Holiday Rogue Page 3

  “Thanks.” Her furniture was a comfortable and thick white sofa with matching chairs, and a large Christmas tree already twinkled from the corner by the fireplace. The woman had moved in fully, now, hadn’t she?

  Fabio ran over and flattened himself in front of the gas fireplace, which crackled merrily—or at least blew merrily.

  Rory made quick work of the door, and soon, all three of them were eating the delicious chicken casserole. Bosco cast Marlie several looks, but the woman truly seemed to just enjoy their company. Oh, he’d told women before that he wasn’t looking for romance, and they’d still flirted or tried to get him to change his mind.

  Not Marlie. She seemed perfectly content with how things were.

  Should that bother him? Because it freaking did.

  Rory finished eating. “Man, that was good.” He grinned. “I like to cook, but it isn’t a skill. My girl can’t cook, either. She almost burned down an entire campground while making mac and cheese.”

  “Your girl?” Marlie asked, her eyes lighting up. “You’re married?”’

  “Nope,” Rory said. “Serenity and I were engaged for about two months, and then she threw the ring at my head. But we’ll get back together soon.”

  Bosco sighed. “It’s been three months, bro. You’re not getting back together.”

  Marlie’s expression softened, making her pretty eyes look more tawny than green in the evening light. “I’m so sorry.”

  Rory’s jaw tightened, and his eyes held that glow that probably scared terrorists or whoever he dealt with when he was away from home. “There’s nothing to be sorry about. We had a misunderstanding, and I’m giving her time and space to figure things out.” He glanced at his watch. “We’re a few weeks out from the new year, and that’s her deadline to do so.”

  Marlie cut Bosco a look and then focused on his brother. “Um, what then?”

  “Then she’s out of time and space,” Rory said evenly. “I’ll help her figure the rest out.”

  Shit. His brother really would kidnap Serenity if she didn’t get her act together. But she was stubborn and smart--and right now really pissed. Bosco shook his head. “Dude. You lied to her.” The poor woman had thought Rory worked for the forest service like Quint, except he traveled more to federal lands.

  “I did not lie,” Rory retorted. “I can’t talk about my work, and you know it.”

  Yeah, and he also knew that Serenity McDerny was a stubborn-ass Irishwoman. “Don’t come to me for stitches when she shoots off your balls.” Bosco stood and cleared his plate, not liking how familiar he felt. Marlie looked kissable, plain and simple, and he had to pull his head out of his ass and stop thinking about her sweet mouth.

  He had his rules for a reason. Yeah. Jennie. That had been a painful lesson and one he wasn’t going to repeat—especially with a kind hearted woman like Marlie. “Can I use your—?”

  She nodded. “Yeah. To the left of my office.”

  He headed to the bathroom as Marlie and Rory finished clearing the dishes, noting the cheerful reindeer candles in the small powder room. She sure liked to decorate for the holidays. He walked out, catching the tail end of a conversation that was none of his business.

  “You two make a nice couple,” Rory was saying. “Why don’t you ask Bos out?”

  Marlie laughed, the sound soft. “He made it very clear the first day we met that we were in full friend zone.”

  Rory clinked a dish, no doubt washing with too much soap like usual. His brother was like a hound dog on a scent, and for some reason, the tough guy had always been a matchmaker. “Yeah, but you could change his mind.”

  “Nope.” She turned off the water. “I deal in reality, and we’re in the friend zone. That’s all there is.”

  Bosco paused, wondering if he’d lost his way. The strong urge to change his mind, to change hers, smashed into his gut like an iron ball. For now, he had to find somebody to watch the dog so he could get to work a long way from home—or rather in the air a long way from home. Then he’d figure out what to do with his too-beautiful neighbor.

  Chapter 4

  Marlie locked her apartment door and double-checked that she’d remembered her shopping list. Yep. All right. She really couldn’t forget the flour again. She strode past Bosco’s door and paused when the sound of barking came from inside. What the heck? After dinner the night before, Bosco had said that he’d be on the road at dawn, and it was much later than that. He hadn’t left the dog all alone, waiting for somebody to pick him up, had he?

