Page 45 of Nauti Deceptions (Nauti 5)

Uh-oh, Janey’s smile was all teeth. It was a Mackay smile and never boded well.

“There’s a cure?” she asked warily. She was intrigued now.

Janey’s smiled widened.

“Janey,” Alex said warningly, which only made Rogue more curious.

Her brow arched as she stared back at her friend. “A girl can never have enough cures for redneck male stupidity. Just in case she runs across it. ”

Janey leaned closer. “When you get your hands on him, Rogue, and you will get your hands on him, remember one thing. He’s rumored to have stamina, but you have something that can bring him to his knees. ”

“Do tell. ” Rogue replied mockingly. Oh yeah, she definitely wanted to hear this one.

“The word ‘no. ’ ” Janey pulled back, her expression tightening in anger. “Tell him to go to hell and walk away. ”

“Like you did?” Rogue arched her brow, remembering well just how effective that had been with Alex.

Janey pouted. “That was Alex. He’s different. ”

“Uh-huh. ” Rogue nodded. “Do tell how different, Janey. ” Her gaze flickered to Alex. He was looking less than comfortable with the direction of this conversation.

“Yes, sweetheart,” he drawled then, his voice silky, curious and warning at the same time. “Do tell us the difference. ”

Janey’s smile was satisfied, sensual, alluring as she gazed at her lover before turning back to Rogue. “His condom broke the first time. ” She laughed, ducking as Alex reached for her with a laugh. “I had to have mercy on him. You know, just in case I had to make an honest man of him. ”

Janey’s laughter was filled with happiness as it echoed around the office. Her lover caught her in his arms, lifted her against him, and gave her a kiss that was filled with his smile.

“And on that note. ” He t

urned to Rogue. “We’ll give you a ride to the bar. ”

“That’s not necessary,” Rogue began.

“Well, you could ride with us or with him. ”

With him? Rogue started back at him with a rising sense of dread.

“Meaning?”

“There’s a certain sheriff’s Tahoe parked out front, most likely ready to turn away any cabs. My truck is out back. ” Alex’s smile was tight. “We could sneak you right out. ”

Rogue swallowed tightly. She couldn’t face Zeke, not tonight, not yet. If he was waiting outside for her, then she knew exactly what would happen before they managed to get out of the parking lot.

She picked up her purse casually, each move deliberate.

“I appreciate the offer of a ride, Alex,” she said as she stood to her feet. “I think I’ll take you up on it after all. It’s rather cold to wait outside for a cab in this weather. ”

“Yeah. ” He nodded. “I thought you’d see it that way. ”

Zeke was fucking up.

Alex led Janey and a rather silent Rogue to his truck, helped them in, then moved around to the driver’s side with a quick look to the side of the street. The sheriff had gotten sneaky over the past weeks as he watched for Rogue to leave. Tonight, he wasn’t being sneaky at all, and that was telling.

He grinned as he started the motor and pulled out of the back lot, easing slowly down the street, just to make sure that they were seen. He had no doubt Zeke was watching, and he didn’t mind tormenting his friend a little here and there. Hell, sometimes, a man had to be pushed to follow his heart, and Alex didn’t mind pushing Zeke any more than Zeke had minded pushing him when it came to Janey.

As they drove past the front parking lot, he timed his good friend, holding back a smile and counting off the seconds until his cell phone rang. He let it ring a time or two before taking it from the clip on his belt and answering with a brief, “Yes?”

“Rogue’s with you?” Zeke didn’t sound pleased, and Alex considered that encouraging.

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