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have been surprised to feel steam coming out of her ears. “Sure you do. But it looks like both you and Brian have forgotten a few things. See, I can tell you guys apart. Always could. Remember?”
    He scraped one hand across his jaw, then shoved both hands into his pockets again. “Okay, it was a bad idea.”
    â€œBad idea?” She stared up at him in openmouthed fascination. “I don’t believe you guys. What? Are we in junior high? What were you supposed to do, Connor? Talk me into leaving so Brian wouldn’t have to face me again?”
    A short bark of laughter shot from his throat as he pulled his hands free of his pockets and held them up in surrender. “Come on, Tina. It was just—“
    â€œWhat?” she demanded, moving in on him, keeping pace as he backed up toward his— Brian’s —car parked in the driveway. “A joke?”
    â€œNo!” He scraped one hand across his jaw and stumbled over the hose that had been stretched out across the lawn. He recovered quickly, did a fast two-step and kept moving toward the safety of the car. “Brian just thought—I mean I just thought—“
    Muffin and Peaches sent up a din of barks and frantic yelps that had Connor throwing an uneasy glance at the screen door.
    â€œThis was his idea, wasn’t it?” she challenged, so disgusted with Brian and Connor, she could barely squeeze the words out of her tight throat.
    â€œNo—yeah—I mean…” He looked at her again and threw both hands high in an I’m innocent pose that didn’t convince her. “It was just an idea.”
    â€œA bad one.”
    â€œI see that now.” He nodded and swallowed hard. “Believe me. But hey, you gave me a couple bad minutes there, too, you know.”
    â€œWhere’s Brian?” she demanded, still moving closer.
    â€œNow, Tina…”
    She glared at him as she saw his mind workingfast, trying to come up with a stall. Then she realized that the triplets solidarity would work against her here. Connor wouldn’t squeal on his brother. But then, he didn’t have to.
    â€œNever mind,” she said tightly. “He has to come back here sometime, doesn’t he?”
    â€œUh, you bet.” At last, he backed into the car and reaching behind him, grabbed the door latch. Unwilling to take his gaze off her, he opened the door and slid inside as fast as he was able.
    But before he could slam the car door shut, Tina grabbed the edge of it and leaned in toward him. It did her heart good to watch those blue eyes so much like Brian’s suddenly sparkle with trepidation.
    Served him right.
    â€œNow you listen to me, Connor Reilly…”
    â€œOh, I’m listening, Tina.”
    â€œYou tell your brother that I want to talk to him.”
    â€œRight.” He reached for the keys dangling from the ignition and fired up the engine. “I’ll tell him.”
    â€œAnd don’t you even think of trying this on me again, Connor.”
    He looked at her for a long moment, then slowly gave her a wide smile. “Not a chance, ma’am. You’re just too scary.”
    Now that the first, furious blast of anger had dissipated a little, she could appreciate the humor in the situation. At least as far as Connor was concerned.Tina’s mouth twitched, but she refused to smile back at him.
    â€œYou know something, Tina?” he said softly, “even though you just took about five years off my life, it’s good to have you home.”
    Now she did smile. It would have been impossible not to. No woman could stand against a Reilly man for very long. “Go away, Connor.”
    â€œYes, ma’am.”
    She stepped back, slammed the car door, then stood and watched as he pulled out and drove away. The minute he’d turned the corner though, Tina headed for the house. If she and Brian were going to have a confrontation, then she’d be damned