He allowed James only to glance at Nicole and in that quick glance James gasped. "Damn if she don't look like her mother."
"She's not. Not in the least, so get any ideas out your mind."
"Should I be saying the same to you, brother?" he asked suspiciously hearing the over protectiveness in Ethan's voice.
Ethan sat down in the front room after opening the cabinet where the bar was and pouring them both shots of whiskey. "I just have every intention of helping her."
"And yourself?"
"Shut up," he growled.
James chuckled his green eyes much softer than his brother's but contrasting with is pitch black hair which he kept short. "I was just kidding, brother. So what's up?"
"What has Lynne said to you?"
"She's asked me for money, sex, and the usual. I've got Kris blowing her off this past two weeks. With the new projects you've got going, it's keeping us busy. What made you start the home improvement stuff? Winter's usually slow for us."
"I know, but I saw a need in these neighborhoods. Lots of single women needing handy men around the house. Women see me and they flock like bees to honey from changing a stupid light bulb to lighting the gas. I figured we'd keep the guys on with internal home knowledge instead of laying them off like usual for the extra work. Is it good business?"
"Yeah, especially with the pay first plan."
"These aren't our regular customers. I don't want to get shagged, but I also don't want to steal anything that doesn't belong to us."
"That's understandable." James downed the whiskey and coughed a bit as the fluid warmed his veins. "What do you plan on doing with her now? Getting the officials to arrest Lynne?"
"Only if she wants to press charges. We'll have to see once she wakes up. Until then can you do me a favor?"
"Maybe. The last favor was getting those pictures of your wife to look real good for the detective." He chuckled. "I'm not saying I didn't enjoy the ride, but she can get pretty boring at times. I don't know how you did it for three years."
"I need you to put up with it a little more. Think you can do that for me?"
James didn't look pleased, but he reluctantly nodded. "I guess, but you'll have to tell me why?"