“Uh huh. Well, I’m glad he did because this gives you the perfect excuse to flaunt it in front of him a little. I’ve got five that says he swallows his tongue when he sees you wearing your glamour gear.” Mara held out her hand.

“It’s not like he hasn’t seen me dressed up before, so I doubt he’ll be blown away. I'm sure he'll do what every other guy does. Stare at the boobs, stare at the legs and then once the blood goes back to his brain, he'll be over it. No big deal.”

The other woman still held her hand out until Ridley shook it reluctantly. “This is ridiculous but it’s your money.”

Mara dug around in the black tote bag she’d brought and pulled out a pair of slinky black sandals. “He's not going to know what hit him.”

*   *   *   *   *

IT TOOK SEVERAL trips for her, Mara, and Matt to haul all the stuff she’d brought up to her room. She’d made a good call by asking for Raina’s help. It would have been ridiculous to go out and buy dressy clothes, shoes and handbags when Raina practically had a department store in her closet.

I hope Raina really doesn’t mind that I took all this stuff. Rather than waste time sorting through it all she’d figured it was easier to take a bunch with her. She could decide what she wanted to wear later.

Raina won’t mind you borrowing it. Especially since it’s for a cause she supports.

Ridley snorted, remembering her sister’s words. No, Raina definitely wouldn’t have any problem with her taking so much if it meant she was seducing Jackson. This was what her scheming sister had been hoping for the entire time!

“Okay, I think that’s the last of it.” Matt bounded down the stairs. “I thought Mara had a lot of crap. Girls are crazy. How many pairs of shoes does one person need?”

“Well, I figured it was better just to bring a bunch. You know, just in case.”

“In case of what? A shoe emergency?” Matt stepped back when she swiped at him. “Okay, okay. I know better than to question female logic. If you don’t need anything else, I have to meet Nick. He’s taking me to look at condos.”

“I’m pretty sure I’ve got it all.” She leaned out the open front door and waved at Mara. “Thanks again. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

She watched as they walked across the lawn and then stopped next to a car pulling in. Nick got out and exchanged a handshake with Matt before continuing toward the house.

Great. Just what I need right now.

Nick had hated her practically on sight. The last thing she needed was to see him while she was still all dolled up in her “Raina-wear”. He’d probably make fun of her or, better yet, accuse her of trying to seduce his brother. Although she had no defense against that claim if he did. She was definitely trying to seduce his brother. An evil grin pulled the edges of her lips as he walked up.

“So you’re dating my brother now? And you’re what? Moving in?” Nick charged up the steps and grabbed her by the arm.

“Hey, what are you doing?” Ridley tried to yank her arm from his grip but he tightened his hold until it almost hurt.

“I’m taking you in the house. You and I are going to have a talk.”

Chapter Fourteen

NICK HAD TRIED to stay out of it, he really had. He was on guard and Elliott was still searching for information. He’d thought they could be alert enough on Jackson’s behalf.

But when he’d driven up to his brother’s house and heard that Jackson was taking Raina on a date, the control he thought he’d mastered snapped.

He grabbed her by the arm, ignoring her gasp of outrage. She was a master at playing it up, pretending to feel things she really didn’t. No one knew that better than he did, yet he still relaxed his grip a bit as he dragged her across the threshold and into the house.

“I knew you were a bitch, but I didn’t think even you were that cold.”

He advanced on her, walking forward until she was backed up against the wall. She was tall for a woman but she still had to look up to meet his eyes. He stilled, surprised at the sheen of tears in her eyes. Raina didn’t cry. Ever. The impact was almost enough to make him back down.

Almost, but not quite.

“Nick, what are you talking about? I don’t know what I did to make you hate me so much.”

He laughed cruelly. “You don’t know what you did?” He swore and then braced a hand on the wall above her head. “You don’t remember? Is that the game we’re going to play? We had the most amazing night, the hottest, wettest sex in every position we could bend ourselves into and you don’t remember?”

He clenched his fists, on the verge of turning and running out. He’d never raised a hand to a woman in his life, and never would, but damn if he didn’t want to just shake her until her teeth rattled. Or spank her. No, no spanking. Her soft curves beneath the palm of his hand would be more his undoing than hers.

“Nick, wait. You don’t understand—”

Still on edge from the visual image of her bent over, he slapped the wall above her head, the loud sound making her jump. He didn’t want to hear her excuses or whatever lies she’d prepared to explain what she was up to. She was using his brother to punish him and it had to stop.

“I know what you’re trying to do. You screwed with my head and I let you. But leave Jackson alone. I mean it.”

She watched him with wide, watchful eyes. The innocent look was just an act, he knew that but he couldn’t stop himself from reacting to it. His body saw her hurting and it strained to do whatever necessary to protect her.