by Lori Foster
Alani didn’t want to think about the awful kidnapping or the new danger presenting itself, so instead she concentrated on Jackson. “I don’t know where things will go from here, but I’m not dumb.” Not anymore. Last night…temporary insanity? That excuse worked for her. “I don’t want you to worry about me. Jackson would never hurt me physically, and I’m the only one responsible for my emotions.”
Trace kissed the top of her head. “All right. But if at any point you want me to stomp him, let me know.”
He said that with relish, helping to lighten her mood. “He’s not a slouch, you know. He might surprise you.”
“Nope. I already know Jackson can handle himself. If not, he wouldn’t be working with Dare and me, and no way in hell would I rely on him to keep you safe.”
She skipped over the issue of her safety to say, “So you admit he’s a lot like you?”
Slinging an arm around her shoulders, Trace said, “Why do you think I’m so worried?” Without giving her a chance to reply, he led her back into the house.
Alani hoped the discussions were now at an end so she could see to Jackson.
WITH THE OTHERS out of the room, Dare spent his time eyeballing Jackson, irking him until Jackson stopped watching for Alani and instead barked, “What?”
Dare nodded at his crotch. “You really ought to get that under control.”
Jackson looked down, saw he still had an obvious jones, and cursed. “It’s a unique situation.” Alani was a unique woman. He dropped a throw pillow over his lap. “Can’t you drag Trace out of here?”
“Doubtful, but I’m not even going to try. At least, not until we have things settled.”
Through his teeth, Jackson said, “You guys are making her more nervous than she needs to be. I can handle it.”
Dare gave him a long, sober look. “Why do I doubt that you’re thinking straight?”
“My brains aren’t in my dick, damn it.” Sure, lust left him tense. But Alani’s safety would always be his number one priority. “I wouldn’t let anything happen to her.”
Unfazed, Dare shrugged. “Trace is her brother. I’m a pseudo-brother. Until we know what’s happening, no one is budging.” And then, as Trace and Alani walked back in, Dare stood, too. “All done?”
Alani said, “Yes,” and started to sit by Jackson again.
He was just reaching for her when Dare caught her elbow. “Great. Now it’s my turn.”
Frustration pushed Jackson over the edge. He shot to his feet. “This is bullshit!” He did not want Dare and Trace filling her head with reasons to run from him. “Let’s roll credits on the drama already.”
At his raised voice, Trace’s muscles bunched up. “Watch your mouth in front of my sister.”
“She’s not a damn china doll.”
Alani started to speak, but Trace didn’t give her a chance. “You’ll treat her with respect.”
Jackson stiffened. He wasn’t going to explain himself to her brother. What was between them was private—and he wanted to get back to it, damn it. But he wouldn’t keep putting up with Trace’s animosity, either. “You think I don’t?”
Dare tugged Alani along. “Let’s leave them to it, hon, okay?”
And Alani, left with little choice in the matter, again walked away.
“This is insane.” Jackson dropped back down on the couch and glared at Trace. “You two will wear her out with all this covert chitchat, back-and-forth nonsense.”
“You’ll both survive.”
Jackson wasn’t at all sure about that. If they talked Alani into keeping her distance from him, he’d detonate. Trying to hide his tension, Jackson said more calmly, “What the hell did you say to her, anyway? And why couldn’t you say it right here in the comfort of her living room?”
Pensive, silent, Trace leaned against the wall.
Jackson stewed until he couldn’t hold it in. “And what the hell does Dare have to do with anything? He’s not even her damn brother.”
Eyes narrowing, Trace suffered him in silence.
With nothing more to do, and Trace being a bore, Jackson poured himself another cup of coffee.
He had just taken a sip when Trace said, “I assume you haven’t told her everything.”
What the hell could he tell her when he didn’t remember even a smidge of the night? “What’s that?”
Pushing away from the wall, Trace stood beside the chair Dare had vacated. “There are things about you, Jackson, added responsibilities that Alani’s unaware of. Or have you told her about Arizona?” Oh. That. Shit. “Not yet, no.”
