Chapter 6

“Slade, I know you’re here. Open up.” Chrissy pounded on the door, and Drogo barked.

“Fuck, Chris. You’re going to wake the entire neighborhood,” her brother said as he opened the door and stepped aside so that she could walk in. Drogo immediately began growling and gnawing at the bottom of Slade’s sweatpants, so Chrissy bent down and scooped him up.

“What the hell? Be careful with that thing. That dog hates people,” Slade said as he took a step back and put his hands up in surrender. Then he saw Jack right behind her. “Wait a minute! Where’d you come from, Chris?”

“From Jack’s.”

Slade looked Chrissy over, top to bottom. “Why the fuck were you at Jack’s? And why are you wearing one of his shirts?”

Chrissy looked down at her shirt. Perhaps she should’ve chosen one of Jack’s plain white tees. Instead, the shirt had the logo of Jack’s gym, WtF Academy, emblazoned right on the center. It looked bad. Jack took a cautious step back as Slade glared at him.

“ ‘WtF?’ ” Chrissy asked. “Your gym is called ‘What the Fuck’? That’s an awful name.”

Jack shook his head. “ ‘Worth the Fight.’ Not ‘What the Fuck.’ The old man doesn’t know about the modern-day acronym.”

“Oh!” Chrissy cocked her head. “Someone should really think about telling him.” Chrissy squared her shoulders and glared at Slade. “Anyway, that’s not why I’m here.”

“What the hell were you doing at Jack’s and why are you wearing his shirt?” Slade repeated, his arms crossed and his legs shoulder width apart. He looked like a bouncer.

“Is that really what we’re going to talk about?” She crossed her arms, mimicking his stance.

“You bet your ass that’s what we’re going to talk about.” He took a step toward his best friend. “What the hell, Daniels? You had a lot to say earlier today but forgot to mention my sister was sleeping at your house.”

Chrissy quickly got between the two men as Drogo continued his relentless yelping. The dog really didn’t like Slade. “Oh my God. Relax. My car broke down, he picked me up from the side of the road, and I stayed in his spare room. Not that it’s any of your business, considering that all I am to you is a bag of money. You don’t give a shit about me.”

“That’s not true, Chris. You’re my kid sister.”

“I don’t want to talk about that now. He’s not my type, anyway. You know how I feel about violence. And anyway, I’m not Veronica. So I’m sure I’m not his type either. We’re just friends. Listen, I want to talk to you about this fight.”

“Wait, what? Who’s Veronica?” Jack stepped forward, looking confused as hell.

“Seriously? We are not having this conversation right now. Let’s focus, boys! I want to talk about the upcoming fight, Slade.”

“It took you all of ten minutes to go blabbing about the fight. Thanks a lot, Jack.” Slade hissed at Jack.

“No, wait. Time out!” Jack grabbed Drogo from Chrissy’s hand and set him down, then took her wrist and pulled her toward him, forcing her to look at him. “Who is Veronica?” he repeated slowly, but Drogo evidently didn’t like his tone and was furiously barking. “Oh my God! What have you done to my damn dog? I think I liked him better before. Can you please shut him up?”

“He probably doesn’t like you because you’re mean to him. Don’t tell him to shut up. Speak to him nicely.” Chrissy crouched down, patted Drogo, and in a stern yet friendly voice commanded him to hush and to sit, which the pup did.

“Un-fucking-believable!” both Jack and Slade exclaimed simultaneously.

“Anyway, who the hell is Veronica?” Jack repeated.

“Don’t play dumb, Daniels. Veronica. My best friend in high school? The one you slept with and never spoke to again. Thus causing her to never speak to me again. You ruined our friendship with your little one-night tryst.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about, Chris. Is that what had you so mad at me?”

“Yes. That’s why I didn’t speak with you for months my senior year. I needed my friend, and I lost her because you couldn’t keep your dick in your pants. But it was a long time ago. I don’t want to talk about it. Although the fact that you’ve had so many women you don’t even remember her makes me think you’re even more of a jerk than I thought.” She pulled her hands away from him and turned back to face Slade.

