Claiming His Brother's Baby by Helen Lacey Read Free Book Online

his watch. “Then I should probably go.”
    Something niggled at her. She couldn’t define it. Maybe she didn’t want to. She drew in a long breath and frowned.
    “Are you okay?” he asked, watching her.
    Cassie nodded. “I’ve had one of those daylong headaches.”
    He laughed and then must have realized how insensitive it sounded. “Sorry, I was thinking that maybe since I’ve been here for twenty-four hours there was a connection.”
    She smiled. “No. Although...”
    His brows came up. “Although?”
    She shrugged. “Well...you’re not...”
    “I’m not...?”
    Heat crept up her neck and she searched for the words. “It’s only that you’re not exactly who I thought...” She shrugged again and took a deep breath. “I guess I thought you wouldn’t be so...easy to get along with.”
    Tanner rested against the counter and folded his arms. “Compared to what?”
    She hesitated as her gaze shifted to the floor. “To the person I thought you were.”
    “Who you thought I was,” he said quietly. “Or who Doug said I was.”
    Her shoulders came up for a second and then dropped. “I suppose. He said you were quiet and...”
    “And what?” Tanner asked when her words trailed. “Indifferent and unfriendly?”
    She looked up. “Words to the effect.”
    “And what do you think?”
    Cassie stepped back. “I think you’re confident and sensible. I think you don’t waste time trying to charm or manipulate people.” She paused and took a breath. “I think you know exactly who you are. And what you want.”
    His brown eyes darkened. “And do you?” he asked softly. “Do you know what you want, Cassie?”
    At that moment she wanted to run. Everything about him reached her on some base, heady level. She was hot all over and she knew why. Tanner McCord made her remember she was a woman. And it scared her to death.
    “Ah...what about dinner,” she said quickly and took a sharp breath. She pointed to the telephone. “I have the number of a great pizza place on speed dial. I mean, unless you want to leave right away.”
    He pushed himself off the counter. “Dinner would be good.”
    Cassie nodded and left the room. After checking on Oliver she took only minutes to collect fresh clothes and lock herself in the bathroom. She showered and dressed in cargo pants and a sensible blue shirt buttoned up to her throat.
    By the time she headed back to the kitchen another half hour had passed and she ducked her head around the corner of the nursery to ensure the baby was still asleep. At the kitchen doorway she stilled. Tanner stood by the counter, one elbow in the air and he tugged at the back of his shirt.
    “Something wrong?” she asked and stepped across the threshold.
    He swiveled around and dropped his arm. “I think I caught a barb this afternoon.”
    “A what?”
    “From the vine,” he explained and winced.
    Cassie walked toward him. “You’re hurt?”
    He shrugged. “I’ll be fine.”
    “Do you want me to take a look?”
    He took a step back. “I don’t think so.”
    Cassie ignored the sudden heat in her cheeks. If he’d been injured pruning the hedge she needed to be sensible and find out how bad it was. “It could get infected.”
    “I’m sure it will be—”
    “Let’s see,” she said matter-of-factly. “Where is it?”
    He hesitated for a moment before moving one shoulder. “Left side.”
    Cassie stepped closer. “Okay, turn around.”
    He did as she asked and she took a second before reaching out. His shirt was soft between her fingers and she tugged it down a fraction. When she couldn’t see anything other than one incredibly well-defined shoulder blade, Cassie released the shirt.
    “It has to come off.”
    He turned his head. “What?”
    “Your shirt,” she explained. “I can’t see anything. I’m too short.”
    “I’m sure it’s not—”
    She ignored him, moved back around the countertop and grabbed the small first-aid kit from the bottom drawer. “It won’t