In His Brother's Place by Elizabeth Lane

had come from a perceived need to protect her beloved Justin? Now that Angie had a child of her own, she felt a measure of understanding. But she knew better than to think that a shift in her own attitude would make any difference to the woman who had been so determined to hate her even before Justin’s death. Sooner or later, Meredith Cooper would learn that the woman who’d brought Justin down was living in her house. However it came about, things were bound to get ugly.
    Could she depend on Jordan to stand up to his formidable mother? She gazed at his chiseled profile, silhouetted against the snowy glass. Jordan knew how to get what he wanted, and he had his share of Meredith’s steel. But would it be enough?
    She’d be wise to prepare herself for the worst.
    Ahead, through the snow-speckled darkness, Angie could see the lights of the house. Weariness swept over her as Jordan pulled into the garage and switched off the engine. Right now, all she wanted was to put Lucas to bed and go to sleep.
    Jordan unbuckled Lucas from his car seat and lifted him gently in his arms. Lucas’s eyes blinked open. “Where’s Rudy?” he muttered.
    “Rudy’s on the back porch. I’ll bring him up after you’re in bed.” Jordan carried the drowsy little boy across the patio and up the stairs to his room. Angie followed, stopping him at the door.
    “I can handle things from here,” she said.
    “All right. I’ll go get the dog.” He passed Lucas to her waiting arms, then turned and walked away without another word. Angie took her son to the bathroom and maneuvered him into his pajamas. She was so tired she could barely think, but it filtered through her mind that she hadn’t thanked Jordan for coming to their rescue and possibly saving their lives. She would remedy that when he came back— if he came back. He’d probably had enough of her for the night.
    She’d just finished tucking Lucas into bed when she heard the doorknob turn. The door opened just far enough to admit Rudy, who trotted over to the rug and curled up in his usual spot.
    Angie heard the door click shut and the fading sound of Jordan’s boot heels on the tiles. Impulsively she opened the door and darted out into the dark hallway.
    “Jordan!” The name was whispered, not shouted, but he turned around. In silhouette, his shoulders sagged with weariness.
    Closing the door behind her, Angie walked toward him.
    * * *
    What now? Was she coming to take another piece out of his hide? Jordan braced himself for a storm. “Make it fast,” he growled. “I’m dead on my feet.”
    She halted a step away. Melted snowflakes glimmered in her dark hair. Heaven help him, even after a night of driving him crazy, she was beautiful. “This won’t take long,” she said. “I just wanted to thank you. Anything could’ve happened to us out there on the road. But you answered and came when I called.” A smile teased her ripe lips. “That makes you a hero in my book.”
    Jordan fought the urge to crush her in his arms and kiss her till she begged for mercy. Did the woman have any idea how she’d scared him or what a relief it had been to find her and Lucas safe? Only tonight had he realized how important the two of them had become—more important than he’d ever let on.
    He willed himself not to touch her—if he did, he’d be lost. “Get some sleep,” he said. “In the morning we’ll put this night behind us and start fresh. All right?”
    “All right.” She seemed hesitant. But he had to leave now, while he could.
    “Good night, Angie.” He turned and walked away. As he reached the top of the stairs he heard her door close. He forced himself to keep walking and to focus on the tasks at hand instead of memories of her lush body in his arms. Tomorrow he would set up the books for her in his home office. Then he’d take her to town to buy a car. Her car—one she could afford to keep if she left him.
    Every day with Angie seemed to be a new battleground. But he