He wondered why. Hadn’t needed to know was the simple answer. Though it did kind of beg the question of why it was he needed to know now.

Know your enemy and know yourself and you could fight a hundred battles, as the saying went. With that in mind he took a short breath. ‘So what is it you do anyway?’

She didn’t look up from the screen. ‘It’s the first time you’ve been tempted to ask that question?’

‘I don’t have a newspaper to pass the time.’

‘They’re on a stand by the door.’

‘It’s an internet thing, isn’t it?’

Long lashes lifted behind her glasses. ‘Meaning?’

‘You’re one of those people who reports their every move every five minutes so the universe can know how much time they spend doing laundry.’

‘Yes, that’s the only thing people use the internet for these days.’ She reached for her coffee. ‘It’s because working online isn’t a physical job, right? Anyone who isn’t lifting heavy objects or doing something with their hands instantly earns a low ranking on your Neanderthal scale of the survival of the fittest.’

‘You might want to slow down on the caffeine intake. I think you’re close to the legal limit already.’

Setting the cup down, she breathed deep and went back to work. ‘I write a blog.’

‘You can earn a living doing that?’

‘Among other things,’ she replied.

‘What’s it about?’

‘Don’t you have somewhere you need to be?’

‘Nope.’

‘Fine, then. I can play the “get to know me better” game until you get bored and leave. It shouldn’t take long with your attention span.’ Lifting her coffee again, she leaned back in her chair and looked him straight in the eye. ‘I work for a fashion magazine and as part of my job I write a daily blog on the latest trends and the kind of things twenty-something women might find interesting.’

‘You’re as deep as a shallow puddle, aren’t you?’

‘Not everything is about the meaning of life. Sometimes it’s more about living it. For some people that means finding joy in the little things.’

‘Like spending money on the kind of clothes that will put them in debt?’

‘Like wearing things that make them feel good.’ She shrugged a narrow shoulder. ‘I assume it’s how someone like you feels when they wear their uniform of choice.’

‘I don’t wear a uniform as a fashion statement.’

‘You’re saying you don’t feel good when you wear it?’

‘It’s a matter of pride in what I do.’

‘And doesn’t that make you feel good about yourself?’

She was smart, but that he’d known. Trouble was she wasn’t entirely right. ‘It’s not as simple as that.’

When her head tilted at an obviously curious angle, he lounged back in his chair. Since she’d given him the opening with the topic of conversation, he openly checked her out. ‘I take it the librarian look is in vogue now.’

‘It’s better than the mugger ensemble you’re wearing.’

Lowering his chin, he ran a large palm over the faded U.S.M.C. lettering on his chest. ‘I’ve had this since basic training. It has sentimental value.’

‘Wouldn’t that suggest you have a heart?’

‘Bit difficult to walk around without one.’

‘As difficult as it is to survive without sleep?’

Daniel stared at her without blinking.

‘Thin walls …’ she said in a soft tone that smacked too much of sympathy for his liking before she shrugged. ‘Try falling asleep without the television on, you might get more benefit from the traditional eight hours—especially if you’re watching something with that much yelling in it. What was it—horror flick of the week?’

‘You’re worried about me again? That’s sweet.’ Feeling sick to his stomach at how close he’d been to humiliation, he got to his feet. ‘Now I know you spend your nights with a glass pressed to the wall I’ll try and find something on the nature channel with whale song in it.’ When his trip to the door was halted by the brush of cool fingers against his hand, he looked down at her. ‘What?’

Dropping her arm, she avoided his gaze and shook her head. ‘Forget it.’

‘You got something to say, spit it out.’ He checked his watch. ‘I have an appointment with my boss in an hour.’

The statement lifted her chin again. ‘Because of what happened yesterday?’

‘Hardly the first time I’ve had my ass hauled across the coals for breaking the rules.’

‘You saved a man’s life.’ She shrugged her shoulders and looked away. ‘I’m sure that counts for something.’

She was reassuring him?

‘Not that you don’t deserve it for doing something so asinine,’ she added. ‘You could have placed other members of your team in danger.’

That was more like it. It was also pretty much exactly what he expected to have yelled at him in an hour. ‘We all do what we gotta do when the situation calls for it.’ He lowered his voice. ‘You should know that better than most.’

She looked up at him from the corner of her eye. ‘And there you go thinking you know me again.’

‘Did it ever occur to you that you don’t make it easy for people to do that?’

‘People who want to make an effort.’

‘And how many tests do they have to pass before you talk to them like they have an IQ higher than a rock?’

‘Stupid is as stupid does,’ she replied with a smile.

‘I take it back. If you’re quoting Forrest Gump at me you obviously need more caffeine.’ He placed an apologetic look on his face. ‘I’d get you some before I leave but I’m not allowed to buy coffee here.’

‘You’re the most irritating person I’ve ever met.’

‘See you later, babe.’ ‘Not if I see you first.’

‘Still rusty.’

He shook his head. ‘Keep practising.’

‘How’s the challenge coming along?’

‘Hmm?’ Jo blinked at her erstwhile roomie, a second night of interrupted sleep catching up with her.

He must have moved his bed after the conversation in the coffee shop. The yelling had been further away but, like the first time, when it came it was torture. She doubted anyone could hear a human being in that much pain and not feel the effect of it emotionally.

