Page 3 of Tough Justice
“It’s nice she can go in and work when she wants while helping you and taking care of Parker.” She held the little one close. His breathing evened out and body grew heavier. She winced. “I think he fell back asleep.”
“No problem. You can lay him back in his bed if you want.”
“You’ll have to pry this baby out of my cold, dead hands before I willingly put him down.”
“You’ll change your mind when you have to lug him around all day. He’s getting big.” Pride beamed from Lane’s brown eyes.
A tap at the open door drew her attention. Duke stood in the doorway, his tan cowboy hat in his hands and his hair disheveled in a charming way that made her want to run her fingers through the thick strands.
“Morning,” he said. “Hope you don’t mind, but I brought someone for y’all to meet.”
A petite woman with long, light hair and big green eyes sidestepped Duke and entered the room with a large grin. She waved, her slim shoulders practically vibrating with anticipation. “Hey, guys. I’m Heather. It’s so nice to meet you.”
The other woman’s subtle southern drawl was just as adorable as the rest of her, causing a wave of jealousy to rise hotand quick like hellfire. A large pit formed in Suzy’s stomach, and she forced a tight smile on her face. This was ridiculous. She had no claim on Duke—never had.
But that didn’t stop the stab of disappointment as Duke wrapped an arm around Heather’s shoulders and pulled her in for a quick side hug.
Nope, she didn’t like thisHeatherone bit. Now she just had to figure out how to excuse herself and scream into a pillow or something. Duke being taken off the market might hurt like a bitch, but no way in hell she’d let him or anyone else know it.
2
Duke’s excitement over introducing his sister to his buddy and Suzy was momentarily paused when Suzy frowned, scrunching the lines in her face for just a second before flattening her lips into a tight smile.
Strange.
Suzy was always happy around everyone. He’d expected her to throw her arms around Heather and insist on becoming best friends right away. His stomach muscles tightened. This was stupid. Suzy’s reaction to his family shouldn’t matter, but damn it, it did.
He mentally shook off the weirdness and dipped his chin toward Lane. “This is my business partner, Lane Tipton. This is his house, which is perfect since it’s so freaking big. We’re able to run Rough Ride Security from here.”
Heather swept across the room and held out a hand for Lane to shake. “I have to admit, I haven’t heard too much about you and I’m dying to learn everything. Is that Parker? Because him I have heard about.” She turned to beam at the baby. “And I’m guessing Suzy? You work here too, right? You, Duke’s said plenty about.”
Duke bit back a groan.
Suzy’s dark eyebrows rose high on her smooth brow, and she pinned him with a curious stare. “Is that right?”
“Please excuse my sister,” he said before Heather could add any more embarrassment.
“Sister?” Suzy asked, brows somehow even higher.
Tilting his head, he tried to decipher her ever-changing expression since he’d walked in the room. “Yeah. My little sister. Heather drove up from Texas and surprised me. Not sure what she really wants, but we’ll get to that later.”
Suzy’s shoulders relaxed and a genuine smile lit her face.
Lane snorted. “Showing up unannounced sounds like a family trait.”
Heather turned curious eyes Duke’s way. “Now that sounds like a story I need to hear.”
Duke rolled his eyes. “Not much to tell. Lane’s still annoyed I came to town and ruined his plans to sulk and piss away his life.”
Suzy’s chuckle rolled up the back of his neck and curled his toes.
“You really have Lane pegged,” Suzy said. “But there’s no reason to get your sister caught up in the middle of your bickering. If she sticks around long enough, she’ll see plenty of that.”
The warmth he loved so much about Suzy flowed through her voice and the pinched expression she’d worn seconds before morphed into something softer, more familiar. Maybe he’d imagined her initial reaction.
Or maybe it was something more.
Either way, he didn’t have the time to analyze it now.
