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Joel raced towards the sound. She ran behind him, fearing what could have caused a scream like that. They raced into the living room where they found Keira lying on the floor, Julian stood in front of her, his body poised to attack, his focus completely on the man standing in the far corner of the room. He stood with his hands at his sides, trying to look as unintimidating as possible.
It wasn’t really working.
“Aspen, take care of Keira,” Saxon commanded, stepping slowly forward. “Julian, it’s all right.”
“I’m so sorry,” Keira said as Aspen approached her and crouched down next to her. “I just had a fright. I didn’t know anyone was in here and the
n he just of appeared out of nowhere and I startled. I’m so sorry.”
“Sh,” Aspen told her. She wrapped her arm around the other woman’s frail shoulders. “It’s all right.”
“I slipped trying to back away and fell over, then Julian rushed in as this man was trying to help me. I was still too scared, though. I was trying to push him away. Julian got the wrong idea. I have to calm him down.”
“Keira, it’s all right,” Saxon told her in a low voice. “Just let Aspen take care of you. Are you hurt?”
“No, I mean, nothing more than before.”
Julian made a low, angry noise. Almost more animal than man. His whole body shook.
“I apologize for upsetting her,” Jardin Malone said in a low voice. “I was just trying to help her up.”
“He really was, Julian,” Keira said. “He wasn’t hurting me, it was my fault.”
“Julian,” Saxon said in a low voice. “Julian, look at me.”
He continued to stare at Jardin. Normally she would have said that the slimmer man wouldn’t have a chance against the lawyer, but there was something so focused about Julian. As though when he attacked he wouldn’t give up until one of them was dead.
Keira gripped her hand tightly. “I have to fix this.”
“Joel has it under control,” Aspen said with confidence. “He won’t let anything bad happen. You can take that to the bank.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence, pet,” Saxon said dryly.
“I know you can work miracles, Sir.”
“All these compliments are not going to get you out of your punishment for keeping things from me.” He looked back at Keira, his gaze filled with concern.
“I’m sorry to be such a bother,” Keira told her. Tears filled her eyes then she blinked them away.
“You’re not a bother,” Aspen said warmly. “I am scared to help you up on my own, though. Julian, perhaps you could help Keira. You know best how to take care of her.”
“Julian, Keira needs you.” Saxon’s voice was low.
Julian turned to look at Saxon. Then back at Jardin.
“He’s not going to hurt her,” Saxon told him. “He’s a friend.”
“He is, Julian,” Aspen added. “Jamie and Caleb’s paternal grandmother showed up last week. She was threatening to take them away from me. Jardin helped me. He’s a good guy.”
“Julian, please, I just want to go back to our room and lie down, will you help me?” Keira asked.
There was a pause and then Julian turned and crouched next to Keira. Without saying a word, he picked her up gently and walked away.
Jardin let out a sigh. “I’m really sorry. Thomas let me in so I could wait for you. I didn’t mean to frighten her.”
Saxon nodded, looking back to where Julian and Keira had disappeared. “I know. It’s going to take them both a while to feel safe again.”
Jardin’s jaw tightened. “I’d like to know what’s going on, but for the moment I just came to give you this.” He held up a thumb drive. “Got all the stuff you need on Winifred Hartfield in case she ever appears again.”
