LITMIR.BIZ

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she’s in the thick of it,” Dare agreed, “no matter how we look at it.”

      Around the mouthful of food, Jackson said, “I don’t want to scare her, especially since odds are she’s in the clear.” He swallowed, a plan forming in his mind. “If she lets me stick close, then there’s no reason her life has to be more disrupted than it already has been.”

      “You can watch her up close,” Dare said, “while Trace and I start investigating things from the outside.”

      “And that being the case, you should have called us right away.” Trace’s temper shot up again. “Christ, was she left alone at any point today?”

      Jackson winced. “All morning.” Alone, saddened—and vulnerable. There really wasn’t a good excuse for slipping up, not with Alani’s safety on the line. “Thanks to the drugs, I wasn’t thinking clearly at first. All I knew was that I’d missed out on—” he looked at Trace’s set face and censored his words “—some important stuff. Soon as I could, I got ready and came here. Right about the time my head cleared enough for me to realize all the implications, she showed back up.”

      “And still you didn’t get hold of us?”

      “Yeah, about that…” Jackson hedged a little. “I was going to—right after I smoothed things out with Alani.”

      That got Trace’s attention anew. “What’s there to smooth out?”

      Another peek in the kitchen showed Alani standing in front of the sink, her arms around her middle as she stared out the window.

      As if she felt his stare, she glanced over her shoulder. Their gazes locked, and for him, it felt like a physical connection. Even from a distance, he saw her breathing deepen, her cheeks flush, the slight part of her lush lips, so maybe it felt the same for her.

      Jackson’s eyes narrowed—and Alani turned away to fetch the now full coffee carafe.

      A deep breath didn’t really help. She rattled him when nothing else did.

      “Okay, look.” Jackson squared off with both men. “Under normal circumstances, I would never discuss this with anyone, not even you two.”

      Discussing it with them now didn’t feel right, either, but with Alani’s safety potentially at risk, they had to know it all. Trace was right about that.

      “I told you that I woke with a splitting headache, that I spent the first hour in the bathroom puking up my guts.”

      They waited.

      “Yeah, well…” Never, not even if he lived to be a hundred, would Jackson forget that awesome moment when he found her curled comfortably in bed beside him, just as he’d never forget the devastation on her face right before she walked out. “You know as well as I do that Alani’s been sheltered. Not sure what she was expecting, but it wasn’t what she got. She…sort of misunderstood everything.”

      Confusion brought together Dare’s brows. “You explained to her what happened?”

      “Not then, no. Hell, I didn’t know what had happened.” Giving himself a second to organize his thoughts, Jackson took a big drink of the cola. He could use the caffeine kick. “The thing is, my head felt like it had cracked open, and Alani was there, naked.” He filled his lungs again, but the tightness in his chest remained. “Those two things together threw me pretty hard. I didn’t know which way was up, but I didn’t need my brains intact to know I’d probably slept with her. I just didn’t know what to do about it.”

      Trace stared up at the ceiling.

      “Stop it, will you?” Dare shoved him. “She’s a grown woman.”

      Jackson nodded. Alani was young but still mature. The perfect mix of naiveté and ripe sensuality. Independent and yet so incredibly sweet…

      Problem was, Trace had been playing protector too long. His attention zeroed in on Jackson. “I don’t know if I want you seeing her.”

      In clear warning, Jackson said, “Stay out of it, Trace.” No way in hell would he let him get in his way on this.

      Trace took a stance and smiled silkily. “Or what?”

      “Or you’ll deal with me.” Alani marched back into the room with a tray of coffee that she set on the table. She appeared resolute and too contained.

      Jackson started to stand, but with one hand on his chest, Alani shoved him back to his seat. Surprise kept him from reacting.

      Hands on her hips, she faced her brother. “I’ll see him if I want to.”

      Jackson met Trace’s furious gaze—and shrugged. Guess that was settled. Her attitude would make protecting her a lot easier, and it would afford him a lot more opportunities to work through the morass of his feelings.

      Dare shook his head. “Stop looking so satisfied, Jackson, or he just might kill you.”

      “No,” Alani said as she sat beside Jackson. “He won’t.”

      Though Trace’s left eye twitched again, he didn’t lurch toward Jackson. Trace was far too controlled for any lurching. If he wanted to attack Jackson, he would do so swiftly, without warning.

      But Jackson wasn’t worried about it. Trace might bluster, but he wanted the best for Alani, and right now, that meant having someone capable watching over her 24/7 until they sorted out what had happened.

      It couldn’t be Trace or Dare. Not only were they both now married, but their constant presence would only alarm Alani more. There’d be no explaining it to her without telling her how risky the situation could be.

      So Jackson got dibs, and that suited him just fine.

      Trace ran a hand through his hair. “Alani, seriously… Are you sure about this?”

      Far too solemn, she eyed her brother and Dare. “I’d appreciate it if you two would drink your coffee and then go so that Jackson and I can talk.”

      Her announcement hit them each in a different way.

      Not about to budge, Trace snorted.

      Dare merely said, “No can do, hon.”

      And Jackson put his arm around her. “We gotta make plans first.”

      “I have a plan.” Spine straight, shoulders stiff, she shrugged off his touch. “I’m going to finish discussing this with you, then you will leave so that I can take a long shower and go to bed early.”

      Jackson opened his mouth, and she said with emphasis, “Alone.”

      Damn. She sounded cold and distant. Had she overheard them talking? They’d kept their voices low, but in her small house, even with the radio blaring from the kitchen, she might have picked up a word or two. Well, she’d just have to deal with it. But to be sure, Jackson asked, “What’s wrong?”

      Not only did Alani give him an incredulous look, so did Dare and Trace.

      At the end of his rope, Jackson stood and took her hand. “Be right back.” He started tugging Alani toward the kitchen.

      She held back. “Jackson.”

      On the ragged edge, he leaned down to nearly touch his nose to hers. “Here or in private, woman. Make up your mind.”

      Trace took a step forward—and that decided her. She said to her brother and Dare, “Drink your coffee! We won’t be long.”

      And then it was Alani leading the way.

      Once in the kitchen, Jackson stepped around the wall with her for a smidge of privacy. He caged her in with his forearms on the wall at either side of her head.

      Staring up at him, she looked small and fragile and very appealing.

      He had to taste her.

      Murmuring, “I missed you,” he kissed

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