“You don’t?” Karen tipped her head in the direction of the party. “I’ve seen the way he looks at you, and, girl, he is completely gone.”

Karen was obviously a romantic. Or Joel was doing a better job of acting than they thought. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

She got away without any more of an inquisition, taking a deep breath before heading into the jam-packed living space.

Joel spotted her immediately, leaving the group he’d been chatting with. He crossed the room with his long-legged stroll that ate up the distance between them like it was nothing.

He tucked her under his arm, the smile on his face warming her with its familiar heat. “You finish getting ready all those goodies you insisted on bringing?”

She nodded. “It was only right to bring something, and you know I like cooking. I’m glad I could contribute.”

“They’re glad you could contribute,” he joked. “I would have brought a couple bags of chips and some dip.”

“You would not.”

He smiled as he reached for a glass. “You want anything with it?”

She’d given up that lie. Alcohol wasn’t necessary for her to have a good time. “Just the Coke, thanks.”

He settled them in a clear space on a love seat, and she leaned into his side. The place was more crowded than anything she’d attended, and yet a lot more comfortable than she’d dreamed possible.

Of course, considering the majority of people in the room were Colemans or their friends had something to do with that. Over the past month, most of the town folk had stopped making snide comments to her face. Didn’t mean they had changed their opinion, but at least they weren’t airing those particular thoughts as often or as loudly as before.

A musical laugh rang out from the front door and she stiffened in her seat.

It couldn’t be.

She leaned forward to peer through the crowd, but too many bulky bodies stood between her and her target.

Joel played his fingers over her shoulder. “What’s up?”

“I thought I just heard… No, it’s impossible.”

He lifted a brow. “What?”

She heard the laugh again and jumped to her feet. Damn being short. If she could have crawled on the furniture to get a better view, she would have.

Joel stood as well, trying to follow her gaze. “You’re not being very party-like right now. It’s tough to win at Eye Spy when I don’t know what I’m looking for. Oh fuck…”

“Yeah.” He’d pretty much summed it up. Sarah was at the front door, and she had her arm draped over Jesse’s elbow, her body pressed intimately close.

Fuck. Fuck.

Vicki’s first response was to hide.

The second was a familiar flash of anger. Brazen bitch. Her sister didn’t do anything without an agenda. “You don’t mind if I go see what the hell is going on, do you?”

Joel was at her side as they worked their way across the room. “Don’t think this is yours to fight alone.”

“I don’t want to fight, I want to cause massive pain and then never have to see her again in my life.”

“Sounds good to me. The causing-massive-pain part, only I get dibs on Jesse.”

Joel stepped in front of her, effectively blocking her from getting close enough to Sarah to rip her ears off. His bulk also blocked Jesse from moving any farther into the room. “This is unexpected.”

“Just dropping in on a family event. We won’t stay long. Other things to do.” Jesse grinned, his smirk less attractive than she’d remembered. It was as if his eyes had grown colder. “Of course, you both know Sarah.”

Joel pointed back the way they’d come in. “Outside, Jesse. Let’s talk without an audience.”

Music still blasted, but little pockets of discussion were rising in corners.

“Sarah said she needed a washroom. Why don’t you go ahead, sweetheart? We’ll be done chatting by the time you get back.” Joel was forced to step aside as Jesse slapped Sarah on the bottom and directed her farther into the apartment.

Vicki was torn. Did she go after her sister or stay with Joel?

Sarah vanished fast enough the decision was made for her. Vicki slipped out the door just in time to grab hold of Joel’s arm and stop him from slamming his fist into his twin’s face. “Whoa. That bit I said earlier about causing massive pain? Let’s rethink that, okay?”

Because as mad as she was, she hated that she’d come between the two brothers.


Joel checked himself at Vicki’s touch.

The pause allowed Jesse to back out of range and turn to sneer at Vicki. “You are a hell of a lot less fun than I thought you’d be. Other than being a pain in the ass, you’re simply…needy, aren’t you?”

Asshole. Joel glared daggers at his brother. “Leave Vicki out of this and explain what the hell you’re doing showing up with Sarah.”

“Hey, having a good time, you know. Nothing wrong with giving someone a chance.”

Sarcasm dripped from his words.

The door at the entrance to the apartment slammed open, and Travis sauntered in. “Hell, it’s a Six Pack party in the hallway. Who’s in shit now?”

