She reacted. Like she’d been trained to do so many years ago. She’d been doing martial arts since she’d been eighteen and basically thrown out of the Texas foster system to fend for herself.
She’d never forgotten that. Or that it had taken herfour yearsto find her only living relative out there. Just to lose her half-brother four years later. Living on the streets had taught her that having any kind of edge against men bigger and stronger than her could be all that kept her alive.
Bryant was definitely bigger and stronger.
Good thing it had been during the summer—or she’d have been seriously in trouble. It had taken her nine months to get off the streets back then. She’d ended up living over a mixed martial arts studio, in a twenty by twenty ‘efficiency’ for three years. She’d managed the building for a twenty percent discount from her rent—and she hadlearned.
He barely budged. The man was as solid as a damned tank. Of course, she hadn’t been using her full force—he was her partner’s brother, after all—but…he should have at least actedsurprised,right?
“Do noteverput your hands on me again, Naylor.” No one touched her without permission. No one. That was a lesson he was going to learn very early on.
“Is this what my brother gets when you two are alone?” The smirk—made her want to scream.
She just stared at him. It took everything she had not to knock out his ridiculously perfect front teeth. “Are you kidding me? You, too? First, your brother is mypartnerand myfriend.There is nothing sexual between us, and never has been. Whycan’t people just accept that at face value? Why should they even care if we take our clothes off for each other, for that matter?”
“Becauseyou,Miller, are just Brett’s type. Blonde…beautiful. And you work with him side by side, every damned day. Longer than anyone else in this place has. Why wouldn’t he have made a move?”
Beautiful? Guy was just baiting her. She knew what he thought when he looked at her. Jerk. Total jerk. How could any woman like this asshole?
“Are you saying you would have? How about because your brother and I are professionals—and I don’t sleep with guys I work with. Ever. And I never will.”
He snorted, like he didn’t believe her. Oh, she wanted to kick him hard. Right where it would hurt the most. She tried to get around him. He still had her trapped.
“He was keeping secrets, you know it. Now, you’re going to tell me what those secrets are.”
“First, I wouldn’t even if I knew. I believe in loyalty, honor, and integrity. Maybe you should try it some time? Doesn’t the badge mean something to you? I know it does tome.Your brother, too. Unless…you’re just as dirty as the rest of the assholes who think they run this place around here? You play kissy face with Hamler on those little weekendtripsof yours to Wichita Falls? Brett had his own questions… I told him he was just seeing things. But maybe it was his own brother he couldn’t trust? You dirty, Bryant sweetie? If you are—I’llbe the one to prove it. You a dirtyboy,Bryant, sweetie? Have you been playing in Hamler’s bed lately? I heard she likes pretty boys just like you.”
His face darkened. Hemoved.He loomed over her. Somehow, K.J. found herself backed against the wall. They were still alone in the hallway. This jerk had her trapped. His hands were fisted around the guardrails behind her. He loomed rightover her—she was five-six. He had a good ten inches on her. Just like his brother. Brett was always laughing about that. Saying she was the runt of their little two-man team. “What do you think you are doing?”
She could take him down—maybe. He had his own martial arts background. Brett had teased her that he would love to see her take his brother on someday.
Well, apparently that someday was going to benow.
He was bigger, he was stronger. She didn’t like those odds.
And for the first time—he scared her. Just because his brother was squeaky clean didn’t mean the great Bryant Naylor was. He was bigger, stronger, and just astrained.Maybe she was right—maybe he was as dirty as pond scum. Just because Brett could be trusted it didn’t mean his brother could.
“I am making sure I have your attention, Miller. Make one thing clear—whatever brought my brotherhere,I am going to find out.”
“Sounds like we’re not at cross-purposes, then, pretty boy. So get the hell out of my space. Before I rip your lungs out through your ears.”
He smiled. To taunt. That was exactly what it was. He was toying with her. Like a cat with a mouse.
She looked into his green eyes, just like his brother’s. Only…more calculating. Cold.
Dangerous.
This man was beyond dangerous. And she somehow doubted he was asgoodas his brother. Far from it. Every instinct she had flared: this man was a threat.
K.J.’s hands pressed against his chest. The man had a chest that felt hard as a rock. “Move, asshole.”
His fingers wrapped around her wrist. A bit too tightly. To make a point? “I’m not going anywhere until you answer my questions.”
“K.J.?” a voice said from behind him. A voice she recognized. “You good?”
He turned. K.J. took her chance when she could. She twisted her arm free, and moved around him, fast. “Of course I am. Naylor was just…expressing his opinion, apparently.”
“So I heard. I heard everything, actually.” Lila held up her phone and sent K.J. alook.They’d be talking the first chance they had. “I rode with Price; heaven help me. He’s taking over guard-duty tonight. I’m here to get you.”
