“And you didn’t bother to mention this to either of us, why?” Slade asked, looking up from his computer.
Gavin’s perfectly polished shoes tapped against the hardwood floor, a sure sign he was getting impatient. “By HR’s standards, Hannah’s complaint is confidential. The only reason I knew about it was Preston himself. He was worried HR would pursue the matter, and came to plead his case to me. Then I asked Hannah.”
Dex wouldn’t have let the ass**le plead anything. “How could you let him get away with harassing her like that?”
“She took care of him. Broke his big toe by stomping on it. She’s stronger than you give her credit for. You should be damn lucky you got the jump on her today, or you might have ended up limping like Preston.” Gavin stood. “I’m going to bed. I suggest the two of you do the same. And while I agree that Hannah is fragile in some ways, I think you’d do well to remember that she is a very independent woman who has a brain.”
Gavin stalked past them, heading toward the kitchen, slamming the door behind him.
“Give him a little time,” Slade said. “He doesn’t understand our relationship with Hannah.”
“Well, he’s not the only one,” a soft voice said from the doorway.
Dex turned and saw Hannah standing there in one of the long, white terrycloth robes stashed in all the bedrooms for guests’ comfort. Based on the flushed anger all over her face, he’d bet she’d been standing there for a while. “Hannah, you’re supposed to be in bed.” She adjusted her robe. “Yes, you put me to bed and tucked me in. Clearly, you expected me to stay there like a good little girl. If that was your goal, you should have just locked me in.”
“I thought about it.” Dex got the feeling she wouldn’t believe him if he lied. He’d given serious consideration to locking that door and knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt where she was.
“Oh, well, live and learn. Maybe you can lock in the next girl. I would like my phone back.” She strode up and held her hand out.
“That’s not going to happen,” Dex said, snatching it up in his big fist.
“Hannah, love,” Slade said, getting to his feet and cupping her shoulders. “You don’t need that phone. You’re safe here.”
“Really? Who’s going to keep me safe from your overprotectiveness?” she drawled. “I want my phone, now.”
“You don’t need it.”
“I certainly do. How else am I going to call and make a reservation to fly out of here?” Dex itched to mete out some discipline. But when he heard Slade’s sigh, Dex knew his brother was going to try to gently talk Hannah out of her anger. That would be a mistake, in Dex’s opinion. He took a moment to really read her body language. She was tense, her eyes narrow and tight. Her fists were clenched and every now and then she rolled them like she was digging her nails into the palm of her hand. Dex would bet that she was keyed up and itching for a fight…or something else that would take the edge off.
He was willing to give it to her.
“You’re not going anywhere, Hannah.” He said the words with implacable surety.
Her head came up, and she went toe-to-toe with him. Dex couldn’t hold in a little smile. Her perfectly painted pink toes were so obviously wrong up against his worn boots.
“Don’t you laugh at me, Dexter Townsend. I want my phone—now. I’m leaving, and you’re not stopping me. I’m done playing whatever game you’ve cooked up. Oh, and I quit. Please let Mr. James know. As soon as you give me the phone, I’m going home. And by home, I mean back to West Texas.”
Slade stood beside Dex, clearly no longer in the mood to reason with her. “If you think we’re going to let you leave here when there’s a stalker out there waiting for you, you’re crazy.” Hannah thrust her hands on her hips. “You don’t own me. I can come and go as I please.”
“You’re ours, and you’re staying in this house if I have to tie you up.” In fact, it would be Dex’s pleasure. He would tie her hands to the headboard and place those shapely legs in a spreader bar that would leave her pu**y on full display and ready for their use. Why hadn’t he thought of that in the first place?
“So, I’m a captive here?”
Dex paused, then nodded. “That’s accurate, darlin’. You’re not leaving, and that’s for your own good.”
“This is how you’re going to convince me you’re better than the guy stalking me? Whatever you thought we started on the plane is over.” She turned on her heel and walked away.
Slade’s jaw dropped as they watched her. Dex had a sinking feeling they’d just f**ked up big.
Chapter Six
Hannah fought to contain her scream. She stomped down the hall toward her bedroom, plotting the whole way exactly how she’d get the hell out of this mess.
She’d been so stupid. She’d thought because the brothers had shown her some affection, they really cared about her. But no. They’d spanked her and flashed her to each other. That wasn’t affection, just perversion.
But then…Slade picked her up and carried her down the steps. That felt like affection, just like waking cuddled between them in the big stretch limo.
She pushed the images aside as she strode through the bedroom door. The room beyond was bigger than her apartment, and the bed looked like it was built to sleep a football team. She could only imagine what the brothers had planned to do to her there.