Dangerous Beauty (O'Connor Brothers Book 4)

by Rhonda Brewer

  “Will I have my own room?” Now she really did sound like a princess.

  “What do you think we all live in a one room barracks?” Keith chuckled. “Emily, there are eight cottages on my property. Each one has two bedrooms with their own bathrooms, as well as full kitchens, and living rooms. They all have cable and wifi as well. My house has four bedrooms with their own bathrooms and a huge kitchen. There’s also a fully functional gym on the property.”

  “Are you telling me I need to work out?” Emily narrowed her eyes, but of course, she was joking. He’d made it clear earlier that he didn’t think she was overweight.

  “Don’t put words in my mouth, Princess.” He warned.

  “I guess I really don’t have much choice.” Emily sighed. She didn’t even care that he called her princess.

  “I’ll call your dad and let him know.” Keith stood up and pulled out his phone.

  “Dad knows about all this?” Emily groaned

  “One of his stipulations was to keep him in the loop.” If she didn’t know better, she’d think Keith was almost sorry about giving her father any information. Maybe he was, but she knew her dad and when he wanted information he had his way of getting it.

  “Great! That’s just the melted butter on the hot homemade bread.” Emily slouched down in the chair and rested her head on the back of the chair.

  “Well, that’s one I’ve never heard before.” Keith chuckled. Emily lifted her head so she could glare at him, but the way he was gazing down at her made her body tense.

  “He’s worried, Em. Don’t give him such a hard time.” Keith’s voice sounded deeper than usual, and it was odd to hear him call her Em. He’d used the name a couple of times, but the only ones that called her the short version of her name were close friends, and she’d only known the man for less than two days. So why did she feel like she’d known him her whole life?

  “Where exactly will I be staying?” Emily didn’t have time to think about how connected she felt to a complete stranger. She needed to know where she was going to be hanging her hat for the next little while.

  “My house.” He said as he disappeared outside.

  Chapter 8

  Keith was at his wit's end. Nelson rambled on about Emily being stubborn and how he wasn’t happy about her refusal to go to SummerBrook. Not that he could blame the woman because it seemed Nelson didn’t like the way Emily was running her life.

  “I understand, Mr. Bradshaw, but you’ve got to trust me. She’ll be safe at my compound.” Keith said for the third time.

  “She’s just so hard headed, and I know why she doesn't want to come home. She doesn’t want to hear the truth.” Nelson said. “She’s got to stop this little hobby of hers.”

  “I don’t think your daughter considers her business a hobby, but that’s something you’ll have to discuss with her. I’m going to get her moved and settled.” Keith was ending the call before he really told the man what he thought. “I’ll keep you posted, Mr. Bradshaw.”

  Keith found her in her room on her bed with her phone to her ear. When she turned to look at him, he didn’t have to ask who she was on the phone with. When she flopped back on her bed and slapped her hand against her face, it was all Keith could do to keep from roaring with laughter.

  “Yes, Dad. I know you think I’m not taking this seriously, but for the record, I consider my life possibly being in danger very serious.” Emily sighed as she listened for another few seconds. “Dad, I’m not going to live in a bubble. We aren’t even one hundred percent sure that I’m in any danger and…” It seemed her father had cut that statement off, and Keith coughed to cover his laugh when she shook the phone above her.

  “Dad, I think from now on, we need to agree to disagree. You think my business is beneath me, and I think hanging around with snobs is beneath me. Now, I have to go, but I love you.” She tapped the screen of her phone and groaned.

  Keith studied her as she lay on her bed with her eyes closed. Her lips were moving as if she was silently praying, but with the tension written on her face, she was probably trying to calm herself.

  “Is it wrong to want to shake the crap out of your father?” She turned to face him.

  “Probably, but I’m sure every child has felt that way at some point,” Keith said. “Are you finished here for the day?”

  “If it were up to my father I’d be finished here forever.” Her growing resentment was evident in her voice as she stood up and shoved her phone into her back pocket.