“Mind your own fucking business,” Jesse snapped.

“Ahh, that answers my question.” Travis stepped between the twins, pausing for a moment as he faced Jesse. “You’re too dumb to realize this, but the guilty party always speaks first. And you know what’s really odd? It usually seems to be you flapping your jaw far quicker than Joel.”

“Stay out of it, Travis. I can deal with him.” Joel tugged Vicki to his side, wishing he could insist she go back into the party, but it was as much her fight as his.

“There’s nothing to deal with, jerk. I’m here, I brought a date, that’s it.” Jesse sniffed at Travis. “Speaking of dates, where’s Ashley?”

Travis stiffened. “Fuck off, Jesse.”

“Ha. Then I did hear right, she dumped you. Damn, you can’t seem to keep a girl happy. Maybe you need to do like me and Joel.” Jesse pointed at Vicki. “I mean, you’re taken, and I nabbed Sarah for the night, but there’s one more Hansol whore still available—”

Joel couldn’t fathom the words had really been said. Disbelief made him hesitate just long enough that by the time he went to smack some sense into his ass of a brother, Vicki had beaten him to it. She leapt from beside him and slammed her fist into Jesse’s smirking face.

It took a moment of scuffling before Travis had Jesse in a headlock and Joel had his wildcat of a woman pulled free.

“Let me go. I’m going to kill the fucker.” Vicki swung even when she must have known it was futile. Joel had her around the waist, holding her struggling body tight to his as he attempted to calm her.

“Let us have the fun, we’ve been waiting for longer.” Travis jerked Jesse off his feet, biceps bulging as he kept his brother trapped in position. “Don’t think about fighting back. You’re in deep shit.”

Fury whipped through Joel that Jesse would take whatever was pissing him off and make this battle into hurting Vicki. Wading in and using his fists to beat some sense into his brother would have been fun, but clearly wasn’t going to work. “You have a problem with me, you talk to me, but you leave Vicki and Lynn out of this.”

Travis released Jesse from his grasp, tossing him down the hallway. “I second that. I don’t care if you want to poke at me or meet me outside the barn so I can rearrange your face. In my books, Vicki deserves more respect than you do.”

“Now why would you defend her as well?” Jesse scrambled to his feet, wiping blood from his nose. He turned to face Joel. “Sharing with Travis this time? I guess you still haven’t figured out how to fuck a woman on your own.”

Silence descended on the hallway so hard Joel heard his blood pound past his eardrums. He couldn’t let go and beat Jesse like he deserved or Vicki would be loose, and murder really would be done.

Travis held up a hand, speaking quietly to Vicki. “Ignore him. He’s being an ass, and he’s not worth it. Joel’s got a damn fine woman in you, but I don’t want you the way Jesse implied. I consider you a sister, and that’s all I’ve ever said in public, and that’s all that will be said. So if you want me to pound Jesse on your behalf, you go ahead and let me know.”

“No one has to beat him up.” She relaxed, and when she tapped his arm, Joel set her on her feet. She nestled against his chest, glaring across at Jesse. “Your words, your actions, tonight and earlier. All of it makes me realize what I should have already known. Just because people are related doesn’t mean someone will be like their family. I’m nothing like my sister, and, Jesse, you’re nothing at all like your brothers.”

“Just words, sweetheart. They’re not going to make me cry into my pillow tonight.”

“They should,” she snapped. “I’m proud I’m not like Sarah, but you should be damn ashamed you’re not more like Joel or Travis or Matt. I’d trust them with my life. I wouldn’t trust you with dirt.”

“Why, sweetie, what a sad way to talk about your sister.” Sarah slipped out of the apartment door and stepped into the mess.

Jesse’s face had flushed bright red at Vicki’s accusation. Travis stood warily to the right, Joel protecting Vicki on the left.

Only Sarah moved, Vicki still as a statue as her sister paced closer.

Sarah tilted her head. “You’re not like me? Maybe you should rethink that. You seemed to have weaseled your way into a protective family who are taking good care of you. Mama would be proud.”

“Fuck you.” The words came out soft and low, but lifeless, as if Vicki had no more fight left.

Joel saw it coming this time. When Sarah lifted her hand he caught her wrist before she could take a swing at Vicki. “You’re not welcome here. I think you should go. You and Jesse, both.”