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"Thank you," she whispered

"Now you’re just pissingwhat’s right For protecting what’s mine You’re entitled to that And there won’t ever be a time you aren’t"

She closed her eyes and laid her head on his shoulder God, she loved this man Didn’t care if it was too soon Didn’t care if she was being foolhardy for allowing herself to become involved in a relationship when she was on the run from a killer

She wanted this Wanted it with everything she had And daht differently

They were interrupted by the ringing of the doorbell Ca fully awake, and Travis jerked up, his eyes wide and wary

"Hey," Donovan gently chided "It’s okay, guys Res and I wasn’t alerted of soates, then whoever’s at the door is sorounds No one can access this place withoutabout it"

"Who is it?" Cammie asked anxiously

Donovan smiled "It’s likely one of my brothers or perhaps even one or more of their wives They very much want to meet you"

"’Kay," Ca nervously as Donovan got up to go to the front door Eve couldn’t see frole as there when Donovan opened the door He stood talking a roup of people following close behind

There were four wo the hand of a blond-haired little girl who looked to be Ca s as she waited for Donovan to arded the other women was evident in every aspect of his expression

Ca curiously at the other little girl Travis stood to the side, ill at ease He wiped his hands down his pants in a gesture that told Eve he was as nervous as she was aboutDonovan’s family

These were the sisters-in-law that Garrett had mentioned He’d said they’d want to come over to check Eve out for themselves Give her their stamp of approval What was it that Garrett had said? That they were all protective of the two unmarried Kelly brothers and they would want to see firsthand if Eve was good enough for Donovan

Ugh No pressure! No, not at all It was all Eve could do not to run fro rooh she and Donovan had iven Eve--the one she’d initially shared with Ca after that he wanted her in his bed In his bedrooht, she’d share his bedroom with him They’d sleep for the first time in his bed He’d told her very matter-of-factly that no other woman had shared his bed in his home Not this house He’d told her that when he built this house, he had no intention of bringing any woman here if he wasn’t certain that she was the one

What did it say about hisEve on two occasions?

Sure, he’d said that things happened fast in his family That he--and all his brothers--wasted no ti about it in the abstract and experiencing the lightning speed in which her and Donovan’s relationship had progressed were two vastly different things

"Eve?"

Once again, Donovan caught her in the hts A habit she had to break of drifting off during important moments She winced and iroup of wo expectantly at her

"Hello," she said in a husky voice that she hoped didn’t betray her nervousness

"Ladies, I want you to meet a very special woman Eve I also want you to er sister, Calanced down at the little blond-haired girl holding the hand of what had to be herresee I’m sure she’d love to have a new friend to play with Think you’dsome of your toys with her?"

Charlotte bea not one ounce of shyness Here was a confident little girl, secure in the knowledge that she was adored and spoiled beyond reason and that her fa bad to happen to her

Eve’s heart ached because she wanted the same for Cammie And maybe now she’d finally have the same security and innocence that Charlotte possessed No, she’d never be as innocent as Charlotte, but hopefully she’d overcome her past and it wouldn’t follow her into adulthood If Eve had anything to do with it at all, Caain know the fear and uncertainty that had plagued the first four years of her life

Charlotte immediately went to where Cammie stood just behind Donovan The entire tied closer and closer, finally slipping her hand into Donovan’s er one

Her thumb automatically went to her mouth as she stared shyly back at Charlotte

"Hi, Ca to be best friends And my mama says you’ll beinstantly to the other child, and how could she not? No one could possibly look at Charlotte and not be won over instantly

Donovan turned his attention to Eve,her forward to stand beside him He slipped an arm around her waist and looked at his sisters-in-law

"Eve, these are my sisters-in-law Sophie--she’s Charlotte’s mom--and Rachel; she’s married to Ethan and the twin boys are hers You alreadytheir first child in eight or so nant with her second child and is due a little before Sarah And last but certainly not least, there’s Shea, Nathan’s wife He’s the youngest of lanced at the petite wolad to meet all of you," Eve said sincerely "Donovan has talked so much about you that I feel like I already know you

"We’re very pleased to finally meet you, Eve," Rachel said quietly

Of all the women, she seemed the quietest Well, and Sarah seemed to be shyer as well While Sophie and Shea see of all that Rachel had endured, Eve couldn’t bla more subdued How hellish to endure an entire year in captivity and not to be able to re Donovan describe how all his brothers had met their wives--in less-than-ideal situations--Eve studied thee she’d built in hera few feet away

She wasn’t sure what she was expecting, but the woe, everyday woave her hope for her own life and how nors was eliminated She just prayed that Donovan’s confidence that he and his brothers could handle any situation was truth