Braden Security: Tied Up In Knotts Part 3

"You and your gang don't play fair," James mocked back at him. "You don't like to play when the odds are not in your favor. Next time, pick on someone your same size and gender, so we know that you don't make a habit of only going after defenseless women. You could ruin your reputation that way."

Danny looked back. James could tell by his purple face that he wouldn't take the insults. He was already scheming and would be back at another time. Pushing his friends ahead of him, they left by the stairs.

James bit off anything else he was going to say when he noticed that Avery stood in her kitchen, her head hanging down. He couldn't see her face, her long blonde hair covered most of it, but he could hear her sobs.

With two giant strides, James enfolded her in his arms, pushing her hair away from her face. Feeling her this close for the first time was like heaven. James felt her soft curves melt into his harder body. She smelled like lemons and something that was uniquely Avery.

Looking over her head, he nodded at Clay and Angel. Each of the men hurriedly grabbed the nearest boxes and slowly closed the door behind them, leaving them alone.

Even as they left, James knew he didn't have to worry. None of the men would be far away until he got Avery safely away from this apartment.

Gently James put a hand under her chin that was nestled tightly up to his neck, and raised her tearstained face up to his. He couldn't resist her soft quivering lips. Slowly as not to startle her, he lowered his head, his intent clear. She could stop him at any time. She didn't and James took her lips in their first kiss. G.o.d, his first taste of her was sweet. She hesitated for a moment, then eagerly put her arms around his neck and returned his kiss with a pa.s.sion that surprised him.

James felt every socket in his body spark to life. It was like an electrical charge went through him. James leaned his lower body slightly away from her. He knew his c.o.c.k couldn't wait to say h.e.l.lo to her. It had been hard to talk to Danny and his gang with the b.o.n.e.r he had as soon as he stepped through her door. Well that part of his anatomy would just have to wait until the right moment. He knew it wasn't the time to introduce them. James untangled her arms from around his neck, stepped back, and held her in his outstretched arms.

Avery looked up at him with her large green eyes glossed with tears and wonder. She raised a hand to her now red lips. Did she feel the current the same as he did when they touched? G.o.d she was s.e.xy in an innocent and appealing way.

James reined himself in, he just wanted to back her up to her small bed and show her how much she affected him. Knowing what she had just gone through, James cursed at himself and let his arms fall away.

"Sorry about that." Needing a minute to think, James turned his back toward her and ran a shaky hand through his hair. Taking a strong breath into his lungs, he reached down to the other boxes still scattered around and began repacking them.

Avery stood there for a second in a daze. He kissed her. Wow, would he do it again? He sure packed a punch into his kisses. What would it feel like if he really let himself go? Avery knew that James must have tempered his kiss and held himself back. Avery wanted everything he had to give. She wanted him out of control with no holding back. That was the most powerful kiss she had ever received in her life. All of her body parts had taken notice. Avery glanced down. Her b.r.e.a.s.t.s were swollen and perky and down below, her panties were wet. She could almost smell her arousal.

Stepping to the kitchen counter, she grabbed the coffee pot and filled it with water for another pot. She didn't know if he even liked coffee, but she sure needed some after this morning. It also gave her time to collect her thoughts, plus something to do with her hands.

James was acting like nothing unusual had gone on. He was just packing the boxes on the floor. Did James think she was too forward when she had deepened the kiss and tried to devour him? After all she had just really met and talked to him yesterday. The meetings at the diner didn't count. After all only taking money over the counter didn't really give a person time to know someone.

Avery turned around just in time to see James bending down and gathering her underwear to pack.

Oh G.o.d, no! Avery leaped across the room at James and grabbed the underwear from his hands. She could just feel the heat in her face as she took the offending underwear and threw them into the closest box she spotted. "I can do that. Why don't you pack up the CDs that are all over the couch? I've got this covered."

James looked at her like she was crazy. Then he really looked at her red face and it dawned on him that while he didn't think anything of picking up her underwear, she might not appreciate a strange man, and that's what James was at this moment, touching such personal items. James stood up straight and widened his hands.

"Sorry, didn't mean to upset you, just trying to help."

Moving to the couch, he started gathering the CDs laying on it and the table in front. Glancing back he could see Avery scrambling to gather the other items of clothing as fast as she could and stuff them in boxes. Her face was still red and she did not meet his eyes when he had spoken to her.

Leaving James and Avery alone in the apartment, Clay glanced back at Angel as they both carried boxes down the sidewalk to the office. Angel had his balanced on his shoulder.

