Page 43 of Daring the Defender

I’m learning quickly that my brother’s girlfriend loves a makeover and apparently I’m the perfect target. After digging through Twyler’s closet for a pair of black skinny jeans with ripped holes in the thighs and then attacking the hem of the oversized shirt Mike gave me with a pair of scissors, she started on my hair and makeup. She turns me to the mirror and adds, “What do you think?”

The girl reflected back at me looks older and more mature than the one that came out here the week before. Nadia has coated my eyelashes in thick mascara and a wide swath of eyeliner that curves at the edges. My hair is pulled back to stay out of my way while I’m working, but she left enough loose pieces to curl by the sides of my face.

“Are you sure Mike will be okay with you chopping up the shirt he gave me?”

“All the girls at the Den alter their shirts.”

I glance at Twyler who is half paying attention to us and half watching some show about a serial killer. She nods and says, “She’s right.”

I tug at the hem that curls now that it’s been cut, trying to cover my midriff. “Okay but if he’s upset, I’m telling him you did it.”

“Bring it on. I’m not afraid of Mike.”

I take one last look in the mirror and straighten my shoulders, liking what I see. “I guess I should probably head over.”

A loud bang rattles the door and a moment later it opens. Axel’s spiky blonde hair appears in the doorway. “Hey, T.”

“Oh boy,” I mutter, realizing I’m going to be dealing with this sooner than I hoped, but before my brother even lays his eyes on me, I see that he’s not alone. My stomach explodes in a flurry of manic butterflies when I see the copper tousled head of hair following him in. As much as I shouldn’t track Reid like this when my brother is nearby, I can’t help myself.

My brother isn’t paying attention to that anyway.

“Where’s the rest of your shirt?” he asks, striding across the small room, eyes trained on my T-shirt. “Is that from the Badger Den?”

“It is.” I cross my arms over my waist, covering my midriff. “Mike offered me a job.”

“Mike,” he repeats. “Suddenly you’re on a first name basis with a bar owner?”

“He needs help and I need something to do.” I drop my arms, placing a hand on my hip. “I don’t know why it’s any of your business.”

“It’s my business because you’re my responsibility while you’re here and I told Mom I’d keep you safe.” His hand thrusts in his hair. “Working in a bar with a bunch of horny hockey fans doesn’t seem safe, Shel.” He looks to Reid who is sitting on the couch next to Twyler, hand shoved in the potato chip bag. “Back me up, man.”

Reid freezes, hand full of chips halfway to his mouth, eyes shifting between my brother and then me. His gaze is casual enough, but my body temperature increases by five degrees. He shakes his head. “Nope. I’m not involved.”

“Babe,” Nadia says, moving between me and my brother, “isn’t that what you’ve always wanted for Shelby? For her to go live a normal life, doing normal things?”

“I was talking about college classes and going to the movies. Not becoming a Badger Babe.”

“A what?” Twyler asks.

“You know that’s what we call the girls that work at the bar. Badger Babes.” Reid chuckles darkly from the couch. Undeterred, my brother looks down at his girlfriend and grimaces before sighing. “It’s a compliment.”

“Uh, huh.” Nadia rolls her eyes. “If it’s a compliment then there’s no reason Shelby can’t join the ranks, right?”

His mouth forms a line so tight I wait for the lip ring to pop off. “Dammit,” he mutters. “Fine. But keep your boobs in.That’snot how you get tips. It’s how you get perverts following you around.”

“Jesus,” Nadia rolls her eyes and looks at Reid. “You think this is fine, right?”

“I already said, I’m not involved in this.”

“But come on,” Nadia persists, “you’re a guy, how does she look? Slutty or cute?”

“She looks like Ax’s little sister.” His eyes never leave the TV. I know why he says it but, ouch. Not even the smallest urge to take a peek? “I assume Mike knows this, which means he’ll let everyone else at the bar know, too. She’ll be fine.”

Nadia seems satisfied with that. “See?”

“Whatever,” Axel says, “but I’ll be there to–”

“Sorry, Bud,” Nadia says, “but you promised to help me study for this exam.”

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