Unending Devotion (Michigan Brides #1)(52)

Tierney’s eyes sparkled with mirth. “So now you’re interested?”

Connell shook his head, fresh irritation adding to the funnel cloud winding through him. “Is that all you think about? Bedding women?”

Tierney snorted. “What man doesn’t?”

“I don’t.” At least he worked hard to keep his thoughts from swaying in that direction. He’d long ago decided if he didn’t let his mind dwell on his lusts, he’d have a much easier time resisting the temptations when they came his way.

Tierney tugged on his hat. “The problem is you’ve always thought you’re better than everyone else. And you’re not. It’s time for you to finally admit it.”

“I’m not going to admit wanting to sleep with Bella when I don’t. I’m just trying to figure out if she’s the sister Lily’s looking for.”

Tierney’s brow shot up and his grin quirked.

“Her sister disappeared back in the fall, and she’s been looking for her ever since.”

“Well, there’s one way to find out if Bella’s her sister.” Tierney stepped toward the door. “I can describe her to Lily and see what she thinks.”

“Wait a minute.” Connell grabbed for Tierney, but his brother had already opened the door. “I don’t think we should involve Lily yet.” He didn’t want to think what Lily might do if Bella was the girl she’d been looking for all these months. Lily was too impetuous. She’d likely run up to the Stockade the first chance she had and get herself hurt.

“Stop!” he called after Tierney.

But his brother was descending the steps two at a time, tossing a grin over his shoulder as if they were playing a game of tag.

“Let me tell her,” Connell shouted, “after I’ve done my own investigation.”

Tierney didn’t look back. Instead he jumped the last four steps and darted toward the door, leaving Connell little choice but to follow him at full speed.

Connell raced outside, determined to wrestle Tierney to the ground and give him the thrashing he needed.

But Tierney skidded on the icy street away from him, nearly barreling into Lily in his haste. “Describe your sister to me.”

She took a step away from him, out of his reach, letting him fumble to steady himself. Her brow lifted, and she regarded him without a trace of warmth.

At least Connell could console himself with one thing—Lily hadn’t swooned over Tierney the way other women always seemed to. In fact, she hadn’t shown the slightest interest in him.

“Why do you want to know about my sister?”

“Never mind, Tierney.” Connell crossed his arms to ward off the cold air that was seeping through his mackinaw. “I’ll deal with it later.”

But Tierney was already speaking. “I think I might have found the sister you’ve been looking for.”

She drew in a sharp breath, and her eyes turned to the size of the winter sun. “What do you mean?”

“Don’t listen to him, Lily,” Connell said quickly.

She’d already fixed her gaze upon Tierney, and the determination in their dark depths was strong enough to chain a man. Connell knew Tierney wouldn’t be able to go anywhere until she got what she wanted from him.

And he knew Tierney was all too willing to divulge the information, especially now that Connell had asked him not to.

“I met a girl up at the Stockade this week,” Tierney said. “And she looks a lot like you.”

Lily’s mittened hand fluttered to her chest. “A girl who looks like me? How?”

“The same dark curly hair and the same eyes.”

“That could be any girl.”

“And she had a beauty mark right here on her chin.” Tierney pointed to a spot near the edge of his jaw.

Lily gasped and turned to Stuart. “It must be her. She’s always had a spot on her chin, and she loathes it.”

Stuart’s gaze connected with Connell’s. Hesitation filled his friend’s face.

Connell shook his head, hoping Stuart would read the unspoken message: They couldn’t let Lily do anything rash.

“Her name is Bella.” Tierney tossed Connell a satisfied glance. And Connell pretended not to notice the immaturity.

“But my sister’s name is Daisy.”

Stuart cleared his throat. “Carr makes a lot of his girls change their names.”

“Well now”—Lily’s face lit with growing excitement— “if Daisy changed her name, that might be why no one knew about her.”

“Carr usually reserves a couple girls for his special clients.” Stuart glanced sideways at Tierney. “That means the ordinary shanty boys wouldn’t know much about her other than hearsay.”

“It must be her.” Lily grasped Stuart’s arm. “We need to go get her. Now.”

“Right now?” Stuart asked.

“I can’t wait another moment. If it’s really her, then I need to go now.” She tugged on Stuart’s arm.

Stuart didn’t budge.

Lily linked her arm through his and pulled him harder. “Come on. I’ve been waiting for this moment for months.”

“You can’t march up there and demand to see Daisy,” Connell said. “You remember what happened with Frankie.”