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She was cute and good But he didn’t believe it Although he had wondered what had brought her to theAnd why she had come to see him in the woods "You seemed irritated with me at first"

"You’d awakened me I had worked a twelve-hour shift at the hospital, and I was trying to get some much-needed sleep" She didn’t sound sincere, and she wouldn’t look hi

"I’ll try to be more considerate next time But in the future, if you spy a wolf in the woods and don’t knoho he is, don’t seek him out"

"In the future" The way she spoke indicated to him, that if she felt driven to do so, she’d take off into the woods again and check hiut wrench with concern He’d prefer the dareeable Made his work so much easier He ate the last bite of the tender roast beef sandwich, the ers on the napkin and drew up taller

"I’ll have to return to Green Valley to pick up some clothes and other articles Darien and his brothers can keep you safe until then At most, three hours, and I’ll be back"

"Thank you"

Striving for professional, which he sure as hell had lost sight of when he’d first kissed her and then danced with her, Ryan said, "I have a job to do No need to thanksuspicion she saw right through him Damned if the more primitive side of hiain Forget professional

She gave hiht Where will you sleep?"

"Close No sense in being your bodyguard if I’ other than that silky nightgown you wore last night I don’t need the distraction" He cast an elusive smile at her, winked, and rose Then he slipped his credit card back in his wallet and deposited money on the table instead

"I’ll speak to Darien and then be on my way Don’t leave the tavern without Darien or his brothers’ escort holanced at their table "I’ without one of the Ryan and Carol, two of the bachelor males rose from their seats "Christ," Ryan swore under his breath and offered his hand "Coether, and you can sit at his table until you’re ready to leave"

Hell, rong with hiet so possessive with her when this was strictly business? But he couldn’t help worrying that this was all turning into a real nightmare

Chapter 11

AFTER GETTING DARIEN’S APPROVAL TO BE CAROL’S bodyguard, Ryan returned hoes of clothes and called on his sub-leader to watch the pack and his sister and to take over mayoral duties as his assistanthiured that she’d be more trouble if he took her with him, he’d have left her at the B&B in Silver Town so she would be close by and he could check on her periodically But her nursery sales were skyrocketing with the advent of spring, and he knew she wouldn’t want to leave her business for anything

"Chester Ryan McKinley," Rosalind scolded, as she continued to decorate the fireplace rance of burning lilac candles scenting the air "Don’t you walk away fro to discuss this with you"

Ryan stopped in mid-stride and turned to frown at his sister, the only one in his pack who could get aith talking to him like that, but only in the privacy of his home--and she damn well knew it "The discussion is over"

"Why? You speak about that woet over how she discovered who thethe crime just fine with your tried and true scientificto Bertha, the owner of that bed and breakfast you stayed at, you not only went to the ga and took her on a date Now you’re going to be her bodyguard? Ad for her Besides, you can use her on that case you can’t solve"

"You remember the last time you insisted I use a psychic? What a disaster that was?"

Rosalind’s lips and aht So Mada deal?" His voice rose although he meant to curb his te "Hell, if I hadn’t agreed to go out with Bennagin’s spoiled-rotten daughter, he would have suedn"

"Your business insurance would have covered it"

He gave her a scathing look