‘The challenge the magazine gave you?’ Jess prompted. ‘The one where you wear outfits from the centre pages to discover if different images change how people see you? I’m assuming that’s why you look like a French onion seller today. Not that the beret doesn’t work for you.’

Yes, she liked the beret. It was the kind of thing she’d have chosen herself, especially when it had a little touch of France to it. But since she wasn’t supposed to wear anything the magazine hadn’t chosen for her …

Lowering her chin, she idly rearranged the crumbs on her plate with the prongs of her fork. Wasn’t as if he would tell her what had caused the nightmare if she asked him, was it? That part of not pushing the subject she got. Where it began to get weird started with the fact she hadn’t felt the need to talk it through with his sister. His family cared about him. If he was struggling with something that happened when he was overseas they would want to help in any way possible. Not that he would make it easy. Trouble was she couldn’t forget how the colour drained from his face when he’d thought she knew.

It felt as if the man she had known and disliked so much hadn’t come home and someone new had taken his place. Someone she could empathize with and wanted to get to know better.

It was just plain weird.

‘Earth to Jo …’

‘It’s going fine,’ she replied as she speared another piece of cake with her fork and popped it into her mouth. ‘Mmm, this one …’

When she risked a brief glance across the table at the only person who knew when she was hiding something, Jo was relieved to find amusement sparkling in Liv’s eyes.

‘You said that about the last two.’

Jo angled her head. ‘Remind me again why we’re doing this with you instead of Blake?’

‘Because he’s more interested in the honeymoon than the cake we have at our reception.’

Fair enough. She reached for a second sample of chocolate cake. ‘I lied, it’s still this one.’

‘You know chocolate is a substitute for sex,’ Jess commented. ‘It’s an endorphins thing.’

‘It’s more than that,’ Jo replied. ‘You never have to worry if chocolate will call … it never stands you up … and it doesn’t mind keeping you company during a rom-com on a Friday night.’ She sighed contentedly as she reached for another sample. ‘Chocolate is better than sex.’

Jess snorted. ‘The hell it is.’

‘She’s young.’ Liv nodded sagely. ‘She’ll learn.’

‘If she tried having it occasionally she’d learn a lot quicker.’

‘She scares them off.’

Jo waggled her fork in the air. ‘Still in the room …’

It wasn’t her fault guys found her intimidating. With the kind of life experience that went beyond her twenty-four years, she was self-sufficient and hard-working with her focus fixed firmly on her career. If there was overtime available, she took it. Holidays people with family commitments didn’t want to work, she volunteered. But regardless of her career, she was also very open about the fact she wasn’t interested in getting involved, even if she wasn’t prepared to explain why. Put everything together it was difficult for guys to envisage her needing them for more than one thing. Though in fairness there were plenty of them who wouldn’t see that as a problem.

There was a short debate on the merits of vanilla cream before Jess asked, ‘How’s our new neighbour?’

‘In order to be “our” new neighbour wouldn’t you need to be there more than once a week?’ Jo smiled sweetly.

‘You need reinforcements, you just have to yell.’

‘You like Daniel.’

‘Everyone but you likes Danny.’ Jess shrugged. ‘He is what he is and doesn’t make any excuses for it. There’s a lot to be said for that.’

‘There’s nothing hidden with him,’ Liv agreed. ‘When we were kids his bluntness got him into trouble, but honestly? We all kind of relied on it.’

Jo was beginning to wonder if anyone knew Daniel as well as they thought they did but she didn’t say so out loud. She couldn’t. Not without telling them there were some things he kept hidden.

‘You could try taking the high road,’ Jess suggested.

‘I get nosebleeds.’ Jo frowned.

The chocolate cake was gone and how had they got from the subject of her sex life to Daniel in the space of two minutes anyway? Apart from spending time with the friends it felt as if she hadn’t seen much of lately, part of the appeal of the cake tasting had been the opportunity to take a break from him.

‘You make a decision on the cake yet?’ she asked.

‘I’m swaying towards different layers of these three.’ Liv pointed her fork at the emptiest plates.

‘What’s next on the list?’

‘Flowers.’

The conversation swayed back towards wedding plans as they left the bakery and made their way past the public library to the nearest subway station. Jess glanced at the steps in front of the large Grecian columns where several men in helmets and bulletproof vests were gathered around one of the stone lions.

‘Isn’t that Danny?’

Oh, come on.

Reluctantly—as Olivia and Jess headed towards him and she lagged a step behind—Jo had to admit the uniform was sexy in a badass/mess-with-me-and-die kind of way. But then she’d always known Daniel had an edge to him. While he could attract women with a smile, he could make grown men cower with just a look. She had seen that look once. When was it? Tyler’s thirtieth, which his younger brother deigned to make an appearance at? Yes, she thought that was it. A giant with a brain the size of a pea was foolish enough to manhandle his girlfriend within Daniel’s line of sight. All it had taken was that look and a quietly spoken ‘show the lady some respect’ and he’d backed down with a string of mumbled apologies. When it was over Daniel had simply continued what he was doing as if nothing had happened.

Jo wondered why it had taken seeing him in uniform for her to remember she’d been impressed by that.