Page 27 of Edge of Yesterday

She clutched his shirt and nearly fell into his arms. This was more like it.

“Are you all right?” He gripped her arms to steady her.

“How can I be fine after being mauled by a monster like that?”

She had a point.

“Maybe you should sit down.” He scanned the alley but didn’t see a bench and the urine smell was uninviting.

“Julianna,” one of the men who’d chased them shouted.

“In here,” she called in a croak.

“Julianna,” Cailean murmured. “A beautiful name for a beautiful woman.”

“It’s just like a man to flatter a woman when he has no chance of bedding her.”

“Maybe later,” he said with a chuckle. “For now, rest your pretty head.”

The men burst into the alley. The one in the lead kept coming and when he reached them, snarled, “Take your hands off her.”

“You have it wrong,” Cailean began, but the man yanked Julianna from his arms and drove a fist into Cailean’s jaw.

Cailean’s head snapped back and another blow struck his ribs on the spot that still stung from the gorse thorns. He winced, but managed to block the next blow and ploughed his fist into his attacker’s belly. The man released a loud “Whoof,” but reared back for another punch. Cailean jabbed his jaw, snapping his head back once, twice—

“Stop!” Julianna shouted.

The man swung an uppercut that grazed Cailean’s nose. Cailean drew back a fist— A hulking figure sped past Cailean and barreled into the other man. They hit the ground in a tangle of muffled curses.

“Get off me, ye big oaf,” Cailean’s assailant yelled at the man who’d tackled him.

“Stop it, Lennox,” the other man growled. “Listen to what your sister says.”

Lennox and the other man pushed to their feet.

“Dinnae hit him anymore, Lennox.” Julianna looked from one to the other. She took a step forward. “Please…”

Cailean backed up a pace so that he could see her and keep Lennox in his line of sight.

“Julianna—” Lennox began.

“Nae,” she cut him off. “You burst in, fists flying, before you ask any questions.”

“Ye were kidnapped,” he growled.

“Aye, but not by this man.”

Lennox yanked his gaze onto Cailean.

“Not me,” Cailean said. “I simply had the misfortune of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

“You had your hands on her.”

“Lennox, I am warning ye.” Her voice held steel. He wouldn’t want to argue with this woman.

Men’s shouts in the distance stilled them.

Lennox’s head snapped in Julianna’s direction. “They found us. But how?” He glanced toward the noise.