Page 30 of Operation K-9 Brothers
Chapter Nine
“Who’s that?”Jack parked his car next to the one in Nichole’s driveway.The man sitting on her steps wasn’t her ex-boyfriend, at least not the one he’d met.
“My brother.”She let out a weary sigh.“He’s supposed to be in Florida at my parents’.”
Okay, a brother he could deal with.Before he could get to her side of the car to open her door, she was out and marching toward her brother.Jack caught up with her, and her brother scowled.
“Who the hell is this, Nic?”
Jack held out his hand.“Jack Daniels.”
Ignoring him, the man kept his gaze on Nichole.
“Jack, this is my brother, Mark, who is supposed to be in Florida right now.”
“Yeah, well, Lane called.”
“And of course you came running.What happened to the new job you just started?”
“Florida’s hot as hell.”He shot Jack a glance.“Besides, the ’rents were all up in my business.”
“The word is parents.Have some respect for the people who gave you life and still put up with your bullshit,” Nichole said.
Mark sighed.“Can we not do this with an audience?”
“Sure.Come back tomorrow and we’ll talk.”
Jack had noticed the carry-on bag sitting next to the door, meaning her brother intended to stay with Nichole.He didn’t like the man’s attitude with Nichole, so it was difficult to keep his mouth shut.
“Thought I’d bunk here tonight,” Mark said.
“I should go.”Jack put his hand on Nichole’s back.Her muscles were tense, and the last thing he wanted to do was leave her, but he needed to before he said something to her brother.She might be unhappy with Mark at the moment, but Jack doubted she wanted him inserting himself in the middle of whatever was going on between them.
She glared at her brother before turning a soft smile on him.“Probably for the best.I’ll walk you to your car.”
“You going to be okay?”he asked when they reached his door.
“Yeah.My brother’s a jerk, but he’s harmless.”
Jack wasn’t so sure about that.“Call me later, just so I know you’re okay.”
“I will.”She pressed her mouth to his.When she finished assaulting him—and God knew, he was more than fine with that—she lifted her gaze to his.“I had plans for you tonight, Mr.Daniels.”
He grinned.“I know.Something involving ropes, and believe me, I was all for whatever your plans were.”He brushed his thumb across her bottom lip.“Don’t forget to call me later.”
“I will.Promise.”
Damn, he didn’t want to leave.He had a bad feeling about her brother and his reason for showing up without telling her he was coming.Not his circus, though.Unable to help it, he shot her brother a warning look before getting in his car.One word from Nichole and he’d do what he was hardwired to do.Protect.
As he drove away, he fought the urge to turn around and go back, to go all caveman on Nichole, and after snarlingmineand beating on his chest, he’d take her back to his barbarian cave and let her tie him up.
He chuckled.He’d known exactly what she’d been thinking when she had muttered something about ropes.There wasn’t a rope he couldn’t get out of, but he wasn’t about to tell her that.
Acting out the scene fromGhostthe other night had been the hottest thing he’d ever done.Walking away from her that same night had been the hardest thing.But he had because he wanted more with her.A big surprise, that.She didn’t know it, but Nichole Masters had him second-guessing himself.That was not something he knew how to deal with.
Back home, he realized he’d forgotten Dakota was at Nichole’s.Since he wasn’t about to leave his dog anywhere near Mark Masters, he got back into his car.As he drove to Nichole’s, he wondered if he’d subconsciously left Dakota there, giving him the excuse to return.Make sure she was okay.
“Lane said you were screwing around on him.Guess it’s true.”