“Dude, I didn’t know you bagged Veronica too,” Slade said, and reached toward Jack for a congratulatory fist bump. Jack kept his hands by his side, still looking confused. Slade dropped his hand and said, “Anyway, about the fight, I’m—”

“Wait—what? You slept with Veronica too?” a completely shocked Chrissy interrupted Slade.

“Fuck yeah! Your friend was a hot piece of ass. You were at a party and you left with someone that night … Jack, I think. If I remember correctly, Jack was angry you were there and he took you home. Veronica was pissed off that she was left behind. One thing led to another and she was all over me. How could I resist? I was young. Hormones controlled my brain back then. You know how that goes, man,” he said, appealing to Jack with his palms out. “I mean, not even you were able to resist. How come you never told me?”

“You’re a pig!” Chrissy slapped the back of Slade’s head.

“Dude, I did not sleep with Veronica!” Jack said to Slade, and then turned to Chrissy. “Seriously, Chris, I didn’t sleep with her. I remember your friend. I would never do that to you. I always thought you had a little crush on me, and that would’ve been fucked up on my part.”

“I did not have a crush on you. Are you sure you didn’t sleep with her?” Chrissy asked, still shocked, and now a little embarrassed that Jack thought she’d had a crush on him.

He had always been gorgeous. Of course she’d had a crush on him, but he didn’t need to know that. And anyway, it was barely even a crush. It was a tiny little infatuation. I only pictured him naked and all over me a few times … a day.

“Yes. I’m positive. I can’t believe you’ve been mad at me all these years for something I didn’t even do.” Now Jack seemed angry. Very angry.

“Bro, she was hot!” Slade chimed in.

“Shut up, Slade!” both Chrissy and Jack yelled at the same time.

“I had heard through the grapevine that you had sex with her and never called and that because of our connection she stopped speaking to me. She’d always had a crush on you, Jack, and I assumed the rumors were true. I guess it makes more sense that she’d be mad at me because Slade slept with her, since he is my brother.” She threw a glare over her shoulder at Slade. For all these years she had been holding a grudge with Jack over Veronica, and it hadn’t even been him. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

She was consumed by a wave of guilt for having been so mean to Jack after he had been nothing short of great and supportive toward her since she arrived. There was still the issue of his cage fighting, but that was no reason to be uncaring toward him. It just meant she couldn’t date him. She owed him an apology, but that was for another time. There were more pressing issues at hand. “Can we talk about this later?” she said, looking at Jack apologetically. He nodded, his arms crossed over his chest, obviously mad.

She turned to her brother. “In light of everything, I don’t even know where to start.” Chrissy took a step toward Slade. “First, you’re an asshole.” She poked his hard chest. “You slept with my best friend and never called her back. Do you know how much I needed a friend back then? You are so selfish, Slade. I can’t believe you did that. You knew how much I needed a friend,” she repeated.

“I’m sorry, Chris. I was young and stupid. I didn’t do it to ruin your friendship. I was thinking with my dick. Honestly—”

Chrissy interrupted him, “Honestly, you didn’t even think about me. That’s what you were going to say, weren’t you?” Slade nodded. “Of course, you only thought about getting laid. It never even crossed your mind that it might affect my friendship with her.”

Her brother seemed ashamed, but it was hard to tell with Slade since he normally seemed so blasé about everything. She decided to change the subject, since there wasn’t much she could do about her broken friendship with Veronica after all these years. “So, I hear you’re fighting … again!” Chrissy yelled at Slade.

