Page 101 of Forbidden Bond

“Aye.”

When she tried to kiss him again, he resisted. “I have a meeting.”

“I don’t know if I care about that.”

He’d let her sit in on business plenty and after what he’d just revealed, it didn’t feel like a moment to leave him. Didn’t feel like a moment to have company either.

“I care,” Strat said, heading for the door. He stopped, holding it open. “Coming or not, Scamp?”

“I’ll find you in a minute.”

Strat went out, leaving her and Conn alone.

She pressed herself against him. “I made a decision and… have to do something that might break his heart.”

“Youdon’t havetodoanything. Say what you want, I’ll make it happen.”

“Well, when you say things like that, I want you to kiss me.”

And he was bold in catching her cheeks, pressing his thumbs under the angle of her jaw to position her just right for their lips to meet.

As he withdrew, she moistened her lips again, the rush of blood in her ears reared up.

“What about your favorite little nook?”

Stooping lower, he kept her head, thrusting it back to bare not only that nook for his mouth, but her throat, her cleavage.

“Conn…”

The desperation in that whisper closed her eyes and—

“Just what a guy wants to see this time of night.” Lach’s voice shattered her reverie. “You want to talk or get it on with my sister?”

So that was why Conn tried to excuse her? Lachlan?

“Private time, I guess,” she said on a sigh. “Where are we sleeping tonight? Should I go or wait?”

“Play’s at the mansion. We can stay here.”

Suited her, she tossed him a smile that faded a little when she saw her brother’s stern expression.

Why was he pissed with her? Not a little pissed, like a lot pissed? Her Lachlan looked out for her, loved her. This guy couldn’t stand her.

“What happened with Imogen?” he asked before she’d even taken a step.

“Nothing happened with her. I asked her to look out for you, that was it.”

“She know about Dad?”

“No. Not that I’ve told her, and I don’t see Strat exposing something like that to anyone let alone his little girl. How would that knowledge benefit her?”

Burden her? Sure.

“Ford know?”

“I haven’t spoken to Ford, haven’t seen him since…” forever ago, now her guy was glaring too. Though not at her. “Are you two going to tell me what’s going on with you?”

“No,” Lach said without giving Conn a chance to utter a word. “Because protecting the people we care about is important.”

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