Love Me Knot by Shelli Stevens

for his touch type of emotion. What else could that be but love? Maybe the early stages of it, but still.
    And tomorrow she was supposed to pack up her stuff, get in her car, and drive away from it all?
    Her heart clenched again.
    Ask me to stay .
    But Ryan didn’t reply, instead seemed focused on someone down the beach. She followed his gaze and frowned. Was that her brother?
    When the man kept striding toward them, amusement on his face, her doubts faded. It was Lance all right.
    Ciara clambered to her feet. “ Lance . What a...surprise.” She couldn’t bring herself to say pleasant.
    But her brother ignored her and turned to face Ryan and gave a derisive laugh. “Hey there. It’s Ryan Wyatt, right?”
    “Wait. You two already know each other?” She’d been ready to introduce them, albeit reluctantly.
    They both ignored her.
    Lance folded his arms across his chest. “Now this can’t be a coincidence. Come on, tell me you didn’t know Ciara was related to me.”
    “Get the hell out of here, Daschmoore,” Ryan ground out. “This doesn’t concern you.”
    “Uh, guys, what’s—”
    “Wait, wait. Let me guess.” Lance ’s grin widened. “Is this some wacked out attempt at getting back at me? A sister for a sister? Because that would just be too classic.”
    A sister for a sister? What the hell was Lance talking about? Ciara shot Ryan a glance, certain she’d find him equally confused. But instead she found a barely banked rage that sent a shiver down her spine.
    Lance glanced over at her. “I’ve gotta say, if that was your intent you wasted your time. I have a feeling she’s probably just one of several kids my dad fathered over the years—the guy couldn’t keep it in his pants.”
    Oh shit, Ryan did not look pleased. The way his hands were curling into fists. Obviously these two had a history. But what?
    “Well I guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree then, does it, Daschmoore?”
    Unease raced through Ciara’s blood at that last statement. “Okay, somebody better fill me in here and stat.”
    Lance shook his head. “You want to know the truth, Ciara? Ask your golden Wyatt boy here why he’s sleeping with you.”
    Ryan ’s voice dropped an octave. “Shut the fuck up, Daschmoore.”
    “If you’re just tapping Ciara to get back at me, then have at it. Because she means about as much to me as your sister did.” Lance lifted his hands and laughed. “Which is absolutely nothing.”
    “You son of a bitch.” Ryan drove his fist into Lance ’s face.
    Ciara gurgled in shock as Lance toppled backward. Her mouth flapped, but she couldn’t find words, because the only thing resounding in her head was what her brother had just said.
    Fucking Ciara to get back at me.
    “Your kid wasn’t in the window this time, Daschmoore.” Ryan grabbed her hand and tugged her away.
     
     
    Chapter Nine
     
    “ Ryan , what the hell just happened?”
    “It doesn’t matter.”
    “You just knocked my brother flat not long after he made some sister for a sister comment . Don’t tell me it doesn’t matter, damn it.” She stopped in the middle of the path that led back to the road. “Who’s your sister and how is she connected to Lance ?”
    Ryan dragged a hand through his hair and she could see the indecision on his face.
    “Ciara, let’s go back to your place and talk. I promise I’ll tell you everything.”
    “I don’t want to wait to talk back at my place, Ryan . That might give you too much time to come up with a convenient answer.”
    Ryan blinked. She saw the dismay in his eyes, but there was something else. Something that increased her suspicions that this wasn’t going to be good.
    “Okay.” He nodded. “You want the truth? Here it is. Lance had an affair with my sister a few years ago. She didn’t know he was married.”
    “Oh...” She shook her head. “That’s terrible, Ryan . Your sister must’ve been heartbroken.”
    “Heartbroken and pregnant.”
    Her throat