Slade threw himself on his couch and rested his arms over his head, legs outstretched and crossed at the ankles. Jack grabbed a nearby chair, turned it around, and sat down, his forearms on the back of the chair. He was just there lending his support. To whom? He wasn’t really sure. His loyalty had always been to Slade, his brother not by blood but by choice. Right now, though, he just wanted to grab this feisty little woman who had been holding some sort of bitterness toward him for God knows how long and fix all her problems. Protect her from all harm—physical and emotional. Oh, and make sure she never ever stepped outside his house without a bra again. The sight of her chest unrestrained was for his enjoyment only.

“What’s there to talk about?” Slade said nonchalantly.

“You can’t fight, Slade,” Chrissy shot back adamantly.

He let out a laugh. “Really? Says who?”

“Says me. You can’t fight. Jack explained why you want to do it, and I get it. I think it’s great that you want to open a training center. I’ll help you in any way I can. But you can’t risk your life over it.”

“Relax, sis. No one is risking their life. I don’t lose. I’ll be in and out in minutes, and a whole lot richer for it. I’d be stupid to let this opportunity pass me by.”

Jack stood up. “I didn’t want to get in the middle, but you’re leaving me no choice. Bro, you’re being cocky. You can’t be so sure it’s as easy as getting in and out. Look at you.” Jack pointed to Slade’s face. “That’s not going to heal anytime soon. You know better, dude. You’re being sloppy.”

“Whose side are you on, brother?” Slade made it a point to emphasize the word “brother.”

“On the side of the person who isn’t being stupid. Right now, that’s not you.”

“I already signed up. There are bets placed. I can’t back out now. But even if I could, I don’t want to.”

“I’m begging you. Please don’t do this. You are my only family, Slade. Please. Jack told me about the concussions. Have you seen a doctor? What did they tell you? I’ve noticed the tremor in your hand.”

“The tremor is nothing, really. The doctors told me I was okay to continue. They just said to be careful.”

“That’s because the doctors work for the sponsors, stupid. You need to see a doctor who isn’t tainted by money,” Jack said.

“Fuck you, Jack. Don’t call me stupid. And stop taking her side, asshole!”

Chrissy cut him off. “How could you say it’s nothing? It’s a sign that all the blows to your head have caused damage, some of which is permanent. Did the doctor tell you what’ll happen next?” Slade didn’t respond, so she took a step closer. “You’ll start forgetting things. At first it will be small and insignificant, but as time passes, it will be more substantial. It’s the first sign of dementia. Not to mention those tremors. They will get worse. Have you seen those old boxers who speak unintelligibly and have shaky hands and twitches? That’s from multiple concussions through the years. And that’s not even the worst-case scenario. You have to stop before it’s too late.”

Slade turned his face to Jack and shook his head in disbelief. “Since when are you a gossiping little bitch? Why’d you tell her all this, man?”

“Since you became a stupid dumb-ass in need of a good kick in the pants to knock some sense into you.”

“Stop arguing, you two.” Chrissy stood in front of both men and flicked each one on the head the way she’d seen Mrs. Daniels do countless times when they were younger. They winced, whined, and rubbed where she had flicked. “Slade, you’re totally missing the point. The fact that Jack told me is irrelevant. Either way, I’m a doctor. I had already noticed the tremor. Don’t be angry with him. He’s just looking out for you. You can die if you’re hit in the head.” Tears started to stream down her face.

“Ah, fuck, don’t cry, Chris. You know I hate it when you cry,” Slade said.

“Don’t do this. You can get a loan. Go to the bank. I’ll even cosign for you. Please, Slade.”

“I’m sorry, Chrissy, but it’s not negotiable. This one”—Slade pointed to Jack—“even threatened to arrest me, so I suggest we don’t talk about it in front of law enforcement.” He scowled at his best friend. Jack rolled his eyes.

Chrissy, still in tears, leaned closer to her brother. “We’re just trying to help you, Slade. You don’t have to do this. There has to be a way out.”

“If your bail is revoked, you’ll be in jail and then you can’t fight. Is that what I’m going to have to do?” Jack added.

