Part 2 (1/2)

She dredged up a credible smirk. ”I guess if you had the name of the abuser, you'd go charging off in search of vengeance?”

For several seconds, Lucius just stared at her. Then he rubbed his face. ”Yeah, something like that. And stop hara.s.sing me, d.a.m.n it. It's been a h.e.l.luva day.” He waved a hand. ”Or night. Whatever.”

”Yelling and punching walls won't help to rea.s.sure him.”

”Actually,” Marci said, ”he's more fascinated with Lucius's reaction than anything. But he also thinks you're both nuts, that's for sure.”

Lucius looked down at the dog. The dog stared back, his face arrested in antic.i.p.ation. Bethany could almost swear the creature smiled. His long, skinny tail began thumping hard.

”He likes you,” Marci told Lucius.

”Is that right?” Lucius crossed his arms over his chest. ”Is that why he soiled ever inch of my floors?”

”Part excitement at the prospect of having a home, and part fear at being put back out. Plus he hadn't eaten in a while. His system is fragile.” Chiding, she added, ”You shouldn't have fed him so much.”

”He was hungry, d.a.m.n it.”

”I understand.” Marci shared a look with Bethany, one that said, Isn't he wonderful?

Lucius saw that look, and for some reason, took exception to it. Furious again, he strode past them into his kitchen, rattled some drawers, returned with a hammer and screwdriver, and went to work on the closet door in the entryway.

Marci hugged the long-limbed dog closer. ”There, you see? You're safe, baby. I promise.”

”He's not a baby,” Lucius said. ”I named him Hero.”

”Really?” Bethany walked over to lean on the wall and watch while Lucius used the hammer and screwdriver to tap the hinges apart. ”How come?”

”He saved a woman today.” Showing off those impressive biceps, he worked the door loose, hefted it onto a shoulder, and carried it over behind the couch, where he stowed it away out of sight.

Bethany followed him. ”How's that?”

”He gave us the opportunity we needed.” Lucius eyed the dog, who eyed him back with keen expectation. ”'Course, then he proceeded to destroy my apartment. I've already cleaned no less than seven messes. Everything he eats comes right back out.”

Bethany wrinkled her nose. ”Lovely description. Thanks for sharing.”

Marci said, ”He couldn't help it.”

Lucius sighed. ”Yeah, I know.” He crouched down in front of the dog and rubbed an ear. ”All's forgiven, big guy.”

The dog's tail started thumping again.

Charmed, Bethany said, ”You should take him to a vet right away.”

Lucius stretched back to his feet and turned to stand in front of her. He gave her all his attention, putting her temperature on the rise and making her toes curl. ”Got one you recommend?”

Those words, accompanied by that look, didn't mesh. Bethany stared up into intense, glittering green eyes. Gorgeous, strong, heroic-and kind to animals.

He couldn't be real.

What he said finally registered. She cleared her throat. ”So you plan to keep him?”

”Yep.” He stared at her mouth.

Lucius could be tragic to her emotions at the best of times, and this was not the best of times. ”I thought you had a no-pet policy for this place?”

Without seeming to move, he eased closer until the heat of him hugged around her. ”I have a no-roommate policy, too, but you're here.” And he added: ”Again.”

So she visited her sister often. They were close. Twins, for crying out loud. And this time, she wasn't just here for the fun of it.

But what did he care, anyway? Just because she sort of gave him a hard time whenever she came around didn't mean he should kick her out. Antagonizing him was her way of protecting her heart. Even if she didn't l.u.s.t after him, she'd still refuse to gush like the rest of the ladies in the building.

Chin raised, expression haughty, Bethany informed him, ”I'm a sister, not a roommate. It's an entirely different thing.”

”If we're getting specific, you're a pain in the a.s.s.” His grin went crooked, removing any insult, and he reached out to pinch her elevated chin. ”But I suppose, since you're Marci's twin, I'll try to tolerate you.” He dropped his hand and walked off, whistling, to tackle another door.

Two.

With that parting remark, Lucius made his escape, putting much-needed distance between him and Bethany.

When he'd first bought the apartment building of six units, he hadn't figured on renting exclusively to women. Yet that's what he'd done. He'd surrounded himself with ladies.

Was he nuts? A m.a.s.o.c.h.i.s.t? Or too d.a.m.n partial to those of the feminine variety? Probably the latter. He did love women, all ages, all professions, all sizes and personalities.

Fellow cops ribbed him endlessly over his circ.u.mstances. They nicknamed him Sultan, which he supposed was better than Luscious. If they knew about the twins, he'd never hear the end of it, because they weren't just twins. They were really hot twins-and one of them currently wore only panties and a T-s.h.i.+rt.

But oddly enough, it was the other twin who had him twitchy in the pants.

The one with the smart mouth and quick wit.

The one with the att.i.tude.

And those big blue eyes...Of course, they both had pretty blue eyes. And silky, baby-fine brown hair. Lean bodies with understated curves. Soft, full mouths...

On Marci, he appreciated the beauty, just as he liked the scenery in the park. Nothing more.

On Bethany, the combination made him wild with l.u.s.t.

Lucius held his breath. If he didn't, he breathed her, and he couldn't deal with that on top of no sleep and a traumatized, newly adopted dog. Bethany smelled warm, and spicy, and she left his insides churning.

She also made it clear that she didn't want to get too cozy with him, and just as he loved women, he respected their decisions. Even when it pained him to do so.

Bringing the dog home had been a spur-of-the-moment decision prodded by some inner Good Samaritan heretofore unrecognized. Now, dead on his feet from exhaustion and, thanks to his eccentric neighbor's sister, tweaked by horniness, he...still didn't regret the decision.

One look at the dog and he knew he couldn't have done anything else. Hero deserved a cushy life. He deserved regular meals and pats of affection and security. No way could Lucius have left him behind, or dropped him at a shelter.

However, he could ignore Bethany. And he would. Somehow.