"Of course not," she said with a genuine smile.

Liza shook her head. "You don't have to change your plans for me," she said, looking from him to Cara. "I can call a cab."

"Whoa. You're not going anywhere alone."

"It's fine. I don't want you to feel like you have to babysit me," she said, not meeting his gaze.

He studied her, confused by her reactions. They'd agreed she needed protection until Brian was located or at least paid back the money he owed. And since when was Dare's spending time with her about babysitting?

"Umm, Cara, why don't you take Liza's seat?" Kelly gestured to the empty chair at the table.

Dare, meanwhile, clasped Liza's elbow and led her away. "What's going on?" he asked, leading her to the door.

Silence reigned until they'd reached his car behind his apartment and settled inside.

"Well? Are you going to answer me?" he asked, turning on the engine. He didn't plan on going anywhere until he had a reply. "Last time we were together everything was fine. We had an understanding about how things were going to be." They had more than that, Dare knew, but he sensed now wasn't the time to bring up feelings she wouldn't admit to.

Liza fidgeted in her seat. "It's nothing. I just didn't want to mess up your night with Cara," she finally said, ducking her head as she spoke.

So that was it. Liza was jealous of Cara. Huh. Dare wasn't sure if he was more relieved or pleased he could affect her emotions so strongly.

"Since you had the meeting, I agreed to go with Cara to check out condos in Easton."

"I know. Kelly told me." She bit down on her lower lip. "It's just that you never mentioned it."

In all the time he'd known her, this was the first time Dare had been privy to her insecurities, and his gut told him to tread lightly. "It was a last-minute decision after our shift ended, and I knew you wouldn't be home yet. I did let Faith know."

"Not that," Liza murmured. "Well, not that exactly. I didn't even know you were looking to buy a place."

She spoke as if she cared about his future plans, and Dare's heart began a steady gallop in his chest. "I guess it just never came up."

She nodded. "Because we're always so wrapped up in my problems and my life. I never bothered to find out more about yours."

He'd never felt slighted or neglected. "I would have told you tonight. Now that I saw the place."

"But Cara knew you wanted to buy."

Despite knowing better, he couldn't stop the grin edging the corner of his mouth. Yeah, he took pleasure in Liza's jealousy. So sue him and call him male. "Because I'm around her at work. We have lots of time to talk."

"You're around me the other half of the time," Liza said in a sulky voice. She knew how petty and insecure she sounded. She hated it. She'd never been either of those things in her life. Never felt possessive or jealous over a man before. More alarming was that she was responding to these unfamiliar feelings by acting like a bitch, and she felt helpless to improve her mood or soften her attitude.

"Yeah, but I'm too busy kissing you or wanting to get inside you to remember all the stupid details I tell my friends," Dare said in a husky voice that soothed all her ruffled feathers.

"Really?" she asked, still not meeting his gaze, this time because she was mortified at her typically female behavior.

Dare slid his hand into the back of her hair, turned her head, and forced her to face him. "Do you doubt me?" he asked before closing his mouth over hers, proving his words.

His silken tongue swept inside her mouth and removed all doubts. She sighed and kissed him back, pushing back her fears about how fast this thing between them was moving. She'd already lost all control, so why not accept what he offered.

He broke the kiss and leaned his forehead against hers.

"Sorry I was a bitch," she said, still horrified by her behavior.

He shrugged and leaned back in his seat. "I kinda liked it."

"Have you lost your mind?" she asked, laughing.

"Hey, it shows me you care." Without waiting for her to reply, he put the car in drive and pulled out.

Liza opted to dodge his declaration. "So, did you like the condo?" she asked.

"It's definitely a step up from my place above Joe's."

"That's not exactly a resounding endorsement."

He set his jaw. "I know. The place was okay."

They settled into silence, not as comfortable as what she was used to, and she was afraid to look too deeply into why, knowing in her heart it had to do with him looking at buying a place to live and knowing how permanent that felt. How separate from her.

