The MacGregor Brides by Nora Roberts Read Free Book Online Page A

That’s the way he wanted it. Wouldn’t you think these people would have something better to do than to be driving around tonight?”
    She laughed, then pressed a hand to her racing heart. “God, I’m nervous. I never get nervous. I’m going to babble. I can feel it. You’d better talk to me or I’m going to babble.”
    “I could tell you what I’m going to do to you the minute I get you out of that dress.”
    “Royce. Drive faster.”
    He careened around the corner, headed up her street. And his beeper went off. Swearing viciously, Royce dug into his jacket pocket. “Read the code off for me, will you?”
    “All right. It’s … it’s mine. Royce, it’s my house.”
    His eyes hardened. He could already hear the alarm shrilling. He whipped the car to the curb two houses down from Laura’s. “Stay here,” he ordered. “Lock the doors.”
    “But you can’t— The police will—”
    “It’s my system.” He slammed out of the car and, avoiding the light from the streetlamps, slipped into the dark.
    It only took Laura ten seconds to decide to go after him. She cursed the ridiculously thin heels as she darted up the sidewalk. Even as she burst into the wash of light pouring out of her windows, she saw two figures grappling.
    Without a second thought, she ran forward, her eyes darting right and left in search of a handy weapon. Terrified, inspired, she yanked off her shoe and dashed forward, leading with the ice-pick heel.
    Then she saw the glint of bright gold hair in the light. Heard the curse and the grunt as Royce’s fist plowed into a familiar face.
    “Ian! Oh, my God! Ian, are you all right?” Dropping her shoe, she stumbled to where Royce’s adversary was sprawled on the ground.
    “God, what hit me, a rock?” Ian shook his head, tried to work his throbbing jaw. “What the hell is going on here?”
    “Oh, honey, your lip’s bleeding. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” She bent forward and kissed him gently.
    “I’m fine, thanks,” Royce said from behind her. The whip of jealousy stung nearly as much as his abused knuckles. He frowned down as the couple on the ground glared at him. “I take it you two are acquainted.”
    “Of course we’re acquainted.” Laura stroked Ian’s hair. “You just punched my brother.”
    “Hell of a punch, too.” Ian lifted a hand, wiggled his jaw and decided it probably wasn’t broken. “I didn’t even see it coming. Of course, if I’d seen it, you wouldn’t have landed it.”
    “Come on, let me help you inside. We’ll put some ice on it.”
    “Stop fussing, Laura.” Now that his ears had stopped ringing, Ian took a good look at the man who’d decked him. It soothed his ego a bit to see the tough, compact build and wide shoulders. At least he hadn’t been taken down by a suit and tie, which would have been his sister’s usual type. “Ian MacGregor,” he said, and held up a hand.
    “Royce Cameron.” Royce gripped it, hauled Ian to his feet. “You caught another one,” he said, and tapped a finger to the side of his eye.
    “I thought so. I was a little off my stride. I mean, a guy goes to let himself into his sister’s house, and all of a sudden alarms start screaming, lights flashing …”
    “New security system,” Royce told him. “I installed it a couple weeks ago.”
    “Yeah, well, it works.” Ian’s crooked grin offered a truce. “Want a beer?”
    Royce judged his man and smiled. “Sure. Let me disengage this and call off the cops.”
    “I guess you changed the locks,” Ian began conversationally as he trooped along with Royce.
    Laura stood where she was, off balance on one skyscraper heel, her mouth hanging open. “If that isn’t just typical,” she muttered, and hunted up her other shoe. “Men bash each other in the face, then they’re friends for life.”

Chapter 5
    “ I don’t suppose you’d like to tell me what you’re doing breaking into my house at ten o’clock on a Saturday night?”
    Ian held the cold