Her Mother's Killer by Melissa Schroeder Read Free Book Online

himself and gingerly stepped away. The moment he did, the cold air that replaced his warmth caused her to shiver.
    “You’re the first woman I’ve kissed whose shoes I tied when she was a girl.”
    She crossed her arms over her breasts, which was a mistake. Her nipples were hard, sensitive, and brushing against them sent a tremor of need through her again.
    “I’m almost thirty.”
    “And you’re Jed’s sister.”
    “What the hell does that have to do with it?”
    “It’s…well, guys just don’t do it.”
    With an irritated huff, she pushed past him. “Fine, then stay away from me. I don’t need this crap right now.”
    She didn’t get more than three steps away from him before fingers of steel wrapped around her upper arm and pulled her back. He crowded her up against the wall again.
    “I didn’t say I didn’t want you.”
    “You just don’t like wanting me.”
    He brushed the backs of his knuckles over her cheek. “No, actually, I’m getting to like that quite a bit.” The heat in his voice shivered over her. “I’m just not sure what it means, or if we should act on it.”
    “What’s there to think about? It’s sex.”
    Duncan chuckled. “This would complicate things. Your brother, my family…this town.”
    She hated that he was right, but damn it, he was. They had a connection, one that wasn’t always easy to deal with. Throw in his job as a town leader, and the fact everyone paid attention to everyone else in Crocker…even a one-night stand would make the gossip rounds. She blew out a breath.
    “Fine. You don’t want to even try—”
    He pressed his groin against hers again, his shaft still hard. Thea shivered.
    “Trying is not in question. I just think…” He cocked his head to the side listening to something in the other room. “But one of our main problems just got here.”
    He stepped away. Thea didn’t have time to even contemplate what he meant when she heard her brother say, “Just what the hell is going on here?”
    She turned in the direction of his voice and for a moment, didn’t move. He had a black eye and a bandage covered his hand. As usual, he looked a little banged up, a little rough around the edges. Warmth filled her chest and the stress of the last week caught up with her as she launched herself into his arms.
    “It’s so good to see you.”
    His arms tightened slightly and he kissed the top of her head. “You said a mouthful, kid.”
    * * * *
    Duncan watched the siblings talk to each other, their heads bent together, their voices, he was sure, low.
    “Amazing how much she looks like her mother,” Uncle Chris said behind him.
    Duncan kept his attention on Thea and Jed as they both stood in the kitchen. “Yeah. Has her mama’s personality, too.”
    “I take it Jed didn’t know she moved back here?”
    “I called him.”
    Chris stepped up beside him and watched the unfolding scene. The warm sibling reunion was now over and she and Jed were arguing. “Maybe that wasn’t a good idea.”
    Up until that point, Jed had been doing most of the talking, but apparently he said something Thea really did not like. She settled her hands on her hips, and started blasting her brother. Several people surrounding them turned to look, and believe it or not, Jed took a step away.
    “They don’t need to be fighting like that.”
    Duncan glanced at his uncle, who was now frowning, worry filled his expression. He knew Chris saw the Johnson kids as surrogate Perrys. He’d been their father’s best friend most of his life.
    “Actually, I think it is the best thing that could happen.”
    Chris was now frowning at him. “I think it would be best to let things lie. It’s not good for either of them to get things stirred up.”
    Duncan turned away from his uncle and watched the brother and sister. “No. They’ve been doing that for too many years. They need to move on.”
    It was then that Jed threw back his head back and laughed, then grabbed Thea and pulled her into