  “If you just want to grab a couple of things for tonight, then tomorrow you can get enough to do you for a few days.” Keith had to switch gears because everything in his body wanted to wrap her up in his arms, and he had no idea why. She’d probably kick him in the balls if he even tried.

  “About that, I think I’m just going to stay here.” Her voice was almost a whisper. She proceeded to smooth her hands over her bed as if she was straightening out wrinkles.

  “Emily,” There was no way in hell she was staying in her apartment because he’d have to stay with her, and the damn place was entirely too small. It was dangerous to be in such close quarters with a woman who was setting his body on fire, and she had done nothing but glare at him.

  “Keith,” She mocked him.

  “This is what’s going to happen. You’re going to pack a bag and get whatever girl stuff you need. Then we’re going to lock up your shop and get you settled in a room at my house.” Keith clenched his fists at his sides.

  “I don’t see that happening.” Emily stood up and crossed her arms over her chest. The motion not only gave her a defiant stance but it pushed her ample breasts up to swell over the top of her T-shirt. His cock twitched, and so did that nerve over his eye that felt like it was ready to pop.

  “Either you pack a bag, or I do it for you. You really don’t want me going through your panty drawer, do you?” He wouldn’t mind because he’d like to see what she was hiding under the curve fitting clothes she wore.

  Emily narrowed her eyes, and she bit her lip as if she was trying to keep from saying something sarcastic. With a huff, she pulled her phone from her pocket and proceeded to tap the screen. She put the phone up to her ear.

  “Who are you calling, Princess?” Those blue-grey eyes of hers sparkled with defiance.

  “Are you writing a book?” She snapped.

  “Maybe I am.” Keith chuckled.

  “Well, skip the chapter on you finding out who I’m calling.” She stomped towards him and pushed past him. “And stop calling me princess.” She turned in the doorway of her room to glare at him again.

  “I call it as I see it, and right now it fits you like a glove.” Keith crossed his arms across his chest. He was quickly losing his patience.

  “Have you been told today?” She shot at him.

  “As a matter of fact, I tell myself every morning.”

  “Fuck off.” She growled

  “And now you’ve told me.” Keith stalked towards her and held his hand out for the phone.

  “Dream on, Rusty.” She grinned at him. It seemed she thought using his nickname was going to annoy him.

  Before she had a chance to move, he had her back pinned against him and the phone in his hand. He glanced at the screen. She’d been calling Kim.

  “Let go of me you big ass.” She squirmed in his grasp rubbing her soft round ass against his growing erection.

  “It’s okay, Kim. Emily will call you when she gets settled in the compound.” Keith said when Kim finally answered.

  “Ooookkkkaaayyy?” Kim said drawing out the word.

  Keith ended the call and shoved the phone in his coat pocket. She’d kicked him twice in the shin in the few minutes he’d held onto her.

  “Will you calm the fuck down?” Keith grumbled when her heel made contact with his leg a third time.

  He wrapped his other arm around her waist and tossed her on the bed. She landed with a grunt and scrambled to get over onto her back. Probably so she could say so
mething rude or shoot daggers from her eyes. When she rolled over her eyes went straight to the growing bulge in his jeans. Fuck.

  “Get a bag ready now, Emily. I’ll be back in ten minutes, and if you don’t have one packed, I’ll pack it.” He stomped out of the room and slammed her bedroom door behind him. He leaned against it and took several deep breaths. How is it with all the women he’d been with none of them had him ready to explode with just a look?

  He had to get his fucking shit together. The last time he let his emotions get involved in someone, it ended with her getting killed. In his head, he knew Tessa’s death wasn’t his fault, but in his heart, he always felt like he let her down.

  The bedroom door swung open, and he was barely able to catch himself before he fell into the room. Emily was pissed but held a black bag in her hand.

  “Why were you blocking my door? Did you think I was going to make a run for it?” She snapped.

