LITMIR.BIZ

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contestants were led on stage. The curtain had a logo of the cable company on it—the stylized letters meaningless to Finn. He rarely watched network television, much less cable.

      He saw a few people well over forty, a lot of good-looking kids in their twenties, a few ordinary types who were seriously out of place and the twins.

      It was all he could do not to stomp onto the stage, grab one under each arm and head for the airport. Only a couple of things stopped him. First, the fact that it was unlikely he could actually wrestle either of his brothers into submission. They were as tall as him, and while he had more muscle and experience in a fight, he cared about them too much to really hurt them. Second, he had a feeling someone with the production company would call the police and the situation would go downhill from there.

      “You’re looking fierce about something,” Dakota said, coming up and standing next to him. “Plotting to kidnap them?”

      Finn was impressed by her mind-reading skills. “Want to be an accomplice?”

      “I make it a rule to avoid situations that end with me going to jail. I know that makes me less fun at a party, but I can live with that.”

      He glanced at her and saw her brown eyes were bright with laughter.

      “You’re not taking my pain seriously enough,” he told her.

      “Your pain is in your head. You know your brothers are capable of making their own decisions.”

      “If we exclude their present situation.”

      “I don’t agree with that.” She turned to the stage. “Everyone deserves to follow his or her dream.”

      “They’d do better to finish college and settle down,” he grumbled.

      “Did you?”

      He studied his brothers. “Sure. I’m the poster boy for responsible.”

      “Because you had to be. What were you like before your parents died and you were left with two thirteen-year-olds? Something tells me you were a lot wilder than they’ve ever been.”

      She was right, damn it. He shifted. “I can’t remember.”

      “Do you expect me to believe that?”

      “I might have been slightly less responsible.”

      “Slightly?”

      He’d been crazy, he thought, refusing to admit it to her. He’d loved parties and women and defying every law of physics in his airplane. He’d gone beyond testing boundaries—he’d been reckless.

      “That was different,” he said. “We didn’t know what could happen.”

      “Meaning they do and should act accordingly? They’re twenty-one. Give them a break.”

      “If they go back to college, I’ll give them a break.”

      “Silly, silly man.” Her gaze was both amused and slightly pitying.

      Under normal circumstances, that probably would have annoyed him, but he found he liked spending time with Dakota. Even when she disagreed with him, he liked hearing what she had to say.

      He was aware of her standing close to him in the dark shadows of the back of the soundstage. They would see everything, and no one knew they were there. For a second, he wondered what he would have thought of her under other circumstances. If he weren’t here because of his brothers. If he didn’t have to worry about their welfare. If he was just a guy intrigued by an attractive woman with a killer smile.

      But these circumstances didn’t allow for distraction. He’d promised himself that once he got his brothers through college, it would be his turn to follow his dream. After eight years of taking care of them, he’d earned it. He didn’t want to spend the rest of his life flying cargo. But that thought was for later—after he’d gotten his brothers out of this mess and knew that they were safe.

      On stage, Geoff shooed everyone out of view. The potential contestants were gathered together.

      Dakota glanced at her watch. “Show time,” she murmured.

      From what he’d been able to figure out, there would be a combination of live scenes and taped segments of the various potential contestants. Whatever it took to drag out the show, he thought grimly. He stared at his brothers, willing them to suddenly come to their senses. Neither of them noticed him.

      The big lights went on, someone called “We’re live in five, four, three…” Cameras were moved silently, then the host began.

      He welcomed the viewers, explained the premise of the show and started introducing the potential cast. Dakota reached for Finn’s hand and drew him through the darkness to the other side, where they had a better view of a wide-screen television.

      She released his fingers and leaned toward him. “That’s the feed going out,” she murmured, her voice soft, her breath tickling his ear.

      He inhaled a feminine scent—something floral and clean. Heat from her body seemed to slip across his arm, making him aware of her curves. For a second he considered pulling her deeper into the darkness and paying attention to her mouth instead of the screen.

      Don’t go there, he told himself. Big mistake. He had to remember what was important, and right now that was the twins.

      On stage, the host began calling names. Finn found himself stiffening. The first couple was older. Late ’50s early ’60s. He ignored them. A blond guy got paired up with a dark-haired, busty Amazon. At least that was something, he thought. The girl looked like she could take Sasha and Stephen together.

      “I promised you some fun contestants,” the host said with a smile. “Here’s where it gets interesting.” He motioned for Sasha and Stephen to join him on stage.

      “Twins,” he said with a grin. “Can you believe it? Sasha and Stephen.”

      Finn watched his brothers carefully. They looked at ease on the stage. They smiled at the camera, chatted with the host. They looked like they belonged.

      “Now which one of you is which?” the host asked.

      Sasha, wearing jeans and a blue pullover, the same damn color as his eyes, grinned. “I’m the better-looking one. So I must be Sasha.”

      Stephen gave his brother a shove. “I’m better-looking. We could take a vote.”

      The host laughed. “You boys are going to do just fine. Now let’s find out if you made it on the show.”

      Finn felt his fingers curl into fists. Tension swept through his body. If only, he thought. But he knew what was going to happen. It had been inevitable from the day his brothers had left South Salmon.

      The host looked at the card in his hand. He turned it over and showed it to the camera. Sasha’s name was clearly visible. The audience, mostly bused in for the show, although a few locals had shown up, applauded. The host drew another card from his suit pocket. The girls waiting just behind him leaned toward the camera. A couple seemed ready to grab Sasha and run for the hills. A sentiment Finn could understand, although his reasons were different.

      “Are you ready?” he asked Sasha.

      Sasha grinned for the camera. “I can’t wait to meet her.”

      “Then let’s get the two of you together.” The host turned the second card toward the camera. “Lani, come meet Sasha.”

      A petite, dark-haired, beautiful young woman stepped toward Sasha. Her eyes were large, her smile welcoming. She moved with an easy grace that had every man in the room watching her. Even Finn noticed her beauty.

      Sasha’s expression was comical as his eyes bugged out, and he leaned so far forward, he nearly lost his footing. He and Lani moved toward each other.

      “Hi,” she said softly. “Nice to meet you.”

      “Ah,

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