Her Scream in the Silence (Carly Moore #2) - Denise Grover Swank Page 0,58

time with me?”

“Why is that so unbelievable?” he asked. “You’re a beautiful woman, Carly Moore. He’d be a fool not to want you.”

“What makes you think that he can’t respect me and Lula as people enough to genuinely want to help? And did you forget that Marco almost died trying to save us from Carson?”

He hesitated and I could see the thoughts shifting across his face, followed by dawning recognition. “Shit, I didn’t mean to imply…”

He looked so contrite I couldn’t hide my smile.

“What’s so damn funny?”

“You.” Poor word choices aside, I didn’t actually think Wyatt was misogynistic. He’d always seemed to respect me. And although the timing wasn’t right, I genuinely did want to know why he was here this morning—who he was protecting and what he was now willing to share.

I reached up and gave him a soft kiss. “This doesn’t mean we’re back together. It means I’m willing to hear what you have to tell me. Tonight. When you pick me up from the tavern at midnight to bring me home.”

I started to walk away, but he grabbed my arms and hauled me back, pulling me to his chest and kissing me with fierce possession.

When he lifted his head, I stared up at him in a daze. This man made me feel things I hadn’t known I was capable of feeling.

His dark brown eyes held mine in an intense gaze. “That was to remind you that I fight for what’s mine,” he said in a husky tone.

“And I suspect it was partially for my benefit as well.” Marco was leaning on his crutches by the front door, dressed in a pair of jeans and a dark gray jacket. He had a perfect view of the two of us in the kitchen doorway, and a tickled grin lit up his eyes.

I wasn’t sure whether to be amused by Wyatt’s insecurity or irritated that he was trying to stake his claim.

I pulled away from him, deciding not to address it at all. “I haven’t changed Hank’s compression bandage. And he needs someone to massage around the incision site. He hates it, but it’ll help the scarring and dispel some of the phantom pain, even though he might have convinced you otherwise.”

His grimace was confirmation I’d guessed right on that one. “Consider it done.”

Marco set his crutches against the wall and lifted my coat off the coat-tree. Balancing on one leg, he held it open for me to put on.

“Say, Wyatt,” I said as I slipped my arms into the coat. “Did you hire Ginger to clean the house?”

“Yeah,” he said in a rough voice, his gaze on Marco. “You’ve been workin’ so many hours. It seemed like a lot, especially since you’ve been cooking and paying for the meals, so it’s a win for both of you, especially since Junior’s youngest is racking up some medical bills they’re struggling to pay.”

“But cleaning the house is part of my bargain with Hank. Have you told him?”

“Not yet. I’ll do it today, but he’ll be all right with it. He likes Ginger and he appreciates everything you do.”

I nodded. “Okay.”

I still didn’t feel right, but I wasn’t going to argue about it in front of Marco. They were doing enough posturing already.

Marco grabbed his crutches and nodded to the door. “Shall we? I’m starvin’.”

I picked up my bag and purse and followed him out. He was already down the porch steps when I got outside, so I gave Hank a quick goodbye and headed for Marco’s SUV.

Wyatt leaned against a post, watching me get into Marco’s Explorer. Once I was in, I dropped my bag of clothes onto the backseat.

Marco tossed his crutches into the back, then jumped up into the driver’s seat. After he started the engine, he gave Wyatt a flippant wave and a grin.

Wyatt scowled in return.

“Sorry about him,” I said as Marco backed up and headed to the street.

“I thought you said you two broke up,” he said.

“We’re not back together, if that’s what you’re suggesting.”

He chuckled. “You sure Wyatt got that memo?”

I groaned. “It’s complicated.”

“Hey,” he said with a laugh. “No skin off my back, either way. But Wyatt can be a stubborn ass, and I like you, Carly, so my brotherly advice is don’t take any shit from him.”

“Thanks. I won’t. I’m basically givin’ him another chance to make things right and share his past. If he doesn’t come clean, it’s really over.”

“You sure that’s gonna work?” he asked. “Because you two seem to have