Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91402 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91402 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
“Hey, asshole,” my brother grumbled. “I’m sitting right here.”
Jason? What the hell was he doing here, sitting on the couch? And why did she look nervous? “What’s happened?”
“Scott Rhodes is dead,” he said. “The man who pulled a gun on Kara at her office.”
“What? How?” I tightened my hold on her, sensing danger. Obviously, her former employee’s mental state had been bad. “Suicide?”
“No. Suspicious circumstances while in police custody.”
My heart thudded slowly. “He was murdered?”
I peered into her icy blue eyes, needing confirmation, and when she nodded, my emotions battled with each other. Worry, confusion, and anger. What did this mean? Juric was gone. She was supposed to be safe.
Jason massaged a hand behind his neck, looking tense. “My friend in Chicago has a contact in New York’s PD. She said they don’t have any leads yet, but this only happened a few hours ago.”
“Is this tied to Kara?” I asked.
As he considered how to answer, he frowned. “It sounds like someone went to a lot of trouble to get to Rhodes, which makes me think it’s unrelated. Maybe he had a gambling problem and got mixed up with people he shouldn’t have.” He stood and turned his focus to Kara, who was still locked in my arms. “But I don’t like coincidence, either, so we’re going to be cautious. As soon as I hear more, you will too.”
“All right,” I said.
He gave me a sharp look. “I was talking to her.”
Eventually, he was going to get past this. The woman I was holding on to wasn’t the first Hayward to interest a Dunn. He should fucking relate to my situation.
“Thank you,” she said.
He nodded. “Can you get your things together?”
She squirmed, perhaps wanting me to release her, but I wasn’t ready to let go. “What do you think you’re doing?”
Her icy eyes flooded with annoyance. “I’m going to stay at Jason and Laurel’s.”
That was . . . unacceptable. “No. Come home with me.”
She pulled her chin back in surprise, but my brother’s reaction was bigger. He made a sound of shock, like I’d just offered her a fifty percent stake in the business. “You’re taking her to your place?”
It was true, I didn’t bring women home with me. Allowing someone that much access to my personal life was dangerous in all sorts of ways. This was different. It was what I wanted.
Kara recovered quickly. “Do you honestly think I want to go home with you, after you tried to force that job on me?”
“Yes, I do.” I had plenty of confidence there. “Or do you not remember our discussion in my office?”
There was that gorgeous blush I loved. It colored her high cheekbones and matched the soft pink of her lips.
“I’m asking you to come home with me tonight. Please.” I said it softly, hoping I sounded irresistible. “You can stay with them tomorrow.”
I needed her in my bed. In the morning, I’d convince her to stay another day if I hadn’t accomplished that already.
Her expression was dubious, but I saw the cracks beneath it. She wanted this. In fact, it looked like she had a touch of excitement about staying the night with me.
Good. Me, too.
She pulled her mouth to the side in an annoyed glare that was kind of sexy. “Is there any point in saying no?”
I tried not to laugh. “I certainly can’t see one.”
She shifted her weight on her feet, relaxing subtly into me, but painted on a stern look that was all for show. “Fine. One night.”
“I don’t like this,” Jason said. “It’s better if you stay at my place. That’s what you should do.”
When annoyance flashed in her eyes, I secretly thanked my brother.
“Oh, I see. Trying to tell me what to do is a Dunn family trait.”
She let my lips travel the line from her ear down her neck, ending where her shoulder began.
He watched, unhappy with the display, and issued a sound of discomfort.
“You’re always all over my sister,” Kara said, beating me to it. “Like you have any room to judge us.”
I grinned. The word gave me pleasure.
Us.
20
KARA
Shawn’s hand fidgeted with the handle of my roller bag while we rode the elevator up to his apartment.
“I thought you’d have a house,” I said. “Some enormous estate in the country.” Maybe even a castle. The Forbes list had highlighted his assets, and besides a sizeable, diverse portfolio of stock, he owned lots of real estate, including an honest-to-God castle somewhere.
The only answer he gave me was his cryptic smile.
The elevator opened to expose a single door, which he unlocked and gestured for me to go inside. Light flooded the space. The entryway opened to a kitchen on the left and an enormous living area on the right. The apartment was European and modern, all sharp angles, clean lines, and minimalist design.
“You live here?”