To Protect the Heart of a Brazen Woman [Brazen Sisters 6] (Siren Publishing Classic) by Rita Sawyer Read Free Book Online Page A

need to move on.”
    The time away was supposed to give her a chance to determine how to deal with Jake’s passive - aggressive stance on their relationship. Obviously , nothing had changed for him. He still wanted to ignore the fact they wanted each other. Bobbie , on the other hand, was ready to issue him a life - changing ultimatum. But maybe if she gave him just one more chance to reach the decision on his own he would realize what everyone else already had.
    Could she, should she, go along with him ? “Where do you think we’re going, and why?”
    “I’ve made some enemies over the years, and one of them has made a threat that I have to take seriously.”
    Okay , she didn’t like the sound of that at all, but she needed to know more. “What does this have to do with me?”
    “She said she’s going after something I care about.” His voice had a roughness that scared and turned her on.
    “And you instantly thought me?” Well , that would be a declaration of sorts.
    “Everyone in town has us linked together and that’s not something she’ll miss.”
    “She? You’re running from a woman?”
    “No. I’m protecting you from a woman.”
    “Don’t you think there are other people or things she might consider more important?”
    “Beau took Charlie on an impromptu vacation. She’s thrilled. Anything else I can live without.”
    She totally understood that his brother and niece were the most important things in his life. He was right to want them out of the picture, but if someone was out to seek revenge then he needed to be focused on finding and stopping them , not protecting her.
    “You don’t need to worry about me.” She was a big girl and could take care of herself.
    “Even if that were the case, which it’s not, do you really want to put your sisters at risk?” He had her there.
    “No , I don’t, but that doesn’t mean we need to go away together. School starts in a week, but I’ll have Jessie explain the situation to my professors. I can go down and visit Frankie in Boston for a few weeks. And you can stay here and deal with your issue.” And they’d have a buffer of space between them.
    Truthfully, having some room between them would probably be a good thing, since it seemed like neither of them had come to terms with his relationship with Kerri, however insignificant he thought it was. She wasn’t sure she could spend time alone with him without losing what little strength she’d found to keep her from falling back into their same old patterns. She wasn’t happy about him seeing someone else, but it had shown her she might be able to live without him. Being forced to live with him would only make it harder for her to believe that.

Chapter Four
     
    Jake didn’t need to think over her suggestion. It just wasn’t an option. He already knew there would be too many uncontrollable scenarios putting her in that situation.
    “That won’t work,” Jake said with a shake of his head.
    “Well, I think it would, and I’d like to spend some time with Frankie.”
    Jake figured Frankie would love showing her around town and introducing her to all of her fiancé Hal’s friends. “Sorry, your visit will have to wait. You’re staying here.”
    “Why?”
    He wanted to tell her it was because he’d just gotten her back and couldn’t stand to watch her leave again, but he held back. Jake never had trouble telling the truth—hell, even just telling it like it was—until Bobbie. For her, he’d lie just to spare her feelings, but not if it put her in any kind of danger. Keeping her safe was his first priority. He had to protect her the best way he could, which meant keeping her with him.
    Somehow he needed to get her to see it, too. “Because it wouldn’t be safe enough. There would be too many ways for her to find access to you, maybe even putting your sister at risk. You need to be someplace secluded. Out of reach, yet protected at all times, which is why I’ll be staying with