Love Me if You Dare by Carly Phillips Page A

around town. Strangers Rafe didn’t recognize browsed the local shops and eateries. Good news for the struggling economy. Bad news for his ability to spot potential danger.
    Rafe crossed his arms over his chest and assessed the men on the other side of the screen door. One dark-haired, the other blond-haired, both blue-eyed and clean-cut. The preppy type who’d stand out in a town that lacked pretension. The blond guy even wore argyle.
    “Can I help you?” Sara asked, stepping around Rafe and taking over.
    “We have reservations,” the lighter-haired guy said.
    “Why don’t you come in?” She pushed open the storm door, and the men stepped inside.
    “Ms. Mancuso?” The dark-haired guy obviously assumed Sara was Angel, the owner. “You’re as lovely as the name of your establishment.” He oozed slick city charm.
    Rafe set his jaw. “She’s not Ms. Mancuso,” he said in an annoyed tone. Because he didn’t want this guy hitting on Sara or his sister-in-law.
    Sara cast him a curious glance before refocusing on the men.
    “Ms. Mancuso is seeing to something in the backyard, but why don’t you come in and have a seat.” Saragestured to the small sitting area with a couch and a desk that Angel used to check in guests. “ Mrs. Mancuso is out back,” Rafe stated bluntly.
    “Are you a guest here, too?” blond guy asked hopefully. Ignoring Rafe, he checked out Sara’s obvious assets, staring without shame at the exposed cleavage in the vee of her thin cotton top.
    “No, she’s not,” Rafe said through gritted teeth.
    Thank God he’d already convinced Sara it was time to move out. These two gentlemen irritated the hell out of him, and he reassessed his earlier thought about his brother accepting a distracted wife. Especially if she was distracted catering to other men. Paying guests or not, Rafe now knew why his brother was uncomfortable with his wife’s new occupation.
    Suddenly Sara nudged Rafe with her elbow. “I asked if you were going to get Angel or whether I should?”
    Rafe wasn’t about to pull Angel away from Nick. Hopefully they could use the time outside alone to communicate in a positive manner.
    “She’s busy right now.” Rafe turned to the two guests. “Why don’t you do as the lady said and wait in the foyer until she comes back inside.”
    They shot each other a wary glance and stepped into the small waiting area. Good. Rafe wanted them on guard around his women.
    The sudden thought unsettled him. Being protectiveof Angel made sense. He was looking out for his brother’s wife and their fragile marriage. Being possessive of Sara was another story. She wasn’t part of his family. Nor was he involved with her personally. Hell, he’d deliberately taken a step back from that ledge. Besides, she didn’t need his protection. Rafe and everyone in the NYPD knew Sara could take care of herself. In fact, she wouldn’t be here now but for her injury. He knew as well as anyone that even at less than one hundred percent, Sara was a force to be reckoned with. It was one of the things he admired about her. One of the things he didn’t want any other men admiring, too.
    “What’s wrong with you?” Sara whispered her question so the men couldn’t hear.
    Before he could answer, the back door slammed shut with way too much force, rattling the pictures on the walls. Obviously there’d been no real communication between Nick and Angel after all.
    “Angel, you have guests!” Sara called out before whip ping around back to Rafe. “Well? What’s wrong?” Hands on her hips, she tapped one foot impatiently.
    Jealousy, that’s what was wrong with him. He was jealous of perfect strangers who’d looked at her with interest.
    Something he wasn’t about to admit.
    “Let’s just get going,” he suggested. Before he did or said something to embarrass himself further.
     
    S ARA LEFT HER CAR PARKED at Angel’s . She’d pick it up another time, and went home with Rafe. He was silent on the drive