nod, then marched One-Mile’s way, cutting a sca

o shape to dr

she got the call?” Cutte

ee the point of s

” Cutter asked his family. “Maybe get

tle brother. Let’s go,

om his reach. “

ou don’t need to h

he doctor might ret

y, son,” Swe

n-to-man talk.” Cutter jerked his head toward the doo

eat him up in the parking lot? It woul

on her hips. “You will not speak a cross word to Pierce, do you hea

It wasn’t out of the goodness of his heart, Bre-Bee. I gu

Brea needed right now was to be in the middle of their bicke

B

ed Cutter with a glare. “Bryant, maybe you should

the asshole followed. “I have a

ot obligated to listen to your annoying-ass lecture, especially when it

in his face. “Brea is of

to decide. She’s

ally are, so—hey!” the Boy Scout ye

gered salute before he revved out of his parking spot an

ity for the tenth time in as many minutes. Loud rock music throbbed behind the front door as she clutched the plast

r. Pierce Walker was more man than she could hand

hanks. And, okay…she wa

minutes alone wi

y footfalls got louder as they headed her way. Then the door whipped

ell-washed jeans hung low on his hips. He dangled the neck of a half-empty beer in on

a silent, shaki

disappeared. “Th

s had been on her a handful of s

wanted to thank you.” She he

sh from her ha

to blink, but her wayward gaze wandered down his body. A Marine crest tattoo covered his right pectoral. More dark ink enveloped both

rgot everything sh

re

and cleared her throat. “Um…helping me get to the hospital the day Daddy c

. How’s he

been taking care of him. I finally got a few minutes, so I-I brought you these cookies. Since I didn’t know what you liked, I baked a few different kinds…” She dropped her gaze to col

ing wild and reckless quivered in her belly, urging her to put her hands on him, press herself aga

cookies.” He peeled the lid off the t

p without nuts. I didn’t k

m n

oard, cinnamon sugar, and

and as he scooted her breathlessly close to his naked torso and locked the do

at had he been doing? It was a Friday night. Maybe he was getting read

y. Like a lot of things, it’s a lot more fu

sparked a reaction low in her

a dark bro

for games. My frie

about

He’s never show

mewhere between stunned and dubiou

d a whole life she barely knew about

at hard to

g about billiards? “An

rm around her middle and ushered her d

p at him. “You’re sur

s hell to have you

r insides. Heat crawled up her cheeks. She ran her to

u a drink. Wat

ghtful birthday gift you left me at the salon yesterday. I’m sorry I w

hen cocked his head at her.

One of her fellow hairdressers who was a wine enthus

ed bright graphical pieces of art—skulls, poker cards, crossbones, masks, and the like—in two perfectly straight rows. Black modern furniture went with the vibe. A big vase of yellow daisies sat on top of a round, glass-top table, adding the lone home

him—vivid, sexy, con

s reall

ught it a few months bac

even more. “You d

ascination, she watched his sharp jaw work and his Adam’s apple bob. Even the way h

delicious, pretty girl.

e nearly made her melt.

” He licked his full lips. “I’l

king about anything she

t. I’ll be happy to make more.” She turne

. “You promised me

’t kno

okies and his empty beer aside,

’t…but Brea couldn’t

ch in numerical order. When he’d finished, he lifted the rack away, settled the plain white ba