The Billionaire Boyfriend Proposal: A Kavanagh Family Novel by Kendra Little Read Free Book Online

off me that I realized it was Blake. He didn't
say anything or make a sound, just shoved the hooded man away and
down the stairs.
    Skull went after him. He raised his club and
slammed it down on Blake's back. Robbie and I both shouted a
warning, but Blake had his hands full with the second guy and
couldn't defend himself. His grunt of pain was the first sound to
pass his lips.
    I flew at Skull, only to have myself held
back by Robbie. "Don't," he said in my ear.
    Blake dispensed with my tormentor by punching
him in the stomach, then he turned around, ducked beneath Skull's
club and struck him across the jaw. Skull reeled backward and
landed on his butt. Blake snatched the club and shoved it under
Skull's chin.
    "You're pushing me to the limit," Blake
growled low. "I should knock off your head for what you did to
her."
    Behind him, the other attacker got to his
feet, but I didn't have to warn Blake. He was already aware and
adjusted his stance so that he could leap out of the way if
necessary.
    But the youth took one look at him and ran
off. "Come on, Skull!" he shouted back over his shoulder. "The
cops'll be here soon."
    Skull glanced from Blake to me to Robbie.
"Well?" he asked his brother. "You coming or not?"
    "He's not," I said.
    Robbie hesitated. He looked back through the
glass windows into the conservatory where the other students and
the model all watched proceedings with horrified expressions. "If I
don't go with him, he'll keep coming back. Next time, Blake might
not be here."
    "I'll be here," Blake said darkly. "I'll be
here as long as necessary. If anyone hurts or scares Cassie I'll
kill him. Understand?"
    Skull's nostrils flared and he tried to sit
up. Blake shoved the club harder under his chin, forcing him to lie
flat again. Skull gurgled. "Robbie, come home with me. I'm your
family, not them. We take care of each other. It's you and me
against the world, remember? Just you and me and no one's going to
come between us."
    Robbie expelled a breath and lowered his
head. "I should go," he muttered.
    "No," I said quietly. "Everything will be
fine. Stay."
    Blake let Skull get up and the two brothers
stood a few feet apart, staring one another down. I was afraid
Robbie would give in and go with him, but the distant whine of
police sirens broke the stand-off. Skull swore then scampered off,
leaving Robbie on the porch.
    I circled my arm around his waist. "You
okay?"
    He nodded. "He'll be back."
    "He's not Schwarzenegger," I said, trying to
lighten the mood. "Not even close. We'll be fine, Robbie. We'll
just be more alert from now on."
    "You don't know him. He doesn't give up and
he hates to lose. He'll come back and he'll be more prepared next
time."
    "The police are here now." Even as I said it,
we heard the crunch of tires on the gravel driveway out front.
    "No. No police." He appealed to Blake.
"Please. I know he's an asshole, but I'd rather go with him than
see him sent back to jail."
    Blake blew out a breath and rubbed his hand
over his jaw. "It's up to Cassie."
    It went against my gut instinct, but I
nodded. "Fine. We'll tell the police we don't know who those guys
were." I went to head back inside, but Blake took my hand. It was
warm and strong, just what my taut nerves needed.
    "You okay?" he asked softly.
    I nodded. "You? You got a nasty whack across
the back."
    "Fine." His knuckles brushed down my cheek
where the attacker's fingernail had scraped. He stroked my jawline,
still a little tender, and finally cupped it. His touch was so
gentle that it almost undid me right there in front of him. "You've
got a bruise. My poor girl. So brave. Strong." His voice rumbled
from the depths of his chest and his eyes stroked me as gently as
his touch, soothing in their intensity.
    Too soothing and intense. I began to cry. He
pulled me against his chest and placed his hand at the back of my
neck, under my hair. His thumb drew slow circles. His other hand
rested against my back, holding me in place. It felt good to be
held