“Ha!” Luke shook his head. “That’s not going to happen. I’m hoping to find a way to get to work without a black eye.”

“He won’t hit you.”

“Uh, he’d be happy to hit me right now, Tessa. Best-case scenario, he knows exactly what we did last night.”

“Oh.” She felt her cheeks start to burn.

“Yeah, exactly. Worst case, he knows what we did last night and he thinks I bullied you into it. So yeah, he’s capable of violence.”

She nodded and hurried to her dresser to pull on sweats and a T-shirt. “Okay, wait here. And, you know…” She waved toward his bare chest. “Get dressed.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Your clothes are under the bed. And check the closet, too.”

Tessa slipped into the hallway, trying to pat her hair down as she snuck toward the living room. If one brother thought she was a complete innocent, then the other did, too. She’d played her role too well, damn it. Now, how was she going to spin her way out of this one?

She expected to find him brooding on the couch, but instead Eric stood next to the front door with his arms crossed. When she took a few steps closer, she realized why he hadn’t taken a seat. The clothes that Luke had pulled off her last night were still strewn across the floor in front of the couch. Crap.

Her feet slowed until she stopped. They stared at each other.

Eric spoke first. “You don’t know anything about this guy.”

“I do,” she said.

His jaw tightened as his eyes darted to the couch and back to her. “I’m sorry to tell you this after…after you…”

“For God’s sake, Eric. I’ve dated for a long time. College, high school—”

“High school?” he screeched.

“I don’t mean that! I just…” She squeezed her eyes shut in frustration. “I just meant I don’t need protecting. I’m fine.”

Eric hung his head as if the weight of the world were pulling down on him. When he looked up, his eyes held sorrow. “Luke Asher’s partner is pregnant with his child.”

She was hit with such relief she actually smiled. “No, that’s not true. Simone is just his partner. The baby isn’t his, Eric.”

He narrowed his eyes.

“I’m serious.”

“Well, that’s hardly the only—”

The door of her bedroom opened, and Eric cut himself off and looked toward the hallway. Tessa turned to see Luke step into the room. “Eric,” he said neutrally.

Her brother didn’t answer. When she looked at him, he growled, “We’ll talk about this later,” before he opened the door and left. She watched the door until she heard his car start.

“See?” she finally said. “No black eye.”

Luke’s arms were suddenly curving around her. “Are you okay?”

She pressed her face to his shirt. “I’m fine. Honest. But I’m not sure Eric’s okay. And what about you?”

“Me? Hell, even a brother bent on righteous murder can’t ruin my good mood this morning.”

Tipping her face up to kiss his neck, Tessa smiled at the smell of her soap and shampoo.

“Crap. I’m late.” But even as he said it, his fingers spread and smoothed up and down her back.

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