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Warrick wouldn’t allow her to be afraid. He also remembered the dreadful look she’d had the moment the caller threatened her. He’d seen that look before the first time they’d “run into” each other at the courthouse. He never wanted to see that fearful expression again. Next on his list was to ask Isabelle if she wanted to start coming to his house after work.
She could use the underground passage between the compound and Old West Town to get to and from her job there. She always worked late into the night. Still, he’d love nothing more than to wake even in the wee hours of the night to snuggle with her in his arms. He’d wake with her plastered to his side every morning.
There was absolutely nothing wrong with that.
Later that day he called and asked Isabelle if she had a meal break during her working hours. He wanted to tempt her into misbehaving with him, but she’d begged off, as she had something to do during her break. She quickly ended the call to deal with some issue at work.
At the end of his day, Warrick had spent much of his time thinking about a future with Isabelle, and what it might entail. Each thought was warmer than the last. Perhaps it was time. Perhaps she’d still care for him even if his family was horrible, and they were.
His phone rang, jarring him from his thoughts. “Yes.”
“It’s Colton. I wondered if you and Isabelle made any plans for her next day off.”
“No. And unfortunately her next day off isn’t for three days.”
He heard Colton sigh into the speaker. “That’s a very long time.”
“I’m aware.”
“Too long, if you ask me.”
“I agree. I called her earlier and tried to lure her away for a late dinner tonight, but she already had something to do.”
“Okay. I’ll give her a call day after tomorrow, and let you know.”
“Fine with me. There’s one other thing I wanted to talk to you about, Colton.”
“What’s up?”
Warrick went onto explain the call he got from his aunt this morning in detail He also mentioned the conversation with Duke and the interesting information regarding the state of origin for the purchase of the burner phone used in the threatening phone calls Isabelle had received. Finally he told Colton about his coming meeting with Sven to look out for her in the short term whether or not it was his family. He asked if Colton wanted to meet him at the Trail’s End Tavern.
“Wish I could be there with you and Sven, but I have a mare in labor, and I’m needed here at the ranch probably through the entire evening and late into the night.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it. I’ll set up protection for a week or so.”
Colton added, “Good. Anything else going on?”
“One thing. I’m thinking about asking Isabelle to move in or at least have her come over here when her shift is over on the nights she works. She can take the tunnel over here. Thoughts?”
“Excellent idea. As long as I’m invited to join you.”
“Of course. Any time you want. You know that.”
“Good. Then I approve, and in fact, I’ll look forward to it.”
Warrick finished up his work for the day, had a quiet dinner at home, and then headed for the Trail’s End Tavern several minutes before his scheduled meeting with Sven.
He’d seen Sven one time before briefly at Enclave’s new bank. His first and only impression had been filled with words like giant, strapping, bad-assed, Nordic Viking. He’d be perfect. Warrick knew based on the man’s height alone, he’d easily be able to find him at the tavern with a single glance across the room.
His only current concern was how easily Sven would fit in at the Old West Hotel trying to keep a low profile and still watch over Isabelle. Maybe simply having a big Viking warrior badass there each night would automatically scare off any would-be assholes.
Warrick opened the door, entering the warm bar and coming out of the crisp evening air. The moment he looked around the room, he spotted Sven immediately. But not because of his height. Instead it was because of who he was dancing with. Dirty dancing with, in fact.
Warrick stilled, his eyes widening as he watched Sven doing an intimate grinding dance with a very familiar woman. The female in question pressed her crotch down on one of Sven’s large thighs as she smashed her curvy front to Sven’s big chest. Her hands grasped onto his shoulders so she could gyrate against him with ease. Her hips moved to the beat of the salacious bass-filled music playing as she fairly dry humped the man he’d planned to hire.
Sven wrapped an arm securely around her back, then drove his fingers into the luxurious fall of her gloriously red-blonde hair at the base of her neck. Gripping the locks tangled in his hand, he promptly looked down into his dance partner’s face and lowered his mouth toward hers. Warrick knew what was about to happen, and he flipped.
