Page 104 of Winter Vows

Hardy grinned at the display of bossiness. “You’re the ones who spoiled her. Thanks to you, she thinks she’s queen of the universe,” he reminded them. “Now it’s time for payback. I think I’ll just be running along while all her attention is focused on the two of you.”

Trish frowned at her husband with mock severity. “You’ll pay for that remark later.”

He gave her a hard kiss. “I’ll be looking forward to it, darlin’.” He winked at Dylan and Jeb. “See. Marriage has its rewards. You might want to consider it.”

“The man has all the fervor of a recent convert,” Dylan noted to no one in particular.

Jeb shuddered. “Marriage is definitely not for me. Women change once they get a ring on their finger. I’ve seen it too often not to believe in the phenomenon.”

Dylan didn’t really want to get drawn into that particular discussion. He concentrated all of his attention on the food Trish had put in front of him. He couldn’t help noting, though, that an image of Kelsey popped into his head at the mere mention of marriage.

“Hey, Dylan, I don’t hear you swearing off marriage,” Jeb said, studying him curiously. “Is something going on over here I don’t know about?”

“Nothing,” he said tersely, fully aware of the long, speculative look that his brother exchanged with Trish. He threw down his fork. “That’s it. Let’s get out of here.”

Jeb grinned at Trish as he dutifully stood up. “Guess I touched a nerve.”

“And if you’ve got a grain of sense in that hard head of yours, you’ll leave it be,” Dylan snapped back.

Jeb’s hoot of laughter trailed him to the car. He was inside with the motor running before his brother cracked open the door. “Is it safe?”

“As safe as it’s going to get.”

Jeb climbed in, snapped on his seat belt, then slid down in the seat before glancing over to gauge Dylan’s mood. “Does this pleasant frame of mind have something to do with the case or with the beautiful mother?”

Dylan’s frown deepened. “How do you know she’s beautiful?”

“Where you’re concerned, they always are.”

“Meaning?” Dylan asked darkly.

“Nothing. Absolutely nothing.”

Dylan wasn’t buying the denial. “Are you suggesting I’m shallow?”

His brother heaved a sigh. “Okay, you asked for this. Under normal circumstances, no, you are not shallow. But ever since Kit divorced you, you’ve been more interested in beauty than brains. You haven’t exactly been looking for anybody with real staying power. Now that may be okay for me. I’m not the happily-ever-after type. But you’re different. You want a home and a family. That’s what you deserve. Unfortunately, Kit did a real number on you and threw you off your stride. But this love-’em-and-leave-’em stuff is not you, Dylan. Your middle name should have been dependable.”

Dylan had had enough. “How the hell did we get off on this tangent, anyway?” he asked moodily. “I didn’t have you come over here to discuss my love life.”

“Hitting a little too close to home, am I?” Jeb countered. His expression turned thoughtful. “Maybe I guessed wrong about what’s going on here. This Kelsey is a pediatrician, isn’t she? Must be smart. Probably has some real substance to her. Am I right?”

“What you are is a pain in the neck.”

“Ah, brains and beauty,” Jeb concluded triumphantly. “Now we’re talking.”

“Do I need to remind you that the woman’s child is missing? We haven’t exactly been taking time out for a hot romance.”

Jeb studied him. “But you have kissed her, haven’t you?”

Dylan felt heat climbing into his cheeks. Jeb hooted. “I knew it.”

“I am calling Dad first chance I get and telling him you’re just itching to have more responsibility at the oil company,” Dylan vowed. “I might even recommend he make you vice president of something that will require oodles and oodles of paperwork, something with lots and lots of numbers.”

Unfortunately, his brother didn’t seem the least bit daunted by the threat.

“Dad knows perfectly well I can’t add without a calculator. He still has the accountant go over my checkbook because it’s such a mess. He’s not about to leave the company finances in my hands.”

Dylan sighed. “You have a point. Okay, enough sparring. Let’s talk about Paul James and where he could be hiding with his son.”

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