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Conner stood silently, holding her purse and the bag from the bakery.
“Didn’t I just tell you this morning at the gym to leave my sister alone?”
“You aren’t her keeper. Maybe she isn’t as gullible as you are to believe that bullshit story Mariah sold you. Did you ever even consider why your snobby girlfriend suddenly decided to break up with you the day after graduation?”
Parker looked like he’d been struck in the face.
“Keep her name out of your mouth and stay away from my sister.” Parker took a step forward as if to square off with Conner right there.
“Okay, look, we can’t solve this tonight. Let’s just all take some space before this gets out of hand.” She moved to stand in between them. “I’m too tired to deal with this right now.”
“There is nothing to solve here, Hannah. Conner Maguire is a disloyal womanizer, and I don’t want you to see him anymore.”
“Good thing I’m a grown woman and don’t need your permission to work with Conner on the fundraisers.”
The look of surprise on Parker’s face was followed by worry. Although she didn’t want to believe Conner had slept with Mariah, the evidence was pretty damning. And Hannah couldn’t side with someone over her brother without proof. Even then it would be hard to alienate a family member. Parker may be stubborn and bossy, but he was her blood. He had always been there for her growing up, and she didn’t want to hurt him.
Turning to Conner, she gave him back his keys, and he handed her the bag of goodies he’d brought, then her purse.
“You earned these. I’ll make sure the boats are ready for the movie night.” His voice was all business, but disappointment and anger were written on his face. She was choosing her brother over him, but what did he expect?
“Good night.” Without another look at Conner’s face, she walked to the passenger side of her brother’s car and waited.
She watched Conner walk away to his Jeep. Would he even be willing to talk to her again after tonight? What a mess.
But even after the near drowning, drenched clothes, and chill that ran through her, she could still feel the warmth of Conner’s mouth on her skin and the sensation of his rough, strong hands all over her body. She didn’t know what came over her out on the water, but resisting her attraction to Conner was getting tough. She just needed to make sure they didn’t spend any time alone again, and maybe she could avoid jumping his sexy body. Maybe.
Chapter Eight
Conner woke upon Monday with a newfound hope. Although Parker had ruined their night and a kid almost drowned, Hannah had taken his breath away when she straddled his lap on the swan. He’d been shocked that she had so much passion just rolling under the surface—for him.
If that kid hadn’t fallen into the lake, he was convinced she would have let him have her right out on the water. Years of pent-up desire was ready to explode just under her reserved surface, and now that he knew how much she wanted him, there was no way he was going to let her go. Their mutual attraction was a constant shadow, but now she couldn’t deny it.
Unfortunately, he didn’t have any plans to see her until Wednesday for the charity photo shoot. As it stood at five o’clock on Monday evening, the task force was going to run late every day until they could pin down the identity of the latest drug trafficker in D.C.
The team had pictures of dealers picking up the products, large deposits of cash, and had made several arrests of buyers with the new product on the streets. They could use the lab tests to prove the product came from the same supplier, but they needed to prove their millionaire playboy was the kingpin. The trouble was, they had yet to gather any evidence on who they believed was their guy, the man behind the import and sale of this line of very pure and effective hallucinogens linked to several deaths so far.
This case required all his focus, but the image of Hannah with her head back, offering her body up to him was on repeat in his mind. He picked up his phone and fired off a text to her.
“Can I see you tonight?”
It wasn’t subtle and it wasn’t romantic, but it was exactly how he felt. He wanted to pick up where they’d left off in that boat, and he had a feeling she did too. He stared at his phone, waiting to see a response.
Nothing.
Next he ordered a large, expensive flower arrangement to be delivered that night. Then he sat back. What else could he send her? Jewelry probably wouldn’t have the desired effect at this stage. He could order a singing telegram, but it seemed too weird. Art supplies? Clearly, she was an artist, but he had no clue what was considered quality or the type of supplies she’d want.
Then an idea took root, and he fired off more deliveries for that evening and the next day.
At ten, he was arriving back home, having briefed the night shift surveillance team, when his phone started to blow up with texts.
No. My shift just ended, but thank you for the flowers, even though they weren’t necessary.
Then a picture rolled in of a huge pool floaty in the shape of a swan in her front yard.
P.S. I don’t have a pool.
It’s a date. I know one we can take it to this weekend,he texted.
