THE PERFECT TEN (Boxed Set)

her present condition. He shouldn’t take his aggravation out on her. But keeping her out of trouble and unharmed became tougher each week. Every trip he made out of town meant he might be gone when she needed him there to save her.
    She had no one but him.
    He owed her for all she’d been denied, and for leaving her to go into the Air Force when she’d needed him. He was convinced he could’ve prevented her downfall if he’d been here.
    As the first born and only child his parents really wanted, he’d gotten everything. Trish had been ignored, thrown nothing more than leftovers. Growing up, he’d rarely seen his parents himself, but at least they hadn’t blatantly avoided him the way they had their late-in-life daughter.
    He was angry all right, with everybody, including himself.
    Angel walked tentatively into the living room from the bathroom hallway. Jazz music playing low seeped into the room from speakers hidden in the corners.
    His red T-shirt hung on her like an oversize nightgown. Angel must have dug it out of the clean laundry and showered.
    Her hair was damp. The smell of soap and shampoo was going to drive him crazy for the rest of his life if he lost her. Drained from dealing with Trish, his brain teetered between behaving responsibly and the desire to strip Angel bare in the shower.
    Trish weaved in place. “I ‘pologized to Zane, so I’ll ‘pologize to you, Angel. Sorry.”
    Angel shot him a questioning look.
    He fought the urge to tape his sister’s mouth shut. Zane loved his sister, but he’d like one night of peace and quiet. One night he wasn’t reminded of all the bad things that had happened to Trish.
    “I asked him to take me home, but noooo,” Trish said. “I’ll bunk somewhere ... outta the way.”
    Zane rubbed his neck. “You can have the fold-out. Angel’s in the bedroom. I’ll find another spot.”
    Trish gave him a strange look. She was clearly surprised that he and Angel were not sleeping together.
    “Absolutely not,” Angel stated. “I hardly use up a third of that king sized bed. Trish can sleep in there, too.” 
    “You sure?” Trish said, her confused gaze flicking between the two of them.
    Zane gave Trish a don’t-go-there look he’d given her plenty of times in the past.
    Trish shrugged. “Going to change and hit the sack then.”  She gave them each another look then hugged her brother and said, “Love you. So, so sorry. Promise not to be a pain again.”
    His throat tightened. She was good as gold and he’d crawl through broken glass for her. Trish hadn’t really done anything wrong, hadn’t slipped much in months, but she needed to be in a program and needed his support. Heidi had been Trish’s sponsor once in the past, but Zane couldn’t leave this for Heidi to handle alone. He hugged her. “Love you, too. Don’t mind me.”
    “You need a vacation,” Trish whispered. “With someone like Angel. Do a world of good for what ails you.”
    He squeezed her. “Goodnight.”
    Trish turned to Angel and tottered over to give her a hug. Zane warmed at the surprise on Angel’s face that softened into a look of genuine caring. Again, he wondered about the woman who never left his thoughts. Where did she come from? Who was her family?
    Who wants to kill her?
    When Trish tripped down the hall and closed the bedroom door, Zane explained, “I called Heidi back and told her I’d just bring Trish here for the night.”
    “I’m glad you did.”
    That didn’t sound good. Was Angel worried he’d push her to finish what they’d started?
    Having Trish here would ensure he kept his hands off Angel. Dammit.
    Zane stretched the stiff muscles of his neck. “Want something to drink?”
    “Sounds good. I’m going to get my things off the bed and make sure Trish is set. I’ll be back in just a minute.”
    Zane trudged to the kitchen and carried a cold bottle of water to the patio. A beer normally tasted good on a hot evening, but after watching Trish tonight he didn’t have the taste for one.
    He left the outside lights off intentionally and navigated by the glow from the lamp inside. A soft breeze dispelled some of the humidity. Weather in South Florida reminded him of visiting the coast in Galveston.
    He’d loved Texas, but couldn’t stay there with the memories. Besides he’d needed a new home for Trish and somewhere to work where he wasn’t known by half the city. Being a third generation son of the reputed Jackson Oil dynasty had its pros and