Hard to Fight

  Don flinches and leans forward on his elbows. “And you’re walking a fine line, Julio. I’ve made my decision.”

  Go Don!

  Julio’s chair skids back and he throws his hands down onto the table, glaring at me. “You’ll fail, and I’ll be waiting when you do.”

  With that, he storms out.

  “Such a child,” I mutter as he leaves.

  Vance chuckles and Don clears his throat. I turn back and straighten my back. “I can do this Don, so hit me with it. What am I dealing with?”

  He slides a folder towards me, and I flick it open. My entire world comes to a screeching halt when I take in the picture of the drop dead gorgeous male on the front and I gasp. Then my eyes move to the name, Raide Knox. Oh no. Oh fucking no. This can’t be right. This can’t be the man who had me pinned against a wall last night. The man that made my knees weak. The man who burned himself into my brain.

  Shit.

  “Is everything okay?” Don asks.

  “Ah,” I squeak. “Raide Knox?”

  “You’ve heard of him?”

  You could say that. I didn’t know his name until now but I’ve seen enough of everything else. I’m not about to tell Don I was getting aroused over the man, and smart mouthing him, less than twenty-four hours ago. That’s hardly going to show him I’m good at my job. No, he can’t know that I came that close to Raide and that we discussed his sword. Raide the criminal. He didn’t look like a criminal. He certainly didn’t look like a murderer … or at least someone who wanted to murder another person.

  “I’ve heard his name, yes,” I answer, giving him the best I’ve got.

  “Well you know he is quite well known and powerful. You need to be careful with this one, he’s smart and he’s cunning.”

  That he is.

  I flick through the folder, reading over his charges, his trial dates and when he was meant to check back in for those. “Where was he last seen?” I ask, even though I already know the answer.

  “He was sighted three days ago at East Gun Shop.”

  “Okay,” I say, closing the file. “I’ll study this over the weekend and on Monday, I’ll get started. What’s my deadline?”

  “Two months.”

  I nod, and stand. I turn to Vance. “You still coming around tonight?”

  He nods, grinning up at me. We have a weekly movie night, where we watch all the action comedies. It’s just our thing. I flash him a smile and then turn to Don who is rolling his eyes – he knows about Vance and my weekly movie night and he chooses to stay out of it, after all, we’re not breaking any rules. “Thank you, Don. I won’t let you down.”

  “I know that, Gracie,” he smiles.

  And with that, I leave.

  * * *

  “I’m freaking out, Kady,” I whisper down the phone. “How the hell am I supposed to get him in?”

  “With your mind,” she says with amusement in her voice. “And your body.”

  I frown. “My body?”

  “Don’t you see? You’re looking at this all wrong. You’re expecting to be able to just go over and drag him in but you can’t do that. Whether you like it or not, you don’t have the physical power to bring a man his size in. So start thinking outside the box.”

  She’s piqued my interest. “Go on.…”

  “Seduce him.”

  I blink. “Excuse me?”

  She huffs as if my question is completely unwarranted. “Seduce him.”

  I laugh nervously. “Kady, I met him and basically abused him for being a player. Then I told him girls like me never sleep with men like him, and now you’re asking me to approach him and try to make him believe I’m interested?”

  “Precisely.”

  I close my eyes. “Yeah, that’s not going to happen.”

  “What are you going to do, then?” she challenges. “Waltz up to him and order him to come in? He’ll run before you get your damned gun from your purse.”

  I laugh. “I know how to use my gun, thank you very much—I’m just not allowed to use it unless it’s life or death.”

  “Seriously, Gracie,” she says, softer now. “Think about it. You seduce him, get him interested, then you set him up. You could do something as simple as making him drop you to work one day—and, bam, he’s in.”

  She makes a really good point.

  “He’s not just going to grow an attraction to me overnight.”

  “What?” She giggles. “A man isn’t just going to fall at your feet? Gasp. But seriously, that man was undressing you with his eyes. I don’t think you’ll have a problem.”

  I snort. “Shut up—he was not.”

