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disappeared toward the other end of the bar. “Crikey, Reece, what is your problem?”
    “She is. You don’t know her. She’s a nutter.”
    “She’s got you all flustered,” Colin said, grinning his approval.
    “She hasn’t. But she’s got you by the balls, and you’ve known her an hour.”
    “Mate, she’s got to be by far the hottest woman you’ve ever talked to.”
    “That’s not true,” Reece said. “And she’s way too…too much. I’m not interested. And neither are you. I don’t want to speak to her ever again after this flipping ride.”
     
     
    Reece kept his eyes and brain focused on the road as the Laser made its way down Taranaki Street.
    “How in the hell did you do that?” Colin asked Libby from the backseat. “Sing like that?”
    “It’s my secret super power,” she replied, a smug grin in her voice.
    “Impressive.”
    “Yeah, but I won’t be able to talk tomorrow.”
    “Still,” Colin said. “That was choice, eh, Reece? I can’t believe I’ve gone my whole life without ever doing karaoke before.”
    Libby whipped her head around, hair nearly catching Reece in the face. “You haven’t? Damn, you’re a natural.”
    “Not compared to some,” Colin countered.
    Reece wished they’d stop flirting.
    “Reece has secret powers as well,” Libby cooed. “His little ninja trick broke my most useful finger.” Reece saw her raise her cast in his periphery.
    “You what ?” Colin grabbed the back of Reece’s seat and pulled himself near to his shoulder. “What is wrong with you?”
    “It’s more complicated than that,” Reece said. “And we’re not discussing it.”
    Libby settled back into her seat. “It was an unprovoked attack,” she murmured, pure evil.
    Reece felt his irritation gain control for a moment and laughed coldly. “Right.”
    “That’s pretty effed up, Reece,” Colin said.
    “Let’s all just be quiet.”
    They were, for a couple of minutes, until the waterfront came into view. Reece swallowed.
    “Where do you live, Libby?” Colin asked as they approached the docks.
    “Boat.”
    “Houseboat? Flash.”
    “Not exactly.” She directed Reece to park near the marina.
    “Can you hang on, Colin? I just need to borrow your charming brother for a minute.”
    “Do whatever you want with him,” Colin offered with gracious innuendo.
    “Anything you need to say to me, you can say here,” Reece said, hands wrapped firmly around the wheel.
    “It’s quite private,” Libby said with a twinge of the boudoir in her voice. “I’ll be quick. Please?” She was already halfway out the door.
    “No.”
    Colin exited the car, opened the driver’s door and yanked Reece out by the arm. He pushed the lock down, slammed the door, and slid into the backseat again. Reece heard Colin’s and then Libby’s doors click and knew he was locked out.
    “Your brother’s on my side,” Libby drawled.
    Reece narrowed his eyes, true anger welling. “Stay away from my brother.”
    “Chill out, loverboy.” The vixen quality drained from her tone. “Let’s just chat, okay?”
    He gave her a warning look and walked down the main dock, fighting every flight instinct in his being. Libby followed.
    “What is it?” he demanded when they were well away from the car. The sound of the waves made his heart race.
    “Have you told my father to go fuck himself yet?” Libby asked, businesslike.
    “No.”
    “Well, good. I have a counteroffer for you.”
    Reece stopped walking and turned to face her.
    “Whatever my father’s paying you, I’ll give you another twenty percent on top of it. Weekly, or whatever it is.”
    Reece couldn’t hide his curiosity, or his desperation. “What’s in it for you?”
    “You’ll document me on my terms. When I know about it. We’ll meet up, and I’ll let you photograph me or videotape me or whatever he’s got you doing, but how I want. Doing normal shit. Grocery shopping, surfing, whatever. He’ll be happy, because you’ll prove that