Page 45 of Her Guarded Hero

“Reagan Elizabeth. Elizabeth was my mother’s name,” Dalton explained.

Aurora laid a reverent kiss on his temple and then flashed him a soft smile. “I’m hungry. I’ll make some French toast and you’re going to tell me all about your wonderful daughter. I’m betting you have a picture or two in your phone, don’t you?”

God, when was the last time he’d shown anyone pictures of Reagan?

His heart felt a little lighter.

“You’re on.”

8

“Are you really that worried?”

“I’m just naturally cautious,” Dalton said as he pulled Aurora into his arms.

She smirked at him as she wrested away. “Yeah sure, that’s why Rhys and Luke said they’d be sleeping in the barn tonight, because you’re cautious.” Dalton grinned at her. “Your uncle brought over five of his horses for training, he wants you to teach your cousins how to break them. It’s a compliment.”

“That was only after I nixed the idea of spending the day with my Aunt Leah over at their place. Then suddenly they had that wonderful idea and all the males decided to come this way,” she scoffed. She pulled her sleepshirt off over her head.

Aurora liked how husky Dalton’s voice was as her breasts came into view. The fact that she could make a man like Dalton so aroused amazed her. Still, she wasn’t going to let him bullshit her. After the last two nights of lovemaking he had made her feel confident enough in her body to seduce the truth out of him. She sat down on the bed and put her legs out straight, then started to push down her panties.

“Why are my cousins really here?” she asked.

“What?” Dalton’s eyes were glued to her thighs and she loved it.

“Did you ask them to come?”

“Tate did.”

She kicked the pink silk off onto the floor, then traced patterns along the tops of her legs. “Are you watching?” she asked quietly?

He nodded.

“Are they here to keep watch?”

He nodded. Then his head snapped up, his gaze sharp. “Where in the hell did you learn this interrogation technique?”

“So, you admit they’re here to keep watch.”

Dalton knelt in front of her, his hands brushed hers away and she trembled. “It isn’t a big deal, and we’ll talk about it later.” He pressed his thumbs on the inside of her thighs, seeking to part them.

She shoved at his shoulders and he looked up into her eyes and sighed. “I’m not going to get my way on this, am I?”

“Not until you tell me what is going on.”

His hands trailed upwards, ruffling the curls at the apex of her thighs. “Really?” His eyes glimmered, but she knew he would respect her wishes. The man had honor seeping from his pores.

“Spill it.”

“Ned and his cousin have been spotted near here. His-”

Dalton’s head jerked sideways, and he flew to her bedroom window. She’d heard a distant sound of thunder.

Aurora scrambled across the bed to join him. “What is it?” The night sky was clear. “That wasn’t thunder, was it?”

He put his hand on her shoulder and pulled her around, so she was facing him. “Stay here.”

“No.”