Page 6 (1/2)

"They can stay for a couple of weeks I looked online and by then they’ll have their eyes open and bearound I’ll take them in after that"

She wanted to take heart in the fact that he was accepting pets into his life, but she knew he meant what he said That it was only temporary

"Do you, ah, want help with them?" she asked "I can coood"

There was so about his toneaway As if the connection had ceased to exist between them

"Do you mind if I come visit them before you take them to the rescue place?" she asked

"That would be fine"

She wanted to think he nificant by that, but sooing"

"Ihis attention to the computer screen "It’s just outside the front door"

"Thanks"

She took the coffee cup back into the kitchen and rinsed it out After collecting her purse, she walked to the front door "I guess I’ll see you around"

"Goodbye, Willow"

"Bye" She opened the door, then hesitated "Do you want aze locking with hers She searched for soone, it was as if it had never been

"No, you don’t," she whispered, and left

Four

Kane finished his presentation on security for the colanced at each other

"Reain," Ryan said "It’s a real pain"

Kane thought about the executive detail he’d had to protect for twohe could do with his eyes closed "It’s not that difficult I’ll handle it As long as everyone follows procedure, we’re protected"

"And if they don’t?" Todd asked with a grin

"Then they answer to me," Kane said

Todd looked at Ryan "This is why I like hiht back at you"

Todd turned back to Kane "I heard there was soo away for one day and all hell breaks loose?"

Kane had a sudden ilazed and her long, blond hair spread out on the pillow His groin tightened, but he ignored the flash of need, not to mention the pictures in his brain It had happened, it was over, end of story

Still, he couldn’t stop wondering why she’d wanted to be with hie portion of his considerable bank account that she was the type who led with her heart So why take on a guy just for the night?

"It was Willow," Ryan said "Julie toldApparently Willow’s still a little annoyed that you got between et between you I was looking out for a friend You’re happy now--that’s the end of it" He returned his attention to Kane "Should I be worried?"

Kane held in a smile "I think you could take her"

"That’s not what I meant Is she crazy?"

"No She wanted to tell you off because you’d ruhters a million dollars to marry me, none of this would have happened"

Kane raised his eyebrows "I didn’t know you were looking for a wife"

"I’hed "Aunt Ruth is our late uncle’s second wife, so we’re not actually related Ruth had a daughter who ran off when she was seventeen and got married Ruth and our uncle cut her off and apparently never had anything to do with her until a few ot in touch with her only to discover there were three granddaughters she’d never ot it in her head that life would be perfect if one of her granddaughters married me She offered them each a lared at Ryan "Do you kno insulting that is? The assurinned "Actually it’s kind of funny"

"So says themarried"

Ryan turned to Kane "I went on the first date to throw the sisters off the path I ed"

Kane knew that Julie was also pregnant, but he wasn’t about to say anything Being in charge of security ood at that

"So everything worked out," Todd said "Willow should just let it go"

"I don’t think she’ll be back," Kane told hi events" He explained about Willow running through the grounds and spraining her ankle He left out the cat, the kittens and the sex

Both his bosses stared at him "You didn’t just leave her there, did you?" Todd asked

"I took her home and iced her ankle"

"To your house," Ryan confirmed

"Uh-huh"

"You don’t usually invite people to your house," Todd said

"I didn’t invite Willow It just happened" Which was true If only he had an excuse for what he’d done last night…and again this

She’d been a hell of a temptation, but he’d been te about her…

"Be careful," Ryan said with a grin "The Nelson women are complicated Just when you least expect it, they’ve invaded your world and changed everything"

"I’ either one of them They’ll have to find theirrin "Willow’s a pretty lady"

Todd looked at Kane "Intrigued?"

Not in the way they meant "I don’t do relationships Don’t worry about ain, which was exactly how he liked things But as the day wore on, he found hih and the way she’d felt in his ar he couldn’t shake froo away

Willoed up on Saturdaybecause she didn’t have Kane’s phone number and naturally Mr Macho Security Man wasn’t listed She’d even Googled hi It was as if he didn’t exist

But she kneas real Elusive and possibly dangerous to her e coh man who kne to be tender A rich et hi anytime soon All she had to do was close her eyes to reht she’d even dreamed about hirabbed the tote bag on the passenger seat and climbed out of her car She was halfway up the hen the front door to the gatehouse opened

He wore jeans and a long-sleeved shirt and looked sexy enough to melt chocolate