Page 60 of Legacy of Lies
A freshly showered Garrison filled the entryway of the living room, his arms crossed and shoulders slumped. A few droplets clung to his wet hair combed back off his forehead. The sleeves of his plaid shirt were rolled up, revealing thick forearms dusted with ruddy hair. As he approached her, the smell of soap, the log home, and his warm spicy scent blended into a heady mixture.
In the dimmed light of the living room, his shadowed eyes drilled into her until her breath caught. Did he blame her for all the trouble she’d sent this family?
He stopped a foot away, consuming too much space. Behind her was the living room wall. She had no place to go. With the light source behind him, she couldn’t read his expression.
But she sure as hell could feel the waves of pissed-off intensity crackling between them.
“I’m sorry.” Damn, her voice quavered. She struggled to meet his shadowed gaze.
“What the hell are you talking about?”
She flinched. He might be the one with a gift for detecting the truth, but it didn’t take a mind reader to figure out when a guy was barely holding his shit together.
“I believe that this,” she pointed a shaking hand at the window, “is my fault, due to Hank.”
He raked both hands through his hair, like he wanted to pull his head off. “Are you kidding me?”
“Well, who do you think burned the barn? And why?”
“First of all, I don’t know for sure who’s responsible. Second, even if it’s the Brand folks, we aren’t certain why and whether it even involves you. Hank threatened me earlier this week. There’s something going on over on their property. And they’ve been trying to purchase our land. We saw mining equipment hidden on their ranch up in the hills.”
“Hold on. Izzy said something a few days ago about mining.”
“Izzy Brand?”
“Yes, I told you she’s a friend of mine.”
“You’re still friends with a Brand?” He crossed his arms.
“She’s not like them.”
“How do you know?”
The third degree about her friendship with Izzy? So not happening. “Don’t judge me because I don’t have a knack for figuring out when people are telling the truth. How about trusting someone you’ve known for years? Ever heard of that?”
“Sure did. Bit me right in the ass.” His glare glittered in the low light.
The ex-wife.
Sara mentally face-palmed herself. “Good point.” Shoving her fists on her hips, she added, “But don’t look so mean. Izzy is a nice, normal person. Nothing like her brothers, so don’t lump her in with those guys.”
Putting his hands up, he smiled. “Okay, message received. Do not mess with your friends. Got it.” Then he edged toward her, close enough she felt the heat coming from his body. “But that is interesting information she told you. What else did she say?”
He stood so near, she spied a muscle jumping in his smoothly shaven jaw. How nice it would be to trace that hard line with her tongue.
“Sara?”
Caught. “Pardon?” Despite herself, she licked her lips, and then stopped as he stared right at her mouth. “I’m a little tired, that’s all.”
“So did Izzy mention anything else about her brothers?” His voice was mellower.
“Only that her brothers are keeping her in the dark about their plans. She’s not allowed to go to certain places on their ranch. Her job is to take care of the house and their mom and leave the guys alone. It doesn’t sound fabulous, but with her mother’s health not being good, I think she feels obligated to help.”
“You think she’s safe around a guy like Hank? Even if he is her brother?”
“Izzy looks out for herself pretty well. I believe she’s okay.”
He rubbed his chin. “If that changes, let her know that I’ll help her.”
