"And you think I'd have a problem with that."

She shrugged. "Wouldn't you?"

"I'm going to have to get used to it."

But he wasn't there yet. She ignored the kernel of disappointment in her stomach. "Well, I didn't want to ruin the mood. Anyway, he didn't answer."

"Okay, let's start at the beginning."

She nodded. "Where is that?"

"With your brother. He owes someone money. Forgive me for asking, but doesn't he have plenty?"

She bit the inside of her cheek. "We have trust funds. We have access to the monthly interest if we need it. I don't. I don't know about Brian, but I'd guess he dips into his. His lifestyle is more extravagant than mine."

Dare raised an eyebrow. "He lives in your parents' house. Does he pay rent?"

She shrugged. "I figured the less I knew about the extent to which my parents enabled him, the better. It's enough I do my share."

"Relax. This isn't an interrogation. I'm just trying to get the facts because I'll be damned if someone's going to hurt you again." Dare placed a hand on her bare thigh, just where the denim fringe of her shorts ended.

She didn't pretend his touch didn't affect her. It did. But she knew how important this conversation was, so she ignored the warmth spreading upward.

"Well, Brian makes a more than decent salary. It should cover living well. But as I said, he likes nice things."

When Dare remained silent, Liza felt compelled to add more. "Okay, he thinks he's entitled to them."

"I didn't say that."

She expelled a long breath. To his credit, he hadn't. "But you thought it."

"What does Brian do in his spare time?"

"Other than drink, you mean?"

Dare closed his eyes in frustration. "Look, we're not going to get anywhere if you keep assuming I'm out to hurt him. All I want to do is protect you."

She smiled, appreciating his strength and caring, his very presence more than she could say. "I'm having problems at the office that might have something to do with Brian." She blurted out the truth before she could talk herself out of it again.

She could no longer tell herself she didn't need Dare Barron.

She did.

Fourteen.

Dare was doing everything he could not to verbally blast Brian's actions in front of Liza. She'd trusted him with what was going on in her life and Dare didn't want to make her regret it.

Even if the information led to the conclusion that Brian was involved in fraud or embezzlement from his own sister's company, something Liza hadn't yet acknowledged out loud.

From what Liza had explained to Dare, two checks had been printed to an antiques store and both had been cashed. One signature on the back looked like her brother's. Without saying a word against Brian, Dare had merely offered to go back to Annabelle's Antiques along with her because no way was he leaving her alone and unprotected.

They arrived at the small shop early the next morning in time to greet the owner when she opened. The parking lot was empty, and with a little luck the woman would be free to talk to them.

Dare walked to the entrance, Liza by his side. She was dressed in an outfit that fell between her business suits and her outside the office shorts. A flirty skirt hit her mid thigh and a ruffled top belted around the waist completed the look, along with a sexy pair of heeled sandals. As usual, the woman made him drool with little effort or intent. He was getting used to being in a constant state of arousal around her, which didn't bother him as long as she seemed happy to indulge him when they were alone, which she did.

Liza paused outside the door and put a hand on his arm.

"Remember, I upset her last time I was here so I wouldn't count on her being too helpful. And I don't think we should mention that you're a cop either."

Dare nodded. "For now, I agree with you." But if it became necessary in order to get information, he had no problem pulling out his badge.

He held open the door and Liza walked through. Inside, the shop was the epitome of an antiques store, a hodgepodge of items and accessories littered around and tagged with handwritten prices.

A tall woman with long dark hair turned at the sound of the ringing bell, which had announced their arrival.

"Hi, Annabelle," Liza said.

"Liza," the other woman said stiffly. "What are you doing here? I thought we covered everything the other day."

"I upset you and I'm sorry. I came to apologize and to try to talk about it again."

Annabelle lifted her chin. "You all but asked me if I deliberately cashed two checks."

Liza shook her head. "No. I told you that two checks had been written and deposited, at least according to the bank. You refused to discuss anything more with me."

"I had customers."

"And you were upset." An apologetic look crossed Liza's face. "I was hoping you'd had time to calm down and understand I need to look into this."

Annabelle wouldn't meet Liza's gaze. She turned to Dare instead. "Who is this?"

"My...boyfriend," Liza said, stumbling over the word.

Dare bit back a grin. The woman who didn't do relationships had just confirmed she was in one.

"Dare Barron, this is Annabelle Block. Annabelle, this is Dare."

He nodded. "We're spending the day together and Liza wanted to stop by and see you before we did anything else. She's been upset all weekend," Dare explained.

The other woman let out a long sigh. "All I know is that I received one check, signed the back, and deposited it. I never saw another one." Liza nodded. "Is there anyone else with access to your mail? Someone who does your banking?"

Dare had prepped her and she was doing a fine job of questioning Annabelle while attempting to convince the shop owner she was deflecting blame away from her.

Annabelle shook her head. "It's just me. You know I'm a small business. I have one part-time employee and that's it. I do all my own banking." She forced out each word.

Liza gave the woman a smile. "Okay. I appreciate your patience and your honesty."

Annabelle immediately turned away. "I told you everything I know," she said over her shoulder.