  She bit her lip and gingerly knocked on the door.

  It opened, and a stunning woman stood there in boxer shorts, a ripped T-shirt, and bare feet. She had her brownish-red hair piled on her head in a messy bun, and her grayish-green eyes were bleary. She rubbed one. “Morning?”

  Marlie took a step back. What in the world? What kind of games did Bosco play? This was nuts. “Sorry, I—”

  Fabio shoved by the woman and nearly ran Marlie over, panting happily.

  She patted his head. “I heard him bark and thought he was alone, but that didn’t make sense.” She started backing away, but the dog made it nearly impossible by winding around her legs. “I’m sorry to have disturbed your sleep.” The woman really was beautiful without makeup.

  “Fabio. Inside, now,” the woman said, snapping her fingers.

  The dog obeyed instantly, heading back inside.

  “Wow. He doesn’t usually listen from what I’ve seen,” Marlie mused.

  The woman’s eyes cleared and then focused. “Oh. You’re Marlie.” She smiled, flashing a dimple.

  “I am. Yes.” Marlie shook her head, trying to get her bearings. This was just weird. “I—”

  “I’m Anna.” She held out a hand. “Albertini. Anna Albertini, Bosco’s cousin. Rory told me you’d moved in next door.” Her smile was friendly, and yep, there was the Albertini dimple again.

  So, Rory and not Bosco had told Anna about Marlie. Yep. Just buddies for sure. For a minute the night before, she’d wondered if they could have something else, but then he’d shut down. “Hi.” She shook Anna’s hand. “I’m sorry if I woke you up.”

  “Oh, I’ve been up a few times with the dog and was just snoozing. It’s been a rough week.” Anna pushed her hair away from her face.

  The front door to the house flew open, and a muscled man with seriously pissed blue eyes stomped down the hallway toward the three apartment doors. He was as big and muscled as Bosco and Rory. Was there something in the water in Idaho, or what?

  “It’s about to get worse,” Anna murmured, watching the guy impassively.

  Marlie took an instinctive step away.

  “What the holy hell are you thinking, Angel?” the man snapped, an Irish brogue emerging with what had to be temper.

  Anna didn’t seem fazed by the guy’s size or his anger. She yawned again. “Listen. I know things have been crazy, but I’m not giving up the case. My Glock is in my bag, I’ve remembered every move you’ve taught me, and I’m safe.”

  The Irish guy leaned in and down, his nose about an inch away from Anna’s. “Your Glock had better be in your bag, you had better remember the training, and for all that’s holy, you are not safe. In fact, I know you’re not safe because your ass isn’t at your sister’s house where it should be right now.”

  The Irish dude was both a little scary and a lot sexy. By the light pink filtering across Anna’s face, she might agree with that. She met the guy’s glare evenly, not backing down a bit. “Aiden, I am not giving up this case.”

  “I’m not asking you to give it up,” the guy snapped, his thick black hair looking as if he’d been yanking at it out of frustration. “What I am doing is asking you to be safe, and hightailing your very nice butt across town to babysit a dog is not doing that.”

  Anna rolled her eyes. “Bos was called out, and I said I’d watch Fabio until Knox got home, which is tonight. Nobody knows I’m here. So, stop bossing me around.”

  Apparently, it was the wrong thing to say. Anna was on her feet one second, and the next, she was over Aiden’s shoulder, heading inside the apartment. “Damn it,” she muttered, not seeming too perturbed. “Fabio, come!”

  The dog happily bounced around them.

  Anna levered up, balancing herself with a hand on the middle of Aiden’s back. “Sorry about this, Marlie. It has to seem weird.” She flopped back down.

  Marlie remained frozen in place. Then she jerked herself out of it. “Hey. Are you okay? I could hit him from behind if you want.” Then, without waiting for an answer, she ran ahead and jumped in front of Aiden, nearly tripping over the dog.

  Anna laughed out loud.

  Aiden sighed heavily. “That’s sweet of you.” Then he ducked and lifted an overnight bag over his free shoulder, tossed a hand-knitted blanket over Anna’s form, and headed right back out into the hallway.

