Any Time, Any Place(14)

She let out a breath, wiping off the sawdust that seemed to cling to him 24/7. "You're impossible."

"But you love me."

"Dude, get your own damn woman." Dalton turned to watch his brother Cal stride across the room, tugging Morgan protectively to his side. She lit up, and her body softened naturally against him, as if they were a complete unit already, better together than apart. Dalton had never seen his brother so in love with a woman, and so comfortable with the emotion. His throat got a bit scratchy when he watched the easy way they dealt with each other, from fighting to cooking to building houses side by side. And Morgan had brought something they'd all been missing into the crew.

A sense of real family.

When Morgan came into their lives as the designer in charge of a celebrity's new house construction, Cal began to change, and by the end of the job, they'd gotten engaged. But Morgan belonged to all of them now. The kitchen that had once been ghostly and silent was filled with cooking, laughing, and joy. She'd welcomed Dalton and Tristan into her heart along with Cal, and Dalton would always love her for that gift she'd bestowed.

He grinned and cocked his head. "I have more than one woman to keep me busy, Cal," he said. "But just remember: if you screw this up, I'll marry Morgan myself."

Cal glowered. "Just keep your dick away from the inspector's daughter and we'll be good to go."




 

 

Morgan coughed delicately. "Goodness gracious. Your brother is capable of handling his job. Why don't we leave Dalton to his own business? And his dick."

Dalton hooted with laughter. Morgan was a polite Southern-born charmer with a spitfire living underneath. Hearing her curse in that pretty little accent cracked him up each time. "Glad to know someone around here respects me. Anyway, I have my eye settled on one woman I can't seem to thaw."

"The bartender?" Cal groaned. "I love My Place. Plus, she makes the best damn cocktails. You gonna screw that up for me by getting involved with her?"

Dalton rocked back on his heels. "Always thinking of yourself, big brother?"

Morgan tapped a nail against the curve of her lip, her arm around Cal's waist. "I like Raven. But she's not the type to tangle with, Dalton. There's something about her that tells me she's not as hard as she pretends."

"I just want to get to know her better. She swings hot and cold. Most of the time I get the impression she resents me for some reason. Does she ever talk to you about us, Morgan?"

Her silvery blond bob swished back and forth. "No. I remember when she told us to get out of her bar, but she never mentioned it again. She's always nice to me, but she definitely holds back."

"Maybe no man's ever been her match before," Dalton said thoughtfully. "I don't scare easy."

"Unbelievable," Cal said. "Sure, why find a woman who's willing when it's more fun to find one that hates your guts?"

"Didn't you have that same experience with Morgan?"

Cal glowered. Morgan laughed. "He got you, Charming," she drawled.

"Princess, I knew you were hot for me from day one," he said. "It was just a matter of time."

She jabbed him with her elbow, but Cal didn't even flinch.

Dalton grinned. "I offered my services to renovate her bar. It's a beautiful piece I've been wanting to get my hands on. Could be a great project for Pierce Brothers."

Cal nodded, his face flickering back to business mode. "Hmm. A restored antique bar would be a nice advertisement for the company. Seen by a variety of people, too. What did she say?"

"No." He paused, considering. "But I think she'll change her mind."

"Just make sure to keep business separate from your sex life," Cal said.

"Absolutely. Just like you did with Morgan."

Dalton turned his back and walked away, laughing at his brother's grumblings. Months ago, his sibling's constant ribbing about his sex life would've shot him into a temper with a thirst for a fight. Now he recognized the affection beneath, and the ease they'd had when they were younger had returned. It was nice to have his brothers back on good terms. He'd forgotten how much he enjoyed spending time with them. 

He headed down the hill and pulled away in his black Ford Bronco. It was almost lunchtime, and he needed to pick up some supplies close to My Place. Maybe he'd swing in for a quick lunch and see if he'd be able to persuade Raven to let him touch her bar. Of course, if she was still as prickly as last time, he'd get another pink froufrou drink and maybe a stinging verbal slap.

The real problem was he liked her attitude. He rarely met a woman who didn't enjoy his company. After the initial surprise, he'd found she intrigued him, seemingly hiding layers beneath the surface. Dalton adored exploring every side of a woman, not just her body. A better sexual experience revealed itself when he got to know not just how she liked to be touched, but what her fears were, her fantasies, her vulnerabilities. He'd refined seduction to a fine art and made damn sure both partners enjoyed the experience. But Raven threw him off guard, and he still hadn't figured out a way to keep his balance.