Heated Rush Part 15

Thump.

"Jaysus," he snapped, wondering if Doctor f.e.c.king Dolittle's entire menagerie had decided to attack him.

But it wasn't another furry or feathery creature who stood behind Rex. In fact, this one had skin. More than six feet of it, he'd judge.

He also had blond hair the color of Annie's. And stormy blue eyes. Not to mention a very deep frown.

Brilliant. His hand was up Annie's skirt, her hip was reddened from the s.e.xy nip he'd just taken there. His hand was up Annie's skirt, her hip was reddened from the s.e.xy nip he'd just taken there.

And he was staring up at one of her overprotective brothers.

8.

THIS WASN'T STARTING off very well. off very well.

Annie hadn't even heard the approach of her oldest brother, Jed. But she'd heard Sean's surprised grunt, which tore her attention off the pure pleasure she'd been experiencing from his touch. Under the hot sun and the blue sky, with his hand on her thigh and his mouth on her hip, she'd been able to forget for a moment that they were about to go hand-in-hand into the lion's den.

Until one of the stalking beasts had come out of that den and pounced, catching them completely unawares.

"Dad's right on the porch," her brother snapped.

Annie glanced toward the house, but couldn't see it. Sean had parked the tiny sports car between two of the monster trucks her brothers drove, and it was completely hidden from view of the house.

"Thanks for coming to get us," she said, making no effort to disguise her sarcasm. for coming to get us," she said, making no effort to disguise her sarcasm.

"You were taking so long, he was about to come down and see if you needed help with your luggage."

Right. As if they had a trunk full for an overnight visit. If she knew her father, he'd been counting the seconds on his watch, calculating how long it would take for her and her new guy to reach the porch without any funny stuff going on. That was pretty much how he'd waited for Annie after any date she'd had growing up.

"I was just introducing Rex to Se..." Annie caught herself, but suddenly found it impossible to force the name of someone she loathed onto someone she was beginning to greatly care about. So she quickly amended, "To my friend."

"Rex. Is that what you're calling your b.u.t.t now?"

She flipped up her middle finger, as she'd often done as a teenager, when their parents were within earshot but not in direct sight-range. "I dunno, is that what you were calling Becca's when I caught you two naked under the tree last Christmas Eve?"

He deflected the counterattack. "She's my fiancee."

"She wasn't then. then." Grinning in pure evil, she added, "And I don't know what you you were calling were calling her, her, but from what I heard, she thinks you're some kind of deity. ' but from what I heard, she thinks you're some kind of deity. 'Oh, G.o.d, yes!'" yes!'"

Jed barked a quick laugh, dropping the ridiculous protective older brother att.i.tude. His innate good humor appeared in his eyes. "Mom should never have let you watch Beverly Hills 90210 Beverly Hills 90210 when you were a kid." when you were a kid."

"Oh, right, that explains it. Now move so I can get out."

He moved, stepping away from the car door, opening it, and offering her his hand. Being careful not to kick Sean, or knee him in the head as she stepped over him, she hopped down and threw her arms around her brother's neck. "Missed me?"

"Not that mouth, I haven't," he said. Squeezing her tightly, he added, "But, yeah, I guess we miss the rest of you a little bit."

Then, the typical sibling banter out of the way, he released her and gave his full attention to Sean. And the jaw stiffened. Seeing what he he was seeing, she suspected she knew why. was seeing, she suspected she knew why.

Sean was not only so handsome he made other men uncomfortable, but he certainly looked the part of a rebel compared to most of the guys around here. His long hair was loose and windblown, tangled at his nape. His earring flashed gold under the glint of the sun. His dark sungla.s.ses, which he'd shoved up onto his head when they'd arrived, had a designer name that no normal person could afford. And he was driving the kind of car usually reserved for partying movie-star types.

In short, he was everything her brothers would be suspicious of...and everything Annie already knew she adored.

"You must be Jed," Sean said, unfolding his long, lean body as he stepped out of the car. He extended his hand. "She's forgotten to introduce me. The name's Murphy, but everybody calls me Murph."

Gaping, she caught his eye and mouthed, "Murph?" "Murph?" garnering a shrug in response. garnering a shrug in response.

He was so so not a Murph. But Sean was obviously doing whatever he could to avoid any confusion about his fake name this weekend. She could kiss him for that. not a Murph. But Sean was obviously doing whatever he could to avoid any confusion about his fake name this weekend. She could kiss him for that.

Well, for a lot of reasons.

Jed shook Sean's hand, and they did that squeeze-the-hand-tightly-to-prove-who's-manlier thing. So stupid, though she suspected Jed was the one trying to prove something. Sean wasn't the type to bother.

