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5
I Won’t Fall InLove
I domy best to focus on the business at hand, explaining to Lando about Ralph Turnbull and why I need a restraining order. But my mind is whirling, and my body is attuned to the man standing behindme.
When Romero pulled me against him, all I could think was how right it felt. Not only right, but oddly familiar, as if we’d stood that way a thousand times before. I was safe and protected and wanted.
At the same time, feeling that way about a man I’ve just met shocked me. Part of me feels almost giddy, but I’m forcing myself not to get too excited.
Obviously, Romero likes me. He’s attracted to me. We want each other.
That doesn’t mean anything more is going to come ofthis.
He’s so much older, and a highly educated professional. I’m a farmer with a high school education and hardly any experience of life outside our town. No matter the attraction between us, we’re not exactly a match.
My foolish heart may want to get carried away, but I can’t let it. I have no doubt that Romero can show me a fantastic time in bed, and that he’ll be a gentlemen about ending things when we get to that point. Anything else is a pipe dream.
“Jade?” Landosays.
I shake off my mental cobwebs, my face heating. I’ve completely lost track of the conversation. “I’m sorry, what?”
“Turnbull has never been to thefarm?”
Forcing my mind back on track, I say, “Not that we know of. Not by invitation, certainly. We’re there almost all the time and we’ve never seenhim.”
“He’s either been surveilling the property,” Romero says, “or he hired someone to doit.”
He puts another chair next to mine, sits down, and leans toward his brother, talking intently. I catch his scent, clean and masculine, a hint of something spicy and his own luscious man smell. I savor his nearness, the line of his jaw, the rich silk of his hair, for several seconds before it hits me that I’m mooning over him in front of everyone.
My eyes dart to Lando. His are smiling. “Okay,” he says. “I’ll get this typed up and we’ll track Turnbull down and serveit.”
“Thank you,” I say. “It’ll take effect immediately? And cover all forms of contact?”
“Yes and yes. He’ll be prohibited from physically approaching you as well as contacting you by any electronic means, including phone calls and emails. And any other form of communication, in case he tries to get creative.”
“Great. Thank you somuch.”
Lando hesitates, then says, “Has he indicated any kind of … personal interest?”
“Personal … in … you mean interested in me?” I shudder. “Not that I’ve noticed.”
“Just wondering, because--” he glances at Romero-- “this kind of behavior is usually what we see in stalker cases.”
“Maybe,” his brother says grimly, “you can check to see if Mr. Turnbull has any history of complaints being filed.” That little thrill goes through me again. I’ve never felt like I wanted, or needed, a man’s protection before, but from Romero it’s … hot.
“Count on it,” Lando assures him. There’s a commotion behind us, and I turn to see that Kara has arrived. At least, I assume it’s her. She looks like an Adamo, and she’s dressed in a killer suit. Every man in the place, except her cousins, is watching her cross the room with ill-concealedlust.
When she reaches us, I see she’s closer to my age than Romero’s. She gives me a dazzling smile and shakes my hand. “Sorry I’m late; I was in court.”
Five minutes later, I’ve made an appointment with her for Monday and we’re ready to leave. Lando offers me his hand. “I’ll let Kara know how things go after we serve the restraining order.”
His gaze goes over my shoulder, to where my sisters are waiting. Quinn gets a nod, friendly and professional, nothing more. Bree gets another one of those slow, smoldering smiles. “Thanks for the cookies.”
He sounds like he’s talking about something a lot naughtier than baked goods. Bree matches his tone with a sultry smile of her own. “Anytime.”
I try to ignore my pang of misgiving. Quinn’s always been the introspective one, and Bree the fearless one. I just hope she’s not going to get her heart broken. That blond detective was obnoxious, but his words about loving and leaving are stuck in myhead.
As we head downstairs, I watch Romero move and bite my lip at the warmth tingling through my core. No matter what happens between us, I’m going to be smart. I’ll keep a guard on my emotions.
I won’t fall inlove.
