Page 60 of Cowboy Breaking Point

A rhythmic banging noise from the study rattled the entire house. Luckily, Quaide’s bedroom suite offered refuge from the demolition taking place below.

If Dove, Rain and Lark were in any of the untouched older parts of the house, dust would be falling from the ceilings and blanketing every surface.

Quaide had offered her refuge in more than his arms. This house and his love sheltered her from the world when she needed it most.

That was a very unexpected part of him being in her life again. She’d told herself she’d walked away so his job wasn’t jeopardized. She didn’t want to drag an FBI agent into Rain’s mess.

But fact was, she didn’t know this side of Quaide.

He was always the leader at work. Now she saw the protector.

She knew him as a lover…but was seeing the nurturer in him.

He was taking care of her—of Rain too. And she loved him even more for that.

Loved.She’d been stuffing that emotion down for far too long.

Staring off into space, she toyed with the satin belt of her robe and let the images of a life with Quaide slam into her.

She pictured them together in this house. Sharing this bed every night. Waking up and knowing she was lying next to a man who would love her until the end of time—because that was Quaide.

As long as he wasn’t trying to order her around, they were good together.

Really,reallygood.

They worked well together, and played even better.

She loved the Sentry team too. The guys were like big brothers. And Lark was a gem.

Dove swung her stare to the beautiful redhead sitting on a chair having her makeup applied by an artist. The woman was transforming Lark’s pale, freckled skin to the creamier tone of Rain’s. As soon as Lark was finished in the chair, Dove would be getting the same treatment.

Rain was propped on pillows against the headboard, watching their new friend being transformed—and wearing the mauve eighties outfit. She’d lost the competition, but had donned the garments with a pride that surprised Dove.

Three identical sets of clothes were laid out at the foot of the king-sized bed. Three pairs of simple black boots were lined up on the floor.

This plan needed to work. It had before—but then she just believed she was keeping her sister out of jail. Now the stakes were much higher with a hitman to worry about.

The makeup artist used a blender sponge to sweep foundation across Lark’s forehead. Dove watched the woman’s freckles disappear, leaving behind a warm tone that was closer to Rain’s.

Maybe close to Dove’s own skin tone before all those sleepless nights and stress took their toll on her.

Lark caught her staring in the reflection of the mirror and flashed her a smile. “What do you think so far?”

Dove moved from the chair to drift over to Lark. She gave the artist enough room to work her magic and instead leaned against the pale wood dresser that the smaller makeup mirror was propped on.

“I think this is going to work,” Dove said.

Lark eyed her. “Are you saying that because you believe it or because you want to make it into a reality?”

“Both?” Dove gave a rueful laugh.

“No, Iknowit’s going to work.” She sliced a look at the artist. What did the woman know about their reason for hiring her? Lark hadn’t shared that bit when she admitted her to the house along with a giant trunk filled with makeup.

Lark picked up on her reservations without her needing to speak in front of the stranger.

“Oh, don’t worry. Brighton is an old friend of mine. She actually dated my brother for a while, didn’t you, Brighton?”

The pretty brunette unfolded her lips that had been sealed in concentration and nodded with a smile. “Back in the day.”

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