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look, then curled her fist and knocked harder. “Satisfied?”
    Since he heard the slide of a lock a moment later, he just smiled at her. Then the door was swinging open and his brother appeared.
    â€œAbout damn time,” J.R. greeted, but there was still a faint smile on his face.
    â€œGood to see you, too,” Drew returned and then, because he wasn’t much one for putting off the inevitable, he slid his free hand around Deanna’s shoulder and felt the little start she gave. They’d have to work on that. “You remember my assistant, Deanna,” he began. J.R. nodded. “We’re late because just tonight, she agreed to marry me.”
    A full heartbeat of silence followed his abrupt announcement.
    Then J.R.’s smile became a little more broad, though Drew recognized the disbelief in his brother’s hazel eyes, as he turned his focus on Deanna. “Well, then,” J.R. said smoothly, “that sure does make up for the pipsqueak’s tardiness.” He reached out and took the tote bag that was slung over Deanna’s shoulder and wrapped his hand around her elbow, drawing her inside.
    â€œPip-squeak?” Deanna laughed a little and looked over her shoulder at Drew.
    â€œBetter than runt,” he muttered. “That’s what he used to call Darr.” Two years younger than Drew, Darr was the baby of the family. He was also a firefighter and could probably take them all down without breaking a sweat.
    â€œYou’re all still on the easy side of forty,” J.R. was saying, as he chuckled and wrapped an arm around Drew’s neck, hugging him hard. “So I’ll call you whatever the heck I want. Damn, it’s good to see you.” Just as abruptly, he was pushing Drew away and taking Deanna’s cumbersome suitcase. “Even if I was beginning to wonder if you were going to get here before dawn or not.”
    He turned and headed barefoot along the distressed wood floor through the silent house. “Isabella stayed up for a while but finally bit the dust a few hours ago.” He looked over his shoulder at Deanna. “My wife.”
    Deanna nodded. “Drew’s told me about her. I hope I’m not putting you out too badly. I warned Drew that he should have called ahead to let you know I was coming with him.”
    â€œDon’t you worry any about that,” J.R. assured. “We’re glad to have you.” He grinned. “Particularly when you’re brave enough to take on our Andrew, there. And what’s better to have around for a wedding than more family?”
    Drew could see the color come into her cheeks.
    â€œYou’re very gracious.”
    â€œMy wife would kick me otherwise,” J.R. assured.He turned down a hall. “Jeremy’s out for the count, too.” He jerked his chin. “He’s in that room there at the end of the hall. Got in yesterday.”
    Deanna’s wide gaze was taking in the white plaster walls around them, which Drew knew were relatively fresh even if they did look authentic to the old house. “Is that one of your wife’s tapestries?” She pointed to a colorful weaving on one wall as they passed it. “Drew’s told me what a talented artist she is.”
    J.R. nodded and the look of pride on his face was plain to see. “There’s not a corner of this place where she hasn’t made her mark,” he said before pushing open a door. “You’ll be in here.” He stepped aside and hopefully missed the panicked glance that Deanna threw in Drew’s direction as she entered the bedroom.
    The most notable feature was the wide bed that took up a good portion of the space.
    His damnable body stirred again and he felt heat start to climb up his neck when his gaze ran into J.R.’s. “Looks comfortable,” he said, ignoring the heat both in his neck and in his gut, and went into the room behind her.
    He dropped his duffel and