Page 95 of Fire Fight

Crew wasn’t locking me in this house because he didn’t think I could take care of myself, and he hadn’t asked Trey to keep an eye on me because Ineededa babysitter.

Trey was here ensuring my safety because if somethingdidhappen, he didn’t want me to be alone. He wasn’t worried I wasn’t strong enough to handle whatever was thrown at me. He was worried about something happening to me and him not being here for me. Like my nightmare last night when I ran to him and he was gone.

Siccing his brother on me was the next best thing.

Still, that little niggling doubt wormed into my brain and wouldn’t let go.

Whyhadn’the made a move yet? There was no denying the physical connection between us. And for all his teasing and flirting and filthy promises, wehadn’tcrossed that line, though clearly we both badly wanted to.

Lost in my inner turmoil, I hadn’t noticed Trey closing the distance between us until his hands snaked around my waist.

Instantly, my knee came up to his balls, and he dropped to the floor.

“What is wrong with you?” I hissed. “He’s yourbrother.”

Trey wheezed from the fetal position, looking up at me through watery eyes.

“Just checking the temperature around here,” he managed to gasp out, unfurling slightly from the ball he’d been curled into and resting on all fours.

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

He was silent for a long time while he marshaled himself, and I couldn’t help but grin down at him. It seemed all my self-defense lessons paid off because I’d gotten himgood.

At last, he sank back on his heels and scrubbed a hand over his face, sucking in gulps of air that eventually steadied.

“Crew is obviously into you,” he started, staring up at me, his face beet red as he struggled to regain his composure. “And now, I know you’re into him and can’t be swayed otherwise. I think maybe you two should stop dancing around it, and I just gave you the push you needed.”

“What happens between me and Crew is none of your business.”

“Keep telling yourself that,little phoenix. But my little brother has never once had an extended house guest, nor has he ever brought a girl to the ranch…until you. If you’re going to be around, you’re all of our business.”

“He’s doing me a solid by letting me stay here,” I protested weakly. “And he didn’t want to leave me alone.”

Trey shot me a look as if to sayget realas he gingerly rose to standing, hand cupping his junk to adjust himself—or maybe to protect himself from further assault.

“If I never have children, I blame you,” he groused as he gathered our dirty dishes and his empty wine glass from the island and took them to the sink, where he rinsed then loaded them into the dishwasher.

“You’d have to find someone willing to sleep with you first,” I shot back. “And I’m not going to hold my breath.”

Trey chuckled. “Yeah, you’ll fit in just fine around here.”

I didn’t press the issue because truthfully, I was done with theconversation—done with Trey. So instead, I watched as he cleaned.

Like his brother, his movements were efficient and confident when he wiped down the counters and returned the kitchen to its original state. Where Crew only had a single sleeve of tattoos engulfing his left arm, Trey had one and a half, the ink on his right arm stopping right above the crease of his elbow. If it wasn’t for the fact that Trey was slightly taller and leaner, telling him apart from Crew, and even Lane and the twins, would be difficult.

He was, objectively, good looking. All the Lawless boys were beautiful. But my blood didn’t heat at the sight of any of them the way it did with Crew.

Trey making a pass at me had forced my hand, and Crew’s as well. As irritated as I was, I could almost appreciate it. He knew I’d tell Crew what happened, and Crew would either put up or shut up.

Still, I held my ground, watching him head for Crew’s room where he’d be sleeping.

I almost begged him to switch, but that would only make matters worse. So I let him go, staring at his retreating form, eyes darting up to his gaze when he paused at Crew’s door and turned back to me.

“You could do a lot worse than my brother, Aspen. And you could do a lot worse than calling this town home.”

With that he disappeared.

I know, I wanted to say.