Page 12 of Her Delta Force Protector

Five? Harper had her doubts about that. She was pretty sure she was in the presence of a miniature con artist. A precious one, definitely, but for sure a talented one.

“You can have one, Ev,” a man said, walking into the kitchen.

“But, Daddy! Miss Harper wants five, and I—”

“Save it, kiddo.” Her father tapped her on the nose. “One. End of discussion.”

The man turned his attention to her. “Hello. I’m Parker and this pickle freak’s father.” He glanced around, then back at her as if wondering what a stranger was doing in his kitchen. “And you are?”

“Harper Jansen, a friend of Kade’s. I hope I’m not imposing.” So this was the artist slash fire chief brother. Kade’s family had always fascinated her, especially his stories about the three brothers raising a baby. He’d have her in stitches talking about changing diapers.

He shrugged. “Can’t see why you would. A friend of my brother is always welcome.” He took the jar away from Everly. “You need to leave for school in fifteen minutes, so if you want a pickle, you better eat it now.” After opening the jar and putting one on a saucer for his daughter, he glanced at Harper. “You know you don’t have to eat a pickle if you don’t want one.”

Everly appeared shocked that someone might not want a pickle, and Harper didn’t want to scandalize her little friend. “I’d love one.” She slid onto a bar stool next to the girl. “This granite is gorgeous.” She’d never seen anything like it. The shades of blue, gray, and purple swirling through it made her think of storm clouds.

“Thanks,” Parker said as he stabbed a pickle with a fork, then held it out to her.

Kade came in, carrying her duffel and purse. He set everything down on the end of the kitchen island. He grinned at seeing her eating a pickle. “If you’re not careful, that will be your breakfast every morning.”

Harper studied the two brothers. They had similar characteristics except for their hair. Parker wore his pulled back in a low ponytail, while Kade sported his new short cut.

“Uncle Kade, can we go get Duke now? Jellybean misses him.”

“You, my little pickle monster, are going to school,” Parker said. “Go get your backpack.”

“But Jellybean wants Duke.”

Kade picked her up and set her on the floor. “Duke will be here when you get home.”

“Oh, goody.” Everly clapped her hands as she skipped out of the room.

“Jellybean does not miss Duke, believe me,” Parker said.

“Um, who’s Jellybean?”

Kade slid onto the stool Everly had vacated. “He’s Everly’s cat. Duke loves him, but Jellybean doesn’t return the affection.”

“Duke loves everyone and everything. I’ve missed him.” There were a lot of things she’d missed, but Kade and Duke were at the top of the list. The freedom to go and come as she pleased was up there, too.

“I still don’t know how you conned me into taking that goofball.” He shifted on the stool to face her.

“Because you can’t say no to me?”

Something flashed in his eyes, then he grinned. “That must be it.”

What had she seen? If she didn’t know better, that had been heat in his eyes.

Chapter Six

“My brother and his fiancée are on the way over. Skylar’s the sheriff.” Kade had called Tristan before coming in. He wanted the two of them here when Harper told her story.

“He’s the police chief brother?”

Kade nodded. “Yeah. They both need to know who to be on the lookout for if someone figures out where you are and shows up in Marsville. You good with that?”

“Yes, it’s a smart thing to do. I hope that doesn’t happen, and I’ve been as careful as I know how not to leave a trail, but they found me once already.”

Kade wanted to know whotheywere. She’d called him one morning and asked him to go with her somewhere that evening. Something about being worried for her roommate. She’d said she’d fill him in when they met up. He’d agreed, but two hours later, his team was summoned. She knew the drill—no phone calls, no communication to the outside world when an operation was in progress. When he didn’t show up, she’d know why and understand.

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