Keep Me (Shelter Me #3) by Kathy Coopmans Read Free Book Online Page B

didn’t talk much last night after our little spat in the car since he went and stayed with Adam and Sierra to allow me to have the time I needed with Erin.
    “I know we agreed to meet downstairs, but I just couldn’t wait to see you any longer. I’m sorry about last night. I stepped out of line with everything I said. I needed to apologize. Lord knows you have been there for me many times, and I should be there for you and support whatever decisions you make in your life. I saw Luke and he told me where you were. I hope I’m not intruding,” he adds, speaking more to Erin than to me.
    She grabs hold of his hand.
    “Markus, you’re family. You’re not intruding on anything.”
    “Thanks, babe. I have everything all set to capture the beauty of this day for you and Adam.”
    “Thank you. We really should be going. I need to grab Sierra so she can ride with us,” she says, eyes shining with delight as her smile widens clear across her face.
    Markus extends his arm out for me to take.
    “Shall we?”
    With my arm looped through his, we follow Erin carefully down the stairs into the back where the whole gang, except for Luke and Adam, is waiting.
    “Red is absolutely your color,” Markus whispers into my ear as he helps lift me into the carriage alongside Erin and Sierra.
    “Thank you. It’s a little bit of a walk. Would you like to ride down there with us?” I ask.
    “Sure, if you don’t mind.”
    He pulls himself up into the carriage and sits next to me, slinging his arm around me after he gets himself situated. Sierra stands and starts jumping up and down with excitement.
    “Aunt Shelby, is Markus your boyfriend ?”
    “Ah, little curious one. No, I am not her boyfriend, but I will tell you a little secret if you promise to keep it to yourself.”
    Markus leans into Sierra and whispers something in her ear. Her eyes widen and she looks my way. I can’t help but wonder what it is he is telling her. He has no idea she will tell me if I ask her. 
    “Oh,” is all she says as she giggles and sits back down.
    I scoot as close to him as I can get. I am freezing in the floor-length, barely there dress Erin and I picked out. It’s stunning, though; sexy and sophisticated, which is so not me. It is made of red velvet and chiffon, cut in a mermaid style. The bodice is strapless and plunges extremely low, showing off more cleavage than I ever have before. The eye catcher is the long slit up the side that makes my legs look even longer than they already are. It stops just a couple of inches below my panty line, making it nearly impossible to wear any underwear at all. The wisp of a thong I have on is about ready to drive me crazy. I hate feeling those damn things laying in the crack of my ass.
    At five foot eight I have always been nothing but legs, but with these silver rhinestone four-inch heels putting me at six feet, I feel like an Amazon. It’s Erin’s wedding and she fell in love with them, so who am I to argue with my sister’s choices? If I’m being honest with myself, I have to admit that I do feel like a princess for once in my life, with my blonde hair in curls matching Erin’s cascading down my back. I turn back to Markus.
    “So, exactly what did you tell my niece?”
    “I told her the truth.”
    The cunning expression on Markus’ freshly shaven face tells me he is lying his fool head off. He is such a bullshitter. I toss my head back and laugh so loud that everyone turns their heads to look at me. Waving them off with a flick of my hand, I lay my head on my best friend’s shoulder and watch the snowflakes glisten in the sun as they drift down as if they were pieces of bright stars.
    We come to a complete stop and we all gasp. The barn is lit up on the outside with icicle lights hanging from the roof and all along the front entrance to the building. Markus steps out first and then helps Sierra and Erin down and finally myself. He doesn’t take hold of my hand like he did theirs. Instead, he