course, the two men were best friends after that. They entered the kitchen chuckling over something Jorlan had said. She was fairly certain that something involved breasts and thighs—and not the chicken variety. Nick had one of his arms around Jorlan’s shoulders. When their laughter subsided, her brother fired off a round of questions about Jorlan’s job.
“Do you get to hold them against you or are you put together digitally?”
“Do you undress in the same room?”
“Of all the models you’ve worked with, who has the biggest rack?”
Scowling, Katie hurled a bottled water at each man. Jorlan moved with lightning-quick reflexes and managed to catch the thing midair; Nick wasn’t so lucky. The plastic thumped against his stomach, hard, and he sucked in a breath. She sent him a smug smile.
He unscrewed the top and took a long swig. All the while, he gave her a brotherly, time-for-payback glare. Lowering the bottle, he said, “I thought you were dating Steve Harris, the detective from Gray’s unit.”
Katie had just taken a mouthful of the clear liquid; she spewed every last drop onto the floor. “What?”
“Steve Harris. Your boyfriend.” Nick practically sang the words to the melody of Katie and Steven sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G.
She slammed her water onto the countertop. “He’s not my boyfriend. Our brother would like me to date his friend, but I said no.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yes, really.”
“The way Gray talked,” Nick continued, “you and Stevie boy were already planning the wedding.”
Mouth agape, her gaze skidded to Jorlan.
He crossed his arms over his chest, a storm cloud of fury brewing in his expression. Nick continued talking, saying something about flowers and churches, but she barely heard him. She continued to watch Jorlan. He looked ready to pounce on someone—namely her—and he was soaking up every word Nick uttered as if it were gospel.
Her fists clenched, crushing the bottle. Just what kind of woman did Jorlan think her to be? Only moments before, she had kissed him, touched him, almost made love to him, and now he thought her capable of marrying another man?
Did he actually think her so lacking in honor? Obviously. Hadn’t he thought her capable of wanting him so that he could make her a queen?
Men were idiots!
“I’ve never even met the guy,” she told both her brother and Jorlan stiffly. “And I have no interest in meeting him, either.”
“Good. That’s why I came to see you.” Nick worried a hand over his clean-shaven jaw. “I wanted to tell you to keep away from Steve. I don’t want you to hook up with a cop.”
His tone made her suspicious. She placed her hands at her hips. “And just who do you want me to hook up with?”
“I was going to recommend a buddy of mine. Nice guy. Girls go wild for him.”
“’Tis enough!” Scowling, Jorlan advanced on Nick, willing to rip out the man’s tongue to keep him from saying another word. He felt…disbelief? Mayhap. Fury? Most definitely. Katie and her brother spoke so blithely of another man—of her marriage to another man—and he did not like it! In fact, the thought nearly drove him mad. He did not believe her capable of making love with one man while being promised to another, yet his fury did not lessen.
He needed her, and he would allow no other man to touch her. Not because the thought of another man feasting from Katie’s sweetness sent a cold rage storming through him, but because she belonged to him now, her time, her body, and her heart, and he would not share!
Jorlan had almost reached Katie’s brother, his intent to pulverize shining brightly in his eyes. Grinning, Nick held up his hands to ward off the oncoming attack. “I’ve since changed my mind, Jordie. You’re perfect for her. Honest. My buddy pales in comparison.”
Jorlan stilled. Nick’s retraction mollified him somewhat. Yet that wasn’t the reason he had stopped. He had just come to a startling revelation. He did not simply lust for Katie, did not simply need her to save him. He cared for her. Despite his efforts to prevent such a thing from happening, it had taken only a few hours for his obsession to deepen. He’d shared his life with her, had watched her writhe as he gave her body the ultimate pleasure, and now he had sunk deeper under her spell. The knowledge blistered through him, and he cursed his own stupidity. Why? Why had he allowed himself to care about this woman? Had he learned nothing from Maylyn?
At least he hadn’t been foolish enough to fall in love with her. Still, he cared for Katie and wanted her with him. If only for a time. He’d thought before of taking her home with him. He had discarded the idea because he had not wanted to make her his life-mate. But now, the idea held merit. He could wed her, not permanently, of course, but a temporary joining of mutual benefit.
On his world, a temporary joining had never been considered before. He was willing to make an exception, however. Katie was mayhap too bold, too outspoken for his homeland, but with the proper guidance such qualities could be corrected.
Never had a solution been simpler. He would wed her. She would confess her love for him, come home with him. Then she would come for him, again and again. When he no longer cared for her, he would send her home.
Perfect.
Jorlan grinned, suddenly contented.
No longer the source of his wrath, Nick settled himself comfortably atop the speckled counter behind him. “You do anything besides modeling, Jordie? Like security work? Or military intelligence? I swear to God you’ve got the same guarded look in your eyes that Gray and Erik have.”
“Who is Erik?” Jorlan demanded, his fury bursting forth anew.
Katie slapped him on the shoulder. “What’s wrong with you? Erik is my brother.”
Jorlan leveled a frown her way. “Just how many brothers do you have?”
“Five. Four are scattered across Texas, and one lives in New Orleans.”
“Well?” Nick interjected, obviously not liking that his question had been ignored. “Do you do anything besides modeling?”
Katie answered for him. “He’s a handyman. He’s taking a break from cover modeling and has become my temporary employee.”
Her brother clicked under his tongue. “Exactly what type of services are you paying him for?”
This time, Katie slapped her brother’s shoulder. Unlike Jorlan, who had barely reacted, Nick winced. “Say another word along those lines,” she growled, “and I’ll personally kick your ass.”
Jorlan grinned, glad such threats were not reserved for him alone.
“I have a feeling I’m going to leave here a rich man.” Nick’s brown eyes glistened mischievously.
Katie punched him again, harder this time. “You’re not getting any money from me.”
Enjoying
