Page 91 of Her Tempting Protector

“Are you talking about that panther that is roaming around the house?” Leo snorted. “Scared the piss out of me.”

“It’s a Maine Coon, right?” Carys asked. “He’s awfully friendly.”

“What are you talking about?” Leo asked. “I thought I was going to be lunch.”

“Carys is great with animals,” Cullen said with pride. “How’d you know the breed?”

She shrugged her shoulders. As she did, the cat they were talking about jumped up into her lap with a thud. The big brown cat looked as big as Carys. He let out a yowl, then bumped his head against Carys’ chin.

She laughed. “What’s his name?”

“Big Bastard,” Kane said under his breath.

“Viper,” A.J. answered.

Carys wrapped her arms around the big cat and Leo stared in amazement. “Seriously, Carys, that cat hissed at me when he first saw me.”

“You must have done something wrong. He’s a love,” Carys said as she scratched his jaw. Cullen started to get aroused. Kane saw and started to laugh. Now who was the big bastard?

“Hey, look who I found,” Chelle said as she escorted Marcia Zaragoza to the back yard. Zed’s wife was carrying her young daughter who immediately lit up when she saw Zed. She babbled something that sounded like ‘Dada’ and held out her arms for him, almost throwing herself out of her mother’s arms.

“Let me get you a plate of food,” A.J. offered as Zed got up and pulled out a seat at the picnic table for his wife to sit down next to him. He took his daughter who grinned happily up at her father.

Cullen glanced over at Carys who was still cuddling the cat and saw that she was watching the small family with avid interest. Yep, this was a woman who longed for the same things he did, even if she didn’t quite know it yet. But that was his job, to get her to see that their futures were bound together. But after all he had said in Africa about his Dad falling for his Mom in one day, and Carys shutting down, he knew he needed to take it slow.

Damn, I want to tell her I love her and ask her to marry me. Tonight.

Down, Lyons! You’re in it to win it. Don’t rush.

Cullen sighed, and Carys looked over at him. “You all right?” she whispered.

“Perfect. Just don’t think we’re taking that cat home with us, Aries wouldn’t like it.”

She pulled back, “I would never assume to bring home a pet to your house. I know I’m just visiting, Cullen. But I really do appreciate how welcome you’ve made me.”

It took a moment for him to be able to answer in a light tone. “Lady, I can’t wait to welcome you some more tonight.”

Her seductive laughter rang out into the night sky.

Soon, Lyons. Soon.

* * *

How in the heck had she become such a fixture at Cullen’s house that she was planting pansies in his front yard? For that matter, how was it that she had gone to the garden center with Cullen’s dad? Carys sat back on her knees and surveyed her handiwork. The flowers looked great bordering the walkway.

She was startled when a rope was dropped in front of her.

“You’re as stealthy as your dad is,” Carys laughed at Aries. “But I don’t have time for tug-o-war today. I’ve got a couple of calls I have to make.”

It was time to get back to reality. This extended vacation was coming to an end. No matter how much she would have liked it to last forever, she knew it couldn’t. Cullen had been wonderful, but like fish, a guest starts to stink if they stick around too long.

She pushed away what Cullen had said last week about wanting her to stay in his arms forever. She figured that was just normal pillow-talk. It wasn’t real.

Or was it?

Maybe she needed to sit him down and find out how he felt.

She got to her feet and snatched up the rope. Aries let out a yip of joy. She started to play an aggressive game with the dog, needing to get out some frustration. Darn-it-all, she wanted to stay. She wanted to stay in his arms forever, but he desired a family and the whole nine yards. But never once had he broached the subject with her. If he’d truly been interested in her, he would have at least talked to her about what she wanted in her future. But he hadn’t.