Tiring of the let's-compare-b.a.l.l.s game, Annie pushed right between the two of them, bending over to reach into the back of the car for Wally's crate.

"Let me do that, darlin'."

"Oh, G.o.d, you brought the beast?" Jed asked, sounding dismayed. Heaven knew why. It's not like the shoes Wally had christened for him had been Italian, and he most certainly stepped in worse here on the farm. So Wally had piddled in his boots once. Or twice....

"What was I supposed to do, leave him home alone to be miserable and starve?"

"He could have pounced on a burglar if he got hungry," Jed said, eyeing the cat warily.

Instead of just grabbing the crate, as Annie had intended to do, Sean actually opened the top of it, reaching in to scoop Wally out. The animal should have been skittish and aggressive after being cooped up for a couple of hours. In the past, he'd even bitten Annie once or twice after a long road trip.

Instead, Wally curled against Sean's chest and tucked his head beneath his chin, delicately licking his paw and glaring at her older brother.

Jed gawked.

And Annie suppressed a grin. The mere fact that Sean had won over Wally should send a signal about her new "boyfriend" and just how much a part of Annie's life he was.

Even if he wasn't. Not for long, at least.

Don't think that way, she reminded herself as a sharp stab of something like disappointment thrust into her belly. She had at least another day and a half with the man. And she needed to make the most of it. Because it was she reminded herself as a sharp stab of something like disappointment thrust into her belly. She had at least another day and a half with the man. And she needed to make the most of it. Because it was all all she'd ever have with him. she'd ever have with him.

He'd made that clear. She'd accepted the terms. End of story.

Till tomorrow night only.

Oh, did she wish they didn't have to spend the bulk of that remaining time here.

"Come on, before he sends down reinforcements," Jed said as he turned toward the house. Her brother was so stunned by Sean's friends.h.i.+p with Wally that he forgot to be a belligerent a.s.shole about seeing Sean's hand stuck up Annie's skirt. Instead, he silently led them up the driveway toward the porch, where the other Davis men stood at attention.

"Good grief," she muttered. "Why didn't you all just dig out the shotguns and start picking the chew out of your teeth with hunting knives?"

Beside her, Sean snorted a laugh, but Jed just kept walking. "Here they are," he called. "Annie had to stop and say h.e.l.lo to her furry and feathered friends before greeting her own family."

Huh. No mention of Sean's mouth on her hip. That wasn't too surprising. Jed might be a bossy big brother, but he was not a loudmouth.

Then again, he was probably keeping his mouth shut for his own benefit. He knew Annie well enough to expect serious payback if he made a fuss.

No way would he want her to spill the beans about the Christmas Eve rendezvous, which had taken place right beside their mother's beloved antique nativity set. Baby Jesus and all the angels and shepherds must have gotten quite an eyeful. As had Annie, who'd crept downstairs for a late-night sneak peek at the presents after everyone had supposedly supposedly gone to bed. Instead, she'd gotten the kind of peek no woman gone to bed. Instead, she'd gotten the kind of peek no woman ever ever wanted to get of her own brother's backside. wanted to get of her own brother's backside.

Eww.

"Here's our girl!" Her father came down from the porch, followed by her brothers, and they all encircled her for big, boisterous hugs meant to remind her that she was the little woman and they big, strong men.

She was pa.s.sed around the group for more macho embracing. If one of them squeezed too hard and picked her up until her toes dragged the ground again, she was going to puke right over his shoulder.

G.o.d, was she glad Sean was no he-man.

"Well, are you going to introduce us?" her father asked, his chin up as he gave Sean a once-over.

Sean had been a darling asking Jed to call him Murph, but there was no way Annie could say it all weekend without laughing. Sounded too much like Smurf. And a cuddly, fuzzy blue creature he most definitely was not.

Nor could she bear to call him by that other-awful-name, Blake, that brought with it such vivid reminders of humiliation, anger and embarra.s.sment. So, swallowing hard and praying her mother had suffered a serious memory loss since their last conversation about Annie's "new guy," she said, "This is Sean Murphy."

Sean's brow went up in surprise, as if thinking she'd goofed up. When he opened his mouth to correct her-what was he going to say, "Sorry, she forgot my name on the ride up here?"-she shook her head in warning.

Her father was courteous enough to smile politely and extend his hand. Steve, the middle son and prankster, circled around her and whispered, "He's got an earring. Is it on the right side?"

Knowing immediately what he meant, Annie smirked, "Sorry, big brother, your loss. Let's just say I have absolutely no doubts about his s.e.xual preferences."

