Dare to Believe by Dana Marie Bell

muttered, batting her hand at her cat.
    There was a snort, followed by “ow” in a deep masculine voice.
    Ruby’s eyes flew open. Staring at her and holding his nose was Leo.
    “Um.” The events of the night before rushed through her head, bringing heat to her cheeks. “Good morning.”
    “Good morning.” If she hadn’t seen the happiness beginning to flirt around his mouth she would have been mortified. As it was, she was merely horribly embarrassed.
    “Did I hurt you?” She reached out with one hand and stroked the bridge of his nose.
    He took her hand in his and kissed her palm, heat, humor and tenderness making his eyes shine in the morning light. They even looked a different color, startlingly light and bright. “I’m fine, kitten.” With a groan he rolled over and stretched, a whole body stretch that involved flinging his arms over his head, his incredible chest bowing up off the bed. She bet if she looked under the covers she would see his toes curling. And he called her kitten. Right now, he reminded her of a sleek jungle cat, all muscle and sinew and man .
    “How about a shower before breakfast?”
    She blinked, staring. He climbed out of bed, his body was magnificent in the early morning light. That golden color obviously wasn’t a tan, either. There wasn’t a single tan line on him. She knew; she looked.
    Closely.
    “Of course, there are other things we can do before breakfast.”
    He caught her staring at his tight, firm ass. His low, sexy growl sent heat racing through her system.
    Oh yeah. She could go for some more of that.
    Her stomach, however, had other plans. It growled, loudly. “Or not,” he laughed, reaching down for her. He grasped her hand he pulled her from the bed. “C’mon, shower, then breakfast.”
    32
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    Dare to Believe
    Before they could make it into the bathroom she heard the theme song from The X-Files coming from Leo’s leather pants.
    Leo picked up his pants and pulled out his cell phone. “Hey, Dad, what’s up?”
    Ruby held back a laugh. The X-Files? Not what I’d pick for my dad.
    The expression on Leo’s face slowly changed from happy to shocked. Her grin faded away, her concern for her new lover overriding all of the good feelings she’d woken up with. “When?” He stared at her and held out his hand. She took it and winced at the way his fingers curled tight around hers. “I’m on my way,” he whispered, closing the phone. He clenched it in his fist, still staring at her blankly.
    “Leo? What’s wrong?”
    He blinked and took a deep breath. He looked…devastated. “Shane.”
    She pulled on one of the courtesy robes, belting it around her waist. She stared at him, knowing this was the end of their idyllic morning after. “Your brother?”
    He just stood there, his face building to a burning rage, and she knew something terrible had happened.
    “He’s been kidnapped.”

    Ruby looked out the window of the plane once again and wondered how the hell she’d let herself be talked into this.
    He’d stared at her for a moment longer, naked, vulnerable, and hurting, and she hadn’t been able to help herself. She’d gone to him, allowed him to cling to her, his big body shaking with rage and grief.
    That vulnerability hadn’t lasted long. Soon he was on the phone, arranging for the flight, asking that she order breakfast for the both of them while he made arrangements to go to his family.
    She’d quickly showered while he paced, knowing he’d need to leave as soon as possible and he’d need the shower before he left. She’d dressed in the red skirt and corset, feeling even more out of place in it than she had at the party.
    He’d taken the quickest shower she’d ever seen anyone take in her life, then pulled on the black leather pants and boots he’d worn the night before, minus the horns. He was on the phone all through breakfast, his face hard, his expression harsh and cold. He dealt with delegating some of his