If that were true, then why was the woman so uptight and unable to look either of them in the eye? Dare wondered.

"Thanks," Liza said. "Come on, Dare." She tugged on his hand and they turned for the door.

"Have you spoken to your brother?" Annabelle asked just as Liza gripped the handle.

Liza pivoted back around. "You know Brian?"

Dare turned as well, wanting to see the woman's face and gauge her reaction.

"He's come in looking at antiques." Annabelle's gaze darted around the store, not focusing on any one of her items in particular. Definitely not making eye contact as she spoke.

"Brian's an accountant," Liza said, her gaze narrowing.

"He...ummm...he's been here," the other woman said lamely.

Liza started forward, but Dare stopped her with a hand on her arm. If they crowded Annabelle, they wouldn't get any answers. She'd clam up fast.

"Weren't you just telling me this morning that you couldn't reach Brian for the last couple of days?" Dare asked Liza.

She nodded. "He hasn't answered his phone or returned my calls. Do you speak to him often?" she asked Annabelle.

The other woman looked distinctly uncomfortable. "Sometimes. We talked yesterday. He was in a rush and said he'd call me back. He hasn't."

Dare wondered if that had been before or after Liza spoke to Annabelle about the two checks.

"And that's unusual?" Dare asked.

She shook her head quickly. "No, he's a customer. I just..."

Dare forced a grin. "She's got a thing for him," he said to Liza, deliberately speaking loudly and laughing as if he'd just figured it out.

"No, I...well, we used to date," she finally admitted.

Liza's eyes opened wide. "I had no idea," she murmured.

And Dare had a hunch she wasn't supposed to.

"We kept it quiet...and then we broke up. But we've kept in touch," Annabelle admitted.

"If you hear from him, will you let me know?" Liza asked.

"I sure will. And...I understand why you had to ask about the checks. I'm sorry I got touchy."

"It's okay."

But Dare felt the confusion vibrating through her body as if it were his own.

Annabelle shifted uncomfortably. "And if you hear from him, will you tell me?" she asked.

"Of course."

They stepped outside into the heated summer air and headed for the car. No sooner had Dare opened the door for her than she turned and wrapped her arms around him tight.

"Thanks for coming with me," she said.

"Anytime."

Liza spent the next day doing normal things, like working. She'd let Jeff handle the Mystic job. As long as someone was threatening Brian through her, Liza wanted to stick close to home. After the trip to Annabelle's, Liza left twice-daily messages on her brother's cell phone, but she hadn't heard from him, which left her on edge and worried. Something she held back from Dare because no matter how good he was being to her, she still thought asking him to feel pity for Brian was taking things too far.

As for Dare, it had taken some doing, but she'd gotten him to return to work as well. They'd compromised, Liza promising that he could drive her to the office and pick her up to take her home after his shift. She wasn't stupid and readily agreed. She had no desire to be accosted or threatened in town or anywhere where she might be found alone. Dare picked her up at six. They went to dinner and returned to her house where neither could keep their hands off each other.

Their sexual chemistry was off the charts and once again, Liza wished that was all that existed between them. But Liza knew sex, and the emotions that swept through her body when he entered her were so much more.

She shut her eyes against the reality, but all the darkness managed to do was bring her right back to Dare. It didn't matter if he was taking her hard and fast or treating her with the utmost care, he made her feel cherished and cared for. Two things that had always been in short supply in her world. Two things she could never trust to remain. Something would happen to ruin things between them. Something always did.

They repeated their routine the next day, except that Liza had the scheduled meeting with Faith and Kelly for the fund-raiser. Since she'd promised Dare she wouldn't go anywhere alone right now, she asked Faith to drive her. Better to rely on one of her new friends than to have Dare sitting outside in his car playing bodyguard. As much as she appreciated his attentiveness, she needed personal space and normalcy. Or as much normalcy as possible, at any rate.

Faith had already picked up Kelly, and the three of them pulled up to Caroline Bretton's home together. Cars already lined the driveway and the street out front.

"Is Annie meeting us here?" Faith asked.

Kelly shook her head. "She's not feeling well."

"That's too bad," Faith murmured.

"I'd have liked to meet her," Liza said. Another ally would have been nice. She glanced up at the house. "Looks packed." And her stomach cramped at the thought of facing all these women who no doubt knew about the fact that she'd plowed into their beloved center median and gazebo.

"I planned a fashionably late arrival," Faith said, treating her to a grim smile. "This way we can gauge their reaction to us and respond accordingly."

"Swell," Liza muttered.

"These women need to be persuaded to listen to the younger generation," Faith insisted.

"Then we'll just let you lead the way." Kelly hooked her arm inside Liza's and nodded for Faith to go on ahead.

With a groan, Faith lifted her chin and they followed her inside.

Caroline Bretton, an attractive woman with bobbed dark hair, met them at the door. "Faith, it's so good to see you!" She spoke with warmth and gave Faith a kiss on the cheek. "We're meeting in the family room. You know, the room you decorated so beautifully."

"Thank you," Faith said. "Caroline, I believe you know my sister-in-law, Kelly Barron, and you know Liza McKnight. She's been invaluable in offering suggestions for the event." Faith winked at Liza.