If You Know Her: A Novel of Romantic Suspense

arms. “I need a cigarette, Law. Bad.”
    “I’ve got a better idea …” He dipped his head and covered her mouth with his. “You just need something else to think about. I’ll give you something …”

CHAPTER
ELEVEN
     
    L AW ACTUALLY WORKED MUCH BETTER THAN A CIGARETTE , for the most part, she decided. Although she did slip out eventually to catch one on the porch. He sat on the porch swing, wearing nothing but low-riding jeans and making her think dark and delicious thoughts—
much
better than a cigarette, even if she was craving the nicotine.
    Damn it. Okay, it really was time to start thinking about quitting …
    She spent a couple of hours with him curled up on the couch, watching a bad movie, using up the last condom, and just before she could consider having a polite little tantrum, Law saved the day by disappearing down the hall to his bedroom. When he returned, he had another box of rubbers, unopened.
    It was edging up on six and she was thinking about test-driving the new supply when she heard an engine.
    Puzzled, she looked at Law, but the expression on his face was one of resignation.
    “You expecting company?”
    “No.” He glanced at her. “It’s Hope.”
    She saw the nerves in his eyes, the worry. Reachingout, she laid a hand on his arm. “I can go.” She wasn’t sure what sort of relationship they had—especially after seeing Hope with the guy that morning, but she knew there was a deep connection between Law and Hope.
    Law pressed his mouth to her forehead, then, quick as a wish, he stood up. “You’re not leaving,” he tossed over his shoulder.
    “I’m not, huh?” She stood up and sauntered after him.
    “No.” Pausing in the doorway, he turned and bent down, brushed his mouth against hers, a long, lingering kiss. “At least I hope you’re not. If you plan on hanging around town … well, Hope’s a friend—one of my best, and …”
    It was sweet, she realized. He looked uncomfortable, like he was fighting for the words. But she understood. He didn’t want them at odds. It was weird, it was awkward as hell, considering she already knew Hope Carson had about as much use for her as she’d have for a scorching case of herpes.
    But Hope mattered to him, and because he seemed to want Nia to matter, he wanted them to at least not dislike each other.
    She wondered how many guys would care.
    Sighing, she skimmed a hand back through his hair and pressed her brow to his. “Mind if I at least put some jeans on?”
    “Actually, yeah. It’s almost a crime to cover that ass of yours.” He cupped her butt in his hands and squeezed. “But I can see why that might make you more comfortable.”
    Smirking, she eased away and had just barely managed to get the jeans in her hands before the door opened.
    The awkward smile she had plastered on her face froze.
    Hope wasn’t alone.
    Law sauntered into the foyer, caught sight of the other man and promptly placed his body in front of Nia. “Hell, Hope, if you were bringing him, you coulda warned me,” he drawled.
    Hope pursed her lips as she peered around Law, watching as Nia struggled into her jeans.
    Her fingers suddenly felt a lot more awkward, fumbling with the zipper, the button. She was acutely aware of the bra she wasn’t wearing, of her rather disheveled hair.
    But she knew how to brazen her way through anything. Almost anything.
    Moving out from behind Law, she tucked her hands into her pockets and smiled at Hope. It felt fake as hell, but at least she wasn’t holding a gun—that was an improvement over the last time she’d been in the house with this lady, right?
    “Hello, again, Ms. Carson.”
    “Ah … maybe you should call me Hope.” She pressed her lips together, a smile tugging at the corners as she looked from Law to Nia. “I … well, I guess that’s your bike out front. I didn’t recognize it. I’m not too good at that sort of thing.”
    “Yeah.” Nia fought the urge to hunch her shoulders. Damn it, she wasn’t going to feel uncomfortable here—Law wanted her here, right? If he didn’t, he would have made that clear.
    An awkward silence stretched out. Nia shuffled her feet and was just about ready to tell Law she’d call him—come back later,
something
, and then Hope reached up, tucking her hair back.
    Nia noticed something.
    Something glittery, bright and gold.
    A ring—one Hope hadn’t been wearing earlier, she was pretty sure. Without thinking twice, she blurted out, “Nice