Page 67 of Mr. Dangerous

She threw me a look over her shoulder, but didn't sayanything.

Liam was one of the last people off the plane -- so much for Grandmother's first class theory -- striding out the no-return doors with his garment bag and backpack thrown over one shoulder and an enormous carry-on bag gripped in one hand, its wheels skimming over the linoleum without touching. Next to him walked a petite woman oncrutches.

"Oh, there's my son," she said, pointing. "Thank you somuch,Liam."

"No problem, ma'am," Liam said, setting the bag down beside her. She offered him a hug, and he hugged her back, with a self-deprecatingsmile.

As Liam loped over to us with that same smile and bright blue eyes now fixed on them, his arms opening to hug us all hello, I took inventory of my baby brother. It had been a year since I'd last seen him. Liam was clean-shaven, tall and slender, although his shoulders were still broad. His muscle was lean, a runner's build. He was the fairest of the Delaneys, his hair a soft brown, cut Marine-reg-short.

"How's it going?" Liam asked as wehugged.

"Good." I clapped him on the shoulder before we released each other, a showy display of affection forDelaneys. "You?"

"I broke up with my girlfriend this morning," he said,grinning.

"Oh." I hadn't known anything about a girlfriend. "Sorry."

Liam shrugged. "Norealloss."

Liam seemed as easy-going and carefree as ever, as he hugged Grandmother and -- Naomi's face was surprised -- Naomiaswell.

"I remember you!" Liam told her cheerfully. "And your sister, Alice. She used to come watch TV in my room when shewassick."

Naomi rolled her eyes at that, and I wondered if Alice had a crush on Liam. Liam seemed a little too animated, energetic. Almost frenetic. I couldn't ask my brother how he was doing in front of Grandmother. I probably couldn't ask him at all. That wasn't the kind of thing we talkedabout.

Even though Liam was usually the most brutally honest and open of the four of us. He'd blurted his break-up out to me; it had to bebotheringhim.

Not that I would be able to offer much help. Delaneys were great at attracting women, but after that it was alldownhill.

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