He made her feel guilty, and she didn’t like it. “Not necessary.”

“Yeah, I think it is.” His gaze sought hers. “I won’t apologize for being set in my ways. I’ve always been private, and working with your brother has made me more so.”

“I didn’t ask you to apologize.” She wanted honesty, not contrition.

“Thing is, the how and why of the way we met isn’t something I like to talk about. But you might as well hear it from me, instead of your brother. He’d probably distort it just to make me look bad.”

Back to square one. “If you really don’t want—”

“Doesn’t matter.” He shook his head. “It was bound to come up sooner or later.”

Sooner or later, meaning he intended to be involved with her beyond the immediate future? She just didn’t know. “Okay.”

“Good. Then scuttle your sexy little ass over here behind the steering wheel so we can get a move on.”

Grabbing up her purse, Alani chose not to scuttle in favor of getting out and walking around the car. The garage wasn’t that big, and she counted twelve cars inside. “What is this place?”

“Private parking garage. We make use of them in areas we visit often. Soon as you set up house, Trace secured this place.”

She slid in behind the wheel. “Who parks here?”

“We do.” He went about fastening her seat belt for her.

She was intrigued enough that she let him. “But who do the cars belong to?”

“Why?” He surveyed the colorful array of vehicles in various price ranges, from brand-new to barely road-worthy. “One of them appeals to you?”

“It’s not that.” She’d never been car-crazy. She wanted reliable transportation, period.

“Long as you don’t have a preference, I think I’ll grab that black SUV. It looks like it has some muscle.”

Knowing she was about to learn yet another secret, Alani asked, “What do you mean, you’re going to grab it? Surely you don’t steal cars as a regular habit.”

“Course not. These are all ours, here in a pinch in case we have to lose a tail.” He closed her door and then rapped on the roof of the car. “Head straight home. I’m not expecting any trouble, but know that I’ll be right behind you.”

In openmouthed surprise, Alani watched him go to a truck and open the passenger door. He lifted out two duffel bags, then got something from the glove box. He closed and locked the truck and went to the shiny new SUV, opened it and got inside. Through the door window, he waved her around him.

Amazing.

Apparently there was a lot more to her brother’s enterprise than she’d ever imagined.

She had a feeling there was more to Jackson Savor, too. Everything about him enthralled her.

She couldn’t wait to learn even more.

WHILE JACKSON PREPPED the steaks, Alani put potatoes in the microwave and got the salad together. By silent agreement, they chose to get the food ready before weighing in on what was sure to be a lengthy conversation.

Jackson had left his duffel bags just inside the front door. Alani figured he didn’t yet want to store them in the guest room, in hopes that he could share her room.

She sort of hoped that, too.

On her patio, the grill heated. They planned to eat outside, so she’d already loaded a tray with place settings and napkins. Though they were both busy, she couldn’t stop stealing glances at Jackson. Even watching him wash his hands in the sink, the slide of his long fingers, now soap slick, left her fascinated.

She loved his hands. They were big and capable, twice the size of hers. They’d touched her gently, and when she wanted it most, not so gently. Somehow he’d known how to touch her, where, when, to get the most effect.

The cowboy hat, now gone, had further rumpled his hair. Alani had a vivid recollection of his head between her legs, her hand in his sun-streaked hair as his beard-rough jaw teased her tender inner thighs in direct contrast to the soft play of his tongue on her, in her.

Letting out a shuddering breath, she drew his attention. Keeping his back to her as he stood at the counter with the steaks, he glanced at her, then came back for a longer, knowing perusal.

His gaze roamed over her—her br**sts, her belly. “You okay, sugar?”

“Yes.” Here in the kitchen, alone with Jackson while preparing dinner together, she felt better than she had since her kidnapping.

The corner of his mouth lifted. He turned with the steaks on a platter. “Penny for your thoughts.”

Never before had she taken part in sexual banter, but if he wanted to play, she’d give it her best shot. “I was thinking how much I like your body.” But that didn’t quite cover it, so she shook her head. “Not just how strong you are, but everything else, too.”

He leaned back on the counter. “Like?”

“Your hands. Your feet. The way your shoulders move under your T-shirt. The slide of your Adam’s apple when you swallow. Even your ears are nice.”

He made a sound that was half humor, half chagrin. “I think you and I have unfinished business and it’s tainting your brain.” Gesturing with a nod of his head, he said, “Come on. Keep me company outside while I grill these bad boys.”

“Okay.” She stuck the salad in the fridge, pulled the potatoes from the microwave onto a plate, and followed him out. “At least the porch is shadowed this time of day.”