“The men that put these events together are expecting a fight. They’re bringing in a cage, dude. A lot of money was invested to set this up. They’ll be waiting for me when I get out of jail, and then I’ll really be dead. So arresting me isn’t protection at all. It’s a death sentence.”

Chrissy gasped.

“You two are screwing with my concentration,” Slade went on. “I need to focus the next few days, so please, butt out. I’m doing this. It’s going to be fine. I wish you had more faith in me, Chrissy. I really do love you and I’ll make it up to you. You’ll see.” Slade got up, clearly annoyed. “But I’m done talking about this.” He went up the stairs two at a time, and slammed his bedroom door. Drogo, who had been lying on the floor quietly since Chrissy’s command, startled and jumped to his feet at the sound.

“Idiot,” Jack mumbled.

“I guess I’m staying in town after all,” said Chrissy, disheartened.

“Oh, no! No. No. No. You’re not going to that fight, Chris.”

“Oh, yes I am. I’m a doctor. If he gets hurt, I can help. He could get seriously injured. I have to be there.”

Jack pulled Chrissy toward the door. “No. You’re not going. That’s final.”

Lazily Drogo stretched and yawned before following them out of the house.

“The hell I’m not. Who do you think you are, telling me where I can and cannot go? Why are you pulling me back to your house? Slow down.”

Jack reached down and wrapped one arm around her thighs, lifted her up, and threw her over his shoulder. Drogo barked behind them, jumping up and down trying to nibble on the long black hair that flowed down Jack’s leg. “Drogo, don’t bite my hair! Jack, put me down this instant!” Chrissy wriggled, kicked, and punched him as hard as she could, but he didn’t even flinch. Instead, he stomped angrily to his house, opened the door, walked to his couch, and threw her on it.

Oof. Chrissy quickly sat up and tried to catch her breath. She pulled her shirt down and ran her fingers through her hair. “What the hell, Daniels?”

“I’ve had enough of you Martins for one day. You’re both stubborn fools. You cannot go to that fight. I can’t take you, and you aren’t going alone.” He reached down and cupped her chin, “Do. You. Understand?”

“Why can’t you just go with me if you’re that worried?”

“Because I …” Jack looked conflicted, and Chrissy wasn’t sure why. “Uh … It’s, uh, on Saturday, and I work that day.”

“Oh. Well, I have to go—with or without you.” Drogo jumped up on her lap as if he was joining forces with Chrissy in her plan to be at the fight. If he could talk, she thought, he’d probably say, I’ve got your back, Chrissy!

“Stop looking at me like that, Drogo,” Jack said but the dog continued to stare down his owner. “Chrissy, I thought you had to deal with some sort of mess back in Miami. Why don’t you go, and I’ll let you know how the fight turns out.”

“Are you crazy? No way. I know you’re worried and I appreciate the overprotective big-brother thing you got going on, but I can handle myself. Trust me.” She set Drogo on the floor, stood up, pulled out her phone from her pocket, and started to dial.

Big brother? What the hell? “There are a lot of things running through my mind right now.” He grabbed her biceps and with a quick jerk drew her closer to him. The cell phone in her hand fell to the floor. “But you and me as brother and sister … that’s not one of those things. That ship sailed the moment I felt your nipples against my chest and your tongue in my mouth.”

Oh, my! Chrissy looked at him wide-eyed.

“Who were you going to call?” Jack asked.

Chrissy bit her tongue a little. He really knew how to get her all hot and bothered, especially with that unexpected dirty mouth of his. “Taxi,” was all that came out of her mouth.

He let her go, picked the phone up from the floor, and shut it off. “A taxi?”

“I need to go get my car.”

He ran his hands along his face. “You are always so difficult, you know that? I’ll take you to get your car and change the tire. I have a spare one in the garage. You could’ve just asked me for a ride. You don’t need to call a cab.”

“I don’t want to be more of a nuisance.”

“You’re not a nuisance. I wish you were a little less difficult, but you’re not a nuisance. Come on.”

