Busted

“I figure I can handle them on my own.” She picked up another book. Poetry, this time. “Seems like you’re the black sheep in your family.”

“Seems that way.”

She didn’t say anything else as she flipped through a book. Keats, Travis noticed. He’d never been one for poetry.

She looked up at him for a long moment and then back down at the book.

Travis had the weirdest urge to just tell her. Which was insane, because he was used to keeping quiet. But . . .

“I know all about being the black sheep,” she said, cutting through his thoughts, her gaze still on the pages. “Had some . . . trouble, I guess you could say, when I was a kid. It would have been worse if it wasn’t for my aunt. And then of course I had to go and end up on my ass again, figure things out the hard way. Both my cousin and I, we probably broke my aunt’s heart. I straightened up. My cousin? Not so much. Some of us, I guess we can only learn things the hard way.”

She watched him now with a message in her eyes.

And she was all but challenging him.

Lifting a brow, he shrugged and tucked his hands into his pockets. “Sometimes the hard way is the only way to learn.”

“Maybe. Sucks, but I guess we all learn in our own way.” She put the book of Keats back and started for the door. Sliding past him, she went to go down the hall and then paused. Over her shoulder, she said, “I like Trey. A lot. Whatever you find, I hope you keep that in mind.”

Travis closed his eyes.

Son of a bitch.

Oh, yeah. She knew something.

She’d pegged him for a cop, he’d bet that in a heartbeat. He wasn’t. But she’d come a hell of a lot closer than anybody else ever had.

*   *   *

Her gut churned as she settled on the couch next to Trey.

She needed to round up Neeci and head home, but for some reason, she needed this.

No.

Not some reason.

Every reason.

All the reasons.

She’d seen it.

She was right. That man wasn’t an accountant any more than she was. Or maybe he had been one . . . or something. Undercover, maybe? She didn’t know. She was curious why he had his family thinking that was what he did. Not that it was any of her business.

The one thing that was her business was what would happen when Travis found out.

And he was going to look.

That was what his kind did. They nosed around, dug around, looked for answers.

Would he leave her alone?

Or would he tell Trey?

Maybe she should just tell him . . .

Wasn’t that one hell of a thing to drop into a conversation. So, baby . . . let me tell you this trouble I got into. My cousin and me, actually. You know, Neeci’s mama? You’re just going to love this. Shame and misery twisted in her and she had to fight not to squirm.

A series of giggles had her looking toward the TV and she smiled at the screen as she caught sight of one seriously beautiful man—being cornered by a couple of devious kids.

It was Sebastian Barnes, playing the role of a hardened military man who came home to find his brother’s kids orphaned and himself left with the job of raising them.

“He looks comfortable in that role,” she murmured.

“Yeah. He took it after he spent a couple weeks here with me and Clayton. Said he had more fun with kids than he’d thought he could. Of course, one of those kids almost made him go and get himself snipped,” Trey said, gri

“Yeah? A terror?”

“Beyond. According to Seb, the kid missed his cues, stepped on his lines all the time, and when they were doing those wrestling scenes you saw earlier? He actually kicked Seb in the . . .” He stopped and ran his tongue across his teeth. “Well. His shots were on target the first few times. Then Seb wisened up and started wearing a cup—the kid got mad when he hurt his foot and complained to his mother, who then complained to the director.”

She almost asked if he was joking, but judging by the smirk on his face, she knew he wasn’t. “And what did the director say?”

“He suggested the kid remember he wasn’t actually supposed to kick him. She wasn’t pleased, I’m told.”

“Wow.” Eying the screen now, she tried to figure out which one it was. He’d mentioned the wrestling, but it had been two kids on the lone adult. The ruddy cheeked, angelic looking boy who looked to be six or seven didn’t seem like a good fit. The only other option was the teenager. “Was it that older kid? Seems like he’d know better.”

“He did.” Trey lifted a brow as he turned to look at her. “It was the little kid. Apparently under all those golden curls, he’s got a set of horns. And his mom is one of the worst stage moms ever.”

“Stage mom?” She eyed him curiously.

Trey laughed. “Sorry. You’ve got normal moms—those who are just that . . . normal. Like our mom was. Even though Zach practically lived on set, and then later, Seb, and all of us were around it because of them, she made sure we had a normal life, or as normal as possible. Then you’ve got stage moms—the only thing that matters is the next part. Their child is the most important person on the set—even if it’s just a bit part and you’ve got Sean Co

“That’s awful. I kinda feel bad for your brother,” she murmured, eying the angelic looking boy with new eyes.

“I don’t,” Trey said with relish.

“Why not?” she demanded, turning to look at him.

“Because Sebastian deserves it.”

“Does he ever,” Travis said as he came into the room.

She didn’t let herself stiffen as she glanced at him.

He settled in an armchair on the other side of the room. “Mom had to pop that kid’s bubble on a regular basis. Some people grow into their arrogance. Sebastian was born with it. And he was probably ten times worse than that kid and Mom was constantly reeling him in.”

“Yep.” Trey chuckled and the sound was more than a little diabolical. “Now he’s getting a taste of his own medicine. I bet it tastes really bad.”

“You are awful.” Shaking her head, she settled a little more comfortably against him and tried not to think about the fact that the other, quieter twin was sitting just a few feet away. He wasn’t looking at her directly, but she was all too aware of his gaze.

*   *   *

The side of the car was still warm from the heat of the day, although it was rapidly cooling down.

Not that she was cold.

Caught between the car and Trey’s body, she could barely think.

One hand tangled in the back of her shirt, the other spread on her neck while he used teeth and tongue to slowly destroy her sanity.

Moaning into his kiss, she clutched at his shoulders as the strength drained out of her. A dark, rough growl came out of him as she sagged back against the car and he followed, his weight pressing more firmly against her as he started to move, oh so slowly.

It was . . . devastating.

Her sex clenched and she could feel herself growing hotter, wetter in readiness. His cock was a heavy, thick brand and she rubbed herself against him. Half mad with the need, she found herself reaching for him, ready to tug his jeans open and shove her hand inside.

“You’re going to kill me,” he muttered, catching her wrist and drawing her hand back.

Belatedly, she remembered. Where they were. What she was doing.

Neeci was in the car, asleep.

In the house a few yards away, Clayton was in the same condition.

And Travis—

That was a bucket of cold water in her face. Curling her fingers into her hand, she tugged free and turned her head.