LITMIR.BIZ

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the long-term parking area, and Dare, with a close eye on his surroundings, loaded her into his SUV.

      What his girls would think of her, he couldn’t imagine. He knew damn good and well how Chris would feel, though: territorial and antagonistic. But then that’s how Chris usually felt about everything. Dare considered those some of his finer qualities.

      CHAPTER SIX

      IT WAS NEARING eleven o’clock when Dare pulled down the long drive to his home. Molly had been mostly quiet during the ride, except to thank him for the feast of a hamburger, fries and milk shake.

      One thing about Molly: she was still putting the food away. If she always ate like this, she had to have one hell of a fast metabolism to stay so petite. At a little over five and a half feet tall, she had curves aplenty, but in all the right places. Her limbs were slim, and she had a tiny waist. When he’d held her, he knew she weighed next to nothing. She might have lost weight in her nine days of captivity, but it couldn’t have been too substantial or she wouldn’t have physically recovered so quickly.

      So … was she always stacked? Did she maintain that figure even while hiding it from most? She wasn’t a flaunter—he knew that right off. With women, you could always tell which ones liked to be front and center, using their bodies to draw attention.

      Molly didn’t lack confidence, but it had little to do with her figure and a lot to do with her intelligence.

      As he neared their destination, she listened to his CD collection and brooded. She was a survivor, so likely she’d put her brain to the task of going over a variety of scenarios in an attempt to be prepared. A futile effort, but Dare wouldn’t tell her so.

      She was so involved in her own thoughts that Dare knew she didn’t realize they were almost home.

      By deliberate means, his place was set way back in the woods, hidden by tall evergreens and a variety of hardwoods, with a narrow road that climbed up to the main gate. The way the road twisted and turned in and around trees helped to hide it.

      He’d planned it that way.

      Headlights shone on the impressive and ornate iron fencing that enclosed the front of his property. The rest of the land, all fifteen acres, was protected with electric fencing. Only the lake offered free access, but that, too, was secured with lights and alarms.

      Agog, Molly twisted in her seat to look out each win dow, taking in the view. “This is where you live? Seriously?”

      “Yeah.”

      She dropped back into her seat. “It’s like vacation property.”

      “Pretty much.” Once he reached the security gate, Molly went silent. All movement stopped, and she stared as Dare rolled down a window and punched in a private code that opened the gates. He drove beyond them and they closed again.

      She just stared.

      In response to her mute amazement, Dare told her, “Be prepared.”

      She blinked fast as if to refocus. “For what?”

      “Chris will come out to meet us. My girls, too.”

      After moistening dry lips with a quick lick, she said, “I heard you mention them. On the phone, I mean. Back at the motel room.”

      Her stilted speech amused Dare. “I do love my girls.”

      She cleared her throat. “Chris, too?”

      “Definitely.” Knowing she didn’t entirely understand, and willing to tease her, Dare said, “Chris will try to intimidate you, so be prepared.”

      She cleared her throat. “Chris is …?”

      “Housekeeper, manager, assistant—pretty much everything.”

      “Everything?” she asked, her voice high and faint.

      Dare couldn’t help but grin. “Sure.” And then, “Just ask him. He’ll tell you how important he is.”

      Her jaw loosened. “He will?” Then, before Dare could reply, “Chris is a guy?” And then with confusion, “You live with another man?”

      “Yeah.”

      “Does … he have a wife? Or maybe a girlfriend?”

      “No.” Dare knew she was trying to figure out the dynamic. He waited two heartbeats, then said, “Chris is gay.”

      “Gay?” Mystified, she stared at him. “But you’re not …?”

      Dare gave her a look. “Are you actually asking me that? Because I thought I’d made my sexual preferences pretty clear already.”

      “I thought you did, too. But then you kept mentioning Chris and your girls, and I wasn’t sure what to think.”

      “I’m not involved with anyone.”

      “Good.” Her eyes widened when she said that, and she quickly clarified, “I mean … okay.” Thoughts visibly churning, she took in the woods and the dirt road that changed to pavement, and then the landscaping as it opened up to his home. She fell back in her seat.

      The sight of manicured lawns under bright lights that flickered on with their progress distracted her.

      Molly gave up. “Okay, then, since you and Chris don’t have that kind of relationship, why would he want to intimidate me?”

      “Suspicion, most likely.” And because that explanation didn’t suffice, Dare added, “I never bring women here. Hell, I don’t bring anyone here. You’re a first.”

      Her interested gaze transferred to him. “You don’t?”

      Dare shook his head.

      “But … why?”

      “Policy.” He glanced at her, saw her frowning and said, “Don’t worry about it, okay?”

      Pulling around the circular drive, Dare stopped in front of the pedimented entry. Warm lights poured through the cut glass in the door, the transom and the sidelights, spilling onto the front porch and out onto the paved walkway. The double doors opened and his girls shot out in berserk joy. Each of them had a stuffed toy clamped in her teeth.

      Chris came to stand at the top step. He folded his arms over his bare chest and waited.

      Eyes widening even more, Molly asked in a whisper, “Is that him?”

      Wondering what she’d expected, Dare glanced at Chris. His personal assistant stood there shirtless, sloppy shorts hanging low, feet bare. His shaggy black hair became even more disheveled by a brisk wind.

      Shaking his head, Dare accepted that Chris looked nothing like a businessperson and very much like a lake bum. “I think we’ve kept him up past his bedtime.”

      “Oh, dear.” Casting Dare a sideways glance, she said, “He was waiting up for you?”

      “Yeah.”

      “Is that part of his job description, or just because he was concerned?”

      “Most likely, it was curiosity.” Dare grinned at her. “Chris and I are best friends. Like brothers, really.”

      She let out her breath, but asked with accusation, “Did you know what I thought?”

      “Maybe.” Tamping down his grin, Dare said, “It gave you something to think about besides your kidnapping.”

      She frowned at him but said nothing more.

      “And there are my beautiful girls, Sargeant and Tai’ree, better known as Sargie and Tai.”

      Eyes rounding, Molly stared as the two Labs bounded toward them.

      “Dogs,” Molly said, now completely exasperated. “So Chris is a guy, and your girls are animals.”

      “They’re

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