Suspicious bastard. Dylan should have known he wouldn’t let it rest.
“No, because we didn’t report it. Nothing was taken.”
Dare widened his gaze. “Some asshole tries to mug my sister and you don’t report it?”
“He was punished enough.” Dylan left it at that.
“That so? Is that how you hurt your arm? You favor it sometimes,” he explained.
“Yes, that’s right. I strained it.” Damn, he hadn’t realized he was favoring his injured arm. Dare had sharp eyes.
Tilly left the barn and strode toward them.
“She’s changed,” Dare muttered quietly. “She’s more confident. Because of you?”
Dylan shook his head. “Because of Tilly.” He held out his hand to her with a smile. She took his hand, smiling back at him. Leaning down, he kissed her cheek.
“Ready to go, babe?”
“Yep,” she replied. “Dare, what are you doing here?”
“Day off. I just went in to work to finish a few things up.”
“I was just explaining to Dare why we didn’t file a police report about the mugging,” Dylan told her, drawing her against his side.
She leaned into him. “You’ve been checking up on us?”
Dare folded his arms across his chest. “The two of you are lying about something. He’s way too protective not to want some guy who tried to mug you locked up.”
Tilly sighed. “Dare, I know you’re just trying to look out for me, but there’s no need. I’m not the kid you knew before. I’ve grown up a lot. You’re going to have to trust that I have a good reason for keeping something from you.”
“I don’t like it.”
She stepped away from Dylan and patted her brother on the arm. “I know.”
“You’re my baby sister. I’m just trying to watch out for you.”
“I appreciate that, but I can look after myself. And I have Dylan now. I don’t think he’s going to let anything happen to me.”
She glanced over at him and he winked at her. He knew she could do anything she put her mind to and he would always have her back. But when it came to a physical threat then he was always going to stand between her and any danger.
“I suppose if I keep pursuing this you’ll threaten to move to Alaska again,” Dare said.
Tilly smiled. “Nope, this time it will be Hawaii.”
Dylan gazed down at her questioningly.
“After I moved to Austin, Dare kept pestering me to come home. I finally threatened to move to Alaska if he didn’t let me be. I’d have done it too. I was ashamed of how gullible I’d been. I just needed some space.”
Dare frowned fiercely. “Javier fooled a lot of people. You were a baby. You’re still a baby.”
“I’m nearly twenty-three. I know that seems young when you’re as old as you are,” she teased him, grinning as he winced. “But I’ve been through a lot. I’m not a child anymore, Dare.”
“You’ll always be my baby sister, though, and I’m always going to want to protect you.”
“I’m still surprised her threat kept you away,” Dylan said.
Dare stared at him for a long moment then nodded. “Dad made us promise to give Tilly some space.”