Awaken to Pleasure - By Nalini Singh Page 0,24

could she trust?

It was a startling insight.

That day was a whirlwind of activity. With Nick tagging along quietly,Taylorwent to work withJackson, helping him organize matters so that the studios could temporarily function without him at the helm. After lunch, she left to meet Maggie, the therapist she'd agreed to see. To her surprise, she found herself comfortable with the older woman who welcomed her into her office.

When she returned to the studios,Jacksonsimply asked, "So?"

"I like her. It might work."

Giving her a smile,Jacksonwent back to work and after checking on Nick, she continued to assist him.

They'd agreed to leave town for a few days on the pretext of a honeymoon, so that Lance would have no room to ask awkward questions about their marriage. As Nick was now on vacation, it was decided that he'd spend the time out on a farm, with a friend of his who'd moved out of the city.

"I want to take him with us, but I know we have to give the impression of being on a honeymoon,"Taylor said, late that night. She was pacing in front of the sofa, whileJacksonstood by the window, back to the night, cognac in hand. The amber liquid sparkled through the crystal snifter, momentarily catching her gaze. "I've missed him so much. I don't know if they'll take care of him out on the farm."

"You're overprotective."Jackson's quiet declaration stopped hermidpace .

Shocked, she clenched her fists. Her temper ignited. "What would you know about bringing up a child?"

She thought pain flickered over the rugged beauty of his face but his tone was calm. "I was a boy at one stage."

"And you think that gives you the right to tell me how to raise Nick?" Just because he was helping her keep her brother didn't mean he could dictate to her.

"No. What gives me the right is that I can see he's unhappy and that he'll never say anything to you, because he loves you too much."

An arrow to her heart would have done less damage. "Unhappy?" she whispered.

"He's been getting bullied for being a sissy."

"How do you know? He just got back from camp."

"He told me while you were having a bath - he couldn't hide it after I saw the bruise on his leg."

"What!" she cried, fighting the urge to wake Nick and check up onhim. "Who? I'll kill them."

"That's just the problem."

"Why didn't he tell me? What's the problem?" She couldn't bear to think of her sweet baby brother being bullied. Why hadn't he trusted her with this? Why had he toldJackson, whom he hardly knew?

"You're always sticking up for him. Even at school."

"You wouldn't know, but that's what elder siblings do." Her hurt made her cruel. "You don't even know where your sister is at the moment."

Jacksondidn't blink but she knew him well enough to know that her barb had found its target. The skin over his cheekbones tightened and he looked away from her and over the water vista out the window.

The night was peaceful and the water moved in gentle symphony, but inside, she felt like she was crashing and burning. His hurt pained her.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, meaning it.

"It doesn't matter." Heshrugged, shoulders taut under the blue shirt. JacksonSantorini , she remembered, was used to being hurt. His wife had torn into his pride and the world had lapped up his suffering. She even knew that his family never contacted him except to complain or ask for something. No wonder he didn't keep in touch. It had only been her own feelings of inadequacy at having let her brother down that had made her strike out.

She wanted to kick herself. "Yes, it does." Walking over, she touched her hand to his back and rested her head against his thickly muscled arm. "I hurt you. And I despise myself for it, for taking out my frustration on you."

He put his drink on the windowsill and slipped his arm around her. "You know something?"

Relieved that he wasn't holding a grudge, she said, "What?"

"I think you're the first person I've ever met who really means they're sorry when they say so."

And she knew she was forgiven. "I do. So don't be angry. I know what yourfamily's like, and I don't blame you for keeping them at a distance. It just makes me crazy to know that Nick's being hurt."

"I showed him some moves."

Her brows furrowed. "Moves?"

"Self-defense."

She bit her lip. Nick had kept something else from her. Once, he'd shared every new experience.

"And?"

"He's a natural."

"But he's not

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