Free Wicked: Whispering Cove, Book 3 by Nikki Duncan Page A

other health issues…yeah. He was a schemer and he’d read her heart.
    She leaned in and spoke so only he could hear. “You listen to me, you scheming meddler. I’ve figured you out. Whatever game you’re playing with me needs to stop before someone gets hurt. And don’t think I don’t know about the flyers.”
    He had the grace to appear shamed. “I—”
    The last bit had been a guess, but apparently an accurate one. She shook her head. “You mess with Braydon all you want, but leave me alone.” She kissed Byron’s cheek and smiled as she stepped back. “You can drink at your weekly poker game, but cut the rest out.” She turned back to Ruth. “Try to avoid topics that raise his blood pressure. And if you see him going red in the face, back him off a little.”
    Braydon swept down and grabbed her bag before she could. “I’ll walk you out.”
    “I know the way.”
    “Let the boy escort you, Dr. Dani.” Byron smiled his broad leagues-away-from-innocence smile.
    “Byron,” she warned.
    “It’s just to the front door, girl. Don’t get your blood pressure up.” His voice held no weakness.
    She laughed and stopped arguing. The effort was futile against Byron’s aged stubbornness.
    Braydon opened the screen door for her. Like when he’d arrived, his gaze zeroed in on her and locked. Danica ceded momentary defeat.
    She slid sideways through the small space he left. Her body brushed his and heated. Her pussy trembled with hope.
    “You look good tonight, Doc.” Stepping in behind her, Braydon trailed a finger along her spine. “I like your dress.”
    “Thank you.” Victoria had chosen the backless summer dress, claiming every woman deserved something to make her feel sexy. Damn if Danica hadn’t wanted the boost after her last encounter with Braydon.
    “Sexy. Who are you wearing it for?”
    She stifled the disappointment surging through her chest. He still thought poorly of her. “Myself.”
    “So you always dress like this to sit at home?” He opened the front door for her, but followed her instead of handing over the bag.
    She glanced over her shoulder in time to see Byron peaking through the screen door out back and doing a little jig. Ruth pulled him away with a scold creasing her mouth, but Danica sensed support deep down in the older woman. She didn’t resort to schemes, but she missed Braydon too. She wanted him home as much as Byron.
    “Well?”
    “What?” Danica dismissed Byron’s elation, but dismissing the sadness at having to disappoint him didn’t come as easy since they wanted the same things.
    “You dressed like that for a night at home?” Braydon asked.
    “No. I had plans.”
    “Where?”
    “The pub.”
    “Of course. Hauk.” His nose crinkled with disgust and Hauk’s name sounded more like a four letter curse rather than the utterance of a friend’s name.
    “Braydon.” Danica stopped at the end of the sidewalk and turned. “What exactly are you after other than sex? You seek me out at night, but walk before morning. You turned tail every time you saw me in town today, but now are insisting on playing escort.”
    “I don’t…”
    Her ribcage hollowed out and her stomach dropped in anticipation of what he might say next. He said nothing. Only stared at her with his throat bobbing in repetitive swallows.
    “Don’t what, Braydon?”
    He worked the leather handle of her bag in a squeaking grip, but didn’t blink or look away. He swiped his tongue across his lips and then sighed deep. “I don’t know how to do this, Danica.”
    “Do what?” She knew what she wanted him to say, but the self-preservation Byron viewed as a wrong choice ruled and kept her mouth closed and her heart protected. As it was, if Braydon said the wrong thing, she would have a battle not to collapse beneath the crushing implosion of heartbreak.
    “A relationship.” He traced her bottom lip with his thumb and swallowed again. “I don’t know how to do relationships.”
    Her heart