Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 94512 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94512 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
Peter Dalton always arrived at the office before everyone else and left promptly at five, his work meticulously completed. If he’d contacted her so early, she knew it was important and probably had to do with her brother. Her stomach churned at the thought of more Brian drama, but that wasn’t her concern at the moment. Nor did she want to discuss her brother with Dare.
Liza turned toward him. The pain in his face was unmistakable, and she realized she shouldn’t have been so sensitive. Whatever the story was behind the tattoo, it was deep and obviously important.
And he was willing to share it with her.
“I’m listening,” she said softly, with more of her heart than she’d opened before.
“Remember we talked about the party your brother threw back when we were kids?” Dare asked, the words sounding torn from inside him.
She nodded, her stomach in even more knots now.
Before Dare could continue, the front doorbell rang.
Liza frowned, annoyed at the interruption. “Just ignore it,” she said. She wasn’t expecting company.
For all she knew, it could be a neighbor, and she didn’t want anyone to interrupt his story. “Go on,” she encouraged him.
The doorbell rang again, followed by loud banging.
“Someone’s impatient,” Dare said, turning in the direction of the sound.
With a groan, Liza rose to her feet. “I’ll get rid of whoever it is,” she promised. She headed to the door, Dare following her.
She peered through the small window that overlooked the porch, took one glance at her visitor, and muttered a very unladylike curse.
“Who is it?” Dare asked.
She shook her head, wishing she’d followed her gut and ignored the bell.
“Brace yourself,” she muttered as she opened the door. “Brian,” she said, greeting her sibling, who waited impatiently outside.
Chapter Nine
Liza stared at her brother while feeling the heat of Dare’s body and probable glare behind her. She had to get rid of Brian and do it fast.
She braced her hand on the doorframe. “This isn’t a good time.”
Brian looked from Liza to Dare, who’d stepped around her, still bare-chested, as he took his place close by her side.
Blatant disbelief, then anger, flooded her brother’s features. “What the hell is he doing here?”
She swallowed hard. “That’s none of your business. You need to go, and I’ll call you later.” She gripped the doorframe harder, her fingers aching under the strain.
As usual, Brian ignored her request. “I thought I was crazy when I saw an SUV in your driveway. I mean, it’s eight o’clock, and you never have guys over.”
“Brian!” She didn’t need her brother broadcasting her lack of a personal life now.
He shook his head. “How could you get involved with a cop?” He sneered the word as if Dare’s profession disgusted him. Which it did.
A quick glance to her right told Liza Dare’s jaw was set, but so far he was remaining silent. A fact that could quickly change given the tense set of his muscles. He was ready to pounce, given the right provocation. And Lord knew Brian would have no trouble providing it, especially if her brother was not in control.
So far, Liza couldn’t tell. Though he was dressed for work, outward appearances didn’t mean he wasn’t hungover from the night before.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, resigned. It was obvious her brother wasn’t leaving as she’d insisted.
“I’m not talking in front of him.” Brian tipped his head toward Dare.
Liza blew out a stream of air. “Well, he’s not leaving yet.”
“Why? Because he’s not dressed? Or because you haven’t finished yet?”
Now she had her answer, and mortification swept over her. It was bad enough she had Dare witnessing yet another Brian moment, but now he was turning his anger on her. The brother she knew and loved would never talk to her like that before he started drinking.
“That’s it,” Dare muttered. Before Liza could react, he headed onto the porch. “It’s time for you to leave,” he informed her brother.
Brian narrowed his gaze. “It’s not your house.”
“I’m just repeating what your sister already said.”
Dare’s lazy shrug didn’t fool her, and she glanced from man to man, trying to figure out the best way to defuse the situation.
“It’s none of your business,” Brian said belligerently, still pushing Dare when it was obvious the man was a simmering volcano.
Unable to think of a solution, Liza reached out and grabbed Dare’s arm, hoping her touch would calm him before he let Brian provoke him into doing something he’d regret.
* * *
Anger pulsed through Dare, and he didn’t take his gaze off Liza’s brother, who stupidly kept pushing Dare, obviously hoping to goad him into a fight.
Liza’s nails dug into his forearm, but she didn’t have to worry. Dare wouldn’t do anything stupid. Still, someone had to shut this asshole up. Dare wouldn’t allow him to insult Liza.
And she’d asked him to leave more than once. “It wasn’t my business. Until you started insulting your sister. Now I’m making it my business. So you can leave now,” Dare said, deceptively calm.