Page 67 of Unbuttoning Her Brooding Boss

‘This is Tara.’

‘Tara?’ Steffi Leigh’s sidekick—the make-up diva who liked hand cream?

‘I’m trying to get hold of Steffi—is she still with you?

‘She’s just in the car.’ His bloodless heart began to hammer. ‘Can I help?’

‘It’s Dan.’

There was a problem with her kitten? ‘What’s wrong with him?’

‘I can’t get hold of him. I knocked on the door ’til my knuckles bled but he didn’t answer. I left my key there yesterday, when I had a go at him, and now I can’t get in.’

Jack was momentarily confused. ‘How’s a cat going to answer the door?’

‘Cat? I’m talking about Dan. Her brother.’

The sports star? Jack frowned. Wasn’t he off at college on a scholarship or something?

‘I’m sure he’s in there—he never leaves,’ Tara added. ‘God, I’m so worried—’

‘Slow down, Tara, and tell it to me slowly.’ His brain was already scrambled and he wasn’t making sense of this.

‘I thought it would do him good to tough it out for a couple days. He takes such advantage of her. I thought some time out might help him appreciate all she does.’

In what way did her brother take advantage of her?

‘She’s basically been a house hostage for a year and a half. You take her away for two days and he does this. It’s awful.’

‘Tara, stop babbling and tell me what the problem is.’

‘I had a go at him for being so hard on her and then I left him to it. And now he’s not answering the door. Or the phone. And I’m scared.’

‘And you’re worried he’s done something?’

‘Yeah. Should I call the police? An ambulance?’

‘What’s wrong with him?’

‘She didn’t tell you?’ Tara drew in a sharp breath. ‘Now she’s going to kill me.’

He tried to speak calmly. ‘She’s not going to kill you.’

‘I can’t believe she didn’t tell you...’ Tara was speaking breathlessly again. ‘Actually, I can. God, she’ssopigheaded.’

‘Tara!’ he snapped. ‘What the hell is wrong with him?’

There was a split second of utter silence. Then he heard her take a breath.

‘Dan got meningitis about eighteen months ago,’ Tara said dully. ‘He had an arm and a leg amputated. We’d hoped he’d be managing better now, but he’s totally dependent on Steffi. And now he’s not answering the phone or the door.’

‘Where’s her apartment?’ Jack snapped.

He rapidly searched on his phone when Tara gave him the address, frowning when he realised it was in a housing block on the edge of an industrial development. Hardly the chic city apartment you’d think Steffi Leigh would have.

‘We can be there quickly. We’re not that far from there now.’

He listened as Tara gave him more detailed directions. But he was so shocked he could hardly think.

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