Birthright

“Does your being here, in the neighborhood, mean you’re not mad at me anymore?”
    “I wouldn’t go that far.”
    “Maybe I used you, but you didn’t exactly put up a fight.”
    He took her arm before she could stalk by him. “We used each other. And maybe I’m just a little pissed it was so easy for both of us. Want to fight about it?”
    “I haven’t got a good fight in me just now.”
    “Figured.” He moved his hands to her shoulders, rubbed. “Rough in there?”
    “Could’ve been worse. I don’t know how, but I’m sure it could’ve been. What the hell are you doing here, Jake? Riding to the rescue?”
    “No.” He plucked the keys away from her. “Driving.”
    “It’s my car.”
    “And I’ve been meaning to ask you. When are you going to take it in and have this crap dealt with?”
    She frowned at the spray paint. “I’m getting kind of used to it. It makes a statement. What are you doing?”
    “Oh, for Christ’s sake, Dunbrook, I’m opening the car door for you.”
    “Is my arm broken?”
    “It could be arranged.” He decided to wipe the amusement off her face a different way, and turned it to shock as he scooped her off her feet and dumped her in the car.
    “What’s got you lathered up?”
    “The same thing that always lathers me up.” He lectured himself as he walked around the car, yanked open the driver’s door, got in.
    “Fuck it,” he decided, and dragged her across the seat, pinned her arms and plundered her mouth.
    She bucked, wiggled and tried to find some level ground as her system spun in mad circles. “Stop it.”
    “No.”
    She was strong, but he’d always been stronger. It was just one of the things about him that both infuriated and attracted her. His temper was another. It could spike out of nowhere and simmer in some hidden pot until it exploded all over the unwary.
    Like now, she thought as his mouth ravished hers.
    You could never be sure about Jacob. You could never be quite safe. And that fascinated her.
    She fought to get her breath back as his mouth tore down to her throat.
    “A minute ago you’re mad because we used each other last night. Now you’re ready to do it again, in broad daylight on a public street.”
    “You’re inside me, Callie.” He took her lips again, took the kiss long and hot and deep. Then shoved her away. “Like a goddamn tumor.”
    “Get me a scalpel. I’ll see what I can do about it.”
    He tapped his fingers on the wheel as he turned his head and studied her, coolly now, through his shaded lenses. “Took your mind off things for a couple minutes, didn’t it?”
    “A right jab would’ve done the same.”
    “Since I don’t hit women, even you, that was the best I could do. Anyway, I didn’t come here to fool around in the car or trade insults, as entertaining as both are.”
    “You started it.”
    “Keep pushing, and I’ll finish it. We rented a house.”
    “Excuse me?”
    “Our own little love nest, sugarplum. Punch me with that fist and I might just change my policy on hitting women.” He started the car. “The motel rooms are too small, and too inconvenient. The team needs a local base.”
    She’d been thinking the same herself, but it annoyed her he’d gotten to the details of it quicker. “We’ll be shutting down for the season in a few months. The motel’s cheap, and it’s only you, me and Rosie who’re staying there nightly.”
    “And all three of us need more room to work. Dory, Bill and Matt will be bunking there, too. And we got us a pair of horny kids from West Virginia this afternoon.”
    “And these horny kids are going to . . .”
    “Bang each other as often as possible. He’s got some digs under his belt, and he’s working on his master’s. Anthro. She’s green as grass, but willing to do what she’s told.”
    She propped her feet on the dash and thought about it. “Well, we need the hands.”
    “We do indeed. And Leo could use a place to stay if and when he needs one. Temporary or visiting diggers and specialists can use it. We need storage. We need a kitchen.”
    He headed out of town knowing she was stewing and trying to think of a better argument.
    “And,” he added, “you need a base here after the season. We’ve got other digging to do.”
    “We?”
    “I said I was going to help you. So we’ll have a base of operations for that, too.”
    She frowned as he turned off the road onto a bumpy gravel lane. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to make of you,