“What did Lea say to get you here tonight?”

Lea was my sister-in-law who was forever complaining that I was too fickle when it came to women. She's a fine one to talk about fickleness, but I'd lost track of the number of times she'd told me that I wouldn't know a good a woman if I fell over her. Why the hell had I allowed her to talk me into a blind date just to prove—what? What the hell was this date going to prove, except that even married to my younger brother, Ed, Lea could still manipulate me?

I knew Lea expected me to take one look at Bree and find a way to back out of the date. Then she could gloat and say I-told-you-so for the next year or so when we met at family functions. Well hell would freeze over before I gave Lea that satisfaction.

I arched a brow and smiled down at Bree. “I'm not dating anyone, so Lea suggested we might enjoy spending an evening together.”

“I can see that my appearance surprises you.”

“I have no idea what you're talking about.”

She nodded. “I think you do. You don't have to go through with this.”

If she didn't want to go out with me, why had she allowed Lea to set up this date? Were she and Lea in this together? Were they both expecting me to back out? Then they were both going to be disappointed. I narrowed my gaze, wondering just how deeply she had plotted with Lea. How far was she prepared to go to make me look bad?

“Let’s chalk this up to a mistake, Jake.”

In her damned dreams. I shook my head. “Absolutely not. As I said, we have a reservation.” I offered her my arm. “Are you ready?”

She hesitated for several moments before she turned that slow, enchanting smile of hers on me.

I stared down into her warm brown eyes and swallowed. Damn. That smile of hers was very nice.

She slipped her arm through mine. “If you're sure, I'm ready.”

Looking down into her dark, alluring gaze, the only thing I was sure of was that I was no longer sure of much of anything. But hell would freeze over before I allowed her and Lea the satisfaction of my walking away. At the end of the evening, I was going to teach her a lesson that ensured she wouldn’t conspire against another man.

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