A Perfect Storm
Page 99

She glanced at Spencer. He was far too quiet as he scrutinized her with piercing interest.
While trailing his fingertips up and down his wife’s arm, Trace asked, “You’re worried for them?”
Ignoring Spencer’s watchful gaze wasn’t easy. When Trace picked up one of the drawings to study it, she tried for a shrug. “They both seemed pretty lost, that’s all. It’d make me feel better to know they’re okay.”
“Arizona?”
She tried not to wince at Spencer’s tone. “Hmm?”
“Why are you asking about Quin and Joel?”
“I told you.” She didn’t want to lie to him—but neither could she tell him the truth. As she again rolled up the drawings, she settled on a partial truth. “Curiosity, that’s all.”
“Uh-huh.” Spencer caught her gaze and held it. “What else?”
As if they only then felt the tension, everyone went still, watching them, waiting.
Arizona pressed the drawings back into her purse. She’d just gotten done being the center of attention; damned if she’d let Spencer put her back there again. “Why does there need to be any other reason?”
“With you, there are always ulterior motives.”
She thrust up her chin. “Bull. I didn’t have an ulterior motive when I asked you to spar with me. I just wanted to hone my skills. And still you refused.”
His eyes darkened, maybe with irritation. “Because I don’t want you using yourself as bait.”
“Why not? That’s the easiest way to catch a man.” Her voice dripped with sugary sweetness. “It apparently works for Marla.” And then to the group at large, she explained, “That’s his neighbor.”
Spencer sawed his teeth together.
Jackson pulled back. “What does his neighbor have to do with anything?”
Arizona said, “She wants him.”
At the same time, Spencer said, “It’s Arizona’s way of deflecting.”
Wow. He saw right through that, huh? So he wasn’t a mental slug. She’d already known and admired that about him.
She said to the group, “I wanted to work out with Spencer.” She gave her attention back to him. “But I guess that’s one more thing I’m supposed to do with the next guy, right?”
Spencer went rigid, his jaw flexing, his gaze cold.
And he withdrew. Arizona felt it, saw it, and it wasn’t pleasant.
Uh…yeah. So maybe she’d pushed him just a little too far with that jibe. But seeing his set features, she didn’t know how to regroup.
“Speaking of computer work…” Chris cleared his throat. “I wanted to show you a new program, Spencer. I’m thinking it’d be pretty valuable to a bounty hunter.”
Spencer slowly pushed away from the table and stood. Without a word, he walked away with Chris.
Holy cow. Ice could have formed in his wake. He left behind so much tension, the air crackled. Talk about awkward…
She might have felt more uncomfortable, but damn it, instead she felt guilty.
The urge to go after him left her fidgeting in her seat. Even if she did, what would she say? I’m sorry you don’t want to keep me around for the long haul? She snorted and didn’t even care that the others gave her funny looks. She knew zilch about this relationship crap, what was the right thing and the wrong thing to do.
And damn it, she had few choices now. Given that she’d meet with Quin tomorrow, what could she say that’d make a difference anyway?
Dare stepped away from the patio table. “I’ll go with you.”
Not understanding, Arizona glanced back at him, then did a double take at his expression. Molly beamed with pleasure, confusing her more. “Go where?”
“Head to head.” All business now, he beckoned her from her seat. “Come on. Let’s see what you’ve got.”
Trace sat back with a smile. “I have to admit, I’m curious.”
Jackson groaned.
Arizona couldn’t believe her luck. Dare Macintosh wanted to spar with her? No way. “Do you mean…?” She waved a hand between them. “Me and you? Seriously?”
He gave a sharp nod. “Let’s grapple.”
Despite the circumstances, anticipation bubbled up. But she didn’t trust the offer. Narrowing her eyes, she asked, “Why?”
“Why not?”
Trace sided with Dare. “All things considered, Arizona, you need to know how to fight.”
She didn’t point out that she already knew how to fight. “What things?”
“Being around us,” he said. “Working with Jackson.”
And Dare added, “Poking your little nose where it doesn’t belong.”
Now that she couldn’t let pass. “Who says it doesn’t belong?” She had as much right as they did, maybe more, to work at bringing down traffickers.
Jackson opened his mouth, but Dare interrupted whatever he planned to say. “Are we sparring or not?”
Her heart beat rapidly. “Oh, definitely, we are.” She left her seat and strode toward him.
“You mind the others watching?”
“In most bar fights, there’s a crowd.” She shrugged. “I’ve never let an audience get in my way.”
“Oh, my God,” Priss said. “You actually fight in bars?”
“I keep my knife on me,” Arizona explained. “It’s a great equalizer.”