Page 44 of Guarding My Love

“But she’s single?” Braylon asked.

“Yes,” he said.

“And now things have gotten interesting,” Braylon said, sitting back. “Fill us in.”

“So I can be your source of entertainment?” he asked. “No, thank you.”

“Give us something,” Laken said. “We aren’t going to pick on you. We just want to help. If you’re concerned about this guy on her property, there is more going on.”

“There isn’t much to say. She’s lived there a month. I’ve helped her a few times. I let her sit on my beach when I’m not home. She walks down with her dog for a break when she’s working.”

“Does she know who you are?” West asked.

“No,” he said. “I never gave her my last name. I don’t even have hers.”

“She could find out your name easily enough just looking at the property records,” Braylon said.

“She could,” he said. “But I don’t think she would.” At least he hoped not.

“Tell us more about her,” Laken said.

He shrugged. “I just told you what I know.”

“What’s she like?” Abby asked. “That is what Laken wants to know.”

“I don’t know. She’s friendly. Nice. Funny at times. Strong. Or trying to be.”

“Oh,” Laken said. “And that is it. That’s the draw. She’s trying to do it on her own and you’re helping or teaching her? You’re all about that.”

Foster wanted to growl but didn’t. It was the truth.

He hated women who wanted him to do everything. He was raised by a woman who did it all and taught all her kids to do the same.

To stand on their own two feet and expect nothing in return.

The fact that Charlotte was trying to do that now when she hadn’t in her life just showed that people could change no matter their age.

“Whatever,” he said. “Doesn’t matter. I’m helping a neighbor. Neither one of us is looking for anything else.”

“Liar,” Nelson coughed into his hand.

“Don’t be a dick,” he said, shoving his brother’s shoulder.

“Foster,” Braylon said. “Hands off because if fists start to get thrown, then Jamie is going to tackle you.”

He started to laugh. It was a joke in the family.

Yeah, he’d thrown punches in his life. At his brothers too and his mother had been the one to kick his butt.

Since everyone knew he had a short fuse, they also gave him more rope when needed.

It’d been years though and most times he just lost his cool and left a room rather than get physical.

“He’s used to being tackled, not doing it,” he said.

“I heard that,” Jamie said. “I can still block enough for your brothers to take you down.”

He smiled and took a sip of his beer.

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