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Bo’s blue eyes darkened with concern even if he didn’t move toward her "Are you okay?"

"I’ht if she kept a tight rein on herself She clenched her hands into fists, digging her nails into her pal for a Bo sort of guy would one day hurt like hell "Thank you for the support earlier, but I’et any more sympathy

Does that make sense?"

"Not really But then we all cope in different ways, and I have to respect your boundaries"

"Thank you" Holy cow, this guy knew the right words to slip right past her defenses

Kurt had encouraged her to count on hi there would be plenty of tirew up

But this man talked about healthy boundaries He even discussed and supported her dreaht warainst the dark countryside

She dug those fingernails harder into her palms

Bo scratched the back of his head "This uys and I were talking and it really is a helluva drive back into Minot after a full work load of flying So when I return in the ot all about digging in her nails, surprise o slack She didn’t buy his excuse for a second "You’re staying out here because of the break-in"

"Doesn’t hurt to have an extra guy around" His easy shrug shifted the leather jacket around his shoulders, a whispered slide of heavy, smooth fabric

"And that’s your only reason?" She braced her sagging spine against the tree, better than leaning on aet lucky? Lady, I’d have to be an idiot to try that with your watchdog brother on hand"

He had a point and now she felt foolish "Then why are you doing this?"

"Make no mistake, I would still follow you inside in a heartbeat--if your brother was on Mars and the past evaporated for a day or two But I heard you earlier about not letting this--" he gestured between theh self-control to keep my hands to myself" A wicked s the woe to roll her eyes at his blatant flattery

His smile faded "What happened with the break-in puts a new spin on things This is about the business of keeping your practice afloat and a roof over your head Most of all this is about keeping you and Kirstie safe Even on testosterone overload, I recognize everything else has to take a back seat"

He sure did have a way of taking the sting out of saying he could live in the sa about it "And you’ve already talked this over with my brother"

Bo nodded "He’s not happy about it, but sees the logic He puts your safety first"

"Then it’s settled" As much as she wanted to stand on her oo feet, only a moron would turn down the extra security of his presence For her daughter "I’ you herebetween us all thethe town"

"You sure don’t pull punches, lady, or uy I like that about you

But no worries" He held his hands in front of hi these to h" Her hands behind her, she splayed her fingers along the roughened bark, the tree’s gnarled sturdiness offering a welco in return

"Thank you forme smile today I needed that"

"No proble to head out now Mako’s waiting to catch supper together"

How silly that she didn’t want him to touch her but she didn’t want hih he would be around 24/7, and wasn’t that a scary and exciting thought all at once?

"Mako?" she called out, shoving away fro, he propped his elbows over the open sedan door, bronzed wrists contrasting to white paint "His call sign Yeah"

"What’s your call sign?" She edged round the oak and slid down to sit on Kirstie’s swing

"Bo"

Her fingers wrapped around the heround while the rope creaked with each gentle sway "But I thought your real na on his brown leather jacket "But it’s not al name"

"Why do they call you Bo?"

"Kind of like ’Bo is for beau, can I be yours?’" His half-cocked grin suggested he was joking Or not

Great He really did have a player reputation A good thing or bad since he was staying in her house now? "Really"

"Actually, no"

"Then what does it linted with the twinkle of stars overhead "Everybody’s got a theory they like to tor to spread it around"

"Such as?"