“Thanks, Jack.” Still feeling guilty for wrongfully blaming him all those years for the Veronica thing, yet grateful, she leaned forward, intending to give him a peck on the cheek but was unable to control herself as she gently planted a small, innocent kiss on his lips. She began to move away, but he reached for the back of her neck and pulled her toward him and kissed her back, hard. Her mouth opened, allowing his tongue entrance. Her arms snaked around his neck, one hand reaching up to fist his hair, but there was nothing to hold on to. The feel of the rough texture on her hand made her want to crawl into his skin. She pressed harder against him, pushing him into the wall. In one fluid motion he turned her around so that she was now against it. Without hesitation, she jumped up and wrapped her legs around his waist. He let out a moan, cupped her ass, and pushed her even harder against the wall.

“Jack,” she whimpered into his mouth.

“Hold on to me,” he said, and she tightened her grip around his neck with her arms and squeezed her legs. He reached between them to unbutton and unzip her jeans and slid them down just past her ass. “You’re not wearing any panties?”

“No. Don’t have clean clothes. My stuff’s still in my car, remember?”

“Jesus Christ,” he groaned.

With his left hand wrapped around her waist, he slid his right hand down, past the divide of her ass, to her wet and ready entrance. He slipped a finger inside her, and she clamped her legs even tighter around him.

“Jack! I need you to …”

“I know what you need, baby. Shh. Just hold on to me.”

Her body undulated against his jean-covered erection. He must’ve known she was about to come, because at the most perfect moment he slipped a second finger inside and deepened the kiss as his fingers worked their magic. Chrissy stopped breathing. She stopped thinking. All she could manage to do was feel, and what she felt was pure ecstasy.

“Chris, let go. I have you. Come for me.”

Chrissy’s head fell back against the wall, and Jack felt her insides clench around his fingers as her body stiffened, a long whimper escaping her mouth. Chrissy’s face as she climaxed against his body was the most erotic thing he’d ever seen. He didn’t think he would ever have enough of her. She held on tight while she caught her breath. When he saw she wasn’t going to melt into the floor, he slowly released his grip and lowered her down. Her cheeks were flushed and her blue eyes glimmered.

“Nice job, Officer.” She swatted his ass.

He laughed. Nothing better than a woman who didn’t take sex so seriously. Without any warning she shoved him against the wall and dropped to her knees. He was caught completely off guard. “Chrissy?”

“Now it’s your turn to shut up.”

“No, baby. That’s not what … I mean … you don’t … have to … Jesus …” She was already undoing his jeans, and it rendered his mind unable to put words together to form a coherent sentence. She grabbed his erection and started stroking it. Then, without hesitation, she put it in her mouth. All the blood from his entire body flowed south to his dick the moment he looked down and saw her mouth sheath him. And he was already hard from getting her off. She continued to stroke, lick, and suck until he couldn’t take it anymore. “Chrissy, baby, you should probably stop now.” He barely got the words out, but instead of stopping, she tightened her grip and took him even deeper into her mouth toward the back of her throat. That was his undoing, and he came hard and fast. His hand wrapped around her ponytail as she licked every last drop.

He had been worried about her melting when he should’ve been worried about himself, because when she finished licking him clean, his knees buckled and he slumped down to the floor. He reached for her and placed her on his lap. “Fuck. You destroyed me. You know that? I will never be the same again. You’ve completely ruined me for anyone else. And we haven’t even had sex yet.” She smiled up at him, and his heart skipped a beat. He looked to the side at a bewildered Drogo. “Shit. I think we totally traumatized Drogo.”

Chrissy snorted out a laugh. “I think you’re right. Poor thing.”

A few moments later, Chrissy spoke again. “Jack?”

“Mmm?” he said lazily, his chin resting on the top of her head.

“I’m sorry I’ve been such a bitch to you since I arrived. I thought you were the reason that Veronica stopped talking to me. She had been my only real friend, and I lost her, and I thought it was your fault. I’m sorry.”