Liza shivered and wrapped her arms around herself just as her cell phone rang. She opened her handbag and began to search for it, finally finding the iPhone in time to see Brian's face on the screen.

She touched the green button to connect them. "Hello? Brian?" She didn't hear his voice right away, but she felt the heat of Dare's stare. "Brian?"

"Liza?" His voice was low and gravelly, and he sounded far away and scared.

"Bri? Where are you?" She gripped the receiver tighter in her hand.

"I can't tell you that. But I'm sorry I got you involved in my mess. I'm sorry I involved the business. And I'm sorry they threatened you."

Liza swallowed over the lump of fear that wedged in her throat. "Who do you owe money to? Tell me so I can pay them and make the threat go away. Then you can come home and get help."

"You can't keep making things better for me, Liza Lou." His voice cracked on her name.

"Then make them better for yourself," she whispered.

"I'm not sure I know how." She had to strain to hear him.

"We'll figure it out together," she promised him. "Just come home."

"Can't," he said. Then he was gone.

"Brian?" When she didn't hear his voice again, she looked at the phone, but she didn't need confirmation that he'd disconnected the call.

With shaking hands, Liza placed the phone in her lap and stared out the window into the dark night. Then she waited for Dare to yell at her for offering to bail out her brother once more. She prayed he'd trust her judgment and understand the reasons she'd offered to pay off her brother's loans without even knowing how much he owed, to whom, or for what reason he'd borrowed in the first place.

But in her heart and soul, she knew Dare couldn't possibly let that go. Even as she'd spoken, Liza knew she'd crossed a line. Dare and his unyielding sense of right and wrong wouldn't understand. He had uprooted himself and his life to take care of her and keep her safe, and she'd once again sided with Brian. She fully expected him to wash his hands of her for good, and her chest hurt at the thought.

And his continued silence long after she'd disconnected the call, confirmed her fear.

Dare knew Liza was waiting for him to speak, but he'd be damned if he'd run off at the mouth and start a fight without thinking things through. And as much as he'd hated listening to her part of the conversation, his gut told him she'd been right to make the offer. This wasn't about Brian's drinking. This was about life. Her life. The loan sharks needed to be paid off so Liza could be safe.

Her guaranteed safety was the key.

He waited until they'd pulled into her driveway and exited the car. He turned and grasped her hand before she could walk inside.

"Don't." She pulled back.

"Don't what? Tell you I understand why you made the offer? Because I do."

Her eyes opened wide. "Then why the silent treatment?"

"Because I wanted to take my time and think things through. Yes, you have to pay off his debts to be safe. But..."

Her hopeful expression drooped at his qualification. "But what?"

"Who's to say it'll be the last time? What happens next time he gets into trouble? Or the next? It's your long-term welfare that matters."

"There are no guarantees in this life. Trust me, I know."

She started to turn away, but he grasped her face. "Hey. Don't be angry because I care. I'm telling you I agree with what you have to do."

"You just don't approve." She raised a hand before he could interrupt. "Don't worry. I get it. Look, I'm tired. Can we just go inside and get some sleep? Tomorrow we'll deal with the logistics of how to make this thing with Brian happen."

He let her go, following her to the door. What more could he say? There was no point in beating the dead horse that was her brother, his alcoholism, and the years of enabling him that had led to this moment.

Dare might be this close to falling in love with her. Hell, he was probably already there. But his speech about the cyclical nature of her brother's disease and the inevitability of her bailing him out again wouldn't be changing any time soon.

Once and for all, he had to decide whether he could deal with it...or not.

Liza couldn't say which of them withdrew first. She only knew that she lay on one side of her bed and he on the other. She pretended to sleep, but she wasn't even close. Her heart was close to breaking, and if this was how she felt now, imagine the agony she'd feel once she really invested her heart.

Nope, withdrawal was the smart thing. The right thing. The only thing she could do.

