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Quickly twisting the faucet off now that the tub was full, he turned to face Holly with a smile. She was standing in the doorway with the throw blanket wrapped around her, makeup virtually gone and hair a mess. And she’d never looked more beautiful to him.
“It’s ready. Why don’t you get in? The sooner you get that leg relaxed, the sooner I can work on it.”
Casting him a shy smile, she limped into the bathroom, hesitated by the tub. “Will you join me?”
Eyebrows high, he asked, “You want me to take a bath with you?”
“Why not? The tub is certainly big enough. And it could be fun,” she replied mischievously.
Smiling, he glanced at the tub and then back to her. “Sure, I’d enjoy that. Why don’t you get in first so I can help you, and then I’ll climb in.”
Still looking shy, she nodded, angling her body slightly away as she dropped the blanket. His eyes roamed her body, unable to help himself, and then his eyebrows shot up as he whistled low. “Damn woman. Warn a man first. I could have had a heart attack.”
“What?” she asked, looking around, giving him the perfect view of his new favorite part of her anatomy.
“Your ass, sweetheart. Damn, you could start wars with an ass like that, and you hide it under those flowy skirts you like to wear. It should be illegal to cover that up.” Pausing, his brow furrowed as he thought. “You know what, never mind. I like being the only one to know what deliciousness is hiding under those skirts. Keep on doing what you’re doing.”
“Oh, you. Just stop,” she replied, cheeks turning a gorgeous pink as she swatted his chest.
Leaning down, he kissed her lips quickly, then held onto her hand as he helped her into the tub. She sat in the middle and beckoned him to join her. Quickly stepping in behind her, he sank down into the hot water, stretching his legs out on either side of her. Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her back onto his chest, and sat there just holding her, content down to his soul.
This. This was one of those moments that made every hardship in life worth it. Just a few months before, he’d been going on about how his life was complete, about how he had everything he needed. His daughter, his fighters, a good life—everything he ever needed in life to make him happy.
But he hadn’t met Holly then. Hadn’t realized a woman like her existed. And he couldn’t imagine his life without her now. She enriched it, made everything better. And he would fight to the death to keep her, to keep this. Nothing, and no one, would ever come between them. He’d make sure of it.
IAN CLIMBED DOWN THE LADDER FROM THE ROOF of the barn. He didn’t think it would take much to fix it, although he wanted to get Seth to check it out. Working with wood was Seth’s gift. Ian had been working with him long enough that he knew what he was doing, but getting Seth’s opinion was never a bad idea.
“What can I do to help?” Kian asked.
Shaking his head, he replied, “Nothing. Me and the fighters have this.”
“I want to help. I’m staying here for free, against my wishes because you won’t let me pay. Let me help. I can be of assistance.”
Looking at him doubtfully, Ian said, “Have you ever built anything, or worked with wood at all?”
“I am sure I can learn,” Kian replied after a pause.
Seeing the determination all over Kian’s face, Ian exhaled. “You don’t need to pay us for anything, let alone for staying here. Especially since I insisted you stay.” Kian opened his mouth to protest and Ian quickly held up his hands. “But if you really want to help, we’ll find something for you to do.”
Inclining his head regally, Kian said, “See that you do.”
Lips quirking,
Ian turned to hide his smile. Kian went on and on about how he wasn’t a prince and was no different than other tiger shifters, but his speech and actions showed otherwise sometimes. Smile widening as he noticed Holly and Shelby coming near, he strode over to meet them, kissing Holly as Shelby giggled.
“Think it’s funny, do you,” he asked his daughter, picking her up and pretending to bite at her neck.
Squealing, she laughed as he tickled her, finally gasping out breathlessly, “Put me down, Daddy.”
As he put her down, he glanced over to see Holly watching them warmly, her blue-green eyes shining with love and happiness. Chest tightening, he winked at her, taking pleasure in the way she blushed, dropping her gaze. The fact that she could be shy after all they’d done to each other, in bed and in the tub last night, was cute as hell.
Noticing Kian standing stiffly nearby and realizing he hadn’t been around to meet Holly, he quickly made introductions. “Holly, this is Kian. He’s basically Shelby’s uncle, for all intents and purposes. Kian, this is my ma—my Holly,” he said, quickly trying to cover what he’d been about to say.
Kian raised an eyebrow, and he knew the tiger prince understood what he’d been about to say. Holly seemed oblivious to his stutter, smiling at Kian and holding her hand out for them to shake.
“Ian and Kian? Are you two related, and that’s how he’s Shelby’s uncle? That must have been confusing, growing up, your names being so similar.”
“He’s actually kind of related on Shelby’s mother’s side,” Ian replied distractedly. He’d honestly never thought about how close their names were. And it didn’t mean anything, except that he was thinking for the first time that it must get confusing at times to others.
