Ever After (Nantucket Brides 3)

She took a step closer to him, her finger pointed at his chest. “If you ever make an advance toward me that is the least bit unprofessional, you’re out of here. Do you understand?”

Jamie was blinking at her as he nodded.

“Professional!” She tapped her finger on his very hard chest. “Touch me and you leave. Got it?”

When he said “Yes,” Hallie could feel his breath on her face. He smelled of man. Abruptly, she took a step back, then walked all the way around the table, around both men, and paused at the back door. She glared at Jared. “Short, stocky kid, huh?” She went outside, closing the door firmly behind her.

Jared was the first to speak. “Now I’m going to be in the doghouse. What the hell were you thinking, coming on to her like that?” he half shouted. “This isn’t going to work! If you knew what that girl has been through…” He glared at Jamie. “That sister of hers—with my help—tried to steal this house from her.”

Jamie hobbled over to a chair and sat down. “She’s beautiful, isn’t she?”

“If you mean the stepsister, no, I don’t think she is. To tell you the truth, I didn’t like her from the moment I saw her. She’s too much like the girls I used to date.”

“Who is the stepsister?” Jamie’s puzzlement showed on his face.

“The blonde,” Jared said, sounding like Jamie had no brain. “The photo on the passport, remember? The one who said she was Hallie.”

“Oh,” Jamie said. “Her. I like this one better. She’s got beautiful eyes, and she is built, isn’t she?”

Jared groaned. “Deliver me from the days of youth. What I want to know is if it’s safe to leave you here with her. She’s in this mess because of me and I plan to look out for her.”

There was no smile on Jamie’s face. “Are you asking me if I’ll take what she doesn’t want to give?”

Jared was taller and older than Jamie, but the younger man had the muscles of a bull. Jared didn’t back down. “Yeah, that’s exactly what I’m asking.”

Jamie’s face softened. “It looks like there will be two of us protecting her. I apologize to you now and I will apologize to her for my behavior. It’s just that I wasn’t expecting…her. Tall skinny blondes aren’t appealing to me, but this one I like.”

Jared grimaced. “I’m going home to my wife. The next time I talk to Hallie she’d better tell me that you’ve treated her well or I’ll call your dad to bring a cattle truck to haul you away.”

“Spoken like a true Montgomery,” Jamie said, his eyes laughing. “Did you really tell her I’m a kid?”

“You are to me.”

Jamie was still smiling. “Go on. You can leave. She’s safe with me. She stands up for herself well, doesn’t she?”

Jared had the idea that if he remained there he might have to listen to hours of whatever this young man was feeling, which he had no doubt was nothing but lust. “I’ll be back in an hour and I’ll ask Hallie whether or not you can stay here. If she even hints that you’ve come on to her, you’re moving into my house.”

“Yes, sir,” Jamie said, his eyes sparkling.

Chapter Two

As soon as Hallie was outside, she realized that her anger was more about what her stepsister had tried to do than about the young man who needed her help. And her anger had increased when she realized she was attracted to a man who had hidden away photos of Shelly.

Before her was a large grassy area crisscrossed by old brick pathways. There were high walls on each side and what looked to be beds for plants. The weeds had been cut, so someone was taking care of the garden, but it still had a barren look to it. There were a few scraggly bushes, but not much else.

She walked to the end of the wall and saw a long, narrow strip of land that ran perpendicular. It too was walled. At one end was a big red gate, but at the other end of the garden was a building with a vine-covered arbor attached to one side.

She went down the old brick path to the small building. The door was open, and inside was a lot of shiny new gym equipment. When Shelly had asked about rehabilitating an injury such as Jamie had, Hallie had been flattered. She’d been pleased to make a list of necessary equipment. Inside the little building Hallie found everything she had put on the list. Machines and free weights were in the center, and the walls were hung with rubber tubes and yoga equipment. When she went out the side door to the arbor, she saw a seating area and a lean-to that housed the massage table she would need. Overhead, grape vines had pretty, pale leaves that were beginning to unfurl. Massages under the arbor would be perfect.

When she heard a cough to her left, she knew the man was letting her know of his approach.

He stopped just under the edge of the arbor and leaned heavily on his crutches. “I apologize for my behavior,” he said. “I’m very sorry.”

“And I for mine,” she answered. “It’s been a tough day and I took my anger out on you. Why don’t you take your clothes off and let’s start over?”

Jamie lifted his eyebrows high.

Hallie’s mind was so much on all that had happened that it took a moment to realize what she’d said. “I meant for a massage. To begin work on your knee.” She could feel her face turning red.