River Wolf by Heather Long

fell onto his forehead, softening his angry expression. Contradiction upon contradiction dog piled into their interaction, yet… “Why do you want me to stay?”
    “I told you. Luc asked me to make sure you were here when he woke.” It resonated with truth for her. She had a good bullshit meter most of the time. Considering her choices of the last couple of years, she couldn’t really be certain of it anymore. “What bothers you more? That we’re asking you to stay or the fact that you want to?”
    What an asshole . “You’re a piece of work.”
    “I could say the same about you.” A faint smile curved his mouth and he seemed unperturbed by her irritation. “You drove a complete stranger several hours away from anyone you know. Luc’s a charmer, and a complete pain in the ass—and a good friend. You couldn’t know that. We don’t know you. But he wants you here, so…I’m not gonna kidnap you and make you stay. If you want to go…” He released her keys with a toss and she caught them. “Go. I’d prefer it if you stayed, however.”
    He began to withdraw, then paused. “Are you going?”
    “Does it matter?”
    “Yes. Your steak looks good and if you’re not staying, I’m eating it. If you want it, be at the table in the next sixty seconds or it’s fair game.” With that he left her once more and Colby gaped for a moment, then snapped her mouth shut.
    Giving her the keys returned the decision to her hands. Go or stay?
    Luc’s a charmer, and a complete pain in the ass—and a good friend. Everything in his manner softened on those four words. Whoever and whatever else Brett Dalton was, he cared about Luc. Cared enough to be honest with her and to ask her to stay.
    “Five seconds,” Brett called.
    “Brett Michael, if you touch Colby’s food…” His mother had apparently joined them and at her tone, so utterly maternal and filled with remonstration, Colby grinned.
    A drive in the rain or a steak dinner with the man of contradictions? “I’m coming.”
    The steak swayed her decision. Sure it did. Ignoring her conscience, she took a sip of her coffee and stuffed her keys in her pocket. She could always leave afterward.
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    W ith a second to spare , she abandoned her indecision in the kitchen and took a seat at the table. Had it been only the two of them, Brett would have eaten in the kitchen. His parents, however, liked to sit around a table. The mixture of curiosity and aggravation deepened the headier notes of Colby’s scent when her gaze landed on his mother. Despite her shower or maybe because of it, the oddness he tasted in her scent lingered against his tongue. Though not unpleasant, it kept his attention riveted on her rather than his food. Aware of his parents, he systematically cut into his food and divided his attention equally amongst his guests.
    “How is Luc?” Colby asked, and though she was directly across from him and glanced at him repeatedly, she seemed to be focusing on his mother.
    “As stubborn as always.” Affection warmed her voice. “He and Brett are so much alike in that department. Neither likes being made to rest or take care of themselves during their recovery.”
    Familiar with the verbal jab, he smiled at his mother then took another bite of food.
    “We should probably feed him,” Colby hadn’t done more than take a bite or two of the eggs, though her growling stomach had to be as audible to his parents as it was to him. Her concern for Luc irked him. Unreasonable. She came with Luc. Luc wanted her to stay. It made her Luc’s, right?
    “He’s sleeping,” Margie assured her. “And will be for some time. The doctor will be in later tonight or first thing in the morning. Charles and I will sit with Luc in the meanwhile. Can you tell me a little more about how you met him? His parents will want to know when they return from the Hamptons.”
    Poor guy. Luc’s parents loved the Hamptons in the summer time. How many times had they driven down to the island