around.”
“Goodbye, Pen.” Ryan shook her head, watching Penny give a good hip walk to her car. That girl loved to put on a show. Chuck was in for a wicked night.
“That’s one interesting girl.” Jared laughed.
“Did you get stuff to fix my door?” Ryan asked, and then landed a quick kiss on her brother’s cheek.
“Didn’t have time; you can just crash here for now.” Jared ducked his head into the pantry and pulled out a cutting board and some seasonings. “Want a beer, Pat?”
“I think Ryan should come back to my place,” Pat said, his lips drawn into a tight line.
“She’s fine here.” Jared clunked the wooden board down on the table and removed his gun belt, setting it on the counter in what seemed like one swift movement.
Ryan bit her tongue and looked between the two men, who were acting as if she wasn’t even in the room. No point in adding fuel to the fire. They never listened to her anyway.
“Marci could use the help, and I’d feel better if Ryan were with me, under the circumstances.” Pat leaned against the counter, with his hands braced on either side. His face was tight and his blue eyes filled with determination. But not once did he glance her way.
Jared tilted his head and tapped his badge. “She’s safer with me.”
“I’m her brother.”
Ryan blinked. The gorilla chest pounding would begin at any moment. “Look, fellas. I think I’ve got this under control. I’m going down to the village to find myself some hot guy, go home with him, and have hot, wild sex. A package of condoms is all the protection I’ll need, so enjoy your steaks.”
“Ryan. That’s not funny.” Pat contorted his face even more, if that was possible. He had this look in his eyes, like he had when he used to scold her as a child.
“What bar?” Jared asked with a devilish twinkle in his eye.
“Don’t encourage her,” Pat said, taking a step toward Jared.
“Hey, if she’s going to pick up some guy, it might as well be me. I just want to know where she’s going so I can go too.” Jared winked.
“Get your things, Ryan, you’re coming home with me,” Pat said.
“Save the parenting for the new baby, big bro. I’m a grown-up.”
“She looks like a grown-up to me,” Jared said, checking her out.
His roaming eyes sent a hot shiver up her spine. “Oh, for crying out loud. I can’t believe the two of you have the balls to talk to each other like I’m not even in the room.”
Jared cocked his head and lifted a brow.
“Don’t say it.” She glared at him. “And don’t tell me what to do, either.” The only way to deal with a Neanderthal was to act like one.
“Ryan.” Jared’s fingers swept across the back of her neck, then squeezed gently. “I have plenty of room, and I think it would be safer if you stayed here. With me. A cop.”
Ryan swallowed as she stared into his intense blue-green eyes. His thumb still lingered on her neck, rubbing softly in small circles, sending signals to places that might make someone think the temperature had escalated to an all-time high. “Thanks. Now don’t let this go to your head, but I’d have to agree.”
Jared leaned over and brushed his lips across her temple. Her heart pounded so heavily, she thought it might thump right up her throat.
She took a deep breath and stepped away. “So, have you found out anything?”
“I’ve got a lead on a guy who was in prison with George, and I’ve got someone looking into it right now.”
“I’d feel better if you were looking into it,” Pat said, still scowling, but thankfully not fighting her on where she chose to stay. It was her choice after all.
Overprotective brothers could be a pain right in the petunia. “I’m sure he’s on top of it, Pat.” She grabbed the bag she’d left on the kitchen chair with some stuff she’d packed, in hopes of having to spend the night. “Do you care what room I take?” she asked Jared, tossing her hair in what had to be the worst attempt at
“Goodbye, Pen.” Ryan shook her head, watching Penny give a good hip walk to her car. That girl loved to put on a show. Chuck was in for a wicked night.
“That’s one interesting girl.” Jared laughed.
“Did you get stuff to fix my door?” Ryan asked, and then landed a quick kiss on her brother’s cheek.
“Didn’t have time; you can just crash here for now.” Jared ducked his head into the pantry and pulled out a cutting board and some seasonings. “Want a beer, Pat?”
“I think Ryan should come back to my place,” Pat said, his lips drawn into a tight line.
“She’s fine here.” Jared clunked the wooden board down on the table and removed his gun belt, setting it on the counter in what seemed like one swift movement.
Ryan bit her tongue and looked between the two men, who were acting as if she wasn’t even in the room. No point in adding fuel to the fire. They never listened to her anyway.
“Marci could use the help, and I’d feel better if Ryan were with me, under the circumstances.” Pat leaned against the counter, with his hands braced on either side. His face was tight and his blue eyes filled with determination. But not once did he glance her way.
Jared tilted his head and tapped his badge. “She’s safer with me.”
“I’m her brother.”
Ryan blinked. The gorilla chest pounding would begin at any moment. “Look, fellas. I think I’ve got this under control. I’m going down to the village to find myself some hot guy, go home with him, and have hot, wild sex. A package of condoms is all the protection I’ll need, so enjoy your steaks.”
“Ryan. That’s not funny.” Pat contorted his face even more, if that was possible. He had this look in his eyes, like he had when he used to scold her as a child.
“What bar?” Jared asked with a devilish twinkle in his eye.
“Don’t encourage her,” Pat said, taking a step toward Jared.
“Hey, if she’s going to pick up some guy, it might as well be me. I just want to know where she’s going so I can go too.” Jared winked.
“Get your things, Ryan, you’re coming home with me,” Pat said.
“Save the parenting for the new baby, big bro. I’m a grown-up.”
“She looks like a grown-up to me,” Jared said, checking her out.
His roaming eyes sent a hot shiver up her spine. “Oh, for crying out loud. I can’t believe the two of you have the balls to talk to each other like I’m not even in the room.”
Jared cocked his head and lifted a brow.
“Don’t say it.” She glared at him. “And don’t tell me what to do, either.” The only way to deal with a Neanderthal was to act like one.
“Ryan.” Jared’s fingers swept across the back of her neck, then squeezed gently. “I have plenty of room, and I think it would be safer if you stayed here. With me. A cop.”
Ryan swallowed as she stared into his intense blue-green eyes. His thumb still lingered on her neck, rubbing softly in small circles, sending signals to places that might make someone think the temperature had escalated to an all-time high. “Thanks. Now don’t let this go to your head, but I’d have to agree.”
Jared leaned over and brushed his lips across her temple. Her heart pounded so heavily, she thought it might thump right up her throat.
She took a deep breath and stepped away. “So, have you found out anything?”
“I’ve got a lead on a guy who was in prison with George, and I’ve got someone looking into it right now.”
“I’d feel better if you were looking into it,” Pat said, still scowling, but thankfully not fighting her on where she chose to stay. It was her choice after all.
Overprotective brothers could be a pain right in the petunia. “I’m sure he’s on top of it, Pat.” She grabbed the bag she’d left on the kitchen chair with some stuff she’d packed, in hopes of having to spend the night. “Do you care what room I take?” she asked Jared, tossing her hair in what had to be the worst attempt at
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