“Don’t push me, Remi,” he warned.

“Or what?” she taunted, poking him in the very large, very hard chest. “You’ll storm your way into my business? You’ll treat me like a little sister? Oh, wait, I know. You’ll go back to disappearing every time I come home—”

He grabbed her by the front of the shirt, and she found herself pinned between a plaster wall and a Brick one. She froze as those massive hands settled on either side of her head. His chest was heaving, nostrils flaring like a stallion about to run. His hips held her against the wall, an obscene length of hard flesh pressed against her belly.

“Shut. The fuck. Up,” he enunciated a mere inch from her face.

It was the shock and not the command that had her obeying, she decided.

Then he dipped his head toward her, and she forgot everything. It all slipped out of her head as her attention zeroed in on the man’s firm, scowling mouth as it drew closer in slow motion.

Her lips parted as if they were under someone else’s control. Heart thundering away in her chest. His breath was hot on her cheek. His body so warm against hers. Every part of her was alert. But this wasn’t fear. No. This was alive.

The breath she let out was a tremulous one. It had one corner of Brick’s mouth lifting in smug satisfaction.

But just when she thought he was going to finally, finally kiss her, he tensed against her instead. Those heated blue eyes were no longer focused on her face.

She heard it then. The squeak and swing of the front door. The change in him was instantaneous. Gone was the stubborn seducer and in his place was a battle-ready sentry. Her blood ran cold. No. It couldn’t be. Not here.

Brick, eyes blazing, clamped a firm hand over her mouth, dragging her out of her frozen fear. She managed a shaky nod, and he removed his hand. With surprising grace, he whirled her away from the wall and put himself between her and the intruder. Her brain, scrambling to keep up with the ever-changing situation, took a hot second to admire the barricade of muscle.

Footsteps realigned her priorities, and Remi snagged a knife from the butcher block on the counter. The hand that wrapped around the hilt shook, but it felt damn good to take a stand.

He spared her a glance, spotted the knife and mouthed the word “No.”

She jabbed the blade in the direction of the hall where it was apparent someone was approaching.

Brick moved soundlessly to the doorway, sinking into a crouch. A lion ready to pounce. She gripped the knife in both hands and held her breath.

16

“Yo, Brick! Bricky Tikki Tavi?”

Brick, in the midst of calculations that included where he’d left his service weapon and how to keep Remi in sight without putting her in danger, heard her ditch the knife on the table behind him. At least that meant he wasn’t about to get stabbed in the back. Before he could react to the intruder, she grabbed him by the waistband and held on.