Reaper's Property Read Free Page A

bright red and I’d somehow
gotten a giant scratch across my cheek. It contrasted nicely with the fading
yellow and purple of the bruise Gary’d given me.
    My hands trembled as I poured three big
plastic tumblers of iced tea, wondering if I should put sugar in them. I
decided to bring some sugar in a cup and stuck a spoon in it. Then I wedged two
of the tumblers between my right arm and my torso, grabbing the third with my
hand. I snagged the sugar with my left and managed to get through the door with
some careful maneuvering. They were talking to each other in low voices when I
came out, watching me as I walked to the table. I pasted a bright smile on my
face, just like I used to wear when I waitressed back in high school. I could
do this.
    “You call your man?” the big one asked. I
glanced at him, forgetting I was supposed to avoid his gaze because his eyes
were so deep and rich and green.
    “My man?” I asked.
    “Jensen.”
    Shit, I forgot about that. They thought I
was Jeff’s girlfriend. Should I tell them? I couldn’t decide. I studied the
biker, trying to figure out the safest answer. He met my gaze without giving
anything away. His hair was pulled back in a rough ponytail and his chin was
covered with thick, dark stubble. My stupid body came alert again as I wondered
what that stubble would feel like if I rubbed my lips against it slowly.
    Probably pretty damned good.
    “Girlie, answer the fuckin’ question,” said
the blue-eyed man. I jumped, splashing some of the tea against the front of my
shirt. It drenched my right boob, of course, and my nipple came to instant
attention when the icy drink hit it. The big guy’s eyes followed it, his eyes
darkening.
    “Jeff’s coming,” I said, managing not to
stutter. “He said he’d be here in twenty minutes. I’ve got tea for you,” I
added inanely. Big Guy reached out and took the cup from my hand. That left me
in a bind because I couldn’t unload the other two glasses without my other hand
free. I could either give him the sugar or I could lean past him and put it on
the table. I was pretty sure I didn’t want to do that.
    He solved the problem for me, reaching out
again and wrapping his fingers around one of the cups I held clasped against my
body. I felt all sorts of tingles as they slid between the cold plastic and my
skin, standing frozen as he repeated the gesture. Then he took the sugar. He
caught my hand and pulled me up against his thigh, until my stomach almost
touched his face.
    I couldn’t breathe.
    He reached up to take my chin, turning my
face so he could study the bruise. I held my breath, willing him not to ask me
about it. He didn’t. Instead, he dropped his hand to my waist, rubbing down and
up slowly along the curve of my hip. It took everything I had not to lean in
and push my breasts into his face.
    “Jensen do that to you?”
    Dammit. I had to tell them, I couldn’t let
it look like Jeff hurt me. He didn’t deserve that.
    “No, he’d never do that. Jeff’s my brother,”
I said quickly, jerking away, blushing. Then I turned and ran into the house.
     
    They sat at the table drinking their tea
and talking until Jeff got home. It felt like he took hours, even though he
made it in record time. At one point the big guy reached over and peeked under
the towel covering the bread dough, which was in danger of rising way too high
if I didn’t get it into the oven soon.
    Crap.
    I wasn’t going out there though. Not until
they were gone.
    Unfortunately, they didn’t seem to be in
the mood to leave. When Jeff rolled up in his aging Firebird they all stood
around and talked for a while. Then they got up and walked toward our front
door. Big Guy glanced toward my window and even though I knew he couldn’t
possibly see me, his eyes seemed to lock on mine.
    As they came inside, Jeff was smiling and
looking relaxed. The others were too. Everything was friendly and I frowned,
wondering if I’d imagined just how serious he’d been with