Unwrapped (Unwrapped and Unraveled 1)

But he still hadn't ever managed to get a word out of Dwight or Duke in all that time.

He only knew which was which because Duke always sat on the left. Also, his well-developed powers of personal observation had detected very slight differences that distinguished one from the other. Dwight sported a faint scar on one cheek and Duke had thicker brows. Still, they were as identical as it was probably possible to get without actually being one and the same person.

But something about them was different tonight. Jason studied the two dour faces as he served the usual drinks with a flourish. "On the house this time, Duke," he said, knowing it was the left-hand twin's turn to buy. They traded off, another well-established ritual they never deviated from.

He thought he actually saw a glimmer of surprise in the man's pale eyes. "You're welcome," he responded, as if Duke had spoken instead of nearly blinking.

With these two, body language was about as verbal as he could expect.

"Least I can do for you two, since you're looking so down," Jason went on. Dwight definitely twitched as he reached for the bourbon. Interesting. Now what could these two be bothered about? Jason pondered the possibilities. Probabilities were his forte.

Odds were, they'd finally gotten tired of each other's companionship and gotten lonely in a purely masculine way. That being the case, and being as alike as they were, the two had probably then settled their affections on the same woman.

"Woman trouble does that to us all," Jason stated in commiseration. "We men have to stick together. Though in your case, I don't recommend you take that too literally. The

law doesn't recognize three-way marriages." Although employers and official agencies were recognizing every other kind of arrangement these days, and polyamorous groups weren't exactly unheard of. Live and let love. But the law was conservative.

Both Dwight and Duke rattled their shot glasses when they replaced them on the heavy oak slab. Jackpot!

"You know, you two might try asking her to choose between you." He offered the suggestion in the time-honored spirit of supportive advice from the bartender to his burdened patrons. Dwight and Duke were apparently unacquainted with the custom personally, but he suspected they stopped in night after night mostly to listen to the talk, even if they didn't participate actively.

Now, as lacking in verbal skills as they were, how likely was it they'd ever actually say something like that to a woman? It was amazing that they'd even gotten as far as saying hello. Too amazing, Jason realized. Which meant that they hadn't. Which meant they'd been doing their wooing in silence. Which meant...

"Of course, maybe you shouldn't do a thing like that through the mail. It might go better in person."

Then it happened.

Dwight's big fist curled up and thumped the bar in a single, silent shout of frustration and despair. And he spoke.

"Too late. She dumped us both."

The rusty admission drew a nod of agreement and pure misery from Duke who chimed in, "Jilted," in the heaviest, creakiest, rustiest voice Jason had ever heard.

Jilted. Now, that was serious. Jason eyed the two, surprised they'd proposed on paper. Well, not really. How else would they do it, unless they met a deaf woman and communicated by holding up a ring?

"You mean she agreed to marry both of you?" he asked as the implications of Duke's single contribution to the conversation sank in.

Two woeful heads nodded once. Two ham hands raised and lowered heavy beer mugs in unison.

Jason would have given an awful lot to meet the woman who'd do that, he really would. Imagine. Taking on the two Lawrence men. The two enormous Lawrence men.

The mind boggled. Whoever she was, she was truly an adventurous soul. Although it seemed she'd thought better of her decision to walk on the wild side at the last minute.

"Well, at least you found out about her in time," Jason offered.

Two heads hung low.

Now what did that mean? He swiftly concluded it meant they'd lost more than their hearts. Jason's former life began to pass before his eyes, and the words con artist rang in his head. "My friends," he said, "You have just been done in by Miss Lonely Hearts."

She wants the adventure of a lifetime and isn't willing to sacrifice it for any man... All he wants is to keep the girl he loved and lost safe, even if she hates him for it...

Unconditional Surrender

(c) 2007 Denise A. Agnew

Archaeologist Fredricka "Freddie" Bodine returns to her hometown for her twentieth high school reunion, unaware that her old crush, Keith Wallace, has blown back into town. One memory is etched deeply on her brain--the high school prom where she shared a single, emotionally revealing dance with him. They'd both left town after graduation, feelings unresolved and teen angst firmly in place.

Keith doesn't want her to travel to Los Diablos, a lawless area he's visited during Special Forces ops, and the place where his sister was killed years ago.

