There was a look in her eyes, one he wasn't used to seeing. A stubbornness, even. A determination, disguised in the pain.

Marc hadn't forgotten the enthusiasm for which she had described her charity the last time he had pitched in to help prepare the space.

But all that was lost now. In its place was a hard determination. A passion.

Rafe had shoved a bag of food at him when they had met up in the parking lot, and Marc sat it on the only clear space available. He said nothing other than a hello while the women used antibacterial wipes to clean themselves up. His favorite three-piece set was absolutely filthy. Already.

They dove at the food like they were starving. Marc knew enough about women to get out of their way. He had to smile at the way they picked through the offerings and separated out all the vegetarian options just for Ariella. They did it so easily, instinctively, speaking of long time together.

They complemented each other’s personalities extremely well. He wouldn’t lie to himself; he liked the fact that she was wound so close with the women who were now a part of his family.

That was not why he was attracted to her. It was so much more than that.

But it did make things so much easier for him.

Despite him being clear across the state seventy-five percent of the time, he wanted an active role in his brothers' lives.

She was connected to his brothers, and always would be. And not just through Rafe now. That mattered.

Travis stepped up to Lacy, and kissed her lightly on the temple. "Everything going to work out okay here?"

"It seems to be in better structural shape. I think we’ll only need to add one wall, maybe two back in the back," Lacy said, looking at Ariella for confirmation.

"I like the idea of the larger dorm area, and the two smaller private suites. I think that will better serve our function overall," Ariella said, quietly. Marc handed her a bottle of the tea he’d known she favored.

He didn't like how subdued she was. He let his hand linger on hers until brown eyes met his. “You ok this morning?”

“Yes. Just very busy.”

"Yeah, we caught your latest appearance in the Snotty Garlic, Ari. I thought you had better taste than that," Travis said. "Noticed you made the paper again this morning. You and our polished politician. Rumor has it the two of you were spotted in South Padre Island, with you in a beautiful bikini.”

Ariella’s cheeks turned red. “They’re still speculating about the event in Austin, I think.”

“Marc needs to do something to distract them,” Rafe said.

"More importantly, I meant to ask yesterday but forgot—how did the dress hold up?" Jillian asked. She looked at Lacy and snickered. "It was Payton's dress, I had to take it in two inches on each side. Just to make it fit—at the top. I was so sure there’d be a real wardrobe malfunction."

"She looked perfect. Ariella and Mel were the most beautiful women there." Marc wasn't lying, he fully believed that. Not only were they the most beautiful, but they were the kindest. The most real women that had been in that room. "I managed to accomplish what I needed to accomplish. Until things went sideways. And I managed not to piss off half the state senate while I was doing it. Which is saying something. And only a handful of people totally annoyed me. Did you know that factories don't do anything for the state of Texas except sully the landscape?"

He heard her surprised laugh next to him. He shot a side-eyed glance toward her. She had dust on her nose. He wanted the right to wipe it off, the way he saw Rafe brushing Jillian’s chin.

"The dress did just fine, Jillian. Unfortunately, it didn’t really survive the concrete. Marc and I were just outside the building when the bomb exploded.” She shivered. Marc stepped closer instinctively and put a hand on her shoulder. Once again, he was struck by how delicate she felt. “Payton and Luc were right behind us.”

"Her dress did just fine; but I did learn that I had a finger paint handprint smack dab on my side until the evening was almost over. Bright yellow, on gray silk. Probably visible in every photo."

Everyone laughed, just like he had intended. But no one had forgotten the seriousness of what had happened—or what the consequences could have been if the bomb had been bigger. If there hadn’t been a warning. The TSP was searching to find the intended target. Everyone assumed it had been either the Barratts, or the hotel specifically. The room hadn’t been occupied at the time of the bombing. No one had any answers. Yet. But they would.

Ariella had a scrape across her cheek.

Marc made it his mission for the day—he was going to get her to be happy again. Period.

* * *

They worked hard, but by the time it was done for the night, Ari felt a bit better. It needed work, but when had she ever been afraid of work? Bill Avery’s daughter knew what it was like to use her hands to make things happen.

When they were finished cleaning their supplies, Ari looked at the people around her. It was left unsaid that Jillian and Lacy would be finding their own ways home with the men who were next to them.

Ari had been planning to ask for a ride—Lacy and Travis would be going in her same general vicinity—but one look at her friend’s face and she changed her mind. That meant riding home with one of her guards.

She knew they were out there. Luc had insisted on it after the Austin situation.

Lacy and Travis were looking at each other with that same soft expression that told her they wanted time alone. And fast.

Jillian was already snipping at Ari’s brother. Rafe had his hands on Jillian’s rear and he was scooping her off of her feet. The look on his face said all Ari did not want to know.

Ari winced when she thought about what the two of them would be doing when they were alone.

She’d just call Michael, the guard that was on duty most of her waking hours.

Marc had other ideas. He stopped her from pulling her phone free. “I’ll give you a lift. Let the ridiculous love-birds find their nests a little quicker.”

His smile had a touch of envy when he looked at his brothers. Like he knew exactly what he was missing.

“Thank you. I can call my guard. It wouldn’t be the first time.” It made the most sense, and was exactly what she probably should do. But Ari found herself hesitating. She didn’t want to ride with her guard.

Not tonight.

“I’m actually headed in that way. My home is just a mile outside of city limits.” His smile coaxed her, as did the warm hand he had wrapped around her wrist. There was a hunger in his eyes that had her shivering.

It was entirely possible she had imagined it.

She nodded. Jillian and Lacy were already grabbing their things. Had they even noticed what was going on with her and Marc?

Somehow Ari didn’t think so. And how could she blame them? Their relationships were still so new. And so deep. So quickly. It was no wonder they were so consumed with the men they loved.