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Her sister twisted left and right, trying to dodge the blows

War arms banded around her, and a o," she dehtened He hefted her over his shoulder fireman-style and strode out of the room

CHAPTER TWO

JASON--JASE--HOLLISTER carted the petite bundle of fury into the backyard She fought him every step of the way, the little wildcat, but he held on as if she were a well-deserved war prize The party guests watched ide grins, enjoying the show A few even followed him, no doubt curious to see how the scene would play out

He resented their presence, actually hated that they were here Truth be told, he liked to keep his two friends close and everyone else at a distance His head wasn’t screwed on right on the best of days, and today wasn’t the best of days He hadn’t had a best day in a long time

Behind him, the firecracker he’d just slept with shouted, "Put rown Neanderthal!"

If he hadn’t already regretted sleeping with Jessie Kay before Wildcat had stormed into his bedroom--she was also known as Brook Lynn, apparently--he would have regretted it now Before o, he’d decided to end his sexual bender A five- how right he was It was an odyssey Straight into hell Jase had expected pleasure,around the wouilt and even worse ret to add to his ever-growing list He’d had trouble focusing, constantly on alert for a sneak attack

The nine-year habit would be hard to shake

Besides, the move here was supposed to be his fresh start in a place that represented everything he’d never had but had always craved Roots, permanence Peace Wide-open spaces and community support A clean canvas he’d hoped to keep clean, nottwo sisters against each other

Too late

Though he’d had no desire to shit where he ate, so to speak, andup with a scorned lover, he’d had a few beers too ht, and Jessie Kay had crawled into his lap, asked if she could welcome him to town properly, and that had been that

At least he’d had the presence of mind to make it clear there would be no repeat perfor relationship He’d earned his freedo to keep it

Wo haul anyway His mother sure hadn’t Countless foster moms hadn’t Hell, even the love of his life hadn’t Daphne had taken off without ever looking back