Deadly Silence (Blood Brothers #1)(15)

Ryker headed for the doorway and then stopped. “Check Zara’s medical records, too. Anything out of the ordinary…any injuries that seem suspicious.” Had he missed something in the times they’d been together?

“Injuries?”

“Yeah. She had a bruise on her face and wouldn’t tell me where she got it.”

Denver shook his head. “Not good, brother.”

“Why not?” Ryker already knew why not, but if Denver wanted to weigh in, he needed to keep using complete sentences.

Denver rolled his eyes. “If she’s protecting some douche bag who hit her, then she’s seeing somebody else. Prepare yourself, because I can’t dig you out of the booze train again so soon.”

“She’s not.” Ryker slapped a hand against the sturdy doorjamb. Zara wasn’t a woman who lied or cheated. Yeah, he might have her on a pedestal, but if anybody belonged there, it was her. “Did you happen to order furniture for the apartments upstairs?”

“No. Order your own. I did the offices.” Denver turned back toward the computer screen, the words seeming to come easier with practice. “I’ll start investigating your woman after shoring up our defenses against our mystery hacker. He’s not getting back into our files.”

“Great. Thanks.”

“Ryker?” Denver asked.

Ryker lifted an eyebrow.

“I know you. While I’m digging up dirt behind her back, what’s your plan?”

Ryker headed out of the office. “I’ll be in her face.”





Chapter





5




Zara clipped in sexy black heels through the law firm hallways in the midafternoon, trying to move her hips to get the black G-string out of her butt. What had she been thinking, wearing it? Yeah, she’d wanted to prove that the underwear was for her and not just some pathetic attempt to be a femme fatale with Ryker.

Now she had floss up her ass, damn it.

A low whistle stopped her, and she turned around to see Brock Hurst, one of the junior attorneys, digging through a file cabinet. “Don’t sue me for harassment, but you look good.” He smiled, perfect teeth in a charming face.

Okay. So she might’ve worn a pin-striped pencil skirt with a shimmering red top in an effort to make herself feel better about the odd night with Ryker and the thoughts of whether or not they should break up. Feeling sexy should help. “Thanks.” She kept moving down the hall to her small office next to the two attorneys she assisted. Although, did casual affairs just break up? Probably not. They probably just ended.

She’d just settled into her chair and booted up her computer when a shadow crossed her doorway. She glanced up and her breathing hitched. “Ryker.”

He strode into the room and slid a fragrant pumpkin-spice latte across the desk, planting it right next to a picture of Grams Rollerblading the previous spring. “You missed breakfast and lunch, I believe.”

Her mouth watered, and not just from the coffee. Today he wore a deep green T-shirt that only enhanced his wild eyes, faded jeans, and those tough boots. “What are you doing here?” she asked, even though he had said he’d see her later. She’d thought it was just an expression.

He dropped into one of her two pin-striped guest chairs, overwhelming the room with the sense of male. “I figured we should talk.”

“I’m not ready to talk.” Her fingers itched to grab that coffee.

“That’s unfortunate.” He leaned back, his gaze roaming the red shirt. “I’d love to see the everyday bra and panty set.” He grinned. “You know, to compare with my sets.”

She’d forgotten about throwing the sexy underwear at his head last week. The other sets weren’t his. They were hers, darn it. She gave in and reached for the coffee. “You’ve already seen this set.”

His eyes flared. “Oh?”

“Yeah.” She took a deep drink and hummed as the spice exploded across her tongue. “Black satin, red bows, another stupid G-string.”

“That’s one of my favorites.” His voice rumbled dark and low.

That tone. That damn tone had the ability to tighten her entire body with need. Her attempt to mess with his head was definitely backfiring. She tried to focus. “I’ll launder it and send it to you.”

“I’d rather take it off you with my teeth.” His eyes smoldered.

God. How did he do that? Butterflies winged through her abdomen, and her breath quickened. She forced herself to look bored. “I have work to do, so thanks for the coffee, but you need to go.”

“No.” He cocked his head to the side, pinning her in place.

She frowned. “Yes.”

“That’s not how we’re doing this, baby.”

Baby. He called her baby in bed…usually when he was telling her what to do in that dark commanding voice. She shivered and discreetly crossed her legs. “I’m pretty sure we’re deciding to take a step back or end things, so there is no ‘this.’”

“Who hit you, Zara?”

“Keep your voice down,” she hissed, panic rippling through her desire. Man, she thought he’d let that whole situation go.

He lifted an eyebrow and casually reached over his shoulder to push the door closed. “Who are you protecting?”