“I didn’t think so.”
As always when discussing Arizona, heat crawled up his neck. Half under his breath, Jackson said, “Haven’t really had much chance for talking, not with you two hanging around, making her think the world is coming to an end.” And besides, what woman would understand about Arizona? He sure as hell didn’t want to shoot himself in the foot this early.
“If that’s your way of saying I’m overreacting, Alani is used to my idea of caution. She’d think something more was wrong if I acted any other way.”
Maybe he had a point. “If you say so.”
“Tell her about Arizona, or I will.”
That challenge couldn’t go unanswered. Jackson set the cup down with a clatter. “It’s my business, Trace.” And besides, Trace might think he knew everything about it, but he didn’t. Not by a long shot.
“When you’re sleeping with my sister, it becomes my business.”
Jackson locked his back teeth, but he’d never taken well to ultimatums. “Arizona has nothing to do with her.”
“If you care about her, then Arizona has plenty to do with her.” Trace crossed his arms over his chest and widened his stance. “And if you don’t care, then I’m telling you right now, leave her the hell alone.”
HEARING RAISED VOICES in the living room left Alani uneasy. She tried to rush back in, but Dare didn’t let her.
He caught one of her hands in both of his. “Relax, honey. They’re fine.”
Didn’t sound fine to her. She chewed her bottom lip. “I think they’re arguing.”
Dare shrugged. “So? They’re both reasonable enough. They won’t come to blows.”
If only she had his confidence. She knew that when it came to her, Trace could be more than unreasonable. “All right, but let’s make this quick.” She tried to give Dare her attention, when truthfully, she strained to hear what her brother and Jackson were saying.
“You know I think of you as a little sister.”
“Yes.” And she thought of him as another brother. Dare and Trace had known each other for a very long time. After the death of their parents, Dare had been there, helping them both to cope. He’d been there through all the most important steps in their lives.
She flinched at a particularly loud curse from Jackson.
Insistent on getting her attention, Dare brought her face around to his. “I’m sorry to do this, but Jackson is slammed, and Trace just isn’t himself, so it looks like it’s up to me.”
Given the seriousness of his tone, Alani almost groaned. “Do I really want to hear this?”
“I brought you out here because I didn’t want to embarrass you.”
“Too late for that, isn’t it?” Already her faux pas—sleeping with a drugged man unaware of his own actions—had been aired to the people closest to her. “All things considered, I don’t know how I could be any more embarrassed.”
Apologetic, Dare asked, “Did you guys use protection?”
Shock took her back a step. Obviously she hadn’t even seen the start of embarrassment yet.
Protection? She wanted to groan. “I…” Had they? That first time, yes. Her face heated as she remembered watching Jackson intently roll on a condom. But after that?
Dropping his head forward, Dare muttered to himself. “Don’t tell me. It’s none of my damn business. But with Jackson drugged, he might not have been thinking right.” His probing gaze held he
rs. “That’s the point of a roofie, you know. Complete lack of inhibition.”
“I see.” Putting a hand over her mouth, Alani racked her brain. Even after that first time, Jackson had remained insatiable, and they’d both been frenzied… She couldn’t specifically recall the use of condoms.
“I don’t suppose you’re on the pill?”
She shook her head. “No need.” And then she slapped a hand over her mouth, but it was too late. Dare had already absorbed that telling confession.
“Okay then.” Dare rubbed her shoulder. “Without asking for details, I’m guessing—under the right circumstances—you might have been a little too inexperienced to pay attention.”
“The right circumstances?”
He rubbed her shoulder some more. “Getting carried away and all that.”
Her cheeks burned. How could he so easily discuss things so private? Much more of this and she’d be permanently singed. “Things did happen sort of…fast.”
Dare’s mouth quirked. “Not something Jackson would want you to share, hon.”
