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As she descended the stairs to fetch a glass of water, she noticed the television was off She could hear Fidelia's slightly accented voice "The reversed Her from a deep loneliness"

That didn't sound like E room Her mouth fell open It wasn't Emma

Jean-Luc stood His slender foil was propped against the wingback chair His blue eyes glimmered as he checked out her pajamas "I stopped by to see you Emma let me in"

She'd been tricked Heather gritted her teeth She should have known Euy "Where is Emma?"

"She's upstairs, guarding Bethany" Fidelia winked at Heather "This young uard you He's muy macho, no?"

Jean-Luc bowed "I am at your service"

Heather bit back an angry retort The man refused to take no for an answer Back to flaw number one: stubborn as a mule And the way Jean-Luc Echarpe bowed - it seemed old-fashioned Extremely old-fashioned

She had to wonder just how old a et

Chapter 5

She was beautiful even when she was angry Jean-Luc adreen fire in Heather's eyes And the way that silk top clung to her brsts wasn't bad, either She glared at him as she planted her hands on her hips The htly No bra He'd always had a good eye for detail

"Jean-Luc," sheyou"

"Please call me Jean" It would be so easy to slip his hands underneath her top and fill his palms with the sweet, soft heaviness of her brsts He lifted his gaze to her face and noticed her reddening cheeks He caught the scent of her blood as it rushed to her face, engorging the delicate veins beneath her skin Type AB

Hunger coiled in his belly and sent flickers of desire throughout his body Luckily he had some bottles of synthetic blood stashed in a cooler outside in his car That would take care of his physical need, but he was slowly becoht on by years of abstinence Helove, but it went deeper than that Hee wo been impossible

Heather folded her arhter against her brsts "Don't tell ht here"

"I must It is my duty and honor to protect you"

"That is so romantic," Fidelia said from her seat on the couch She shifted her square body sideways so she could see Heather at the doorway "Don't you think so?"

"No" Heather frowned at her "It's not ro himself on me"

"Chica, it's not like he's trying to seduce you He just wants to protect you" Fidelia's eyes twinkled as she glanced at Jean-Luc "At least that's what he says"

Seduce her? Jean-Luc had avoided mortal women since Claudine's murder in 1832 His sense of honor had demanded that he not expose another innocent feeance But Lui already believed he was involved with Heather The one That realization sent a jolt of desire straight froroin Seduce her You know you want her

But ould she welcohter's life were in jeopardy because of him She was more likely to slap him than succumb to passionate kisses

He took a deep breath "I assure you, mes dames, that my intentions are honorable"

Heather snorted and gave him a dubious look

Did she question his honor? Merde But she was correct, given the direction his thoughts were going

"Froer, too" Fidelia's brown eyes gliuard? Do you have like acatalog?"

Jean-Luc blinked "I can protect you both, but if you prefer a guard of your own, I could call Robby - "