As they grapple with family pressures and the exploding passion between them, their battle of wills may just lead them to the truth living in both their hearts.

Enjoy the following excerpt for Unconditional Surrender: Oh, she'd been stupid. She hadn't thought past the end of her nose. "My God. I understand now. You weren't in the desert on your last tour, you were in Mexico."

"No, I was in Iraq. But you know that intuition I had as a kid? It's screaming that it isn't a good idea for you to go to Los Diablos."

At first she wanted to take in his caution, a rising anxiety making her vulnerable to fear. "Arnold wouldn't set up a tour if it was dangerous."

"Yeah, I think he would. He told me he'd checked out reports and heard nothing about extraneous danger. I told him to call a guy I know at the embassy down there." He shifted closer, his eyes serious and dark with emotion. "Do you think I'd lie to you about something like this?"

"No. No, I don't think you're lying about what you feel. But I'm a scientist, Keith.

Intuition is all well and good, but when it comes down to it, I need more than a passing gut feeling that Los Diablos might be dangerous." She sighed. "Are you sure this isn't because of what happened to your sister?"

She saw him wince, and then anger flashed through his eyes. "No."

For all of a few seconds she considered his plea. Then she realized if she agreed to abandon her dream, she'd never forgive herself. She'd worked too long and hard and paid her dues. Giving up would hurt to the bone. "I've worked for this and come a long way.

I'm not giving up my dream because something bad might happen. No one's life ever gets lived thinking like that. If I don't go, there will always be a part of me that would regret it. Haven't you ever taken a risk for something you wanted?"

He clasped her shoulders, then caressed gently. Desire melted in her stomach. She didn't want him to stop touching her, even if he gazed down at her with consternation.

"Do you trust me?" he asked.

She didn't need to think. She knew. "Of course. But Keith--"

"A man you haven't seen in twenty years?"

She went silent.

He cupped her neck, and she fell into his eyes, finding a heat there she didn't want to ever leave. He brought her up against him. She wanted his touch, and craved his kiss. As he leaned in, she touched his hard chest. He felt so good. Solid. Reliable.

"I know one damned thing for certain," he said, his voice husky. "You're dangerous to me."

Keith tasted Freddie's mouth softly. Tenderness flowed through her as she fell into the moment. His tongue plunged in to take, to caress with hot intensity. Passion erupted inside her as she sank in

to his arms, embraced him wholeheartedly. His arms wrapped tight about her back. Her body reacted as if she'd loved him, made love to him forever.

Heat burned low in her belly and pooled between her legs. She felt wet, hungry, aching to know him deep and hot. God, she wanted him.

He drew back and took in deep breaths, his eyes smoldering with his intentions.

His arms stayed tight around her. "That was...wow." He grinned ruefully.

She couldn't help but smile along with him, the happiness swelling in her chest and dying to escape. "What are we doing here? Are you kissing me to convince me not to head to Mexico?"

His eyes cooled. "No, damn it. Why do you think that?"

Instant regret charged through her. "Keith, what is this we're doing? Are we starting something that..."

"We can't finish." His expression turned somber. "That's what you think?"

She cupped his face. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. I'm...this whole thing took me by surprise."

He released her. Keith traced her chin with his index finger. "Me, too. Let's just take it one day at a time, okay?"

Her heart sank, but she should have felt relief. Maybe. Otherwise she'd have to admit inside that she didn't want to take it slow. She wanted him between her legs, pumping out his satisfaction and firing hers. She wanted him with a fierceness that stunned her.

Oh, yeah. I've got it bad.

"Come on. Let's go back inside before one of your siblings sneaks out and sees us kissing," he said.

"In that case, let's give them something to look at."

His eyes widened, then a slow smile broke over his lips. "You sure?"

She giggled, feeling girlish despite the seriousness of their conversation a moment ago. "If I know my family, they're probably taking a peek right now trying to see where we went."

"That nosy, eh?"

"That nosy."

She slipped back into his arms, and they came together in a fresh kiss.

This time Keith kept his kiss civilized, not as uncontrolled. His earlier kiss still raged inside him, a ferocious explanation for the tumult he experienced. Temptation slammed him. He wanted her. Here. Now. He wondered if she was as hot for him as he was for her.