Page 33 of Her Delta Force Protector

The bike slowed, then stopped. She glanced around to see why they were at a standstill in the middle of the road. Kade squeezed her leg, then pointed up. “Oh,” she breathed. A black bear and her cub were in a tree. The mama was sitting on a lower branch watching her baby climb to the top. The mama bear looked over at them, then dismissed them and went back to observing her cub.

It was one of the most awesome things she’d ever seen. How had Kade even seen them up there? She supposed it was proof of how honed his observations skills were from his years in Special Forces. The kind of talent those guys needed in order to return from their missions alive.

She leaned around his shoulder. “That’s so cool. The baby won’t fall?”

“No. Mama wouldn’t let it go up there if she thought it would. This is probably the cub’s first tree-climbing lesson.”

There were no cars on the road, and they watched the bears for a few more minutes, then he throttled up, and they were on their way again. As they passed the tree, Harper waved to the mama bear, then laughed at herself for doing so.

Some minutes later, they were riding down Main Street, and she again smiled at all the different-colored awnings. Everything was so festive. She wondered if there was another small mountain town somewhere with colorful awnings. If so, she’d go live there.

A parking space was available in front of Fanny’s shop, and Kade pulled into it, stopping next to an old turquoise Cadillac. She hopped off the bike and removed her helmet, which he set over one of the rearview mirrors and his helmet on the other. She slipped off his jacket and gave it to him.

“That’s Miss Mabel’s car, so she’s around here somewhere,” he said. “If we come across her, don’t take anything she might say personal.”

“Who is Miss Mabel anyway? Tristan said if I saw her coming to run in the opposite direction, and Skye said to stay out of reach of her cane.”

“Mabel Mackle and her nephew own half the town. Luther’s the mayor, and he’s as scared of his aunt as we are.”

Harper thought there probably wasn’t a female around who didn’t like the brothers. All three were that hot, although in her opinion Kade was the best looking of the three. Skylar would disagree with her, but Skylar would be wrong.

In Fanny’s shop several women were looking through the clothing racks. Fanny was at the register talking to an older woman, or more like just listening and nodding her head.

“Speak of the devil,” Kade said.

As they approached, Harper noticed the older woman’s cane. So that was Miss Mabel. She was a thin, tiny little thing.

Relief flashed in Fanny’s eyes. “Good morning, Kade and Petunia,” she said. “Petunia, dear, did you need some more clothes?” She came around the counter. “Come, I’ll help you find whatever you’re looking for.”

She was going to kill Kade for “Petunia,” and she was going to do it right here in front of witnesses if he didn’t wipe that smirk off his face. “I’m looking for—”

Miss Mabel swung her cane up in front of Fanny, stopping her. She then turned curious eyes on Harper. “And who are you?”

“This is my friend Petunia. Petunia, this is the lovely Miss Mabel.”

Harper smiled. “It’s a pleasure to—”

“Since when do you have a girlfriend, Kade?”

Rude much? From the disapproval in Miss Mabel’s voice, Harper decided to heed Skylar’s advice and stay out of reach of the woman’s cane. She stepped back.

“Aw, you know you’re my best girl, Miss Mabel.”

The woman actually fluffed her blue tinted hair, which Harper found amusing. She decided to remove herself from the conversation and the allegedly lethal cane, and as she wandered off to see if she could find a jacket Fanny slipped up next to her.

“Miss Mabel loves the Church brothers, so we’ll leave Kade to her. Were you looking for anything in particular?”

“A jacket. Do you have any leather ones?”

Fanny leaned away and skimmed her gaze over Harper, then snapped her fingers. “I have a perfect one for you.”

Harper followed her to a rack of coats. Before she could look through them, Fanny pulled one out.

“A medium, right?”

“Usually.” The jacket was a zip-up red leather with two pockets that zipped. It was simple and classy, and Harper loved it.

“Try it on.” Fanny slipped it off the hanger.

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