Blue-Eyed Devil (Travis Family #2)(82)

"Hardy," she said, reaching out for his hand, pressing it affectionately.

He flashed her a grin. "Hi, Liberty. How's the baby?"

"Fine. Matthew's at home with his grandfather. Churchill likes to look after him." Her green eyes twinkled. "He's the cheapest babysitter we've got."

"Liberty," Carrington said, tugging at her hand, "do you want to come see the piranhas? There's a whole big tank of them over there."

"Okay," she said, laughing. "Excuse me, y'all. We'll be right back."

As Liberty left, Gage contemplated Hardy for a moment. Tension strung through the air, until my brother reached out to shake Hardy's hand. "Thank you," Gage said. "I owe you for helping my sister out of that elevator. If there's anything I can do to repay you — "

"No," Hardy said at once. He seemed to be caught somewhat off guard by Gage's sincerity. It was the first time I had ever seen a trace of awkwardness in him. "You don't owe me a damn thing. I . . . after the stunt I pulled with your biofuel deal . . . "

"You more than made up for that two weeks ago," Gage said. "Haven's safety — and happiness — mean everything to me. As long as you're good to her, you've got no problem with me."

"I understand."

I didn't like being discussed as if I weren't there. "Hey, Gage," I asked, "have you seen Jack yet? He was supposed to he here tonight."

"He's here. He met an old girlfriend at the bar. Looks like they're getting reacquainted."

I rolled my eyes. "You could form a chain from here to El Paso with Jack's old girlfriends."

Just then I heard the ring of a cell phone, and Hardy reached inside his jacket pocket. Glancing at the number, he did a quick double blink. "Excuse me," he said to Gage and me. "I have to take this one. Would you mind if I — "

"Go right ahead," I said immediately.

"Thanks." Hardy flipped the phone open and moved through the crowd to a door that led to an outside wraparound balcony.

Left alone with Gage, I smiled up at him uncertainly, wondering if I was about to get a lecture.

"You look great," my brother said, running an appraising gaze over me. "You look happy."

It had been a long time since anyone had said that to me. "I am happy," I admitted, feeling a little sheepish. "Gage, I'm so sorry if it makes things difficult for you, me taking up with someone from Liberty's past . . . "

"It doesn't make things difficult for me," Gage said gently. He surprised me by adding, "You can't always choose who you're attracted to. When I first met Liberty, I thought she was one of Dad's side dishes — and I'm sorry to say I behaved like an ass**le." He smiled wryly. "But even then, there was something about her that got to me, every damn time I saw her." He slid his hands in his pockets and frowned slightly. "Haven, considering how Cates helped you at Buffalo Tower, I'm sure as hell inclined to give him a break. But if he hurts you . . . "

"If he hurts me, you have my permission to beat the tar out of him," I said, making him grin. I drew a little closer, mindful of the possibility of being overheard. "If it doesn't work out, though . . . I'll be okay, Gage. I'm stronger than I was a few months ago. He's helped me get over some of the problems I had after Nick. So no matter what he does in the future, I'll always be grateful to him for that."

Hardy returned, and I knew from looking at him that something was terribly wrong. There was no expression on his face, but he was chalk-white under his tan, and he had the distracted tension of a man whose mind was working on a multitude of levels.

"Haven." The voice, too, was different, as flat and scratchy as a sheet of sandpaper. "I just got a call from my mother. There's some family stuff I've got to deal with, and it can't wait."

"Oh, Hardy . . . " I wanted to pull him close, do something to ease him, comfort him. "Is she okay?"

"Yeah, she's fine."

"We'll leave right now — "

"No," Hardy said at once. Hearing the unnecessary force in his own voice, he made an effort to relax. "This isn't the kind of thing you need to be bothered with, honey. I need to handle it alone."

Gage broke in. "Is there anything I can do?"

Hardy nodded. "Please take care of Haven. Make sure she gets home safe." He looked at me, his eyes opaque. "I'm sorry. I hate to leave you like this."

"Will you call me later?" I asked.

"Of course. I — "He stopped, as if words had failed him, and he

glanced at Gage once more.

"I've got Haven," Gage said immediately. "Don't worry about her.

"Okay. Thanks."

And Hardy left us, his head bent, his strides eating ground as if he were preparing to plow through obstacles ahead.

"Maybe one of his brothers is sick, or was in an accident," I fretted.

Gage shook his head. "No telling. Except . . . "

"Except what?"

"If it was something like that, I think he would have said so."

I was swamped in worry for Hardy's sake. "He should have taken me with him," I muttered. "I hate being left out of things. And it's not like I'm going to have a good time here when I know he's out there dealing with some mystery problem. I should be with him."