  “Do you have everything?” He ignored her snarky questions.

  “I’ve got what I need.” She stomped by him and snatched her bag back when he tried to take it for her.

  “Just because you carry your own bag doesn’t mean you’re not a princess.” Keith teased.

  “Remember what I told you earlier?” She didn’t turn around but kept walking towards the exit from her apartment.

  “Yes.” Keith watched the sway of her hips.

  “Consider yourself told again.” She headed down the stairs to her salon with him behind her shaking his head. This woman was going to be the death of him.

  Emily never spoke to him the entire way to his compound. Not that it was far but ten minutes in his jeep with her seething in the passenger seat was slightly uncomfortable. Not to mention the sweet flowery scent coming from her was making him uncomfortable for a whole other reason.

  Smash and Crash were still at her salon securing the building, so he didn’t even have them to get his mind off the sexy princess next to him. Keith wasn’t taking any chances with her safety which is why they were doing it. There was no way she was going to stay away from the place, and with her possibly in danger, it was safer for the other women working there to have updated security.

  Keith pulled up to the front gate and punched in the code to open it. The clang of the metal echoed, and the two iron gates slowly opened. He drove through and waited until both gates closed before proceeding to his house.

  Keith loved his property and had tried hard to make sure he left as much of the natural surroundings as possible. It’s why he didn’t pave his driveway and kept as many of the huge pine trees as he could.

  As he drove by the building that housed the gym and offices, he eyed a couple of the guys running on the track circling the two structures.

  “That’s the offices and the gym.” Keith pointed to the area. Emily nodded but still didn’t speak.

  He pulled into his garage after punching in a code on the remote. Once he was inside, he hopped out and circled around the vehicle to open Emily’s door. She sat rigid in the seat as she turned slowly to glare at him.

  “If you want to sleep in the jeep that’s up to you. It’s secure, but it can get a little chilly. It’s not real comfortable to sleep in either. At least not like the room I’ve got ready for you. Would you believe it has a bed?” There was no way she was going to miss out on making a snide comment. He’d figured that out about her.

  “You’re an ass.” She hissed as she jumped down from her seat and stomped around him.

  “You’re not the first to tell me that, and I’m sure you won’t be the last.” Keith closed the door once she yanked her bag from the floor of the jeep.

  He stepped up to the door leading into his kitchen from the garage and punched in the code. It made a small beep, and the door clicked. He pushed it open and motioned for her to go ahead of him.

  “What is this place, Fort Knox?” She walked into the kitchen, but he didn’t miss the small gasp that escaped her when she entered the kitchen.

  “Not what you expected, Princess?” Keith leaned down and spoke close to her ear. She squeaked and moved to the side.

  “Well, no… I mean… this is…” She sighed and turned to face him. “Stop calling me princess.”

  “I’ll see what I can do about that. So you approve of the kitchen?” Keith shuffled through the mail that was sitting on his counter. His cousin Jess always picked it up for him and would drop it off when she’d come for her workout.

  “It’s impressive.” She finally moved further into the room.

  “Thanks. I like to have a lot of room to move around when I cook.” He didn’t look up from the letter he’d opened to gage her reaction.

  “Hmmm…. Huge property, big jeep, big house, and big kitchen. Seems like you might be overcompensating for something.” Emily deadpanned.

  Keith slowly lifted his head, and his gaze met hers. She’d propped herself against the counter and had the sexiest grin on her face.

  “Oh Princess, I don’t need to overcompensate for anything, but you’re more than welcome to investigate if you’d like.” Keith turned to face her. He was walking a thin line with her, and it was dangerous, but the panicked look on her face was worth it.

  “No thanks.” She grumbled and quickly turned to adjust the bag on her shoulder. “I’d like to go to my room.”

  Once he’d showed her to the room where she’d be staying, Emily thanked him and slammed the door leaving him in the hallway wanting to kick his own ass.

