Page 5 of Serial Love

Bart, Monty, and Cam re-holstered their firearms, although they remained alert. Blaise moved another step closer to the older woman, reaching his hand out gently. Chad circled around nearer to Jack so they effectively blocked the two women in.

“Gram,” the young woman called again, this time gaining the older woman’s attention. “Gram, it’s me, Bethany.”

Jack’s gaze cut back to the woman he held in his arms, noting her long blonde hair was tangled with a few leaves and twigs embedded. He pulled her slightly to the side, seeing her face clearly for the first time. She appeared to be in her twenties, with blue eyes that were wide with fear.Or is that anger?Her body, while easy to hold above the ground, was hidden in a large, baggy plaid shirt but with his arm underneath herbreasts, the feel of her indicated she had a perfect figure.

“Please let me go. I have to get to her. Please,” Bethany pleaded.

He released her slowly after setting her feet back on the ground and she rushed out of his arms over to the woman. His mind was filled with the sensation of loss as her body was no longer pressed against his. Shaking his head to clear those thoughts away, he turned his attention back to the pair of women. Although there was no threat, the problem still existed…the two women had made it through his security, and he needed to deal with that.

“Gram,” Bethany said, as she threw her arms around the older woman. She twisted to look at the seven fierce men surrounding them and ordered, “Get back. Get away from her.”

“Oh, my goodness. I thought you were Helen,” the elderly woman said.

“No, Gram. I’m your granddaughter. Helen was your sister.”

“Well, where did Helen go? Did she run off with Charlie here?” she asked, nodding back toward Jack.

Bethany’s gaze cut over for the first time to the man who had stopped her. She had not noticed him when she was captured other than his rock-hard body against her back and his unyielding arm wrapped around her middle.

He was tall, built like a lumberjack with muscles bulging from his tight, black t-shirt. His worn jeans wereloose enough to allow movement but could not disguise the powerful thighs underneath. His dark brown hair, cut close on the sides, had a natural waviness. His jaw was covered in a thick but neatly trimmed beard, completing the lumberjack appearance, but she instantly knew that was a façade. The man with the piercing, grey eyes gazing directly at her was dangerous. And if the weapon tucked in the back of his jeans and the similar men surrounding them was anything to go by, they were not enthusiastic about her and Gram’s unplanned arrival.

The expression on his face did not look happy and the feeling was mutual.

“She wasn’t trying to trespass, you jerk,” she bit out, staring right at Jack. Turning back to Gram, she said, “He’s not Charlie. You’ve just gotten confused.”

The men shot a glance toward Jack, seeking his instructions. Not liking being caught off guard, he growled, “Blaise, check them out.”

Blaise, a veterinarian who was also been trained with EMTs, stepped toward them once again. Bethany moved instinctively in front of her grandmother protectively.

“We’re fine. I’m very sorry for the trouble and inconvenience. I’ll take her back now.”

Before she could stop her, Gram moved toward Blaise with a smile on her face. “I’m Ann. Nice to meet you young man.”

“Gram, this isn’t social time. You wandered away and I need to get you back to the cabins, okay?” Bethany said, fatigue showing for the first time.

“Hi, Ann,” Blaise said congenially. “You’ve got some cuts there. Let me take a look at them.”

“Okay,” Gram said at the same time Bethany said, “No.”

“Yes,” Jack stated firmly, ignoring the pointed glare on Bethany’s face.

“We’re fine. I can take care of her cuts and scratches when I get her back to the cabins.”

“And just how do you propose to do that without getting more injuries? Go back the way you came through the brambles?” Jack asked, one eyebrow lifted in question.

Pursing her lips tightly, Bethany’s eyes darted back toward the woods.Oh, Gram, what have you gotten us into now?

“Bethany? Let us take you and Ann back to the cabin and get you cleaned up and checked out. Then one of us will drive you back to your place,” Cam said.

She nervously shook her head as the reality of the situation swept over her. Seven large men, all armed, guarding their property.

As though reading her mind, the men stepped back to give the women some room.

Jack’s eyes had not left the young woman. As irritated as he was at her intrusion, he admired her spunk. “We can’t stand out here all day,” he groused. “Let’s go.” Turning to Bethany, he said, “We can go back to my cabin, and we’ll make sure you’re patched up. Or we’ll take you back to your place. What’s it going to be?”

“Charlie, you’re being rude,” Ann said sharply to him.

Sighing deeply, Bethany turned around. “Gram, he’s not Charlie. Now let me take you back and we’ll see if we can find him.” Looking over her shoulder, she said, “Thank you for your offer, but I’d like to get her home.”

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