Page 92 of Her Tempting Protector

“He doesn’t want me, Aries,” she muttered. She pulled really hard on the rope.

“You’re being a wuss,” she complained. “Fight.”

* * *

Cullen drove up in time to see Carys and Aries really going at it in his front yard. It wasn’t often that Aries fought as hard as he was doing in a game. He knew better than that. He stopped his Jeep at the bottom of his drive and got out. He would have whistled to get Aries to heel, but that would just land Carys on her ass. Hard.

“Aries, play nice,” he shouted.

His dog immediately dialed it back. Carys didn’t fall, but she did end up lurching back a few steps as she gained ground with the rope. She looked up at Cullen and glared. She dropped the rope.

“Not cool, Lyons. I wanted to win fair-and-square.”

Nobody was due to come over, so Cullen left the Jeep where it was and sauntered up the drive. “The pansies look good,” he smiled. “Not as good as you, but good.”

“Stop with the sweet talk and tell me why you’re home early. It’s only four o’clock.”

“I thought I’d take my best girl out on a picnic on the beach.”

He saw her light up, but then she paused. “I really can’t, I have a couple of phone calls I need to return.”

He knew damn well what the phone calls were about. They were setting up job interviews across the country, and he’d be damned if he was going to let that happen.

“I have it all planned. Come on. It’ll be fun. I promised Aries this morning before I left for work. Are you going to deny that face?” He looked over at his dog who gave the appropriate mournful expression.

Carys laughed. “How’d you get him to look at me like that? He looks pathetic.”

“Trade secret. Now, are you going to come willingly, or do I have to carry you over my shoulder?”

She tapped her finger against her lip and gave him a considering look. “Willingly I suppose. But only for Aries, you understand.”

“Of course.”

“What do you need me to get?” she asked.

“You can change clothes. I figure you don’t want to go to the beach all muddy.”

She looked down at her dirty pedal pushers and frowned. “You’re right. Give me just a minute, and I’ll be right back. That should give you enough time to pack some sandwiches and put Aries in the Jeep.”

“I’ll be here,” he promised.

As soon as she was in the house, he pulled out his phone.

“Baily?” he asked. “You got things under control?”

“She got away,” his sister said.

“What do you mean she got loose?” Cullen couldn’t believe it. Not now. This couldn’t be happening. Not after all of his hard planning.

Chelle got onto the line. “Baily is screwing with you. Everything is under control. Just get Carys here, and everything will run like clockwork.”

“Put Baily back on the phone,” Cullen growled.

“No,” Chelle answered. “First, because she’s laughing too hard. Two, because you’re just going to swear at her. Just get here. It’s fine Cullen.”

He hung up his phone and once again cursed having sisters. Well at least having a baby sister. Chelle was mostly okay, unless she was dating losers.

“Ready,” Carys shouted out.