Read Online Highland Fling by Shelli Stevens - Free Book Online

gaze over her from top to bottom.
    A tremor ran through her, and it had nothing to do with fear this time.
    “Lana?” His tone sharpened.
    “It’s over now,” she said quietly. “We’re fine, Aleck.”
    “That’s not what I asked.” He strode toward her and crouched down where she sat in a chair. He missed nothing as his focus turned to her neck. “What happened?”
    Her pulse quickened because she knew he’d see the faint bruises there. His mouth became a grim slash and he shook his head. “You were attacked?”
    Like she could deny it. “Yeah. And how does word travel so fast on this island?”
    He ignored the question. “Any idea who the bastart was?”
    “I think this guy here is actually doing the questioning.” She gestured to the deputy, who just made a small grunt of amusement, but didn’t look up.
    Aleck glanced at his sister. “It’s not safe here. You’ll be staying at Brett’s house tonight?”
    Brett, who stood close to Kenzie, gave a nod. “With the new circumstances, yes, sir, Kenzie will be coming home with me now. And I have an extra room for Delonna—”
    “No,” Delonna cut in. “Thank you for the offer, Brett, but you don’t need to take me in. I’ll be fine.”
    “You’ll be fine,” Aleck said, “because you’ll be staying with me.”
    Her heart full-on lurched now at how nonnegotiable his statement had been. Then lurched again at the idea of actually staying under his roof.
    Absently, she shook her head. “I don’t…no. No I’m not.”
    “Aye, you are.” He strode out of the room and she opened her mouth to argue with him again, but the deputy asked her another question and distracted her.
    A few minutes later she was signing off on something and seeing the deputy out. Unfortunately he also recommended having someone either stay the night or that she consider staying elsewhere. The word “elsewhere” being spoken with a pointed glance to where Aleck had disappeared down the hall.
    Clearly he was team Aleck.
    After the deputy had left, and Kenzie and Brett were watching her with matching concerned expressions, Delonna sighed.
    “It’s fine, guys. You’re probably better off going to Brett’s just in case.”
    “So you’ll stay at Aleck’s then?” Kenzie prodded. “Because we’ll not leave otherwise.”
    Crap. “Sure. Yeah, I’ll go there.”
    Not a chance. She wasn’t letting some intimidating asshole drive her out of her home.
    “Good.” Aleck reappeared. “I’ve packed you an overnight bag.”
    She stilled, even as her blood pressure spiked. “I’m sorry, you did what?”
    “Ah shit,” Kenzie muttered. “We’d best go, Brett. There’s no help for it now.”
    Delonna barely noticed them leaving, she was so intent at staring Aleck down.
    “I think you just crossed a line,” she finally managed. “I’m not really okay with you pawing through my underwear drawer.”
    “Purely clinical mode as I did so, I assure you. Though I was partial to the tiny white knickers with the pink stars so I put them in there. Anyway, shall—”
    “No, we shall not anything . I’m not going with you.” If anything, she was about to punch him in the stomach. The idea of him handling her panties was enough to make her current ones get in a bunch.
    “Not going with me?” He watched her for a moment, and then nodded. “Fine. I’ll stay here then.”
    He dropped the bag with her stuff on the ground. Her teeth snapped together.
    “Look, before you try and rip me a new one,” he said gently, “just answer me this. Would you feel safe alone here tonight? And the truth, Lana.”
    Just like that her anger died. No. She wouldn’t. She’d be in fear all night of her attacker returning, intent on further threats or harm. Aleck must’ve seen the answer on her face because he made a small grunt of awareness.
    “I see. Then make your choice.”
    For a moment she was tempted to tell him to crash here, because the idea of going with him and being at his house