Bare It All Read Online Free PDF

partiers.”
    “And you’re not?”
    “When was the last time you saw me head to a party?”
    “I haven’t kept track of your agenda, one way or the
other.”
    Bull. Alice was far too aware of everyone and everything not to
have noticed him. Even without her keen powers of observation, few would miss a
man of his size. Thanks to a good draw from the family gene pool, he had both
height and strength.
    Men and women alike made note of him. But it wasn’t until Cash
that Alice had acknowledged his existence.
    He turned on a burner to get the skillet hot. “I work too many
hours, and when I get some downtime, I like to kick back with my friends, which
usually means watching sports, fishing, that sort of thing.” He opened a drawer
and found an egg turner. “And I like to hit up the gym a couple of times a week
just to unwind.”
    “You look—” she coughed lightly “—physically fit.”
    “Thanks.” He was in prime condition, but if she wanted to
understate it, he wouldn’t debate it with her.
    She got out bread for toast. It was interesting how easily they
moved together to prepare breakfast.
    “Another strike against Pam and Nikki—they’re not dog people.”
He smiled at how Alice maneuvered around Cash without complaint, giving him the
occasional pat or stroke without even thinking about it.
    “That matters to you?”
    “The dog and I are a package deal now.” He began laying bacon
in the skillet. “Love me, love my dog.”
    Silence filled the air. Had the love word thrown her when likening herself to a jealous wife hadn’t?
The mysteries added up. “So, Alice, while we prepare breakfast, why don’t we
have that talk?”
    “All right.” She took down glasses and poured orange juice.
“Before we get into that, though, would you like to tell me what you found while
snooping?”
    He went still, unsure if she bluffed, or if—
    “I know you did, Reese.”
    “You assume—”
    “I know. ”
    Giving up, he said, “You’re loaded down with weapons. Want to
tell me why?”
    One shoulder lifted. “Self-protection.”
    “Most people cover that with one gun.”
    She avoided his gaze by turning the bacon with a fork. “So,
what did you find?”
    “Glock in bedroom closet, Taser in nightstand—”
    “You got into my nightstand?”
    Interesting reaction. “Long enough to see the Taser, yes.” He
studied her frown. “I also saw the baton under your bed.”
    Mouth tight, she asked, “Is that it?”
    No fucking way. “There’s more?”
    With only the slightest hesitation, she lowered the heat under
the bacon, took his hand and led him out of the kitchen and down the hall.
    Reese was so astounded by her touch that he barely noticed Cash
trotting along behind them. It seemed that wherever Alice went, the dog
followed.
    She veered into the bathroom, released him and gestured behind
the toilet. Frowning, Reese leaned around her to see...a revolver strapped to
the tank. It was hidden from view so that only someone who knew where to look
would find it.
    He started to say something, but Alice walked out, so he
followed, as did Cash. She went into her office, pulled her chair out from her
desk and tipped it back to show another Taser and a spare cell phone attached
underneath.
    “Jesus.” Reese rubbed a hand over his head. “What else?”
Because somehow, he just knew there was more.
    She marched back into the kitchen, opened a cabinet drawer, and
one by one, set out a flashlight, another spare cell phone, a big knife, mace
and finally a stun gun. “I prefer a Taser so I won’t have to get close, but the
stun gun is here just in case.”
    Muscles knotted, tension mounting from her dispassionate
explanation and overabundance of weapons, Reese growled out, “Why?” She had a damned fortress going on, and there
must be a reason.
    “I don’t want to be hurt.”
    In contrast to his tone, hers was soft, and a little chilling
because of it. It wrecked him, imagining what might have instilled so