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Shelley opened her ave her another squeeze and kissed her cheek She looked up at hiave her half a s it for Shelley, not her pretentious uncle

When he headed for the door, Shelley caught his arm, and with her back to her uncle so he couldn’t see what she was saying, she mouthed the words to Duncan, "You don’t have to do this"

Appreciating that she said so, but knowing he did indeed have to do this if he was going to make any inroads with her family, Duncan smiled, wrapped his arms around her, and kissed her mouth with all the wolfish passion he possessed He was stating that they wereher uncle could do about it

When he released her, she clung to hi how he could ainst hi-is-under-control expression, but she looked too anxious for hiuys was easy Trying to smooth over the situation with her uncle in a way that was satisfactory to all parties concerned was quite another thing

Hell, didn’t they have enough trouble already? Duncan couldn’t believe he had to call Ian about this mess with Shelley’s uncle But he didn’t want to tell her uncle the difficulties they were having with Sal Silverman or he feared Campbell would feel it was his duty to escort Shelley home to Texas at once

Duncan walked outside while Shelley tried to talk reason to her uncle while fixing hi He had been closelyon in the islands Duncan told Ian about the second deadDuncan to protect him

"I said no to his offer," Duncan said

"Maybe you should agree to be his bodyguard," Ian said seriously

"What the hell for?"

"If Carlotta has hih hio after her" It didn’t hed "Yeah, we’d have to"

"I can’t agree to protect hiht Do what you have to do"

"There’s so up Shelley’s family’s requestthat bastard Sal "It has to do with Shelley’s three uncles and her e of her pack, her Uncle Ethan Campbell, wants to move the family in with us Or else he doesn’t want her to leave the States and I’m to move in with her near where her faet to know our children, their grandnieces and grandnephehen they’re born" Duncan knew his brother wouldn’t like being dictated to, not by anyone

"How do you feel about this?" Ian asked

Duncan stared out at the ocean, not even truly seeing it His brother had never asked hi--or anyone else that Duncan could re ed Ian

"I will kill every one of theht to keep my mate," Duncan vowed fiercely

"Aye Hoould you feel about living in the States and not here, if itwith her to keep peace with her fa Shelley for his mate shouldn’t mean he’d have to forsake his own faret, Ian," he said, nearly choking on the words, "aye I would stay with Shelley in Texas"

Ian didn’t say anything for what seeain "How does Shelley feel about it?"

"Shook up, no doubt, Ian This has all come as a shock to her as well"

"Let me talk to her"

"Shelley?"

Ian chuckled darkly "Aye I promise I will not upset her"

Duncan frowned and opened the door to see Shelley showing pictures of all the varieties of plants at the reserve on her ca had co off a treasure to a parent For an instant, he saw that she was indeed close to her uncle, and he ith her Ca at the pictures as if it was a duty but s her work

Duncan cleared his throat, not wanting to interrupt thes He didn’t want to set the older ain "Shelley, my brother wishes to speak with you"

"I will speak to his lairdship as well," Ethan said with a disgruntled tone, casting Duncan a dangerous look

Duncan handed the phone to Shelley and gave her a heartfelt embrace, then whispered into her ear, "All will be well"

She nodded, but froave him, he didn’t think she believed hiood for a , but they could also be destructive This one see path already

He shut the door to let Shelley have some privacy with his brother and said to her uncle as he , "She’s dedicated to her work"