Because Dare would be here now while she was in danger. He'd help her get through this situation and maybe even stick around for the honeymoon period after, when Brian did whatever he could to stay out of trouble. And then, after she fell for him completely, Brian would do something, Liza would have to help him, and Dare wouldn't be able to understand.

He agreed with her decision, but he didn't approve. Liza considered those words fair warning and decided to act accordingly.

Dare met Ethan and Nash for lunch at the Family Restaurant on Thursday afternoon. The restaurant had been Dare's meeting place with Nash for years. He'd never imagined Ethan would be included in these impromptu luncheons, but he had to admit he was grateful they'd put the past behind them.

The meal consisted of the usual barrage of insults and jokes, serious questions about other things, and of course eating burgers and guzzling soda.

"So Tess wants to go to a party Friday night," Ethan said, leaning back in the booth.

Dare narrowed his gaze. "What kind of party?"

"House party. She's been good lately. Grades are excellent, hanging out with Michelle, who's been a good influence..."

"Kelly mentioned it to me. Is Michelle going to the party?" Nash asked.

Ethan nodded. "Faith's leaning toward saying yes, rewarding her for good behavior and all that. Kelly agreed with her."

Dare listened to the conversation and processed the arguments in favor, but his mind had already been made up. "Are you all crazy?"

Ethan met his gaze. "We can't keep her locked in her room. That'll just encourage her to sneak around when she starts to feel like we'll never trust her."

"And meanwhile she's just gotten her previous record expunged. Why would you want to risk something like this?" Dare asked, fists clenched hard.

"Is this her brother talking or is it the cop in you?" Nash asked.

"Or is it the kid who went to a party and never forgot it?" Ethan asked somberly.

Damn, but his oldest brother was perceptive. Dare glared at him. "Maybe it's a mixture of all three. All I know is that nothing but trouble can happen at one of these high school parties." He cocked his head to one side.

"Is it supervised, or is that a stupid question?" Nash asked.

"Not stupid and surprisingly yes. The parents will be home."

"Doesn't matter. If they're dumb enough to host a party with all the liability these days, I'm not sure that means squat." Dare leaned his elbows on the cleared-off tabletop.

Ethan exhaled a long breath. "I still say I don't think we have a choice. I'd rather she know she's earned our trust. She'll understand she can call us no matter what happens and we'll be there. Better than sneaking out like we used to do."

Nash stretched his arms over his head and groaned. "Sorry, man," he said to Dare. "I'm with Ethan. We have to let the kid spread her wings."

Dare remained silent. Legally, he had no say. Ethan was her guardian, sharing decisions with Kelly. They'd all agreed to it. Dare was just lucky Ethan asked their opinion on big decisions for their new sister.

And maybe, given his background and what he saw on the job, he was ultrasensitive on the subject. "I don't like it," he muttered under his breath. "But I appreciate you asking our opinion anyway."

"I'm not an idiot. I know what can happen at these things. I also know how Tess reacts when she's feeling trapped and unhappy. I just want to give her a little freedom in exchange for how much she's come around," Ethan said.

Dare nodded. "I get it." He did. But as he'd told Liza the other day, even though he understood, that didn't mean he approved.

"So, any luck tracking down Brian McKnight?" Nash asked, knowing when to change the subject.

Not that this topic was any better, Dare thought. "No. Not yet."

"So you're still staying with Liza then?" Ethan asked.

"Yeah." And wasn't that a treat? Ever since their terse talk in the car about her brother, he hadn't had the time to back away so he could consider his options. Liza had done enough pulling back for both of them.

It was as if admitting his inability to truly accept the realities of her life had marked the end in her mind. He fucking hated the distance between them, both in bed and out. But he also knew how unfair it would be for him to push his way past her barriers only to end up back in the same argument later down the road.

"Hey, where'd you go?" Nash asked. "Everything okay with her?"

"No."

"Want to talk about it?" Ethan asked.