Hero by Night by Sara Jane Stone Page A

careful to keep the rest of his body hidden behind the hunter green fabric. It was a damn good thing his sister hadn’t chosen one of those clear plastic shower curtains.
    â€œKinda naked here,” he said.
    Her eyes narrowed, her wild red curls surrounding her face like a pile of Medusa’s snakes. Yeah, she was sure as hell pissed off, and he had a hunch he knew why. Somebody had spread the word about his “date.”
    â€œDid you take Lena out?” Katie demanded, folding her arms in front of her chest.
    More footsteps sounded in the hall. Chad had a sinking feeling the number of ­people in his bathroom was about to double. Liam Trulane, the number two at Moore Timber and his kid sister’s boyfriend, poked his head in the bathroom, spotted Chad, and quickly retreated.
    â€œKatie,” Liam called from the hall. “Let him finish his shower first.”
    â€œNo,” she snapped.
    â€œGreat, now I have an audience,” he said, pulling the curtain closed and stepping back under the water to rinse his hair.
    â€œI’m leaving, man,” Liam said.
    â€œCan’t you toss her over your shoulder and take her with you?” Chad called.
    â€œYour sister?” Liam let out a laugh. “Not if I want to see tomorrow.”
    â€œDid you take Lena out on a date?” Katie repeated.
    His hair rinsed, Chad turned off the water and stuck his hand out. “Hand me a towel, will you?”
    She slapped a towel into his hand. “Trish from the pizza place told Georgia that you nearly took Peyton Monroe’s head off for sitting next to her. Why would you take her out? You’ve seen her dog and the way she reacts when anyone gets near her.”
    â€œI thought she’d like to split a pizza. Talk and get to know each other better.” Chad dried off. Wrapping the towel around his waist, he drew back the curtain. “Peyton and Tim showed up stoned and got a little too close. It spooked her, so I told them to back the hell off.”
    â€œHey, who called a family meeting and forgot to invite me?” Brody, the oldest of the four Summers siblings, leaned against the bathroom door frame, his arms folded to match Katie’s what-­did-­you-­do-­now-­Chad look.
    â€œChad took Lena on a date after I invited her to stay in the apartment,” Katie said.
    Brow furrowed, Brody’s attention darted back and forth between them. “Lena, the woman with the dog? Georgia’s friend?”
    â€œSame one,” Katie said. “The dog helps with her PTSD and the fact that she doesn’t like to be touched or let ­people close. How’s that working out for you, Chad?”
    Pretty damn good considering that kiss last night. Sure, he’d given her one helluva orgasm before dinner, but that kiss had blown him away. But it wasn’t his place to kiss and tell.
    â€œNone of your fucking business, Katie.” Chad stepped out of the tub. “I left you alone to make your own decisions when it came to Liam, right? Because you’re a big girl. Well, I’m bigger and older than you, so leave me the hell alone.”
    â€œBut—­”
    He stared down at his sister. “And don’t you dare write Lena off. She’s fighting her way back from something you and I can’t begin to understand. The only thing we can do is grant her the space and the respect she deserves. And if she wants to join me for dinner, well, that’s her call.”
    â€œI’m not giving up on her,” Katie said stubbornly. “I’m looking out for her. The last thing she deserves is to fall for you.”
    â€œYou know, sis, some ­people find me charming.”
    â€œYou are charming. And sweet when you want to be.” She raised her hand, poking him in the chest. “But if you hurt her—­”
    â€œI won’t.” Chad dropped his voice low. “Not that it concerns either of you, but I like