  Marlie wavered and then followed, running in front of him and blocking the outside door. She had no chance of beating him in a fight, but she could probably take out his knee. “Should I call in a kidnapping?”

  Anna laughed harder, and Aiden kept coming straight at her, amusement tilting his full lips.

  “I’m thinking the Albertini family might be a little odd,” Marlie muttered.

  That stopped Aiden cold. His eyes warmed, showing a conglomeration of blues. “They are. Get out now if you can. Trust me. Run fast and run far.”

  Anna laughed harder, squirming over his very broad shoulder, his hand on her thigh holding her in place.

  Marlie swallowed. “We’re just friends. I mean, Bosco and me. Just friends.”

  “Ha,” Aiden said, sidestepping her easily. “That’s how they get you, darlin’. I’ve already heard about you, which means the family has heard, and you’
re as good as in. I hope you like big weddings.” He kept walking.

  Anna whistled. “Fabio, come!”

  The dog panted after them.

  A phone rang from the big bag over Aiden’s shoulder. He sighed, stopped again, and yanked it out to hand to Anna.

  She pressed a speaker button as if she talked to people all the time while hanging over Aiden’s very broad back. “Hey, Bosco,” she answered easily. “I have the dog.”

  “What the fuck are you doing going to my apartment by yourself when dead bodies keep showing up around you?” Bosco yelled, his voice somehow low and pissed, even while yelling.

  Marlie paused, catching her breath. Dead bodies? Seriously?

  “Exactly,” Aiden said.

  Anna sighed. “Bosco—”

  “No. I’m headed into a war zone, damn it. Devlin? Do you have this?” Bosco snapped.

  “I’m about to,” Aiden said agreeably.

  “Good. I don’t care what anybody says. You’re a fucking saint.” Bosco ended the call.

  Marlie’s insides went all jittery. War zone?

  Aiden stalked toward the outside door again. “I am a saint,” he muttered. “Should get a medal or something.”

  Anna levered up, placing her hand in the middle of Aiden’s back again and lifting her head so her gaze could meet Marlie’s. “Hey, Marlie. Lock up Bosco’s apartment for me, would you? Thanks so much. I tell you what? I’ll give you a call when this case is over, and we can grab a drink. What’s your number?”

  Marlie rattled it off as quickly as she could. The front door opened and then shut, taking them out into the snowy day.

  Quiet descended.

  Marlie reached for Bosco’s door and shut it, locking it. Maybe it was a good thing—a really good thing—that she and Bosco were just friends. The Albertini family seemed absolutely crazy. Then she caught sight of Anna’s wallet near the door, which had fallen out of the bag Aiden had thrown over his shoulder.

  She grabbed it and ran outside just as he was loading Anna into the front seat of a black truck. “Your wallet,” she breathed, handing it over.

  A couple of cars sped past, throwing icy slush toward the truck. Marlie ducked, but spray covered her boots anyway.

  “Thanks.” Anna grinned. “Welcome to chaos, my new friend.”

  After grabbing a quick coffee where she’d been asked out on a date by a handsome accountant, Marlie headed to the college, parking outside her brick building and using her key to get inside. The college was quiet during the holiday season, and she hummed as she made her way up the stairs to the faculty offices. Hers was in the corner with windows overlooking the lake, and she smiled, feeling a sense of peace as the snow fell lightly over the water.

  It took a few hours to get organized, and movement caught her attention outside her door. She looked up to see Mark carrying what looked like a couple of plants. His office was two doors down from hers, and he paused in the doorway. “Hey there.”

  She smiled. “Nice plants.”

  He snorted. “They’re from my grandma. She sent them to my apartment, figuring I wouldn’t find time to buy my own. Something about oxygen in the air helping me to think clearly.” Today, he wore dark jeans, snow boots, and a thick black sweater that matched his hair. His intelligent eyes twinkled.

  “She’s probably right?” Marlie hadn’t considered plants.

  “Well, then.” He moved inside the office and deposited one of the flowering bundles on her credenza. “Here’s a welcome present. Since we’re shaping young minds, I guess we should both have more oxygen in our offices.” He peered at the foliage. “I’d love to tell you all about this plant and how much water it needs, but I have no idea. We’ll have to google it.”

