Free Cowboy Payback by Donna Michaels Page B

expression.
    “Dinner will be out momentarily,” the older man announced, but neither of them glanced at the chef.
    They were too busy staring at each other, and Brett was once again finding it increasingly hard to remain neutral where the corporal was concerned. She was potent. Damn potent . Her skin was soft, and as he continued to move his lips across her hand, he had the sudden urge to kiss every last delectable inch of her sinful body.
    That was not an impartial reaction, and definitely deviated from the plan.
    Thank God their salads arrived. This forced him to release the corporal and sit back in his chair. He was starting to think he was going to have to amend his plan.
    “So, did you get hold of Finn?”
    His brows rose at her unexpected question, then he smirked. Of course she knew he’d try. “Voicemail.”
    A soft snicker left her lips. “Convenient.”
    “I know.” He was about to say more when his phone began to ring. Pulling the cell out of his pocket, he noted his brother’s number on the screen. Perfect. Glancing at his fiancée , he smiled. “Here’s the dead man now. Excuse me a minute. Since we have an audience…” He paused to nod at the wait staff in the corner, observing them with smiles. “I’d better take this in my office. I’ll be right back.”
    “No problem.” A wicked grin curved her lips as he rose to his feet. “Give ’em hell, sir.”
    Mimicking her grin, he nodded, then twisted around and strode from the room, ringing phone gripped firmly in his hand. Once in the hall, he answered the call. “’Bout damn time.”
    Finn’s chuckle drifted to his ear as he reached the office and closed the door.
    “How’s engaged life treating you, little brother?”
    Brett scowled for several reasons, not the least of which was his twin’s enjoyment at referring to him as little because the doctor had pulled Finn’s ass out of the womb first.
    “How the hell do you think it’s treating me? And just exactly what were you thinking, Finn? Huh?”
    “That payback’s a bitch, bro.”
    More chuckling commenced on the other end of the phone. Brett began to pace, worn Justins carrying him across the Aztec-designed area rug. “Come on. I didn’t have Mrs. Laramie buy chocolate syrup, whipped cream, and condoms and shove them in a basket with a big red bow.”
    “No. You chose to shove the bow on your lieutenant instead.”
    Touché.
    Brett stopped pacing and sighed. His brother was right. Looking back on it now, he probably shouldn’t have done that to Cammie.
    He should’ve used a green bow. The color suited her better.
    “Besides,” the dead man continued. “It wasn’t Mrs. Laramie I asked.”
    It wasn’t?
    Brett’s heart dropped to his stomach. He knew his brother hadn’t done it. There hadn’t been time. “Jesus, Finn. Just who did you ask?”
    “Stacy.”
    Ah hell . “Our activity director?” No wonder she kept grinning at him during their meeting.
    “Of course.” His brother’s smug tone grated on Brett’s last nerve. “She’s used to making sure everyone has the supplies they need.”
    “You’re a jerk, you know that?”
    The jerk’s bark of laughter echoed through the phone. “I prefer to use the term resourceful. And you should thank me.”
    “Thank you? Why the hell should I thank you?”
    “I could’ve told her to grab you the small sized condoms.”
    Brett’s jaw cracked under his clenching teeth. Thank God for small favors. A slight smile released some of the tension. Had this been his joke, he most definitely would’ve gotten the size small.
    His brother had pulled off a doozie, and Brett usually gave credit when it was due. Like now. The gag was well-played, and sometime down the road, he was going to look back on all this and laugh. But not today. Hell no . Today he was good and pissed. And he had no idea why. He was on edge. And he didn’t like it. Not one damn bit.
    “Thank you for being so thoughtful,” he said through the side of his