  He was a masochist. That was the only conclusion. Every time she insulted or attempted to do so, it made him want her more. The sexual attraction to her was unsettling because he’d never felt it so strong before. It terrified him.

  Keith sat on the front deck of his house in the oversized captain’s chair. It once belonged to his grandfather, and when Jack O’Connor passed away, his grandmother made sure each of them got something that was personal to his grandfather.

  It was coming on suppertime, and he was waiting for his cousin Isabelle to drop by with something from her restaurant. He didn’t know what Emily liked to eat, but figured he couldn’t go wrong with his cousin. Kim had told Keith that Emily frequently ordered from Isabelle’s place.

  A sound drew his attention to the tree line on the north side of the house. It was where the thickest part of the trees was around his property. He slowly rose to his feet and moved silently towards the side of the deck. As he scanned the trees, he kept listening for the noise. It had been so faint he was beginning to think he imagined it. With his hand pressed against his weapon in his shoulder holster, he leaned around the corner to look. Nothing.

  As he turned to make his way back to his chair, he heard it again. He rested his hands on the rail and leaned over to check the side of his deck. Something small and orange was pressed against the lattice. Keith hurried off the deck and moved to the side.

  Keith crouched to see a very tiny kitten tangled in the burlap that surrounded the hedge. It looked up at him with frightened eyes and started to hiss as it squirmed to free itself. All it did was tangle itself more.

  “Hey, little one. Calm down and let me get you out of that.” Keith cooed hoping it would help the kitten calm. It didn’t.

  “I’m trying to help you here.” Keith sighed as the kitten batted at him a third time. “Can you trust me?” The kitten stopped for a moment and then mewled a couple of times. When he reached for it again, the furball crouched down as if it was ready to attack.

  “How the fuck did you get so tangled?” Keith held the body of the kitten in one hand and carefully unhooked it’s nails from the burlap. It squeaked as Keith finally freed it. He turned it over to see if he was dealing with a male or a female.

  “Figures you’d be a female. You’re not the first one to hiss at me today.” The kitten fit in his hand, and not that he knew much about it, but it didn’t seem like it would be old enough to be separated from its mother. It was shivering and wet.

  “Don’t think you’re staying h
ere, but I can’t leave you out here to freeze to death.” Keith brought the kitten into the garage and grabbed an empty storage container. “This will be your house until I can figure out what to do with you.”

  He liked animals but considering he was hardly ever home, it would be cruel to have a pet. As he struggled to open the door into his house, the kitten seemed to want to make sure it wasn’t going to fall and dug its sharp nails into his chest.

  “Ouch, Fuck.” Keith flinched.

  He dropped the container to the floor and struggled to remove the kitten’s needle-like claws from the front of his shirt. He also didn’t want the claws to make their way into his skin and draw blood. Although, the thing seemed to be set on doing just that.

  He cupped one hand under its bottom and held it up to get a good look. It seemed terrified, and it was shivering badly. The only thing he could think to do was wrap it in a towel until he could get it dry. As he entered his bathroom, he saw the hair dryer. He sat the kitten on the counter as he turned on the loud dryer. The kitten didn’t like it and dug its nails deep into his arm.

  “You’re a little savage,” Keith growled as he dropped the dryer and yanked the towel off the shelf. “Fine, I’ll wrap you up in the towel.”

  He headed back to the kitchen with a couple of other towels to put in the bottom of the container. He remembered something about having a hot water bottle for baby animals on a television show he had watched. He didn’t have one, but his heating pad should do the same job.

  “I hope you’re happy. I don’t do this for just anyone.” Keith crouched on the floor and did his best to make a comfortable, warm place for his guest.

  The storage container was big enough that he could put in a couple of small bowls. He didn’t really care about the cat doing it’s business because it wasn’t staying that long.

  With the kitten settled in the box, and his sexy guest upstairs hiding in her room, he poured himself a cup of coffee. He was about to put it up to his lips when he heard the scuffle of his cousin coming through the door.