Page 13 of Fragile Sanctuary

I moved on instinct, charging forward to catch her. She landed with an oomph against me. She was petite, but the force of the impact knocked the air right out of my lungs.

Or maybe it was the fire in those hazel eyes that stole my oxygen—hazel eyes locked on me in fury.

The woman shoved at my chest, squirming out of my arms. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

Her ire raised my brows a fraction, my practiced mask slipping just the tiniest bit. “What amIdoing? You’re the one sneaking around a construction site. This is private property. I could’ve called the cops on your ass. Or worse, you could’ve broken your neck.”

She let out a huff of breath that made wisps of hair dance around her face. “I know it’s private property, you overgrown oaf.”

A muscle along my jaw ticked in a staccato punch as I tried to rein in my annoyance. “Then why the hell are you on it?”

“Because I own it,” she said with a haughty glare.

Well, shit.

I took in the woman with new eyes, my gaze raking over her in a fresh sort of assessment. Her deep brown hair was just a bit wild like it needed to go its own way no matter what anyone had to say about it. Her skin was a deep bronzy-gold and looked smoother than anything I’d touched in years. While petite, she had curves for days. Dips and valleys that had images of my best friend’s little sister swirling in my brain—thoughts I had no right to.

Shitwas an understatement.

“Nothing to say now?” Rhodes demanded.

My gaze flew back to her face, taking in the defiance in her eyes. I respected the hell out of it, but I wasn’t about to let her win this battle. “Still shouldn’t be in here. Might be your property, but exploring it when it’s condemned is reckless and stupid.”

Rhodes’ jaw went slack. “Did you just call me stupid? And who the hellareyou?”

“Didn’t callyoustupid. Called your actions stupid. Reckless. Take your pick.” Neither was something I needed in my life, that was for damn sure.

A throat cleared, and we both whirled. Shep stood there, ballcap still on but amusement clear as day on his golden-boy face. “I see you two met.”

“Met?” Rhodes parroted.

Shep’s grin only widened. “Rho, meet my friend and your fire-restoration expert, Anson. Anson, meet my sister, Rho.”

Rhodes whirled back to me. “You’re Anson? College best friend? The one Shep got arrested with for streaking the quad? That Anson?”

I sent Shep a withering look. He just loved telling that story. “You can’t actually get arrested by campus security.”

She rolled her eyes. “Fine.Detainedfor streaking the quad.”

I shrugged. “The right words matter.” God, did I ever know that.

Rhodes turned to her brother. “Your bestie almost killed me.”

“You almost got yourself killed,” I shot back, turning an annoyed glare on Shep. “She was walking up those damn stairs that could give at any second. I tried to warn her.”

“They’remystairs,” Rhodes huffed. “And I wouldn’t have tripped if you hadn’t snuck up on me.”

“I wasn’t exactly quiet, and your gate was wide open.” It was basically a welcome to anyone who wanted to stop on by and have a go at the place or her. Reckless. That’s exactly what she was.

All amusement fled Shep’s face as he pinned Rhodes with the same stare a pissed-off parent might give. “I told you that you can’t be in here. It’s not safe.”

Rhodes’ cheeks pinked. “I just wanted to get a little look.” She paused for a moment, and there was something in that silence, a charged energy I couldn’t quite pin down. “I needed to.”

The hard edge to Shep’s expression faded away. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and dropped a kiss on the top of her head. “Okay. But no more. Promise me. You could get seriously hurt.”

“I promise,” she grumbled.

He released her and gave her a gentle shove toward the kitchen and the open French doors. “Go on. I’m gonna do a quick once-over with Anson, and then I’ll come talk to you about our plan of attack.”

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