It took Marc two days of long hours to make up for taking the day off to spend with Ariella, but it was time well spent. After the greatest drug bust in Finley Creek history—he would make a point to acknowledge Elliot’s work publicly when he could—he was on a high. And had won another three percent support for his drug initiative.

Marc would have to work that into his plans.

If he could stop himself from getting so distracted by the thought of some of the best hours he’d spent in a long time. She’d made him laugh, even while she was working him to the bone. Or as much as she could, considering his injury. Half-way through the afternoon he’d said to hell with the sling and taken it off.

She’d protested and fussed. Marc had just grinned and used both hands to lift what she’d needed lifted.

It had been one of the best, most carefree afternoons he’d spent in a very long time.

Not so for the last two days. When he finally finished with his meetings—he was meeting people in the northwestern section of his state at his office in Finley Creek to make it easier on them—he decided that it was time to take a few more hours for himself.

Elliot and Gabby had his children. Her younger siblings were in town for a week, and they were hosting a major slumber party event at the Barratts’ Fortress of Ostentatiousness. Marc missed them, but the idea that they were having fun with his family made it worth it. He wanted them to have those connections, after all.

It did leave him at loose ends for the evening.

He wanted Ariella. But he knew better than to overwhelm or crowd her. She wasn’t ready for that; not so soon after him finally making it clear exactly what he wanted from her.

That was a surefire way for him to totally screw up everything he had planned.

He had only one other place he wanted to be. Marc grinned. He’d just show up, see exactly what it was that Travis was doing. Maybe he’d even interrupt him and Lacy again. Like he had the last time. He’d never forget how embarrassed his sister-in-law had been when he’d caught her walking through the kitchen with nothing on but a skimpy pair of green silk undies.

He’d closed his eyes like the good brother-in-law he was. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t tease her a bit.

He got lucky. When he walked in, both of his brothers were there.

Rafe took one look at him. “You should still be in that sling.”

“It got in the way. I’m an important man with lots to do.” Like hold the first woman he’d actually been seriously attracted to since he’d lost his wife. He wasn’t about to tell Rafe that, though.

If things progressed the way he wanted them to with Ariella, he had no doubt he and Rafe would have more to talk about than the other man knew.

He looked at Travis. It was the first time he’d seen his brother since the night of the assassination attempt. He answered all of Travis’ questions, knowing they came from a place of concern. But…his brothers were his favorite source of information.

“So, where are the ones I really came to see?” Lacy and Jillian were nowhere in sight. Neither was Horace the Wonder Puppy. “Ladies working tonight?”

Travis shook his head. “Took Horace to the vet today, then stopped by W4HAV to help Ari with the last minute decorations. Jillian was mumbling about stitches and power drills. And Lacy took the first aid kit.”

“She’s not that clumsy.” She hadn’t stumbled or dropped anything even once when it had been just the two of them. But they’d been relaxed and comfortable—after that kiss—and she’d not been the least bit nervous. Or lost in her head. “She only gets that way when she’s worried about something. Or afraid.”

“Know this for a fact?” Rafe asked. There was a probing look in Rafe’s dark eyes that Marc didn’t like.

“From observation. Of course, you and Travis tend to get tunnel-vision when the rest of the three-piece set are around.” Marc grabbed a beer out of the fridge, opened it, and looked at his brothers as he took a swig. It felt good to be free to just relax for a few hours. Even if his guards were still right outside. One was on the porch, the other walking the perimeter of the house.

“And you’ve been there to see just exactly what Ari does when she’s nervous?” Rafe wasn’t an idiot—far from it. His brother was a sharp as a scalpel.

“Yes. She’s been feeling a little isolated lately.” She hadn’t said as much, but he’d pieced it together. And it made sense. They’d been practically inseparable. And then Rafe and Travis had come along and…separated them.

“I see.” Rafe clammed up. He did that often when something was weighing on his mind. He did that whenever one of his biological siblings were mentioned. Even Ariella. Especially Ariella.

“Do you?” He had no doubts about his brother. Rafe was still conflicted about his new siblings. If it hadn’t been for her connection to Jillian, Marc doubted Rafe would be as active in Ariella’s life as he was. Friendly strangers would most likely be it.

A rush of anger on her behalf went through him. He got his brother, he did. But that didn’t mean Rafe’s natural desire to protect himself emotionally was something she deserved. And a woman like her would be hurt by it.

“What does that mean?”

Marc stared at Rafe. Rafe stared back. “It means, she knows exactly how you feel. And I doubt she thinks you’re all that interested in her for her own sake. If it wasn’t for Jillian, anyway. And she’s full of doubt where you’re concerned. Something you may want to think about.”

“You her self-appointed protector now?”

He and Rafe had had some impressive rows in the past. No surprise, considering their personalities. Especially when it mattered.

He’d never forget the argument they’d had when Marc had first started dating Carissa. His brother had worried that Carissa wouldn’t be able to handle dating and med school. That belief had lasted about a month.

“Maybe. I think someone needs to be.” That was a good word for it. The way he felt about her. Partially. The rest of the emotions swirling him were not the kind he’d be sharing with her brother anytime soon. “I know she still gets damned nervous whenever you come up in conversation.”

“Does she?” A flash of regret went through Rafe’s eyes. It had some of the anger in Marc subsiding. He knew his brother; Rafe wouldn’t want to deliberately hurt anyone. Especially a woman like Ariella. “I’ll make more of an effort to put her at ease.”

“Good.”

“And if he doesn’t? You going to beat his Hulk ass?” Travis asked. “I’ll help, if you want me to. Just on principal. And to keep Lacy from jumping in.”

“What is this, pile up on Rafe night?”

“Something like that.” Hell, he knew what it was. He felt on edge and was full of testosterone where the woman in question was concerned. And that meant he wanted to protect and defend, to show her—even in absentia—that he could protect, provide, and cherish.

Ridiculous. But it was how he felt.

The sound of a car pulling in dragged his attention to the window.

Lacy’s red SUV was just parking outside the front porch. Three beautiful women soon piled out. Marc’s body tensed. Anticipation had his hands slicking and his heart speeding up.

He fought a smile—both at the fact that this was an unexpected bonus and because of his adolescent boy reaction.

It was all he could do to stop himself from meeting her at the door, just like his brothers had rushed to the front door like excited puppies.

Marc wished he had the right to do that.

Soon. Soon, hopefully he would have just that.