  “He was so, and you can do it. I know you can. Just drop the charm on him, and you’ll have him panting.”

  It’s actually not a bad idea. It would be an easy way of getting Raide in without alerting him or having to wrestle him. I might be trained, but a man his size wouldn’t be easy to move. Being a bounty hunter isn’t always easy. We have to track down criminals and bring them in for their trials, things like that. It isn’t always a walk in the park, a good deal of them run or attempt to assault us, so we’re always on our feet.

  “I’ll think about it, but it is a good plan.”

  I hear her clap and squeal. “While you’re at it, get some of that fine ass for yourself.”

  “I think that’s against the code.…”

  “Not if it’s kept secret.” She’s grinning—I can hear it in her voice.

  I laugh, flopping down onto my couch. “You’re a rebel, Kady.”

  “I never denied it. Now, go and enjoy the other superhot man in your life.”

  “Vance?” I snort.

  “Vance is hot,” she sighs.

  Ah, Kady and Vance. She sees him, wants him, but he hasn’t yet noticed her, well, if he has he hasn’t said anything.

  “Feel free to come over and enjoy him, too.”

  She sighs wistfully. “I can’t promise I wouldn’t jump him. It’s too dangerous.”

  I smile, shaking my head. “He might not mind.”

  “Just put in a good word for me. Tell him I’m saving myself, something sexy that will make him want all this.”

  I roll my eyes. “I’ll be sure to do that.”

  “Good! Later, girl, and congrats.”

  “Thanks, Kady.”

  I hang up and lean back against the soft cushions of the couch. Seduce Raide Knox, prove my team wrong, and get the chance to expand my career. It all sounds simple, but I have no doubt whatsoever that it won’t be. Raide is a hard man, and he’s going to think I’m a great big joke when I turn up, trying to seduce him. I can only hope he’s seducible.

  Things are about to get interesting.

  Chapter Three

  “Rush Hour, really?”

  I smile over at Vance while balancing a bowl of popcorn and two sodas in my hands.

  He purses his lips at me. Vance doesn’t like Rush Hour. I don’t really know what’s wrong with him. It’s only the best movie ever created. I laugh every time, no matter how many times I watch it. Vance, however, has different opinions on the matter, but it doesn’t stop him from joining me.

  He can’t help himself.

  “You’re lucky I love you,” he mutters, taking a soda from my hands and flopping down onto the couch.

  I smirk, dropping down beside him. He looks great tonight in his dark jeans and light blue tee. It’s no wonder Kady is so obsessed. She loves the surfer type, and Vance most certainly looks like he’s that kind of guy.

  Only he doesn’t surf.

  At all.

  In fact, I don’t think he even knows what a surfboard is.

  He’s an insult to the surfing world. He would look so damned good on a board.

  He scrunches his face up. “Why are you staring at me? It’s freaking me out.”

  I laugh, turning away. “I was imagining you and surfboards. It’s an interesting picture.”

  He snorts. “I know there’s this sexual tensio
n and—”

  I giggle, shoving his shoulder with mine. “Stop it.”

  He flashes me that killer smile. “How’s your research on the murderer-slash-assaulter going?”

  I frown. “We’re friends, right?”

  He narrows his eyes. “No one else would watch Rush Hour four hundred and eighty-nine times with you.”

  “It hasn’t been that many.”

  He raises his brows. “Forgive me, four hundred and eighty-eight times.”

  “You’re awful, but seriously … I could talk to you if, I mean, if I had a problem?”

  His eyes grow soft. “You know you could. Is something wrong?”

  I hesitate. “Not … exactly.”

  “Spill.” He leans back in the chair, twisting just slightly so he’s still watching me.

  “What I tell you here, it remains private, right?” I ask, scanning his face for a reaction.

  He doesn’t seem fazed. “Of course.”

  “Okay,” I say, taking a steady breath. “So the other night, Kady and I were out and I met this man.”

  Did Vance just flinch? I’ll pretend I didn’t notice that.

  “And?” he grates out.