"We'll have to keep a close watch on her. It wasn't enough that we had the Feds and a drug lord after her. Now we have to add these punks into the mix."

Angel just shrugged his shoulders, the box not moving.

"We've dealt with worse. More fun for us," Angel replied as he walked around Clay, who had stopped as he spoke in thought. "Let's get this done and get to the good part of this job."

Clay followed Angel and thought of the job ahead. "Yes, it might be fun taking out a drug lord, keeping the FBI off of Avery's (and their own) back and cleaning up the neighborhood at the same time." Clay grinned at Angel's broad back and followed him through the front door of their temporary office and up to Avery's new apartment.

Chapter Seven.

Back at the apartment with Avery, James was having a heated discussion with her about not carrying boxes that were giving her a hard time down the stairs. "Why don't you go ahead and leave all this to me. I can get this to the office faster..." James caught himself when Avery turned on the stairs in a snit and nearly unbalanced herself in the process.

"What are you trying to say? That I'm slowing you down? Well listen here, this is my stuff and I can just manage by myself. If you're in such a rush you go ahead and I will manage just fine."

James could see this would be a losing battle and tried to choose his words carefully. "I didn't mean that the way it sounded, I just though you could go ahead and start unpacking while I moved the rest of the box-"

"You think because I'm a girl that I can't keep up with you. I'll have you know that it was me that brought all the stuff up the first time with no help and I can sure take it back down." Turning, Avery continued down the stairs, brushing off his words. The box she was holding swayed back and forth as she tried to balance it and look at the steps at the same time.

"I don't think that. I just meant that you have me to help so why not take advantage and let me do this. I'm here to help you and you don't have to do everything yourself this time." G.o.d she was frustrating.

Avery glanced back at James and stumbled down a step. "I don't take advantage of anyone if I can help it. Now let's get this done, see if you can keep up."

Avery heard James sigh behind her.

Well maybe she was being unreasonable, but this morning when she realized that her choices had been taken away she had felt helpless. She had had to put up with Danny and his gang. Making her own decisions, even if it was only moving boxes, in some small way to her, would show she was made of sterner stuff and could stand on her own two feet. Telling herself that, she proceeded to the sidewalk and finally laid the box down. It was heavy, but she could do this. Picking the box back up, she started walking the sidewalk before James could comment on its weight.

James watched her curvy rear sway in front of him. Well, he'd been told. He would allow her the last word this time, and a bit of freedom. After all, she didn't know the rules-yet. He would just have to teach her. Something he was very much looking forward to.

Avery was proud of herself as she took her first steps into the new apartment above the office. She had won their first argument. Maybe she could handle this job and these men as long as she didn't let them intimidate her. She noticed that the guys were coming up the steps behind her with more of her boxes.

"Well that's the last of it." Clay sat down his box in the middle of the living room and was moving toward the stairs back down to the office.

How did they move all the boxes? She didn't notice them pa.s.sing her by on the sidewalk as she walked with James. Yet all of her boxes were piled in the living room.

"Thanks, guys, I really appreciate the help. I guess I'll just go back and do a quick clean up." Avery put her box down, trying not to breathe too heavily. She didn't want James to know that she had struggled moving the one box up the last flight of stairs and prove him right.

"No need. Angel cleaned up and just needs the keys to lock up and give back to the landlord."

Angel gave Clay a "what the f.u.c.k" look but said with a serious voice to Avery, "Yes, it was me that cleaned up. I like cleaning, ask anyone."

Walking up to Avery, he held out his large hand for the keys.

"Well, that's very nice, Mr. Angel."

"It's just Angel." He seemed uncomfortable around her, his black eyes not reaching her face, and Avery didn't have a clue why.

Reaching into her purse, she dug around, finally finding the keys, and handed them to Angel.

Almost s.n.a.t.c.hing them out of her hands, he disappeared out the door, and his heavy boots could be heard retreating on the stairs, taking them two at a time.

"Did I say something? He left in an awful hurry." Avery looked at the others with a curious expression on her face.

James spoke up before Clay could. He knew Clay was acting as the boss, but he wanted Avery to get used to coming to him with any questions.

"He's always like that. He seems to get nervous and jumpy when he's at loose ends. I'm sure once we start working he will settle down." James raised his eyebrows and turned his head toward the stairs, nodding at Clay and the others. He hoped that they would take their cues and leave him alone with Avery.

Avery seemed to be the only one that caught his gesture and didn't want to be alone with James just yet. She thanked everyone, including James, and asked them to leave so she could get unpacked and settled in.

James tried to think of an excuse to stay, but in the end he turned and followed the others down the stairs to the office.

