Page 63 of Luke

Catherine laughed. “I think I’ll join you. I’ve had all these brothers for quite a while. You’ll learn to manage them.”

“Teach me your ways.” Ashley laughed with her.

They left the men where they were, plotting and planning for Ashley’s safety, and went to Garrett’s room. Ashley spent a few minutes cooing over him as he laughed back at her.

“I think she has the hots for her bodyguard,” Catherine whispered out of earshot of Ashley.

“Oh, absolutely.” That was undeniable for everyone but the two involved.

“Maybe this hunting cabin will only have one bed,” Catherine teased.

Paisley giggled. “How many books have you read lately? This definitely sounds like one of them.”

Catherine shrugged. “It’s still possible.”

“It would work with them, I think. Ashley is putting on a brave front, but I think she’s scared.” Paisley knew all about that.

“I think so, too. It’s what’s making her impulsive around Carter.” Catherine opened her mouth to say more, but Ashley cut her off.

“It’s rude to talk about someone, especially when they are in the same room,” she scolded.

Caught, Paisley felt her face flame. “It wasn’t anything bad.”

“You’re terrible at being discreet,” Catherine fussed playfully. “I was telling Paisley that I think you have the hots for your bodyguard.”

Ashley sighed. “We did this not even an hour ago. I don’t have the hots for him.”

“You do. You can’t deny it. It’s obvious.” Catherine was taking it too far.

“Catherine,” Paisley admonished. “Stop.”

“What? It’s not a crime to like someone, even if he’s your bodyguard. I liked Ryker for years and denied it every time and where did that get me?”

“Okay, fine. I do kind of like him, okay? I don’t like that he’s smothering me to death, though. And I’m tired of him thinking he can boss me around,” Ashley admitted.

Paisley’s jaw dropped, as she wasn’t expecting a confession.

“Now we’re getting somewhere.” Catherine smiled and joined Ashley on the floor with Garrett. “Hey, Paisley, should we tell her about the one-bed scenario we were talking about?”

“That was all you.” Paisley took a seat on the carpet as well, holding a toy out for Garrett to grab at.

“I really hope that isn’t the case. He’ll play all chivalrous and it won’t go anywhere anyway. He called me a spoiled princess on the way here.” Ashley groaned.

“That might be because you’re behaving like one,” Catherine told her. “No offense meant, I do it, too, sometimes. You just have to be calm with him and not throw a fit, just refuse to back down.”

“She’s right. Don’t get huffy, just proceed. If he doesn’t want you to bring all your suitcases, then just load them yourself. Be a strong, independent woman because we know that’s what you are.”

“He brings out the worst in me,” Ashley told them. “I don’t know how to stop it.”

“Oh, I relate to that so much. You both don’t know, but all Ryker and I did was fight and I acted a fool more than once because of him. Just hold your head high and know that if he’s not interested in you, then that’s his loss.” Catherine scooped Garrett up to sit in her lap. “You have such smart aunts,” she told him.

“How did you two end up together?” Ashley asked.

“It’s a little bit of a long story, but once I was really in danger, he dropped his guard with me and let me see that he really wanted me too. This was my house, without the nursery.” She chuckled. “Ryker lived next door and when things started to happen that scared me to my core, he took over. He kept me sane and showed me his true feelings.”

“Well, he’s a bodyguard, so maybe Carter will do the same.” Ashley twirled a piece of hair as she thought.

“We don’t want anything bad to happen and hope the guys are overreacting, though. Definitely don’t wish for you to be in danger.” Paisley meant that to her core.

---