  “And it was Raide Knox.”

  His eyes widen and his mouth drops open.

  “Before you say anything,” I say quickly. “I didn’t know it was him.”

  His eyes bug out even more, and he gasps, “You didn’t fuck him, did you?”

  I gasp. “Jesus, Vance, no!”

  A deep sigh of relief. “Okay, so you know where he hangs out. That’s a good thing, right?”

  “The thing is,” I say, staring down at my hands. “He’s a big man, Vance. Huge, in fact. Like Hercules.” And hot. Superhot.

  “You don’t think you can do it.” It’s not a question, but a statement.

  “I can do it. It’s just how I have to do it.”

  Vance narrows his eyes. “What exactly are you trying to tell me, Gracie?”

  “You and I both know, even with my training, I can’t bring a man Raide’s size in with sheer force.”

  “And…?”

  “So I have to come up with something else, something … more foolproof.”

  Vance sighs again and shifts uncomfortably. “Gracie, you’re stalling.”

  “I’m going to seduce him,” I blurt.

  Vance’s entire body stiffens, and this time his eyes narrow with— God, is that hurt? It takes me a moment to find my words. “I’m not going to sleep with him, or even kiss him—I’m just going to seduce him enough to get him to agree to a date. Then I’m going to bring him in.”

  Vance visibly relaxes.

  His reaction bothers me. I’ve accepted that Vance feels something for me, how deep that something goes is another story. I love him as a friend, but he and I—we just won’t work like that. We’re too alike. And besides that, in the profession we’re both in, there’s no way it would work. There’s no way we wouldn’t compete. He would always be that much better than me. Then there’s just the simple fact that Vance isn’t the kind of man I ever pictured myself with. Call me a sucker for the tall, dark, and rugged type.

  “Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Vance finally asks. “Seducing him could go horribly wrong, Gracie. What if he’s dangerous and he catches on?”

  “I know,” I say softly. “But it’s the only choice I have, and I’ll make sure I keep myself in public places. I need to prove myself, Vance. I have to do this.”

  He nods. “There’s no rule that says you can’t do whatever you have to, to bring a criminal in. If that’s how you have to do it, then that’s how you do it, but promise me you’ll be careful, Gracie. I’ve read his profile. He could be dangerous, and I don’t want to see you hurt.”

  My heart palpitates with mild annoyance. Not because I’m angry with him—I’m not. It’s purely because if I were a man, he’d have no concern for me. He wouldn’t question my ability, and he wouldn’t ask me to be careful. He’d just slap me on the back and wish me luck. I long for a reaction like that.

  “I’ve had the same training as you,” I point out gently. “I can do this.”

  He puts his hands up. “Not saying you can’t.”

  I study his face for a moment and decide to just let it go. This isn’t the time or the place, and I don’t want to upset him by going into further detail about my plan.

  I push the bowl of popcorn toward him. “Ready for Rush Hour?”

  He puts his hands over his face and groans loudly. I take a handful of popcorn and toss it at him. With a laugh, he drops his hands and catches it before reaching over and pulling me close. I take the remote, kick back in the chair, and flick the television on.

  “So … you know Kady wanted to come tonight?” I say casually.

  He gives me a look. “I’ve heard about your blind dates, Gracie Lou. There’s no way in hell you’re setting me up on one.”

  I snort. “It’s hardly blind—you know Kady.”

  “I’ve met her once.”

  “Where she fell madly in love with your charm and good looks.”

  He laughs low and throaty. “She didn’t seem like the type to go for guys like me. I picked her as going for former frat boys who’ve only just graduated college and who spend too much time manscaping in hopes of getting laid.”

  Laughing loudly, I reach out and smack his arm. “There’s nothing wrong with manscaping. Every woman appreciates a well-tended … man garden. I hope you keep yours well groomed.”

  He raises an eyebrow. “You want to find out?”

  I smack him again in reply.

  He gives me a sly smile.

  “Anyway, you should come hang out with us one time,” I add.

  “I’m sure she’s an awesome chick, but I’m really not interested.”

