The Prince Brothers: Satisfaction Guaranteed!. Кэрол Мортимер

drew in a deep breath. ‘I have a friend—well, he’s more like family, I suppose—it’s a bit complicated,’ he tried to explain, sure that now wasn’t the right time to be discussing his sometimes complicated family tree. ‘Have you ever heard of Ben Travis?’ he asked instead.

      ‘Should I have done?’ Jinx returned cautiously.

      ‘Probably not—although he is married to Marilyn Palmer.’

      Jinx’s eyes widened. ‘The famous Hollywood actress?’

      ‘The one and only.’ Nik nodded. ‘And Marilyn’s daughter, Gaye, is married to the brother of Stazy’s husband, Jordan Hunter.’

      ‘The acting world is almost incestuous, isn’t it?’ Jinx scorned.

      Nik felt the anger flare in his gaze, his mouth tightening to a thin line. ‘Ben is a psychiatrist—’

      ‘I’ve already told you, my father doesn’t need a psychiatrist,’ Jinx interrupted. ‘Time and love are all he needs. And a little peace and quiet to go with it,’ she added pointedly.

      Meaning she really wanted him to leave now. Not that he hadn’t thought she’d meant it in the first place, but now she absolutely wanted him out of her home. And her life…? Unfortunately, yes.

      Nik sighed. ‘Can I call you later?’

      Jinx’s gaze narrowed suspiciously. ‘Why?’

      He made an impatient movement. ‘So that I can check that everything is okay!’

      ‘And why shouldn’t it be?’

      ‘Jinx, will you just try being a little less defensive for a few minutes and actually think?’ Nik exploded in frustration. ‘If I leave—when I leave,’ he amended as Jinx raised mocking brows, ‘if, as I suspect, the reporter and her buddy continue to hang around outside, then I’m going to need to know about it—’

      ‘Why?’

      He really would strangle her in a minute! Which would achieve precisely nothing. But it might make him feel a lot better. If only fleetingly.

      ‘Okay, let me put this another way,’ he bit out, inwardly wondering how he could have been so aroused by her a few short minutes ago and now felt like throttling her! ‘I am going to call you later to see how everything is.’

      ‘You are?’

      ‘Yes, I ar—am,’ he corrected himself irritably.

      She arched dark brows. ‘And exactly how do you intend doing that when you don’t have my telephone number?’

      Go, Nik, he told himself. Now. Before you actually do reach out and do something you’re going to regret!

      ‘But I do have your telephone number, Jinx,’ he couldn’t resist assuring her triumphantly, at the same time congratulating himself on his perspicacity.

      ‘I don’t see how—’

      ‘It’s right there on your telephone,’ he pointed out, at the same time giving a rueful wince as he waited for the explosion that was sure to come.

      ‘You—you—’ Jinx stared at him in disbelief. ‘You really are one devious bast—’

      ‘When are you going to realize I’m trying to help you?’

      ‘When are you going to realize I don’t want your help?’ she returned furiously.

      Nik stared down at her frustratedly, his hands clenched at his sides. ‘Fine,’ he bit out tersely, turning away abruptly, breathing deeply in an effort to calm down. Almost an impossibility when around this woman. ‘I will call you later, though,’ he added determinedly even as he left the study and strode forcefully down the hallway to the front door.

      ‘Don’t hold your breath on getting a reply,’ Jinx called after him.

      Nik came to a halt as he reached the door, forcing himself not to retaliate, to just open the door and leave. But it wasn’t easy.

      In fact, as he was quickly learning, nothing was easy when it came to Jinx Nixon…