Forbidden Heat

“Of course they will.” Jake slid his arm around her on the wooden bench as they watched five baby ducklings waddle after their mother as she led them to the small lake. Sunlight glittered through the trees as the leaves rustled in the light breeze.

She wasn’t sure about meeting Trey’s sisters. It made her nervous. Maybe because she’d never had a sister. Nor a brother. The girls she’d been in the group foster home with hadn’t been very close. Usually, they hadn’t gotten along and they’d bickered about things.

Would Trey’s sisters judge her as unfit for their brother? It shouldn’t matter to her—she wasn’t in a real romance with Trey—but it was important to him.

“I’m not sure how to act around them.”

“Just be yourself . . . and act like you’re head over heels for Trey.”

“You don’t mind? You’re not jealous?”

“Well, maybe a little.”

The serious look in his eyes made her wonder. She had meant was he jealous that she would be monopolizing Trey’s time, and affection, but she could almost believe he was jealous of Trey being with her.

Of course, that was just wishful thinking. Jake might like having sex with her and Trey, but it was Trey he loved.

“I asked Trey about his interest in men and he said he hasn’t been with a man since he was with you. When I tried to push him on it, he changed the subject. That, and the fact he wants his sisters to believe he has a girlfriend when he’s never found a woman he’s interested in enough for a long-term relationship, tell me that he is in a state of denial.”

Jake stretched his arms along the back of the bench. “I agree.”

“Do you really think his family will think less of him if they find out he likes men?”

Jake shrugged. “I don’t think so, but it’s hard to say. Since Trey is very close to his family and it would devastate him if this caused a barrier between them, I understand his caution.”

“I guess so.” She’d never had a family, but she could see that if she had, she would never want to do anything to alienate them. Still, denying who you are to meet someone else’s criteria . . . especially when you’re not even sure of those criteria . . . seemed a little extreme.

“There’s Trey now.”

She glanced in the direction of Jake’s gaze and saw Trey ambling along the walkway toward them. She and Jake stood up and walked toward him. Trey took her in his arms and kissed her, then smiled.

“Hey, girlfriend. Let’s go have our picture taken.”

“They’re here.”

Danielle glanced toward Trey, who stood at the window peering out.

He seemed so nervous. She couldn’t help feeling he didn’t think his sisters would like her. She picked up the pewter frame that contained the photo they’d printed off less than an hour ago. She and Trey looked like a perfect couple. He’d grabbed a handful of her long red waves and had pulled her in for a kiss, then they’d glanced toward the camera, their cheeks pressed together, Trey with a silly grin on his face, and her . . . well, she almost beamed.

Jake had taken about a hundred pictures, trying to get the ideal candid shot. He’d done a good job. She and Trey looked happy together. Like a perfect match.

She set the picture on the side table again. Trey walked toward the door, Hickory following on his heels. As soon as Trey opened the door, Hickory raced outdoors.

Danielle stood up and brushed at her pants, smoothing the fabric, then stepped toward the door. A petite brunette walked up the stone path leading to the front door, a taller, slim teenager following behind her.

“Trey!” The older sister, Suzie, launched herself at Trey and he threw his arms around her, then gave her a big kiss.

The younger sister—Trey had said her name was Tasha—stood demurely behind Suzie. When Trey released Suzie he smiled broadly at his youngest sister.

“Tasha. You’ve grown so much.” He held open his arms and she stepped into them.

She might have gone into the hug hesitantly, but Danielle could see her arms tighten around her older brother. Trey kissed her, then picked up their bags and carried them down the hall to their bedrooms . . . leaving Danielle staring at the two of them.

“You must be Danielle,” Suzie said, smiling warmly.

Fifteen

Danielle held out her palm to shake hands but Suzie laughed and