Taking a deep breath, Avery looked around at the new apartment. She was starting her new life now.

Chapter Eight.

James sat at his desk in the new office building. Night had fallen hours ago, but James didn't want to go home until he knew that Avery was safely settled in her apartment. Looking at the papers spread across his desk, James tried to put all the pieces together. He knew Avery's father had been involved with the drug running, but no drugs had been found at the vacation cottage or at the main house. All known places that her father might have stashed the drugs had been gone over by the Feds, with the drug lord trailing not far behind. Everyone believed that Avery knew where the drugs were. While the Feds had stepped back to allow James and his firm to get closer and maybe ferret out new clues from Avery, he knew that the drug lord would not be so accommodating. It was a wonder that they hadn't grabbed her yet. They would use methods to get her to talk that James didn't even want to think about.

Rising to his feet, he made his way down the hall to the small kitchen to get coffee. It looked like it might be an all-nighter. James thought he heard something and raised his head. The kitchen was right below Avery's new bedroom. Thinking he must be mistaken, he took another step toward the coffee maker. No, there it was again. Standing as still as he could, James tried to make out what the sounds were. There it was again. This time James thought it sounded like a sniffle. As he listened, the sounds became increasingly clearer and louder as they came again and again without stopping.

Avery must be in trouble. James didn't stop to think. He ran to the back of the hallway and up the stairs. Reaching the apartment door, he pulled the keys out of his pocket. Avery might be mad when she realized that they had not made the floor of the apartment soundproof. James wanted to be able to hear if she needed help at any time. He originally wanted a bug, but Clay had talked him out of it. They had compromised with the floor being made out of wood that sound could travel through.

Unlocking the door, James looked around. Nothing seemed out of place. Boxes still sat where they had been placed earlier.

James heard the wretched sound again. It sounded so sorrowful. James steadily made his way to the bedroom. He didn't want to scare her. Maybe she was just having a bad dream. After the day she had with Danny and his gang, she might be dreaming of them back at her old apartment.

As silently as he could, James turned the k.n.o.b of the bedroom door. What he saw took his breath away and pulled at his heartstrings. Avery was sitting in the middle of the bed with her head held in both her hands, sobbing like she had lost her best friend.

James hurried to her bedside and couldn't stop himself from gathering her up in his arms. Avery struggled as she felt James's arms wrapped around her. She hadn't heard him come into the room. It wasn't until she heard his voice telling her everything was OK that she stopped fighting.

Shrinking back into his arms, Avery took a deep breath and hiccupped. She just allowed herself to breathe him in. The strong arms now fully around her were comforting. Avery felt safe. They sat like that for a long time. James didn't move except to keep stroking her hair, trying to soothe her. And if she wasn't mistaken he would every now and then kiss her on the top of her head.

Sitting up, Avery pushed James's arms away. Wiping her face with her hand, she took the Kleenex that James pa.s.sed to her. Oh G.o.d, she didn't want James to think that she needed protection. Part of her job was to protect this place and here she was the first night, crying and making a fool of herself. She would never live it down. If James told Clay, she was probably out of a job as well. Looking up at James through red-rimmed eyes, she looked at his large body sitting on the bed next to her.

"Sorry, what must you think of me?" Avery struggled to pull her nightgown down and get off the bed. James pulled her back into his arms.

"I think you had a hard day. Sometime things get to the best of us."

Avery tried again to regain her dignity and get off the bed and out of James's arms. Finally with her small push at his chest, James let her leave the bed. He wanted to comfort her. He didn't want to let her go, but looking at her staring up at him, he pulled his emotions back. He had to remember that she didn't know him that well yet. If he made any move toward her now, she looked like she would run and never trust him.

"Don't tell me that, James. I doubt that you cry when thing get too much for you. You look like you could handle anything thrown your way." Avery looked at James with her green eyes still swimming with tears.

James got up and stood stiffly beside the bed, not letting himself reach for her. "You're right, I usually throw something."

"You don't look like you throw things around. Tell me another one." The doubt was heavy in Avery's voice now.

James pa.s.sed his hand through his hair, a habit he had when he didn't know what to say. James knew he had to think of something to say to get her to trust him. After all, he had technically broken into her apartment and she would soon be coming to that conclusion.

"No, you're right. I usually take it out at the gym when I can't reach a conclusion that settles my brain. I take it out on a punching bag or take a round out of one of the guys that's stupid enough to stick around when I'm in a mood. But crying is not a sign of weakness, it's just another way of dealing with problems in your life." James took a step closer to Avery.

