Page 34 of Her Guarded Hero

A grin split the boy’s face. “Does he have a gun?”

What was it about testosterone and guns? “I don’t know. Did you enjoy riding Pepper?”

Taylor looked off into the distance, then he bent down to climb through the fence rail. She put her hand on his back. “Taylor, I need your help to groom Pepper. Crystal’s going to be back here soon.”

He shrugged her off and was inside the corral before she could stop him. She’d lost him, he was off in his own world.

Shit, he didn’t have his helmet on. Aurora grabbed him, and he started to howl and fight. Soon he was on the ground.

“Shhh, Honey.” She knelt down and cupped his cheeks, out of the corner of her eyes she could see that Dalton was steering Mark and his horse to the gate.

“Calm down Honey. You’ll get to play with your brother and Dalton in just a minute. But you need to remember not to go into the corral when there is a horse in there, them’s the rules. Remember?”

She looked at his tear-streaked face. He finally nodded. Then he grinned. He yelled over her shoulder.

“Do you have a gun?” Taylor yelled to Dalton.

Dalton was helping Mark off his horse as Taylor ran toward them. Dalton kept the horses under control even with Taylor running awkwardly hell-bent for leather and yelling. She was impressed. She moved quickly to join them, so she could help the man. As soon as she had the horses, he had his arms around each boys’ shoulders and was patiently answering their questions.

Aurora was grinning as she took Pepper and Lightening to the barn. He was fantastic with the kids, they’d be talking about him for months. By the time she got the two horses into their stalls, Crystal was there, and Taylor and Mark were getting into the blue SUV, still hollering questions at Dalton.

“Aurora can I talk to you for a second?” Crystal asked.

Her friend practically dragged her up onto the porch.

“What’s wrong?” Aurora asked. “Did you find more info about Siren and Aladdin, because I think Erwin and Hal are bringing in another abused horse today, so that makes three.”

“We can talk some other time,” Crystal waved her off. “This is more important. Who’s the hunk?”

“I don’t think Danny’s going to appreciate it if you bring a man home. He doesn’t strike me as someone who’s into a ménage.” Aurora teased. She knew the types of romance books her friend read.

“I’m not thinking for me, I’m thinking for you, you idiot. Oh my God, the way he fills out that shirt. The way he fills out those jeans. You’ve been celibate for five years. You do realize that your hymen has probably grown back, don’t you? I hear that happens.”

Aurora started to cough, then choke. Crystal whacked her on the back.

“He’s looking this way. Don’t make a spectacle of yourself. Do you have any kind of toy? Have you been taking care of business? If you haven’t, you might have forgotten how to orgasm. If that happens, you might have to fake it the first few times until you get back into the groove. Just saying.”

Aurora glared at her former best friend. “How ‘bout you just send Danny over, so I can have a couple of practice runs?”

Crystal’s eyes twinkled. “You’re not ready for the advanced class.” Then her gaze shot over Aurora’s shoulder. “Of course, if I’m not mistaken, that man could help you earn your PhD.”

Heat suffused Aurora’s entire body, it was almost like she could feel him.

“Crystal, you’ve done a great job with those boys.” Dalton’s voice rumbled like distant thunder at midnight, it made her shiver. Crystal gave Aurora a knowing grin, she didn’t miss a trick.

“Thanks Dalton. Danny and I were blessed when they came into our lives.”

“How long have they been living with you?” he asked.

“Taylor came to us when he was five. Mark has only been with us for four years. Aurora’s therapy has done wonders for them.”

Dalton’s big hand slid up under Aurora’s hair and rested on the nape of her neck, giving her a subtle squeeze. “She’s a special lady.”

“Gunnar left today, didn’t he?” Crystal asked. She had the subtlety of a freight train.

“Nona! You promised us McDonald’s,” Mark yelled from the SUV.

“Duty calls,” she shrugged. She jogged down the porch steps, then looked back at the two of them. “Don’t do anything Danny and I wouldn’t do. Dalton ask Aurora what that list entails, it’s pretty extensive.” She lifted her hand and waved. She was laughing all the way to her vehicle.