her, kids are resilient. We had a great life on the island. There were always women around. Long leggy blondes, short curvy brunettes, sleek redheads ³µ
Í get it.µ Nick was flogging a dead horse. She so freaking got it.
´We liked most of Dad·s lady friends³he·d bring them home for a month or two if he was between trips, and when we were old enough, we·d go with him.µ
´What does this have to do with me?µ She shouldn·t bring it up, the night Zane got s o drunk he didn·t remember her, but it was like touching a bruise to see if it stil hurt. It did. Í·m not sure why you·re tel ing me this.µ
Í guess I·m trying to explain where Zane·s coming from. We had a hard -drinking, womanizing father, and no mother. He³µ
Źane·s a womanizer. Not that it matters. His lifestyle doesn·t affect me at al .
And let me point out that you and Logan didn·t pick up those habits from your father.
Zane is exactly who he wants to be.µ
´Teal«µ
She uncurled her legs and rose, emotional blast shields firmly back in place.
Í·l take care of these dishes, then I real y should go back to see what Maggie and Saul found. This is a decoy site. We didn·t expect to uncover anything.µ
He rubbed the bridge of his nose. Í have people to do dishes. Just take a break. I guarantee they won·t go anywhere without you on that hunk of junk.µ
Teal raised her brow in defense of the Decrepit, surprised that she felt a sense of ownership.
Śhe·s wel maintained, don·t let her looks fool you.µ
´You like that rust bucket?µ
´Wel , let·s not get too effusive about it, but yeah. She·s growing on me. Warts and al .µ
He studied her face with obvious interest. ´You and Zane are the only ones that feel that way.µ
Chapter 6
Nick ferried Teal back several hours later. Zane had kept a watchful eye on the Scorpion . If Nick was in a seducing frame of mind, she wouldn·t stand a chance. Had he? Had they?
He waited while his brother handed her on board the Decrepit . Her hair was windblown, her nose and cheeks a little pink, and he loved what she did for his T -shirt. He wanted to take it off of her. Slowly. ´We found a wreck that hadn·t been completely cleaned out. Nothing big, just some coins. Go take a turn cleaning so Maggie can t ake a break,µ Zane told her.
Óf course.µ She flashed him a narrow-eyed look, then smiled at his brother.
´Thanks for a fun lunch, Nick.µ She strol ed off, al long legs and attitude. He admired those luscious legs and imagined pressing his mouth to the t ender spot just behind her knee, right in the sensitive bend «
He turned on Nick. Ĺunch? That·s why you needed my mechanic? To help you eat lunch ?µ
Nick ignored him, his eyes fixed on Teal as she headed inside. Śhe·s had some « issues.µ
´Yeah. Having a friend putting the moves on her. What the hel were you thinking, Spock?
You have no right to mess with her. She·s not like the women we know. Under that cranky, sassy exterior she·s « I don·t know. Kinda fragile, I think.
She·s not up to your speed. Seriously.µ
Ór yours.µ Nick seemed to choose his words careful y as he said, ´Practice what you preach, Ace. I think she was abused.µ
Zane·s body went icy cold, then blazed with heat. Oh, no. Oh, fucking no. He didn·t want to hear this. But it fit, God damn it. Not Sam³unless it was neglect.
Ábusive boyfriend?µ
Christ³The thought made him sick, but the emotional disconnect, the bits and pieces he·d observed. Ah, hel . Anyone who hurt someone smal er and weaker than himself needed to be castrated and hung up to dry. That anyone would hurt Teal was unacceptable on every level.
Thinking, Nick stuck his hands in his pant pockets and stared at the spot where Teal had stood moments before. He turned back to Zane as if a decision had been made. ´Husband.
She was married.µ
Zane stared at his brother. ´ Married? Teal? Are you sure? She hasn·t mentioned it, and Sam·s never said a word.µ
Śhe didn·t want anyone
Í get it.µ Nick was flogging a dead horse. She so freaking got it.
´We liked most of Dad·s lady friends³he·d bring them home for a month or two if he was between trips, and when we were old enough, we·d go with him.µ
´What does this have to do with me?µ She shouldn·t bring it up, the night Zane got s o drunk he didn·t remember her, but it was like touching a bruise to see if it stil hurt. It did. Í·m not sure why you·re tel ing me this.µ
Í guess I·m trying to explain where Zane·s coming from. We had a hard -drinking, womanizing father, and no mother. He³µ
Źane·s a womanizer. Not that it matters. His lifestyle doesn·t affect me at al .
And let me point out that you and Logan didn·t pick up those habits from your father.
Zane is exactly who he wants to be.µ
´Teal«µ
She uncurled her legs and rose, emotional blast shields firmly back in place.
Í·l take care of these dishes, then I real y should go back to see what Maggie and Saul found. This is a decoy site. We didn·t expect to uncover anything.µ
He rubbed the bridge of his nose. Í have people to do dishes. Just take a break. I guarantee they won·t go anywhere without you on that hunk of junk.µ
Teal raised her brow in defense of the Decrepit, surprised that she felt a sense of ownership.
Śhe·s wel maintained, don·t let her looks fool you.µ
´You like that rust bucket?µ
´Wel , let·s not get too effusive about it, but yeah. She·s growing on me. Warts and al .µ
He studied her face with obvious interest. ´You and Zane are the only ones that feel that way.µ
Chapter 6
Nick ferried Teal back several hours later. Zane had kept a watchful eye on the Scorpion . If Nick was in a seducing frame of mind, she wouldn·t stand a chance. Had he? Had they?
He waited while his brother handed her on board the Decrepit . Her hair was windblown, her nose and cheeks a little pink, and he loved what she did for his T -shirt. He wanted to take it off of her. Slowly. ´We found a wreck that hadn·t been completely cleaned out. Nothing big, just some coins. Go take a turn cleaning so Maggie can t ake a break,µ Zane told her.
Óf course.µ She flashed him a narrow-eyed look, then smiled at his brother.
´Thanks for a fun lunch, Nick.µ She strol ed off, al long legs and attitude. He admired those luscious legs and imagined pressing his mouth to the t ender spot just behind her knee, right in the sensitive bend «
He turned on Nick. Ĺunch? That·s why you needed my mechanic? To help you eat lunch ?µ
Nick ignored him, his eyes fixed on Teal as she headed inside. Śhe·s had some « issues.µ
´Yeah. Having a friend putting the moves on her. What the hel were you thinking, Spock?
You have no right to mess with her. She·s not like the women we know. Under that cranky, sassy exterior she·s « I don·t know. Kinda fragile, I think.
She·s not up to your speed. Seriously.µ
Ór yours.µ Nick seemed to choose his words careful y as he said, ´Practice what you preach, Ace. I think she was abused.µ
Zane·s body went icy cold, then blazed with heat. Oh, no. Oh, fucking no. He didn·t want to hear this. But it fit, God damn it. Not Sam³unless it was neglect.
Ábusive boyfriend?µ
Christ³The thought made him sick, but the emotional disconnect, the bits and pieces he·d observed. Ah, hel . Anyone who hurt someone smal er and weaker than himself needed to be castrated and hung up to dry. That anyone would hurt Teal was unacceptable on every level.
Thinking, Nick stuck his hands in his pant pockets and stared at the spot where Teal had stood moments before. He turned back to Zane as if a decision had been made. ´Husband.
She was married.µ
Zane stared at his brother. ´ Married? Teal? Are you sure? She hasn·t mentioned it, and Sam·s never said a word.µ
Śhe didn·t want anyone
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