“You should’ve talked to me when it happened, baby.”

“You’re right.” She looked up at him, and he smiled. “Am I forgiven?”

“After what just happened? Yes, you are forgiven for everything that happened in the past and anything that will happen in the future.” They both laughed.

After a few moments, she stood up and walked up to the bathroom to freshen up and to finish getting dressed in the same clothes she’d worn yesterday. “Ready?” she asked when she returned downstairs. Apparently, they weren’t going to have any more discussion of what had just occurred. Which suited Jack just fine, since his feelings were all over the place and he wasn’t sure what that meant. He still had lots of wild oats to sow, and he had never really wanted a relationship, because he thought he’d miss his freedom and be constrained by the accountability a relationship required. The occasional one-night stand had always been enough because all he wanted fulfilled were his sexual needs. But now he knew he didn’t want Chrissy to leave town. He knew that this was far more than a momentary lapse of judgment. He wanted to ask her to stay … to stay with him. He wanted to protect her, own her, claim her. To let the world know that this incredible woman was his and only his.

But his mind was saying: You’re being a complete pussy. It was a blow job, not a profession of love. Man up! All you have is sexual chemistry and pent-up desire.

His heart was saying: You’ve always wanted to protect her, even when you didn’t see her as the beautiful woman she really is. Make it work, asshole! She has all the qualities you’ve been missing in all your past relationships: strength, intelligence, and loyalty. Plus she’s sexy as hell …

His mind retorted: Pussy!

He shook his head, trying to get all the thoughts out. His heart and his mind had better start getting their shit together, fast!

“Come on.” He pulled her toward his car.

In silence they drove to where Chrissy had left her car the previous evening. Her mind was racing. That was the most mind-blowing orgasm she’d ever had. She knew without a doubt that sex with this man would be life-changing. She didn’t even know where she’d gotten the nerve to pleasure him like that. She’d never done anything so brazen. Usually that was not something she had ever enjoyed or offered freely. In her past relationships it had always felt like a chore, but with Jack it was hot. Enjoyable. Empowering.

She had to remind herself that it was just sex. The Veronica issue had been eliminated, but that didn’t mean that they were compatible. There were still a dozen other reasons why they’d never work out. What if she allowed him into her heart and he tired of her? How would that leave her? Like years ago with Brian—lost and broken?

She didn’t know if she could uproot her life for a man, not again. Not that Jack had offered her anything even remotely close to what was brewing in her mind at the moment. He hadn’t been shy about explaining, in detail, all the sexual things he wanted to do with her, to her, but that was all. Yet this small gesture of helping her with her car was more than any other man had ever done for her, including her own brother. Was she so screwed up that a man changing her tire would cause her heart to skip a beat and question her life decisions? Make her want to stay in town just to see what would come from the sexual relationship he seemed to be offering?

Get a grip. He’s changing your tire, not proposing marriage.

“Stay in the car,” Jack instructed. She saw him go around to the trunk of his own car, pull out a spare tire, and walk back. Then he began doing whatever it is that changing a tire entailed. When he was finished, he opened her door and gave her his keys. “Drive my car back to my house. I’ll follow you.”

“Why can’t I just drive my own car?”

“Because, baby, you shouldn’t be driving your shitty car, with that shitty spare tire I just put on it. We need to go buy a real tire. But this will at least get us home.”

“Okay.” She jumped over the center console of his Jeep and headed to his house.

She was tormented, and the more she thought about it, the more her mind staggered. Maybe he wasn’t a white knight; maybe he was just a problem. She had just wanted to come into town to bail out her brother and leave. All this “baby” business, combined with the killer physique, the stuff that his hands could do to her body, and that sinful mouth that said all sorts of dirty things to her—none of that was what she needed in her life right now. She was finally ready to stop traveling and put down roots, and more than ready to earn the income of a reputable doctor. And while Jack might’ve had her in a tizzy at the moment, ultimately, she couldn’t deal with his little hobby: cage fighting. She hated violence, and he did it for fun. Fun! Beating the crap out of someone else was his idea of fun! Was that a deal breaker?