  “She’s hot—”

  “Gracie,” he warns.

  “Oh, fine!” I huff. “But this isn’t over.”

  He throws his arm over my shoulder. “Is for now.”

  Very well, then.

  For now.

  * * *

  “I got a big case, Dad,” I announce over the phone later that night.

  My dad has always supported me, and I think he’s been waiting as patiently as I have for this day to come along.

  “Princess, that’s incredible!” he practically croons over the phone. There are times I think Daddy Dearest has forgotten I’m not five anymore.

  “It’s exactly what I’ve been waiting for, but I’m nervous,” I admit.

  “Don’t be,” he says. “You’re amazing. You learned from the best, after all.”

  I laugh. “Sure, Dad—I mean, how could I not be awesome following in your supercool footsteps?”

  He chuckles. “Exactly. Besides, my girl can kick ass.” There we go, he’s remembered I’m all grown up now.

  “Damn right I can.”

  “So how big are we talking?” I hear the flick of a cigarette lighter.

  “Dad, stop smoking. It’ll kill you.”

  “Next week, baby.” He says that every week. “Now, tell me about this case,” he prompts.

  “Okay, well, it’s a thirty-thousand-dollar one, for starters.”

  “Shit,” he breathes. “It is a big one.”

  “Yeah, you could say that.”

  He scoffs. “Baby, it is.”

  I smile, he’s so right. “It is.”

  “What’s your plan?”

  I flush. I’m hardly about to tell my father how I plan to bring Raide in. “I’m still going over it.”

  “Let me give you some tips.”

  I spend the next hour listening to Dad’s great tips before ending the phone call and heading off to bed. I have one more day left before the fun starts.

  I need my beauty sleep.

  Chapter Four

  I yawn and stretch as I step out of work the following evening. I’m supposed to be heading over to my parents’ house to see my dad and talk about my new case, but I’m exhausted. I
know, however, that if I don’t show, he’ll be disappointed—so with effort, I lift a hand and flag a cab. A loud crack of thunder echoes in the distance, and I know that any moment now, it’s going to rain.

  I’m right: just as a cab comes to a stop beside the curb, the clouds open up and rain starts pattering down. I throw myself toward the car, swinging the door open and diving inside before I end up with a messy hair job that is impossible to fix. What I don’t notice on my little dive to protect myself is that someone has already gotten into this cab.

  “This is my cab.”

  I turn with a squeal, and then my mouth drops open as I see Raide staring at me, arms crossed, amber eyes studying me. He’s wearing a pair of black jeans and a seriously tight gray sweater that does some seriously amazing things to his muscles. I swallow the thick lump that rises in my throat. It should be enough of a crime that he looks like that.

  “Ah, I…”

  Real classy, Grace.

  “Do I know you?”

  Say what? He doesn’t remember me. Well, that’s just a big old slap in the face, isn’t it? Because of that comment alone, I lean back in the seat, cross my arms and mutter, “This is my cab.”

  He grunts. “Lady, it isn’t.”

  I smirk at him. “Man, it is.”

  “Fuck me,” he mutters. “Well, we’re sharing, then.”

  My mind whirls, knowing this is my golden opportunity to seduce him, though we didn’t exactly start off on the best foot. Plus, if he figures out what I’m up to, he’ll probably hit me over the head and bury me in a shallow grave. I bite my lip pensively and he turns to stare at me some more. How did I forget how beautiful he is? It’s always the beautiful ones who are so deadly.

  “You sure I haven’t met you before? Your face seems familiar … though I’ve seen a lot of faces in the last month.” He grins, staring at my lips now.

  Wow, he’s still as arrogant as he was the day I met him. Not to mention it’s clear I made a massive impression on him … not. How am I expected to seduce him when I can’t even get him to remember my face? I need to pick up my game. Fast.

  “Probably in your wildest imagination.” I flash a flirtatious grin at him. “That happens a lot.”

  His lip quirks and he leans back in the seat, crossing his arms. “I only go for blondes.”