erstood how it felt to have a sibling who seemed to be the apple of everyone's eye. The child the parents were always proud of. The one who had everything figured out. "I'm no

rush from years ago... Who happened to be his brother, and now she couldn't even remember if Elijah exi

pecially someone like Elena. Dressed up and out on the town, with a good girl to boot. It almost felt like he was someone else because he'd managed to find himself in such a situation. She was incredibly beautiful in the unaff

thought that he was the man with her tonight. No one else. Not his brother, t

t h

in her eyes that despite her struggles with her business, she was loved and happy and secure, and that was the kind of woman he had no place feeling any sort of attraction to, b

ured next to her ear. The edges of her hair tickled his

of those deep, fortifying breaths and turned to catch his

idea at the same time," she

e instinct to be with her throughout the evening took him by surprise, and a

as seated, he slid his tall, broad frame onto the other stool and folded his large hands together in front of him on the bar. Ink crawled u

r, they looked very attractive. Carefully and professionally drawn too, she observed. It gave him a dangerous look, although she

till staring at his hands.

together. His eyes, gleaming in the dim light of the bar, never straye

ed an eyeb

hat made her toes curl inside her shoes. "You have been staring at them all nig

is it okay if

ost count. Some on my body too." There was a pause, then he added without taking

that moment to bring their drink, and Elena welcomed the distraction. He'd managed to work her up with that dance and his b

t even a flinch. His admiration grew. When she lifted

ou," she sa

him, but that didn't mean he had to stop trying. "Do you have a problem with the ink?" He had to know, which surprised him, because he'd never

s your body. No one should have a say in what you want to do. Besides,