The Wrong Man (Alpha Men 3)

“I did. When we first met him and he wouldn’t stop staring at you,” Daff confirmed, then focused on Brand again. “But you just couldn’t keep it in your pants, could you?”

“To be fair,” Brand said, his voice measured, “neither could she.”

Lia snort laughed, then clapped a hand over her mouth. She should probably be offended or shocked by the comment, but little Brand said shocked her anymore. He just entertained her. Daff, however, looked totally stunned and for once seemed lost for words.

“Why are you spying on us?” Brand demanded to know.

“Please, I have better things to do with my time. I couldn’t sleep and came out for some fresh air when I saw Lia’s car, and then Lia herself coming out of the cabin. At frickin’ midnight. How can you send her home this time of night—have you no regard for her safety?”

Brand’s eyes were troubled as they ran over Lia’s body.

“I wanted her to stay. But I’m pretty sure she thinks she’ll catch cooties or something if she stays the night.”

“Can’t say I blame her,” Daff muttered beneath her breath.

“Oh, come on!” Brand protested in exasperation. “Stop acting like I’m some cheesy silent-movie villain. Your sister and I are adults, engaged in a mutually beneficial relationship—”

“Fling,” Lia corrected, uncomfortable with the R word in this context. Brand sent her an annoyed glare.

“The point is, we know what we’re doing, and it’s none of your business.”

“Fine, whatever,” Daff said, throwing up her hands in irritation. “Fling away. But let’s be clear, Brand, you hurt her and I’ll castrate you.”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake,” Lia muttered. “Stop this, both of you. Daff, the castration thing’s a bit much.”

“I don’t think so,” Daff said belligerently.

“Brand’s right, this is none of your business. I appreciate your concern and I love you for it, but I’m fine. I know what I’m doing.”

“Famous last words,” Daff muttered.

“Look, just . . . keep this to yourself, okay? I don’t need the whole family trying to give me their well-intentioned advice, and Brand doesn’t need to be threatened by every member of the family. It’s unnecessary. He’s not doing anything I haven’t explicitly agreed to.”

“Very explicitly,” he emphasized smugly, and Lia flashed him an irritated look.

“Brand,” she warned, and he shrugged before folding his arms over his chest. “Daff, you owe me. I didn’t tell Daisy about you and Spencer when you were doing your no-strings thing. And you know how difficult it is for me to lie.”

“I do, which is why I’m having a hard time believing you’ve successfully kept this from us for so long.”

“It’s different—nobody knew about it, nobody asked questions. I didn’t have to say a word.”

“Until Brand had to cover for you with the bullshit pain meds story.”

“Look, just keep it to yourself, okay? Please.”

“Fine. But you can’t expect me to keep it from Spencer.”

“Spencer, uh . . . ,” Brand started to say, then stopped abruptly, and both women looked at him curiously.

“What about Spencer?” Daff asked, and Brand shrugged.

“Nothing. He’s a good guy.”

“Fine, you can tell Spencer, but no one else,” Lia agreed.

“I hope to God this works out the way you’re both expecting it to. I don’t want you to get hurt, Lia.”

“Hey, what about me?” Brand mock pouted, but Daff wasn’t amused.

“Trust me, I’ll take great pleasure in hurting you if you make her shed one tear.”

“I won’t,” he promised, suddenly dead serious. “I would hate to make her cry.”

Daff watched him for a long moment before finally nodding.

“Fine, I’m going to have to take you at your word. For now. I’m starting to freeze my butt off, so I think I’ll head back home. Lia, let me know when you’re home safe. Good night.”

They both bade her good night and watched her retreat back to the bigger house about a hundred yards away.

“Spencer already knows,” Brand told Lia, surprising her with the information. “But I didn’t want to throw the guy under the bus. Wouldn’t want her to take her bad mood out on him.”

“How does he know?” Lia asked, and Brand lifted his shoulders.

“Apparently he’s known since the stag. He’s an observant bastard.”

“Daff’s not going to like that he didn’t tell her.”

“He won’t tell her if he knows what’s good for him.”

Lia laughed at that response. “Oh, he’ll tell her, and she’ll be angry for two seconds, which he’ll deserve for keeping a secret like that from her in the first place. But they’ll be fine.”

Brand reached out to cup her face, and she lifted her eyes to his.

“You okay? I know this wasn’t ideal.”

“I’m fine,” Lia admitted with a serene smile, because she really was. This encounter with Daff had shown Lia that she was stronger than she knew. She tended to back away from confrontation, but she was proud of the way she’d stood her ground with Daff.