Page 52 of The Protective Gryphen

Most importantly, these two men mattered to Elizabeth Blackhawk, and that meant they were to be protected.

“Come here? I live here. Well, I live above the garage. Who do you think feeds the horse and other livestock? I buy the groceries, and start the fires.”

That’s when it hit Ian.

He stared at the dinner on the kitchen island.

“Um…that’s not one of the lambs from the building out back, is it? I can’t eat pets. That’s a little too much for me.”

He grinned.

“Mr. Patterson, you are funny. No, we don’t eat the pets. This came from the market. Then again, it might have been someone’s pet for all I know.”

Ian was glad.

“You can call me Ian,” he said, shaking his hand and smiling at him. “Thank you for making us dinner and taking care of us for the Blackhawks.”

Graham didn’t mind.

“Thank you, Ian. It’s my pleasure.”

Oh, someone was not happy.

Gryphen got that uneasy feeling in his belly. Oh, not that the man was going to kill them in their sleep. This was an entirely worse scenario in his head.

That he was smiling a little to brightly at Ian.

HIS.

MAN.

Oh, hell, no.

Gryphen’s gaydar was pinging away.

The two men were conversing like nothing was wrong, and there wasn’t a big, suspicious Marine in the room.

Well, there was.

“I hope your first sleep here was good. I was instructed not to bother you, and to be scarce. When I saw you leave through the courtyard, I figured I’d make dinner. I fed the animals and came back in.”

“It was amazing. We were just going to explore. If it’s not too much of a bother, can you tell me where I can find the library?”

Graham put down the tea towel he was wiping his hands on and focused on Ian.

“I can show ya, if you wish.”

He smiled.

“Yes, please. I want to do some research on the castle and this whole area. You said there were books.”

“Aye, Lad, there are.”

Know who wasn’t going to the library?

A Marine.

“Uh, I’m going to call the Blackhawks. I want an update on Will and see if his status has changed,” he mentioned.

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