Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 45284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
Normally, I can keep the flames contained inside of me, but she’s my woman. I almost say it. Roar at them, You never say a bad word about my woman. As far as Luna’s concerned, I’m a dog trainer, a tattoo client, nothing more.
“Your dog—”
Jodi tries to go on, but then I step even closer to the fence. I can feel it pushing against my bulging muscles now.
“Tell the truth,” I growl. “I didn’t serve four tours to come home and find a neighbor harassing an innocent woman. If you want to make something of this, I’m happy to step out front with all of you now or hop over the fence.”
The men exchange a glance, none of them wanting the heat. That’s what it is, I realize. They’re pretending to be something they’re not, pretending there’s the same gun metal buried in their heart.
“Otherwise, you need to apologize to Luna, and you need to know that I’ll be coming by often to train Buckie. I’ll hear if you’ve been giving her a hard time.”
Jodi stares at me, his mouth falling open. He looks me in the eye for a long time, and I stare right back. Then he makes a silent decision. Fear passes across his eyes.
He nods at Noah. “Tell her sorry, lad.”
Noah doesn’t even argue. He looks over the fence at Luna. “I really am sorry. Sometimes I open my mouth before I think. I call it jokes, you know, like it’s nothing major, but I didn’t mean any disrespect.”
“I’m sorry, too,” Jodi says gruffly.
I look at Luna. My woman’s staring at me with wide eyes, as though shocked I’m willing to take this to the next level. Buckie stares at Jodi and Noah and the other men, as if awaiting her decision, too.
“It’s okay,” Luna says. “I’ve said it before, Jodi. I’ve got nothing against you. Just so you know, Buckie should be a lot calmer now that I’m getting him trained.”
Jodi nods. “All right then. We’ll leave you to your peace.”
“Sorry, bro,” Noah says, turning and walking with the other men toward the lawn chairs on the other side of the yard.
I watch them go, my fists clenched at my sides, part of me still wanting this to come to blows. It’s better this way. Nobody gets hurt, no police, no having to explain, but it doesn’t stop the urge deep inside of me.
“Kayden, come on,” Luna says. “I think Buckie wants to go inside.”
Her soft voice snaps me out of it. I turn away from the violence, from the fire, and take in the sight of my woman instead.
“Thank you,” she says softly. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“I did,” I tell her, as we walk toward the house together.
The urge to touch her is almost overwhelming, but somehow, I stop myself from placing my hand reassuringly on her back.
CHAPTER
EIGHT
Luna
“It’s good for him to have a place where he feels safe,” Kayden says, as he kneels next to the armchair and pulls the blanket across.
“He always lies under there,” I say, my whole body alight after what happened with Jodi and Noah. The way Kayden stood up for me… as if he’d never let anybody disrespect me.
He was exploding with muscle as he stared them down. It was crazy. I thought he was going to kick their asses. Even Jodi became like a different person. He’s usually such a wannabe tough guy, but he could sense Kayden wasn’t messing around.
Four tours. With his dogs…
His muscles are pressing through his shirt, like they are out there, like he’s still filled with the need to protect us.
Us? No, it can’t be that. I was thinking of a hypothetical future family. Okay, so maybe I am going a little nuts since I’m thinking about all this stuff.
“It’s good to take advantage of somewhere he already likes. If we set up the blanket like this, give him a treat or some reassurance every time he lies down there. He’ll know he’s done a good thing and return here more often.”
“I can do that.”
Kayden stands, reminding me of just how big he is, his shoulders wide. His expression has relaxed into more like his usual self. His relaxed smirk, his hard jawline… but his eyes are still glinting as though alive with the near violence.
“It looks like he’s tired,” Kayden says, gesturing at Buckie.
The little doggie is curled into a ball, his face pressed into his side, his chest already heaving as he lets out a huffing noise.
“Maybe we should call it a day,” I murmur, even if it’s the last thing I want.
“Is your old man home soon?” Kayden asks.
“No. He’s going to be out for a few hours.” A tingle moves over my body, as though his words mean more than they really do, as if it would be an intelligent move to read passion into them. “Why?”