“What did you think?”

He’d said it like a tease, but he did want to know. He had entertained in the back of his mind that she could have reacted like that. Bowed to some weird idea of fair play.

“I thought, f**k that, she had her chance and she threw him away. This man who is everything and she just let go. That she didn’t let go all the way didn’t matter to me because f**k fair.”

Her expression went very serious. “I’m honest. I want you. I wanted you to choose me. Why would I not fight for it? You came into my life well after you ended your thing with her. You’ve had your affairs and short relationships between she and I. If it was going to happen, it would have. If she’d have really wanted you back, she’d have come and taken you back.” He winced and she frowned. “I’m sorry at how that came out. I just meant I wasn’t going to toss away this fantastic thing that I love and makes me happy for some dumbass movie idea of honor and fairness. She had her chance. You’re mine. I’m not giving you up. End of story.”

He drew in a deep breath, snuggling her up to him. “I’m yours. And you’re mine. I’d have been a little pissed if you hadn’t gone about the thing with Anne the way you had. It’s hot when you claim me.”

She laughed and he brushed his fingertips through her hair. “Fair warning, if I see Benji or Garrett there will be trouble. I’m saying that up front. I don’t care about how your grandparents feel. They’re the ones who should have handled this long before now in Garrett’s case. I want to be totally sure both men understand they need to keep away from you and not speak to you or about you. And then it’s over. If they do what they’re supposed to.”

She sighed. “I hate this. The problem with a guy like Benji is that the attention only makes him worse.”

“Whatever. I don’t care to play games with ass**les. I most definitely need to underline that he’s going to be starting a war he can’t win so he needs to back up and keep away. Garrett is a shit stirrer but he’s a weasel. Goaded Benji on but kept behind him the whole time. And when it went too far, he panicked. He hadn’t even given thought to the possible outcomes of what he’d done. That recklessness makes him dangerous to you. He’s going to try to hide behind your grandparents, but that’s not going to stop me. They gave him a safe spot to snipe at you. I won’t let that continue.”

“You know it’ll cause some sort of ruckus. He’s not worth it. He ran off to call my sister right away. He’ll scamper over there first thing and eat at their table while he frames the situation the way that serves him best. If you get in the middle of that, it only makes things more complicated. And pulls you into all that drama.”

“First of all, if your objections were like, ‘I don’t want you to do this. This is my business,’ I’d back off. But you aren’t saying that. Second, yes he will rush over to Mindy and then to your grandparents. And there’s nothing you can do about it. They could ask around and get more information, and if they do they’ll know what really happened. But chances are they won’t. Shep will defend you. Do some asking himself and come to you. But they’ll still have a tendency to ally with Garrett and his version of events. My being involved won’t make that any worse. It only creates some boundaries. Caroline, these people can’t be allowed to do this to you. This is detrimental to your well-being.”

Caroline knew if she just said the words—I don’t want you involved, this is my business—he’d back off.

Knew too that he was right.

“It just makes me cringe. Knowing you see all this stuff happening.”

“It would reflect poorly on you if you ever instigated it. But you don’t.”

“Jail sucks and you don’t have a rich daddy with guilt issues to bail you out.”

“You wouldn’t part with your ill-begotten defense-attorney gold for me?”

She laughed. “Maybe. But my rates are very dear and my enforcement is very…vigorous.”

“Damn. Makes me want to go out and break rules to find out just exactly what that punishment would be. Would you keep me captive only to sexually pleasure you all day long?”

“That sounds like something I need to add to my list.” She closed her eyes and sighed happily. “Good night, stud.”

He kissed her. “Night, beautiful. Love you.”

Caroline smiled, cracking an eye. “Love you too.”

Chapter Sixteen

“Oh wait. Can we stop by my place? I borrowed three books from Melissa and I need to take them back to her or I’ll forget. Again. Which is why I have three of them.”

Royal had gotten up at five, and she’d tagged along with him as he’d worked. Mainly she watched and listened, but a few times she’d jumped in to help.

It made for a much more fun showering process when she had to wash off all the dirt and dust too.

But he was in a damned good mood between how well his crops were doing and having morning shower sex. “Of course.” He found a spot to park at the curb on Main a block or two up and walked. Circling back to find a cop car in the alley.

Shane Chase came down the steps and saw them approaching.

“What’s going on?”

Royal kept his hand in hers and walked fast enough to stay ahead of her and between her and any trouble.

“Were you here last night?” Shane asked as they reached him.