Since her father had passed away in that terrible car accident, she had become the responsible one. The one who took care of people—her patients, her brother, and eventually her boyfriends. She was in charge. Independent. She was not used to being taken care of, and this protective thing Jack had going on was uncharted territory for her. She wasn’t sure how to navigate the waters, or if she even wanted to navigate them. Oh, stop kidding yourself. Hell yeah, I want to navigate them—or do anything else—with this man and his magical hands!

Boy, was she in trouble!

Why hadn’t she noticed him before? Okay, she had noticed him—she wasn’t blind. But she’d never really noticed him. He’d always been just Jack. Slade’s best friend. The hot guy with the ridiculous name. Bossy. A jerk.

He was still a jerk and still bossy, but for some reason, she wanted to be bossed around by this jerk! Just thinking about him put a goofy smile on her face. Damn, how archaic had she become in the last few days that she suddenly couldn’t wait to be possessed and dominated by this man? Okay, so now Jack had turned her into some needy, submissive doofus.

No. This would not happen. She quickly formulated a plan. No more sexual anything with Jack. He was too intense. She had made a mistake, but no more. She had a great job waiting for her in Miami, and she was not going to let another man dictate her future. Especially one who was so similar to Brian, her first real boyfriend. Her mind was set. Her resolve was tight. No. More. Sex. With. Jack!

“I don’t even know where to start,” she said to no one in particular as she climbed out of Jack’s big Jeep back at his house.

“What do you mean?” He looked amused, especially when she didn’t answer him. “Are you talking to yourself?”

Chrissy ticked off, with her fingers, her to-do list. “First, call a cab to take me to a wheel store so I can buy a new wheel. Then find someone to install said wheel. Next, find a hotel. Finally, kick my brother’s ass.” She was pacing back and forth by the car.

“Whoa! Just wait a second. Breathe.” He held her shoulders down. She took a deep breath, causing the swells of her breasts to rise and fall.

“One thing at a time. Stop it with the whole cab thing. It’s really starting to piss me off. And it’s not a wheel, it’s a tire.” He chuckled. “First, let’s get your bags outta the car. Then we’ll go to the ‘wheel place.’ After that, I’ll replace your tire. You’re not staying in a hotel. You’ll stay here with me until the fight. Although I don’t think you should go, but you aren’t going to listen to me, are you?”

She shook her head. “You said it’s on Saturday, right?”

He hesitated a moment, then nodded.

“I am assuming you’re not going to let me go alone, huh?”

“You bet your cute little ass you’re not going alone. Even with me, you get into trouble. Who knows what you’d do by yourself,” he said. When she gave him a huge smile, he added, “You know, you remind me of someone else who’s just as stubborn.” He nodded in the direction of Slade’s house.

“Thank you, Jack. I really appreciate all you’re doing for us. For me.”

“We grew up together, Chris. Of course I’d do this for you. You’re like family.”

She flinched at the family comment, because she didn’t see him like family and the things they’d done were not things family should be doing. Damn it, her female parts still tingled when she thought about all those nonfamilial things they had done together, which did not bode well for her plan not to have sex with Jack.

“My family doesn’t usually feel me up against walls,” she said.

Jack smiled seductively. “I’m just better at the family-thing than most.”

Ah, hell, who was Jack kidding? He had already corrected her once about his feelings toward her. They were not brotherly in any sense of the word. Jack spent the next half hour fixing Chrissy’s tire and thinking about her.

Chrissy on his bed.

Chrissy against the wall.

Chrissy on the hood of his car.

Chrissy in …

When he was finished, he went inside his house frazzled by the lingering thoughts in his head and then by the delicious smell that overtook his senses.