Free Stork Alert by Delores Fossen Page B

the mirror of the rosewood umbrella stand in the foyer. Nick opened the door, and Kelly realized she had a perfect view of the man who might be trying to terrorize her.
    He certainly didn’t look like a killer.
    In fact, he looked like Nick.
    No one would doubt they were brothers. They had the same midnight-black hair. The same strongly angled jaw. The same olive-toned skin. But that’s where the similarities ended. Eric’s eyes were cold, as was his expression, and he was at least twenty pounds thinner than Nick. There was also the attire. Nick was all cowboy today in his jeans, white shirt and boots. Eric was wearing a dark-navy suit with a scarlet-red tie.
    “What do you want?” Nick demanded.
    Eric took a puff from his thin brown cigar. “You know, you should work on your social skills. Most people issue a polite greeting before they launch into a verbal attack.”
    “This isn’t a social call. What do you want?” Nick repeated. But he didn’t just repeat it. His voice lowered to a dangerous snarl.
    “To have a morning chat with my little brother.” Eric came closer and put out his arm as if to shove his way past Nick. That didn’t happen. Nick held his ground and blocked him from entering.
    “You can say whatever you came to say while standing on the porch,” Nick insisted. “Because you’re not coming inside.”
    With his cigar clutched in his fingers, Eric made a vague motion behind him. “It’s November, and it’s cold out here.”
    “Then talk fast.”
    The corner of Eric’s mouth hitched. “I came to meet your lover.”
    Nick stiffened. “She’s not available.”
    But as if he’d known all along that she was there, Eric casually took another drag of his cigar and snared her gaze in the mirror. Yes, she’d been right about his eyes. They were pure ice and evil. Kelly didn’t let that coldness put her off, even though she had to dodge Cooper’s efforts when he tried to grab her.
    “You have something to say to me, Mr. Lattimer?” Kelly challenged.
    Nick didn’t let her get too close. Huffing and mumbling at her, he stepped in front of her, practically blocking her view of Eric.
    “So, Nick’s moved you in here with him,” Eric commented. “It’s a mistake, you know.”
    Kelly met his venomous gaze and slipped her arm around Nick’s waist. It seemed a good time to give Eric a show of affection to substantiate their claim of being lovers.
    “You came here to warn her about me?” Nick interrupted before she could say anything. “You’ve wasted your time. And ours.”
    Eric blocked the door with his foot when Nick tried to shut it. “I came here to try to figure out what’s going on.”
    Nick stared at his brother’s foot for a moment before he lifted his head and glared at the man. “Nothing is going on that concerns you.”
    Eric narrowed his eyes. Gone was the cocky, calm demeanor, and he became tense. “I’m not so certain of that.”
    “Your paranoia’s showing again,” Nick informed him.
    The intensity skyrocketed. Eric pulled back his shoulders, and his nostrils actually flared. “You’re the one who threatened to kill me. Now I want to know what’s so damn important that would put you on the defensive.”
    “When it comes to you, I’m always on the defensive, Eric. You’re just too self-absorbed to notice.” With that, Nick kicked his brother’s foot away, but Eric caught the door anyway, holding it open.
    Eric looked directly into her eyes when he spoke. “If you two are keeping secrets from me, you’ll regret it. My estate is worth well over a hundred million dollars. I’m not going to share that with anyone, especially with the likes of you.”
    “Is that a threat?” Kelly asked.
    But Eric didn’t get a chance to confirm it. Nick came out on the porch. Not slowly, either. He stormed out of the house, and grasped the lapels of Eric’s black Italian coat. Nick slammed him against the exterior brick wall. The impact was so forceful that Eric