“I don’t mean…!” More heat flooded into her face, almost making her light-headed. “That is, the decision to…and then again…I sort of forgot….”
“I do understand.” Dare fought off a grin. “But just in case, it’s something the two of you should discuss, don’t you think?”
She covered her face with both hands. “This just keeps going from bad to worse.”
“Don’t jump the gun, okay? Odds are, Jackson took care of it and even if he didn’t, it might not be an issue.”
She hoped not, because after that first time, she’d simply accepted anything and everything he wanted to do, no questions asked.
“But for future reference…” Watching her, Dare said, “I don’t suppose you have any condoms here?”
Why would she? Sure, she’d recently turned twenty-four, and most women that age were sexually active. But after her kidnapping… No. She’d had no real interest.
Until Jackson.
“No. No, I don’t.” Even if she’d wanted to jump back in bed with Jackson, it didn’t sound plausible. What could she do? Suggest he make a drugstore run first? She already knew he wasn’t going to budge from her side, and she definitely wasn’t shopping with him.
Putting her shoulders back, she faced Dare. “Is that it, then?” She wasn’t sure she could handle any more.
He studied her face. “Jackson knows about you being kidnapped.” It was a statement, not a question.
“Yes.” She’d first met him when both Trace and Dare were busy, and they’d put Jackson to the task of watching over her—an unnecessary precaution that neither of them seemed inclined to let go anytime soon. But then, they watched over everyone they cared about.
“Does he know details? Because it occurs to me he might be the right one for you to confide in.”
Just the thought of detailing her imprisonment…no. She couldn’t. It left her stomach queasy and her breathing shallow, her heart tripping and her skin cold.
More than anything, she prayed to just forget about it.
Wrapping her arms around herself, Alani sought to stifle her reaction. She drummed up a pathetic smile. “It’s old news, Dare. No reason to rehash it.”
“You know, hon, Molly has told me everything.” He bent to meet her averted eyes. “It’s important to talk about it. I know you’re doing okay now, and I know you’ve moved on. Trace and I are both proud of you.”
Absurd. She’d given neither of them reason to be proud.
“But it stays in here.” With one finger he touched the center of her chest above her breasts. “And here.” He brushed that same fingertip to her temple. “Until you share it.”
“I have shared,” she tried to say with a straight face. “With you and Trace.”
Too astute for his own good, Dare shook his head. “I got you out of there. I understand why talking to me would be too much. And with the way Trace reacted, I know you never wanted to burden him more.”
And it would have been a burden. In some ways, though he hid it well, her abduction had been harder on Trace than on her. “He was so distressed that you had to come after me.”
“He’d have had a hell of a time keeping me away.” Dare cupped the back of her neck, waggling her head in a familiar, friendly way. “But I know what you mean. He wanted to be the one handling things, and if he hadn’t already been known to the bastards who took you, he would have been.”
But since they had known Trace, the odds of him reaching her had been diminished. Sending Dare had upped her chances of being rescued, but had been oh-so-much-more dangerous for Dare.
Alani swallowed. “If I’d been paying better attention that day at the beach—”
“Then you might not have been taken. And God only knows what would have happened to Molly.”
She jerked her head up to stare at him. Solemn, serious, gaze direct, Dare stared back at her.
“I hadn’t thought about it that way.”
He gave one small nod. “No way in hell did I ever want you to go through all that, hon. You know that. But sometimes things happen for a reason. I like to think I was there for you so I could get Molly out, too.”
Her eyes burned. She threw her arms around Dare and squeezed him tight. “Thank you, Dare.” In his simple, caring way, he’d just lightened her burden.
Hugging her right off her feet, Dare kissed the top of her head and said, “Anytime, sweetie.” He levered her back, grinned suddenly and then actually laughed.
A little affronted, Alani frowned at him. “What’s funny?”
“The look on Jackson’s face.”
Oh! She turned—and there Jackson stood, his reddened eyes burning with an excess of emotion, his shoulders bunched, his jaw taut.
