Hot Alphas by Lora Leigh Read Free Book Online Page B

transferred…”
    â€œNo.” Surprised, the word popped from her mouth before she could hold it back.
    J.D.’s eyes narrowed slowly, tension radiating through his body with such energy. Erin swore every male in the room followed suit with instinctive dominance.
    Give her a break. She was going to smother from testosterone at this rate.
    â€œWhat do you mean, ‘no’?” her stepfather finally growled.
    â€œI’m not leaving, J.D.,” she informed him firmly.
    â€œThen I’ll fire you!” The threat was an old one. Even John D. smirked at the sound of it.
    *   *   *
    â€œAnd you’re not firing me either.” Erin moved carefully away from Turk, all too aware that he and Cooper were none too pleased with J.D.’s warning.
    J.D. glowered back at her. “Erin, this is serious,” he informed her as he leaned forward slowly and braced his hands on the counter. “You were attacked.”
    â€œI wasn’t hurt.”
    Sometimes, it was best to simply stare him down.
    â€œHave you looked at your face yet?” he snapped when she didn’t blink. “Take a look in the mirror then tell me you weren’t hurt.”
    She snorted at that. “It hurt more when John D. wrecked the four-wheeler last summer. And the bruises were worse.”
    J.D. turned to his son slowly. “You said you were alone,” he reminded John D. with a hint of anger.
    John D. shook his head with an air of brotherly exasperation.
    â€œCome on, Dad, I told you she lies on me. Those innocent green eyes are hiding a heathen determined to get me disowned,” he accused her
    Erin rolled her eyes at his statement. Sadly, J.D. was used to them.
    â€œI’ll get to the bottom of the four-wheeler wreck later,” he snapped, straightening from the counter. “Get your purse. I want to get you out of here before anything else happens.…”
    â€œShe said she wasn’t leaving!” Turk didn’t raise or lower his voice. He stepped closer to her, tension sizzling through the atmosphere around him.
    J.D. and his son turned to him, nearly identical expressions of surprise on their faces now.
    â€œI can handle this, Turk,” she breathed out wearily as she glimpsed the determination that filled his face and tightened his body.
    J.D.’s smile was tight. John D. smirked back at her.
    Really? she thought. Did she really have to deal with this bullshit tonight? Hadn’t she put up with enough already?
    â€œI’m not a bone,” she informed them all as Turk moved in closer to her back, nearly touching her now.
    John D. took a seat on the other side of the counter, propped his elbow on the counter, and rested the hard curve of his chin on his fist. The subtle wink he shot her as his black hair fell around the hard planes and angles of his face assured her he intended to be amused.
    â€œOf course you’re a bone,” John D. drawled. “J.D. will never admit anyone else can take care of you.”
    â€œJohn.” J.D. turned on him with a quiet, dark anger. “Get back to the van.”
    John D. grinned but didn’t move.
    â€œI’m not leaving. Leaving won’t solve anything. That attack was personal. It wasn’t a robbery,” she protested.
    â€œAll the more reason to have you reassigned,” J.D. pointed out, propping his hands on his hips like some Roman emperor surveying all he held power over.
    He did not control her. She refused to allow it.
    â€œAll the more reason to stay here,” she argued. “If I run I’m always looking over my shoulder until the bastard catches me unaware. If I stay, Cooper, Turk, and the others will ensure it ends here.”
    â€œPossibly ending your life as well,” he snarled. “And just how do you think your mother will handle this?”
    â€œDon’t tell her,” she suggested blandly. “That’s where you always make your