  She laughed. “Thanks for the present.” She missed her friends from Seattle, and it was nice to be meeting people. She had a date with the guy from the coffee shop for lunch tomorrow and then for a night out this weekend, and that would help her stop spinning little fantasies about her too-sexy neighbor. Bosco had been gone for days, and she already worried about him.

  Mark angled toward the door. “Do you want to grab lunch in an hour or so? There’s a deli across the park that’s supposed to be really good.”

  She swallowed. He was charming and good-looking, but she knew better than to date a colleague. Even so, what could lunch hurt? “Sure. I’ll be finished with these files about then. We can walk across the park and check out the area.” She’d been meaning to do so anyway.

  His smile was wide. “Excellent.” Then he disappeared down the hallway.

  She winced. It wasn’t a date. Her phone buzzed, and she answered it. “Hello.”

  “Hey, Sunshine. We miss you around here,” Stacia, her friend who taught physics, said. “When are you coming home?”

  Marlie kicked back in her chair and watched the snow falling outside. “I am home now. Why don’t you come and visit me? You’d love the lake and the snow, and we could go skiing.” Or, rather, go to the ski hill and drink hot toddies by the fireplace. Maybe take a run or two. “What do you say?”

  “I say that sounds like fun,” Stacia agreed. “I’m booked until after Christmas but could head over if the pass is open. Maybe the day after New Year’s? We have that week off.”

  She sat up. “Really?” Excitement filtered through her. “It would be so great to see you. I’ll find ski tickets and have the week planned.” They’d been good friends for five years, and Marlie missed bouncing ideas off Stacia. “We’ll have so much fun.”

  Stacia laughed. “We always do. For now, tell me about the local talent. Have you met anybody interesting?”

  Marlie bit her lip and then told all, including her run-in with Bosco, the coffee-shop guy named Turner, and even Mark.

  Stacia breathed out. “Seriously? Is there a shortage of women in Timber City, or what? I need to come visit just to find a date. What are you going to do about the neighbor?”

  Marlie rolled her eyes. “I just told you that I have a date this weekend with a hottie and lunch today with another handsome man, and you’re asking about Bosco? What’s wrong with you?”

  “Your voice changed when you talked about him,” Stacia said wisely. “He’s the one who interests you, even though you’re in the friend zone. I mean, how could he not? Who is named Bosco Albertini? The name alone is beyond cool. Add in his job and the danger and those broad shoulders you described in way too much detail and, come on, I know you.”

  Marlie shook her head. “Nope. Not going there. You know when a guy warns you off that you should listen. Always.”

  “True.” Stacia sighed. “Even so, I hope I get to meet him when I visit. Plus, it sounds like the Albertini family is a lot of fun.”

  Marlie chuckled. “I’m not sure fun is the right word. But they’re definitely not boring.”

  Chapter 5

  It had been a rough few days away from home, but it was Sunday, and Bosco was home and ready to relax. “Thanks for picking me up,” he said to Rory, easing his aching body toward his doorway. He’d always trained hard in hand-to-hand, just in case a mission went wrong, and he ended up on the ground fighting for his life this time.

  “Sure.” Rory looked toward Marlie’s closed door. “We should say hi.”

  Bosco snorted. During their days apart, he’d spent too much time thinking about his pretty neighbor. Way too much time. “You just want to see if she made dinner again.” Although, he wouldn’t mind seeing her. Just saying hi and being neighborly. Then he could forget all about the dream he’d had about her naked in his bed. Or the one with her nude over his couch. Also, the one on his kitchen table.

  Rory happily stomped to her door and knocked.

  “You’re early.” She opened it and then paused, still inserting a diamond earring into one lobe. “Oh, hi, Rory.”

  Her hazel gaze reached past him to Bosco. Was that relief in her pretty eyes? “Bosco. You’re safe. I’m glad.”

  He nodded, turning for her apartment and trying not to drool at the formfitting red dress that crisscrossed on her chest to wrap around her throat. The waist was tiny with a wide band, and the soft material fell to right above her knees, showcasing shapely legs and four-inch fuck-me black heels.