LITMIR.BIZ

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threw both hands high in an I’m innocent pose that didn’t convince her. “It was just an idea.”

      “A bad one.”

      “I see that now.” He nodded and swallowed hard. “Believe me. But hey, you gave me a couple bad minutes there, too, you know.”

      “Where’s Brian?” she demanded, still moving closer.

      “Now, Tina…”

      She glared at him as she saw his mind working fast, trying to come up with a stall. Then she realized that the triplets solidarity would work against her here. Connor wouldn’t squeal on his brother. But then, he didn’t have to.

      “Never mind,” she said tightly. “He has to come back here sometime, doesn’t he?”

      “Uh, you bet.” At last, he backed into the car and reaching behind him, grabbed the door latch. Unwilling to take his gaze off her, he opened the door and slid inside as fast as he was able.

      But before he could slam the car door shut, Tina grabbed the edge of it and leaned in toward him. It did her heart good to watch those blue eyes so much like Brian’s suddenly sparkle with trepidation.

      Served him right.

      “Now you listen to me, Connor Reilly…”

      “Oh, I’m listening, Tina.”

      “You tell your brother that I want to talk to him.”

      “Right.” He reached for the keys dangling from the ignition and fired up the engine. “I’ll tell him.”

      “And don’t you even think of trying this on me again, Connor.”

      He looked at her for a long moment, then slowly gave her a wide smile. “Not a chance, ma’am. You’re just too scary.”

      Now that the first, furious blast of anger had dissipated a little, she could appreciate the humor in the situation. At least as far as Connor was concerned. Tina’s mouth twitched, but she refused to smile back at him.

      “You know something, Tina?” he said softly, “even though you just took about five years off my life, it’s good to have you home.”

      Now she did smile. It would have been impossible not to. No woman could stand against a Reilly man for very long. “Go away, Connor.”

      “Yes, ma’am.”

      She stepped back, slammed the car door, then stood and watched as he pulled out and drove away. The minute he’d turned the corner though, Tina headed for the house. If she and Brian were going to have a confrontation, then she’d be damned if she’d do it sweaty and dirty from the garden.

      Chapter Four

      Connor’s laughter still ringing in his ears, Brian winced as he pulled into the driveway. What his brother had found so damned funny, Tina was sure to be pissed about.

      He’d known going in that the trick would never work. Just the fact that he’d let Connor try to put one over on Tina proved the level of Brian’s desperation. And in a weird sort of way, he was glad it hadn’t. At least he knew that Tina could still tell him apart from his brothers. It had always been like that. Even though everyone else considered the Reilly triplets interchangeable, Tina was different. So different from every other woman on the face of the damn planet, that if Brian couldn’t get her to leave town soon, he was a dead man. He’d never survive the bet with his brothers.

      Hell, any other time, Tina’s visit would have been bad enough. She was a distraction no matter how you looked at it. But now, when he was already a man on the edge, Tina was enough to push him over.

      He’d never wanted another woman as badly as Tina. And that still held true. They’d been apart for five years, but just knowing she was in town had his body tightening and his blood pumping. Knowing that she was alone, in the house next door, made sleep impossible and every waking moment a torture.

      Oh, yeah. He was in bad shape.

      Still grumbling about the coming confrontation with Tina, he stepped out of the car into the cool of twilight. The sun was down, the first stars were just starting to wink into life and jasmine scented the air.

      The front door to the main house was open, lamplight spilling into the darkening yard, laying out a path of welcome that he was willing to bet Tina hadn’t meant for him. Brian scowled at the house and told himself he didn’t give a damn what she thought about his plan. He’d had to try, and it didn’t really matter if she was mad about it or not. He didn’t owe her anything anymore. They were exes.

      So why then, did he feel so blasted guilty?

      And so damned hesitant about facing her?

      Hell, he was a Marine.

      Trained for combat.

      Which, he told himself as he started for the door, might just come in handy when talking to Tina Coretti Reilly.

      He took the steps in a couple of long strides and stood in the slice of lamplight, staring through the screen door. From the living room, came the muted, plaintive wail of good jazz playing on the stereo. The dogs had to be outside, or they’d have had their nasty little faces pressed to the screen in an attempt to chew right through the mesh and get to him. So, there was one good point. No dogs to deal with.

      He knocked. No response.

      He knocked again, louder this time.

      “Brian?” she called, “Is that you?”

      “Yeah, it’s me.”

      “Come in.”

      Well, so far, she sounded reasonable. Good. That was good. He stepped into the house, walked through the living room and tossed his USMC cap at the closest table. He rounded the corner into the kitchen and found her sitting at the table, a glass of white wine in her hand.

      She was mad. He could see it. Her eyes danced with it. And damned if she didn’t look great. That extra sparkle in her eyes appealed to him, which let Brian know he was in deep trouble.

      “Sit down.”

      “No, thanks,” he said, letting his gaze slide over her smooth, tanned legs, her pale green cotton shorts and one of the skimpiest tank tops he’d ever seen. No, he wouldn’t sit down. He wouldn’t be staying that long. Couldn’t afford to be around a woman who could torment him this easily. So, best to just say what he had to say and get out of there. “Look, Tina, I’m sorry about—”

      “—sending Connor to get rid of me?” she finished for him, then paused for a sip of wine.

      He lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “Well, yeah.”

      “That’s it?” She swiveled on her chair, crossed her legs and swung her foot lazily.

      Her toes were painted a soft pink and she wore a silver toe ring. Oh, man.

      “That’s all you’ve got to say?” One finely arched dark eyebrow lifted.

      Brian scraped one hand across his jaw. “What do you want from me? I gave it a shot.” Oh, he had to get out of the room. Fast.

      She stood up, set her wine on the table and took a step toward him. Her tank top had those tiny little spaghetti straps and they were the only straps across her smooth shoulders. No bra. His gaze dipped to her pebbled nipples, outlined to perfection beneath the clingy, white fabric. Oh, man.

      “Why are you so anxious to get me out of town, Brian?”

      “Not anxious,” he said, then corrected silently, desperate. But he couldn’t say that to her. Couldn’t let her know what she could still do to him with a single look.

      “Connor didn’t fool me,” she said, hitching one hip a little higher than the other and tapping her bare toes against the cream-colored linoleum.

      “Yeah,

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