Trace stood behind him, his mouth twisted with irony. “I told him to stay put, but he didn’t listen.”
CHAPTER FIVE
JEALOUSY SUCKED. He didn’t like it worth a damn. He especially didn’t like it now, with Alani rolling her eyes at him, and Dare and Trace both amused at his expense.
Seeing her in Dare’s arms, even knowing they were practically siblings, burned his ass big-time. Next to Dare, she looked so small and fair, and he could see in her golden eyes how she trusted Dare.
With her feelings and with her life.
Jackson had no doubts about his abilities—but did Alani? Next to Dare and Trace, he stood out as different. They’d ribbed him plenty of times for his appearance, calling him a ladies’ man, a beach bum, making jibes about his preference for comfort over style.
Even now, Dare wore an expensive pullover with untattered jeans. More upper-class in his style, Trace wore a button-up shirt and khakis.
That morning, he’d dressed in haste, anxious to get to Alani. But even if he hadn’t, Jackson knew he’d still have reached for the ancient jeans that, through the years, he’d worn in just right. The scuffed boots helped to hide his knife. And his array of T-shirts, some plain, some with raunchy sayings, always won out for being comfortable.
But next to the men Alani admired, did he fall short? She was a classy lady, always done up just right, from the tips of her toes to the top of her head. Even now, with the late sunshine warming her skin, leaving it dewy, she looked fresh and sweet. A breeze stirred the humid air, teasing her beautiful hair and carrying her unique scent to him. Jackson inhaled, filling his lungs with the aroma of woman.
His woman.
He wanted to drag her close, to stake a claim.
And the guys knew it. With their presence alone, they taunted him.
Jackson swallowed hard, tried to loosen up, and asked, “Everybody all talked out? We can drive a stake through the clandestine crap? Good. I’ll show you to the door.”
Not fooled at all, Dare snorted. “We still need to work out the setup.”
Moving to Jackson’s side, Alani took charge. “You should be sitting down.” She put her arm around him as if for support. Ignoring the fac
t that he outweighed her by more than a hundred pounds and stood damn near a foot taller, she tried to urge him back toward the couch.
Unmanned by her mollycoddling, he stiffened. “I don’t need you to—”
Trace pushed past them. “If he can’t walk on his own steam, then leave him outside.”
“Wanna hold my hand?” Dare asked him.
“Ignore them,” Alani told Jackson. “I plan to.”
Provoked beyond reason, Jackson rubbed the back of his neck.
“Are you okay?” She cupped the side of his face gently. “Does your head hurt?”
This mothering tendency of hers made him really uncomfortable. He hadn’t blushed since his early teens, but damned if he didn’t feel his ears getting hot.
“You’re warm,” she fussed. “Do you think you have a fever?”
“Poor baby,” Dare muttered, then snorted.
Jackson’s restraint broke. He wanted to take care of her, not the other way around. To prove to her that he wasn’t handicapped in any way, Jackson scooped her up into his arms.
“Jackson!”
He kissed her hard, and when she would have pulled away, he kept on kissing her, hugging her close, tilting his head for a better fit. He kissed her until she stopped fighting him.
Against her lips, he said, “Unless you want further proof that I’m fine, stop babying me.” And then he headed inside.
Dare snorted again, but he closed the door behind them.
Back in the living room, Jackson stood her on her feet. “Now, we need—oof.”
Her pointy elbow landed with unerring precision. He hadn’t braced for it because he hadn’t expected it. After being so sick that morning, his innards still felt sore, and she’d gotten him good.
A hand to his midsection, he straightened and stared at her. Her angelic expression lacked remorse.
As he stared down at her, incredulous, she smiled like a sinner. “Unless you want further proof that I object to manhandling, stop pushing me.”
By slow degrees, Jackson’s frown faded into a grin. “You want to play, darlin’?” More than a little aware of Dare and Trace standing back, giving him the opportunity to spar with her, Jackson said, “Oh, I love to play. Just know that paybacks are hell.”
