“You were silent for weeks. Your aunt was out of her mind with worry,” Kevin accused.
Guilt swelled inside me. “I lost my phone. I didn’t mean to worry everyone.”
“Sheriff Forge placed me in charge of your…situation.” Kevin shot an assessing gaze around the living room.
“Her situation?” Ivan growled.
Oh, crap.At this point, the truth was better than any attempt to smooth the situation. “When I left Detroit, I blackmailed the mob,” I explained. “The local sheriff in North Dakota took me under his protection, and if anything happened to me, he was charged with exposing my father.”
Ivan signaled me with a look. A slow, lazy smile tipped his lips. Appreciation flared in his eyes.
I warmed under the look. I enjoyed being the center of his attention, feeling the pride wafting off him. I should have toldhim the rest of the story in the shower. He would have…he would have….
Dang, we could have been having sex right now.
“And from what I hear, you’re back in hot water.” Kevin just had to go open his big mouth.
“Kevin, thanks. Thanks for stopping by, for doing your duty, and making sure I was okay. I am okay,” I stated firmly. “We just found Brady’s biological family by accident, and we’re spending time getting him reacquainted with his heritage. I’ll call Aunt Rosa tomorrow. That’s all. No need to worry.”
“Pops,” he said softly.
Ivan heard the hurt note in his voice too. “This guy?”
I groaned. Men were like dogs. It was highly probably they could smell each other’s piss, even if they didn’t lift legs to mark territory.
“No, not this guy,” I snapped. “He’s a friend. And because he’s a friend, you’ll say goodnight and close that door.”
“I’m not done—”
“Kevin!Garh! For once in your life, do the smart thing and leave,” I hissed.
Something I said must have gotten through to both of them. They backed off; the door was closed. But not before they shared a silent conversation about territory and more male macho crap.
I sank onto the couch, suddenly deflated. Of all the people to come charging into this mess, Kevin was probably the worst. A stickler for rules, he was everything the mob wasn’t. While it would be hard to pinpoint Ivan as a mob boss just from a look, he could easily be profiled as a criminal. Definitely as a man who was up to no good. Kevin saw it. And now…now I didn’t know what.
“You like pretty boys in fancy suits?”
My eyes snapped open. “Whoa, bucko, you’re out of line.”
The jealousy in his eyes was intoxicating. He was insane, maddened! Over me. Little old me. I watched him, trying not to smile and deflate the moment with a laugh. Sue me. I liked his focused, predatorial attention.
Ivan crossed his arms, legs taking a wide stance. The muscles on his arms popped. Thick and strong, but they were also capable. He didn’t work out for show. There was a brutal force built into the fibers of his body. And his pecs? Saints above, those hard, chiseled muscles of his chest made me melt. My mouth watered, and I wondered what he would do if I ran my tongue over them.
Hunger stirred deep in my belly, and I couldn’t take my eyes off him.
But his words helped cool the heat. “Is that the type you like to fuck?”
I sat up straight. “I’m only going to dignify that disgusting comment with a reply so you stop being such an ass! No. I went on two dates with him—three if you count the church potluck, where we sat together. We kissed once. It was dull. For the last year and half, we’ve been civil, friendly. We go to church together, and it’s a small town, so having the ex-drama isn’t an option. I ended things before it got to that point.”
I paused to take a deep breath.
Ivan’s jaw worked back and forth as he stared down at me.
“I sure as hell never masturbated to him in the tub!” I shot to my feet. “Put that in your pipe and smoke it, Mr. Big Bad Mob Boss.”
Ivan’s gaze slid down my body. Scorch marks cut over my skin—my bare skin.
I ripped the loosened towel back around my body. “I’m going to bed. Goodnight.”
