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The se, overseen by John’s father The rest of her belongings had been packed and sent to her, as though John Sr knew his son wasn’t going to allow her to leave easily

And he wouldn’t

Stepping back into the living area of the houseboat, he quirked his lips at the sight of her sleeping, stretched out on the couch The second Rowdy stepped inside, she ake

Just that quickly she sat up, eyes wide, a hint of fear and pain glowing in the ain

"Sierra Lucas, Rowdy Mackay," he introduced the two of the to the master suite on the upper level

"Ma’am" Rowdy nodded as he passed her "Just excuse hter echoed in the other man’s voice as he followed John and they e by the bed and turned to John In the other man’s eyes Rowdy saw all the demons that had haunted him when he realized Kelly had been hurt while he ay froony his friend was feeling

"Da inside him "She’s even smaller than Kelly, John How the hell did she survive an attacker?"

"Sheer stubbornness," John sighed as he shook his head and placed the items he carried on the floor "Hell, Rowdy, I haven’t slept since Dad told htmares will haunt me"

And they would, Rowdy knew that There was no way for a o back once he realized he’d left his woman unprotected, and she had been harmed

John had marked that woman for his own before he left Boston Aimportant behind just had an air of loss around hier possessed What he possessed instead was the pain of knowledge, the awareness that he hadn’t kept her from harm

"You sleep better when she’s with you" He slept better now that Kelly was in his arms than he had his entire life "But I saw her eyes, bro She doesn’t seem as smitten quite yet"

John would have his work cut out for hiry There was a glitter of stubbornness, of pure feminine determination to make this as hard as possible on the other man

Whatever had happened before John moved to Lake Cumberland, it had to do with this woman And she wasn’t in the least happy with hiirl’s throat, then Roas certain he would find John’s predicaet out of here and let you take care of this then" Rowdy nodded "I’ll let the others knohat’s going on and we’ll see e can do to catch the bastard if he’s stupid enough to try to follow her"

God help any man that tried to hurt Sierra Lucas where John Walker or one of the Mackays could get hold of hi but death awaited such stupidity

As they returned downstairs, Sierra was still sitting on the couch, but watching the stairs warily

"Later, Rowdy" John all but ordered hi that fear in her eyes for so er

"Catch you later, John, and re door "The family will be around soon Babies and all" With that, he slid open the door, stepped outside, and headed back to the marina

"What was that all about?" she asked as he moved into the kitchen

"That means to expect the Mackay horde to descend upon us at any tirunted "Rowdy’s parents, cousins, their wives and babies It’s worse than Thanksgiving dinner at the grandparents’ house" And she knew exactly what those were like, since she had attended enough of them

"You didn’t uess I thought you were playing hermit here in Kentucky as well"

"Only when they leton breakfast or hauling her straight to bed She looked exhausted "What tied "I didn’t sleep well, so I was up in plenty of tihtmares had kept her awake

John’s jaw clenched Breakfast, then bed

"Why did you agree to this, John?" she finally asked as he pulled eggs froe "I’m not your responsibility, you know"

Not his responsibility? Fuck that She belonged to him, she just didn’t know it yet That made her fully his responsibility whether she wanted to admit it or not

"We’ll discuss that later, Sierra"

"I don’t want to discuss it later I want to discuss it now" She rose to her feet and he noticed the small wince she almost hid

His lips quirked He could hear the nervousness in her voice, but he could also detect the knowledge in it She knew exactly what he wanted from her

"Lollipop, now isn’t the ti me that horrendous name?" Exasperation filled her voice

This tirin that curled at his lips

"Lollipop? Because you’re so damned sweet to lick and suck on And I think I developed an addiction that night, lollipop I want more A whole lot an to stalk across the rooenous zone in her body juer he could have possibly ignited flared inside her as well