Sanctuary(112)

"Now you take pictures of being alone."

"I suppose I do." she let out a sigh and opened her eyes. And there, through the dark, she saw the glimmer of light. "Kate left a light on for me."

It was comforting, that flicker of home. she watched it dance through the trees, outdo the shadows. Once she'd run away from that light, and once she'd run toward it. she hoped the time would come when she could walk either way without fear.

As they neared the end of the drive, she saw the figure rise from the porch swing. Her stomach did an ungainly roll before Nathan covered her hand with his.

"Stay here. Lock the doors."

"No, I-" with a trembling breath. "It's Brian," she said, feeling foolish at the wave of relief that swamped her.

Nathan nodded, also recognizing the figure as Brian stepped into the I'ght. "Okay, let's go."

"No." she gave the hand that covered hers a quick squeeze. "Let's not complicate it. If he needs to yell at me some more, I deserve it, and I don't want the two of you eyeing each other and trying to figure out how to handle the fact that you're friends and you're sleeping with his sister."

"He doesn't appear to be armed."

It made her laugh, as intended. "Go home." she shifted, finding it simple to just lean over and touch her lips to his. "Let Brian and me deal with our family baggage. We're too polite to do a good job of it in front of you."

"I want to see you tomorrow."

she opened the door. "Come for breakfast-unless you're set on having your world-famous toast."

"I'll be here."

she started toward the porch, waiting until she heard his Jeep reverse before she mounted the stairs. "Evening," she said coolly to Brian. "Nice night for porch sitting."

He stared at her a moment, then moved so quickly she nearly shrieked. His arms strapped tight around her. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

Stunned speechless, she started to pat his back, then yelped as he jerked her away and shook her.

"It's your own goddamn fault. So typical, so goddamn Jo Ellen."

"What?" Insult slapped on top of surprise and had her shoving him. "What the hell are you talking about? Stop manhandling me."

"Manhandling? I ought to kick your butt up to your ears. Why the hell didn't you tell somebody what was going on? Why didn't you let me know you were in trouble?"

"If you don't let go of me right now-"

"No, you just go on the way you always have, pushing people out of the way so you can-"

He broke off with a grunt as her fist plowed into his stomach. The blow was quick and forceful enou-hid to catch him off guard. Dropping his hands, he eyed her narrowly.

"That hasn't changed either. You always packed a decent punch."

"You're lucky I didn't aim for that pretty face of yours." Sniffing, she rubbed her hands over her arms where his fingers had gripped. Damned if she wouldn't have bruises, she thought. "Obviously you're in no state to have a reasonable, civilized conversation. So I'm going up to bed."

"You take one step toward that door and I'll haul you over my knee."

she raised herself up on tiptoe and stuck her face in his. "Don't you threaten me, Brian Hathaway."

"Don't you test me, Jo Ellen. I've been sitting here for better than two hours worried sick, so I'm in the mood to take you on."

"I was with Nathan, which you knew very well. And there's no cause for you to worry about my sex life."

He gritted his teeth. "I don't want to hear about it. I don't want to think about it. I'm not talking about you and Nathan being ... I'm not talking about that."

Jo bit the inside of her cheek to keep from grinning. Had she known it was so easy to flummox her brother, she would have used that angle years ago.

"Well, then." Pleased with the point scored, she strolled to the porch swing and sat. she cocked her head as she took out a cigarette. "just what is it you want to hear about, think about, and talk about, Brian?"

"You can't pull off the grand Southern Belle number, Jo. It just doesn't suit you."

she flicked her lighter on. "It's late and I'm tired. If you have something to say, say it so I can go to bed."

"You shouldn't have been alone." His voice had gong quiet and drew her gaze. "You shouldn't have gone through that alone, been in that hospital alone. And I want you to know that the choice of doing that was yours."

she took a slow drag. "Yes, it was my choice. It was my problem."

"That's right, Jo." He took a step forward, hooking his thumbs in his front pockets to keep his hands from curling into fists. "Your problems, your triumphs, your life. You've never seen fit to share any of those things. Why should this be different?"