Alani could take it as a lack of respect, maybe think he only wanted one thing from her, when in fact, he wasn’t sure how much he wanted.
Sex, definitely. Conversation, sure. He wanted to protect her, and he wanted her to trust him. What all that meant, he couldn’t say. He refused to jump the gun and mire himself in emotional restraints.
Once he had her, he’d be able to regroup and become a gentleman again. Maybe. With the way she pushed all his buttons, he couldn’t be sure—
Alani fretted. “I don’t know…”
“If we’re assuming he was given a roofie, then he can ride it out,” Dare told her.
“Well…” She looked at Jackson again, full of soft concern and maybe even caring. “Okay.”
Trace shook his head in disgust. “It wasn’t really up to you, Alani.”
No, it wasn’t. Never would Jackson let a woman dictate to him. It wasn’t in his nature. But to soften that reality, he said, “Trust me, Alani, I’m okay.”
Her censuring gaze swept the room. “As if any of you would admit to needing help.”
Dare took that as her agreement. “Great, then that’s settled. Now on to the rest.” He gave Alani a pointed look. “You spent the night with him?”
Her chin went up. “Yes.”
“What time did you get to his place?”
At the no-nonsense questioning and lack of condemnation—at least from Dare—she calmed a little. “Around dinnertime yesterday.”
“He was okay when you got there?”
“He was…” She glanced at Jackson, lifted a shoulder. “I suppose so. That is, he seemed a little off, but still—”
Trace suddenly lost it. With disbelief, he said, “Jackson, Alani? Really?”
She shouted right back, “Yes, really.”
“Without a single date? Without a damn clue? Or is that something you’ve kept from me?”
“No!” Then she flushed and cast a harassed look at Jackson. “That is…”
“He knows what it is, honey.” Not about to let her brother badger her into ending things before he even had a chance to figure out what he wanted, Jackson narrowed his eyes. “Get used to it, Trace.”
Dare held up a hand. “Do you think we could keep it civil so we can figure out what happened?”
Jackson shrugged. “Fine by me.” Never mind that he’d been slipped a mickey, that his head still pounded and his strength hadn’t completely returned. Alani was a warm, soft weight on his lap.
With every breath, he inhaled the unique perfume of her body. For the first time ever, he was able to stroke his fingers through her long blond hair, as he did right now. He could touch her skin, kiss her—and he did, lifting her delicate hand to brush his mouth over her knuckles.
She shivered, but otherwise tried to pretend the kiss meant nothing.
Trace looked apoplectic, but what the hell? Jackson couldn’t stop himself. Her brother was damn lucky he hadn’t already thrown him out so that he and Alani could get back to business.
But then again, why kick Trace out when his presence goaded Alani into showing her true feelings?
At any other time, having a woman—having anyone—act protective would insult the hell out of him. He could damn well face any problem head-on without help; he’d been doing it all his life. He didn’t need anyone shielding him.
But Alani wasn’t just any woman. She was special, so he relished this new twist. It beat the hell out of her telling him “no” any day.
Dare said to Trace, “Well?”
“Fine. But let’s get on with it.”
“Stop rushing him. He’s been through enough.”
Jackson hid his grin. When he’d first met Alani, he’d known she wasn’t the fainthearted flower her brother made her out to be. Sure, she was a delicate little thing, especially compared to his height and physicality. But she had the same strength of character, the same conviction, stubbornness and independence as Trace.
Losing their parents young had to have been rough. But Trace had overcompensated. He’d sheltered Alani more than she needed, pampered her beyond reason.
And then she’d been taken by human traffickers, and…
Jackson put his arms around her and pressed his face into her neck. He hadn’t known her then, but he couldn’t think about it without wanting to kill men who were already dead.
Mistaking his reaction for something altogether different, Alani touched his hair with a gentle hand. “Jackson, are you okay? Do you feel sick again? We can put off the inquisition until later, if you need more time.”
Trace growled in annoyance.
“He’s fine, Alani.” Dare gave Jackson a pointed look until he sat up straight again. “But he won’t be if he doesn’t start explaining soon.”
“Can’t.” Knowing more discussion would embarrass Alani further, but seeing no help for it, Jackson rolled a shoulder. “All I remember is finding Alani in my bed. I was wasted, she walked out on me, and that’s all I know. You’re going to have to grill her for the nitty-gritty.” And maybe in the bargain, he’d find out a few things, too.
Her elbow came back sharp and hard into his ribs. So much for her concern.
Trace’s face went red. Jackson knew he wanted to curse, but he tried hard to curb his language around his sister.
“Then it’s up to you, hon,” Dare said to Alani. “Did you notice anything off, anything different, when you went to his place?”
Alani licked her lips. “Actually, I did.” She cast a furtive glance at Jackson.
“He acted different? Drugged?” Trace asked. “And you still slept with him?”
She glared at her brother. “No. That is, other than seeming somehow…more sincere—”
“I was ever insincere?” Jackson asked her.
“Will you all stop interrupting?”
Dare encouraged her, saying, “Go on, Alani.”
With an effort, she gathered herself. “Jackson mostly seemed the same as always. Cocky, flirting, trying to charm the pants off every woman.”
Trace said, “I don’t need to hear this.”
“I don’t mean me.” But then she added, a little abashed, “Well, yes—me, too—I guess.”
Jackson gave her another squeeze.
“But