Avery stepped back and grabbed her housecoat that she had thrown on the end of the bed. James took the minute to switch on a light. Their talk had been in the dark and while he could see her fine, he thought she might like the same courtesy. Avery blinked at the sudden light and looked around the bedroom. James could see that it suddenly dawned on her that he was in her bedroom in the middle of the night. Avery tied the housecoat tightly around herself.

"What are you doing up here? How did you get in?" Avery now had an accusing look on her face, the tears forgotten for the moment. "Clay told me there were no strings attached to this job, other than guarding the place. Well, why are you here, and how did you know I was crying? I'm sure I didn't make that much noise."

James stared back at an outraged Avery. "I was downstairs just making myself a cup of coffee and thought I heard something. So naturally I a.s.sume that you must be in trouble. I needed to check. As we are all new to this building, until we know what it sounds like in the middle of the night, every sound has to be checked. I'll admit I was worried..." James let off. Shaking his head at himself, he started to back up out of the bedroom. He didn't want to let her know too much of what he was starting to feel about her.

"Don't you dare leave without answering my questions. How did you get in here?" Avery was now following James out of the bedroom, her green eyes flashing.

He walked backward into the living room, while trying to still keep an eye on Avery in the darkened room. James had just enough time to grab her arm and stop her from falling over the boxes still piled in the middle. Avery pulled back and James couldn't keep the grip on her satiny housecoat. James just watched in amazement as a spitting Avery landed on her a.s.s. She didn't stay down long and was back on her feet the next minute and shaking a finger in James direction. James looked at the finger pointing in his direction and grinned at the spitting kitten before him. This just riled her up more.

Avery stamped her foot. Turning from James she took a big breath. She looked like she was struggling within herself to know what to do. Pulling herself up to her full height, she rewrapped her housecoat that had become loose when James grabbed her. Walking past him, her head held high, she reached for her purse on the living room table. Taking her cell phone out, she swung back around, while dialing.

"We'll just see what Clay has to say about this?" Putting the phone to her ear James could hear Clay's loud voice on the other end "Clay here, what's the emergency and there better be one at this time of the morning." Clay's sleep-roughened, harsh voice came over the other end.

Avery cleared her throat. "It's me," she spoke into the phone, almost taking it from her ear at Clay's voice.

"Avery, Avery is that you?" James could tell that Clay was now alert and probably grabbing his pants ready to come to her rescue.

"Yes it's me. I have a bit of a problem."

"I'll be there right away."

"No, no, listen just a moment." Avery managed to get a word in.

Clay on the other end of town sat down on his bed, his pants forgotten at his feet. "OK, Avery. What's wrong? I thought James was still at the office. If you need him, he's just below you working. In fact if you want, I can call him and get him up there right away."

Avery looked down at her bare feet. Now she felt foolish as she answered Clay back. "James is the problem. He is standing in the middle of my living room and I didn't invite him here. I thought this was my apartment and expected some courtesy. This is not part of the office. This is my home," Avery told Clay in a small voice Clay was silent for a moment. "James is in your place right now? Let me speak to him. I'll set him straight. I'll make sure you have no problems with him."

Keeping her head down, Avery pa.s.sed the phone to a now angry James.

"Clay..."

"James." Clay growled the return greeting.

"Can you tell me what you're doing up in Avery's apartment at this time of night. Can't you keep your motor cooled and at least let her settle in?"

"I heard a noise and came up to investigate, nothing more." James said in a deadpan voice. He was p.i.s.sed. He knew his friend was just protecting Avery, but G.o.d he just wanted to hit something.

"Are you sure that's all you were doing, James?" Clay now had a smile in his voice. He loved having James on the other end of the string hanging and having to explain his actions. Usually it was the other way around. James had been the commander of their unit and was usually the one asking the question and demanding answers.

"OK, OK, don't rub it in. I'm just leaving." Handing back the phone to Avery, James made his way to the door. He didn't see anything funny in the situation. Clay had a funny sense of humor.

"You just wait a minute." Avery clutched the phone in one hand and put her other hand out, palm up, in James's direction. "I want the keys." James took one look at the outstretched hand and said, "No," and closed the door behind him.

"Clay," Avery whined into the phone. "He wouldn't give me his keys back." She sounded like a brat, but d.a.m.n she wanted her keys. This was her place.

"We all have keys to the apartment. It's for your protection. Now look at it this way. If there had been an intruder in the apartment and James had to take time to knock down the door, you could be dead. It only takes a second and I for one don't want to take that chance," Clay tried to reason with her.