His tone carried an air of lethal calmness that I recognized.I had a specific phrase I could speak to let him know I was indanger.
“No danger, Carver.Just my idiot brother picking a fight over nothing, and I’ve never been quite sure what this one’s problem is.”I jerked my head toward Rhett.“That’d require a lot morethought.”
Rhett tugged out of my hold at my sarcastic comment, and I wobbled on my heels.Carver took a step toward me, probably intending to keep me from falling on my face or ass in the muck coating the streets of the French Quarter, but Rhett beat him to it, catching me around the waist with both bighands.
“Careful, Red.I don’t think you want to swim in thissludge.”
Rather than focus on the fact that Rhett was touching me, I lifted my gaze over his head.A wave of nostalgia washed over me as I took in the brick buildings with rusty wrought-iron balconies, the thick white molding with peeling paint, and the neon lights coming from Bourbon Street that neverwentdark.
“Ma’am, are you sureyou’reokay?”
My gaze cut back to Carver.“I’m fine.We’re getting in.I swear.There might have been a little more whiskey involved tonight than wasadvisable.”
“Yes, ma’am.As long asyou’resafe.”
I pulled away from Rhett’s grip, telling myself I couldn’t feel the outline of his hand burning through the sheer sleeve of mydress.
Once we were in the back of the car, with me sandwiched between Rhett and Heath, Carver maneuvered us away fromthebar.
“Were you going for a gun?”Rhett asked Carver.“Because I’ve seen that move before.And if I’d beencarrying...”
Carver’s gaze lifted from the street to the rearview mirror to meet Rhett’s and mine in the backseat.“Ma’am...”
That was my cue to explain the situation or end the conversation so Carver didn’t have to violate the confidentiality agreement that came with providing services to someonelikeme.
I shrugged.“Cab drivers carry guns.Whyshouldn’the?”
Carver’s attention went back to the road, but Rhett leaned closer, pressing our bodies together from shouldertoknee.
Why is he so damned hot?Is he running a fever?There’s no way his body temperatureis98.6.
And, of course, thinking of ninety-eight degrees reminded me of the band by the same name and their cheesy love songs I used to listen to while I signed my nameArielHennessy.
Let’s hope Dad burned those journals I leftbehind.
An elbow bumped into my ribs from Rhett’s direction.When I didn’t look at him, he reached out and gripped my chin, forcing my attentiontohim.
“Was that necessary?”I asked, my jaw working against the calluses on hisfingertips.
“Your eyebrow twitched.I don’tbelieveyou.”
I rolledmyeyes.
“Still waiting for those to fall out of your head from rolling them sodamnhard.”
“Hasn’t happened yet, and I’ve perfected my eye-rolling technique since you lastsawme.”
“It was perfect then.Just like the restofyou.”
I stiffened, and his hand dropped immediately.Did he really just say that?Rhett looked just as surprised by the comment as I felt.His gaze shot over my shoulder, but a soft snore came from Heath’sdirection.
Rhett cleared his throat.“Tell me about the security guy.Why do youneedone?”
“I’m pretty sure that’s none of yourbusiness.”
“You’ve always been mybusiness.”
I snorted out a laugh.It wasn’t very attractive, and all I could hope was I didn’t accidentally land a stray booger onRhett’shand.