"You're so so funny." He swatted her, then greeted Sean, as did Randy. And every man in her family had something to say about the fat cat currently sprawled like a twenty pound sack of potatoes over Sean's left shoulder. funny." He swatted her, then greeted Sean, as did Randy. And every man in her family had something to say about the fat cat currently sprawled like a twenty pound sack of potatoes over Sean's left shoulder.

"Why is everybody picking on my Wally?"

Jed looked at her as if she was foolish. "Because he's meaner than the bull in the south pasture."

Before she could argue it, her mother stepped out of the house, onto the porch, then raced down the stairs. Annie planted her feet firmly on the ground, knowing she was in for an exuberant bear hug, which she got.

They stood outside talking for a few minutes, during which she got the rundown on the latest happenings of the entire Davis clan.

With grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins spread throughout the encircling three counties, there was lots of news to catch up on. Who was engaged. Who was pregnant. Who had disappointed his parents by getting suspended for letting a whole bunch of chickens loose in the high-school gymnasium. Who had shot his toe off while doing some out-of-season hunting, and didn't that just serve him right?

The usual.

Through it all, Sean maintained a smile, stroked the cat, responded politely when addressed. And maintained a tall, solid presence beside her that reminded Annie she was not not alone. They were in this together. For better or for worse. alone. They were in this together. For better or for worse.

And what a wonderful feeling it was.

"Oh, listen to me jabbering away," her mother finally said when she'd run out of wind. "Let's go inside and relax. The food's almost done, you must be famished from the long drive."

Famished, yes. But not for food.

When she caught Sean's eye and saw the twinkle in there, she knew he'd done that mind-reading thing again. Unable to keep herself from touching him, she reached for his hand, twined her fingers in his, and led him up the steps.

Answering the fresh litany of questions as they walked inside the house, Annie offered Sean a look that both apologized...and offered to make this up to him.

If they survived it.

SEAN LIKED A ANNIE'S family. All of them. But he especially liked her mother. family. All of them. But he especially liked her mother.

He suspected the woman looked just like Annie would in thirty years. Slim and energetic, her short hair was more of an ash-blond, and she had laugh lines beside her pretty blue eyes.

Though she was talkative, and fussed over her only daughter, Mrs. Davis was also calm and straightforward about the way she ruled the family. Her husband and sons might not realize it, but the woman was entirely in charge. She got everyone to do exactly what she wanted with the lift of a brow or the gesture of a hand, which he found terribly amusing, given the size of the men she was ordering about.

Once or twice, she'd caught his eye, noted his amus.e.m.e.nt, and grinned impishly at him. As if the two of them already shared a secret.

In the two hours since they'd arrived, Annie's family had had so much to say to her that they'd pretty well left him alone, beyond the usual niceties. And he'd enjoyed the big country brunch, the likes of which he hadn't eaten since his Irish breakfast days.

He'd wager Wally, who'd taken up residence beneath Annie's chair, had liked it, too. Judging by the number of times Annie slipped him a nibble of this or that, he had to be in spoiled cat heaven.

Annie's older brothers had departed for their own homes after eating, so that pressure was off. The younger brother was an energetic puppy. The barrel-chested, gray-haired father remained cordial, if not enthusiastic. He'd had a newspaper in front of his face since the moment he'd finished his meal, so there was no pressure there. And Annie's mother had been friendly since the moment they'd arrived.

So he'd have to say things had been going quite well. For the most part.

They were a very nice family...but not entirely entirely welcoming, he had to admit. Because all of them had, at one point or another, said welcoming, he had to admit. Because all of them had, at one point or another, said something something to make it clear that Annie belonged here, with them, not in some big city with anybody else. to make it clear that Annie belonged here, with them, not in some big city with anybody else.

He got the message. He was wearing an Anybody Anybody sign around his neck. sign around his neck.

Still, with two brothers gone, the father distracted and the mother chattering about tonight's party, Sean had begun to let his guard down.

Obviously too soon.

"So, Sean, where exactly did you and Annie meet?"

The pointed look in Mrs. Davis's eye said she was ready to get down to business. The grill-the-new-boy-friend business.

Sean's mind went blank as his hostess addressed him. Trying desperately to remember what they'd agreed upon-dating service? blind date?-he opened his mouth. But his answer was cut short when Annie said, "We met at a party."

He nodded. "Right. A party." Being creative, he embellished a little bit. "A Halloween party."

Mr. Davis peered over the top of his paper, his brow pulled into a small frown. "I thought Annie said you'd only been seeing each other a couple of months."

Foot meet mouth. d.a.m.n.

"Well, dating, dating, yes, but we've known each other longer." yes, but we've known each other longer."