Can't Hardly Breathe (The Original Heartbreakers #4)

Yeah. A dog would help his dad, too. Maybe even Jude and Brock.

Brock had returned to the Scratching Post again last night and once again drank so much he’d blacked out. An hour ago, Ryanne had texted Daniel to let him know Brock was on her couch. He’d told Jude, and the guy had taken off in a fury to collect their friend.

If Brock didn’t change his destructive ways, he was going to end up in the hospital. Or worse, a casket. And Jude...the man wanted to shut himself off emotionally, but he lived with despair. Before leaving to get Brock, he’d been cleaning his gun, staring at it like it was an answer to a prayer.

The three of them were dealing with PTSD in different ways. Daniel knew it, but he hadn’t realized the depths of danger until now—until Princess. She hadn’t been trained as a service dog, but she’d still had a calming effect.

And Daniel needed to calm the hell down. Thea wasn’t going to cancel her date with Hillcrest, and cold-blooded murder still wasn’t an option.

As sunlight filtered through his window, Daniel’s eyes burned, fatigue a noose around his neck. He showered and dressed and exited his room.

He drove to the inn and searched for Thea, only to find Carol Mathis bustling around in the kitchen.

She’d come back from her singles getaway early. “Ms. Mathis,” he said in greeting.

“Call me Carol, please. Ms. Mathis makes me think of the poor woman currently married to my ex-husband.”

“When did you get in?”

“A few hours ago. Holly’s been texting me nonstop.” She cast a pointed glance in his direction. “I’m needed here.”

Trying to tell him that he wasn’t needed? Well, no woman had ever been more wrong.

“Would you mind running the inn today?” he asked. “I’d like to take Thea into the city. I’m making the headboard for her first theme room, and she’s got to pick out the wood.” He didn’t mention the dog shelter they would be visiting, lest Carol try to talk her daughter out of coming home with a pet.

Her lips pinched together. “I’ve been meaning to speak with my Dottie about the changes she’s making around here. I don’t know why she thinks a theme room is going to be profitable. I’m telling you, the inn is perfect just the way it is. Why, people like the familiar and always have. They count on us to provide a stay so comfortable they’d swear they were at home. And with the spring festival only four weeks away, we’re going to fill up fast. We need every room ready to go.”

He was glad she hadn’t talked to Thea about this. The precious girl deserved encouragement and praise, not more roadblocks. “The room will be finished before the festival, I’ll make sure of it. And everyone who’s heard about the theme room seems excited for the change. Just give it a chance.”

Daniel beat feet before she could protest, continuing his search for Thea. She wasn’t in her room. Or rather, she didn’t answer the door. He didn’t think she was ducking him today. He saw no moving shadows under the crack between door and floor.

He remembered the room. He’d liked it. A lot. Had more space than the rooms below, and came with a small kitchenette. The furnishings looked as if they belonged in an old lady’s house where cats ruled the roost, but Thea had added feminine touches to infuse her sparkling personality. A patchwork quilt with pictures of star formations draped the top of a floral-print chair. A velvet settee was lined with furry white pillows, as if they were clouds. Every lamp had beaded ribbons streaming from the cap to mimic rain. Beside the door to the roof was a brass telescope.

He also remembered a photo above the mantel. A framed ultrasound with last year’s date in the corner. Thea had no children, and no one in town had recently given birth.

He hadn’t liked the path his mind had taken—Thea’s baby...lost.

The background check hadn’t delved into her medical history, and he wouldn’t do so now. He would respect her privacy, as he’d promised, and wait for her to share her past.

He found her in Holly’s room, the door wide-open. The two were arguing as Holly stalked from the closet to the edge of the bed, where she was stuffing clothing into a bag. Thea followed her and pulled out the clothes, tossing the garments back into the closet.

“Stop that. Mom’s back, and she said I could go,” Holly grated.

“Well, Mom must have had a stroke. You can’t miss an entire week of school just to go camping with your friends.”

“I can, and I will. Watch me.”

“Do you want to flunk your senior year?” Thea demanded.

“Why not? I can get my GED.”

He knocked on the door frame to get their attention. Both stopped what they were doing to shout, “What?”

Thea wilted, instantly apologetic. “Sorry. Is there something you need?” she asked in a gentler tone.

“Your mother is running the inn today, and after you make me a cup of golden milk, we’re going into the city to pick the wood for the new headboard.”

Relief and excitement blended in her beautiful eyes. “I’m not making you any golden milk or going to the city with you. You can send me a link—”

He stalked across the distance, leaned down and whispered, “You owe me a date, remember? Make the milk.” If he had to force the issue, he would. “And change into your shortest skirt.”

She glowered at him. “Fine. I’ll make the milk while Holly cancels her camping trip. She can come with us.”

He knew better than to argue. “Yay,” he deadpanned. “The more the merrier.”

“No, Holly cannot go with you,” the girl retorted while stuffing another shirt in the bag. “She’d rather wear a dress made entirely of vomit.”

“Perfect.” Thea hurled the shirt into the closet. “Vomit is your best color. Now stop being a spoiled brat and cancel that trip, or I will cancel it for you. Maybe you haven’t realized it yet, but going would make you a hypocrite. You say you hate me for leaving you, and yet here you are trying to do the same to me—and ruining your future in the process, just to spite me! You have school in two days, and you will attend class. And you will be in the lobby in half an hour. With a smile! If you want to wear your vomit dress, fine, but you will go to the city with us, and you will help us pick wood for the headboard. I may not be the best sister in the world, but I’m your sister. Deal with it.”

She left then, dragging Daniel with her.

He was proud of her. And he was so turned on he actually broke out in a sweat. The more she’d yelled at her sister, the harder he’d gotten. He wasn’t sure what that said about his state of mind, but he was certain he didn’t care.

He wanted this woman. He wanted her badly. He had to win her, which meant convincing her to date him in secret. Not for the challenge she represented—he was well past that kind of need—but for her. The woman. The pinup.

The only light in a very dark world.

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