Free Fated by Carly Phillips

inside him to focus on staying in Serendipity, working at his father’s job, and worrying about his old man.
    “Good?” Sam clenched his fists at his side.
    When it came to Cara, his brother’s protective instincts came out like crazy. Another reason Mike knew he’d made a mistake sleeping with her.
    Except it hadn’t felt like a mistake at the time. And he wanted to do it again.
    “Just because she knows doesn’t mean you aren’t making her feel like shit by ignoring what happened. Jesus, Mike, was it that bad?”
    “No, it was that good. Now can we drop it?” Mike barked at his brother.
    To his shock, Sam grinned. “Just one question first. What would you do to someone who treated Erin the way you’re treating Cara?”
    Mike preferred to think of his younger sister as a sweet innocent, not a twenty-seven-year-old woman. “I’d kick his ass,” Mike said immediately.
    Sam’s knowing stare, full of meaning and, yeah, disappointment, stabbed Mike in the gut, and blood rushed to his cheeks in embarrassment. Shame quickly followed. Okay, so he and Cara had some talking to do.
    And clearly Mike had walked right into his brother’s trap. “I’m still not discussing Cara with you.”
    “Good, because I don’t want details. I just wanted you to look at things the right way.” Sam gestured to the water, and Mike poured him some more. “Besides, I figure you two can only ignore the obvious for so long before something gives.”
    Sam had a point. Which brought Mike full circle to his earlier thoughts. No matter how much he denied it or tried to pretend otherwise, the woman got to him in a way that made her more dangerous than any potential suspect or case. And now that he realized he could no longer ignore the past, putting it out for discussion would only make the feelings between them more real.
    No, not feelings, he thought with a hard shake of his head. That word involved emotion. What he and Cara had shared was hot sex. Hotter than any he’d ever had—
    “So how are you feeling?” Mike asked Sam, deliberately changing the subject.
    His brother’s wince said it all. “Like my head’s about to explode, and my abdomen’s bloated and hurts like a son of a bitch.”
    Mike nodded in understanding. “Rest. I’ll tell everyone at the station to hold off visiting for a day or two.”
    Sam’s eyes began to close. “I’d appreciate that. I’m getting kicked out in two days, so they can come by and visit me then.”
    “Do you need me to move in for a couple of days and help you out?” Mike asked.
    Knowing his stay in town wasn’t permanent, and never needing much space, he’d rented the empty room over Joe’s Bar. Sam, like the true Marsden son, had already bought himself a small house in Serendipity, picket fence and all.
    “Nah. Cara offered to let me take the spare room at her new condo.”
    Mike ignored the hot flush of jealousy creeping through his veins. It was as unwarranted as it was ridiculous. Sam and Cara were best friends and partners, but there was nothing sexual between them. And even if there was, Mike didn’t plan to pick up where they’d left off, so what was his problem?
    “That was nice of her to offer.” Mike forced out the words.
    “Yeah. I might take her up on it,” Sam said, sounding groggier by the minute.
    “Hey, did you click on your meds while I wasn’t looking?” Mike gestured to the button attached to his brother’s IV.
    Sam nodded, a goofy grin on his face. “Yeah. Feeling no pain, my man.”
    Mike rolled his eyes. Time for him to go. He braced his hand on the bed and rose to his feet. “You get some sleep. I’ll come by after work. Mom said to tell you they’ll be here around lunchtime.”
    “Okay. They came late last night for a quick hello, but I was pretty out of it.”
    “Yeah, but they both slept better for seeing you.”
    Sam didn’t reply. He was already passed out cold. Mike shook his head and walked out. First stop coffee shop, then he’d get