Page 15 of Retribution

“Yes, I realize the obvious deduction is you’re not most women.”

“Just like you’re not representative of most men.” I give him the once-over. Men in their position are suspicious by nature, but I hoped the introduction through Carys might have softened them both. “Were you in Lorcan’s corridor to check up on me?”

Finn’s gaze is steely. “I don’t know who you are or why you’re here. You’re under my roof. My father died here. You can never be too careful when not even your own home is safe.”

It’s a reasonable response, but it’s not the whole truth. “I’m here because Lorcan hired me.”

“To do what?”

I give him a sly smile. “Whatever he wants.”

Finn’s eyes narrow as we enter the long, wide front entrance. His pace slows, and he faces me. “You were already doing whatever Carys wanted. I can’t imagine my brother came up with a job title more impressive.”

I take in the grand entrance, the high ceiling. “Titles don’t matter to me.”

“Ready to go?” Lorcan calls to me as he comes striding toward me down the narrow side hall. Two different burly guards, ones I don’t recognize, are a few steps behind him. “Deartháir mor.” Lorcan nods at Finn.

“Deartháir beag,” Finn responds with a slight nod.

I raise my eyebrows at Lorcan, but he only shakes his head, taking my hand on the way past Finn. At least they’re still addressing each other as brothers, even if the terms of endearment resemble battle cries.

“Anything I should know about?” Finn asks from behind us as we approach the exit.

“Checking on some of our assets today.” Lorcan doesn’t break his stride.

“Perhaps I already checked on them.”

“Then they’ll get another visit. I need to help Kim become acquainted with some of her tasks, people involved.”

With my free hand, I scoop up my firearms off the table at the entrance. I’ll have to put them on in the car. As Lorcan leads me out the door, I glance back at his brother. He’s watching us, a frown marring his face. When he catches me staring, curiosity lights up his pale eyes. Is it suspicion or attraction in them?

Sliding into the black SUV, I risk one more peek at Finn, who is in the open doorway, hands thrust into his pockets, his expression pensive.

“Big brother is intrigued.” Lorcan’s lips are a hair’s breadth from my ear. “Well done.”

His face is close enough if I lean in a fraction, I could connect our lips. I lick mine, thinking about what it would be like to kiss him. He smells of oak trees and mints, and I wonder if the whiskey he drinks has fused with his skin.

“Men aren’t tough to figure out. A hint of the forbidden. A touch of mystery.”

Lorcan eases away from me, his back pressing into the leather seat. “Not me. I like my women to be what they seem.”

“No surprises.”

“Highly overrated.”

Unable to resist, I say, “So what am I?”

A smile tugs on the edges of his lips. “You’rethe everythingwoman. Not a chance you’re what you seem. I’m safe as houses.”

Such a British thing to say, as though houses are safe. He should know better given what happened to his father. “Safe as houses, huh?”

“We’re going to be good mates, you and me.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I take in his profile. He may not be tempted by me, but I can’t say the same for myself. That spells trouble for both of my jobs.

Distance. Detachment.

My head needs to stay in the game. If I still had a heart, I might have to worry about it too.