Murphy's Law by Lori Foster Page B

safe.”
    Quinton nodded his complete understanding. “Denny told you that Ashley felt like someone had been watching her?”
    â€œHe told me.”
    â€œLast night, while I was at work with her, someone slashed two of my tires.”
    Jude’s expression hardened. “You think someone saw the two of you together?”
    â€œI think it’s probable enough that I hired two bodyguards to keep an eye on Ashley. She doesn’t know, and I’d just as soon keep it that way. She’s…” Unwilling to insult her, Quinton searched for the right word.
    â€œPrickly to the point of drawing blood? I know. But she’s also family to me now, so you don’t have to watch what you say around me. May loves her, so I love her.” He shrugged. “It’s as simple as that.”
    â€œGlad to hear it.” If Ashley’s own family wouldn’t step up to the plate, at least she had solid support from the next best thing.
    â€œThe bodyguards are reliable?”
    â€œI’ve used them before. They’re the best.”
    â€œI take it with a quarter-million-dollar Bentley, you can handle it on your own?”
    â€œI can and I will.” Even with a man about to get married, Quinton felt territorial. “I won’t let anything happen to her.”
    â€œGood.” Jude opened his door. As he was stepping out, he said, “Then I guess I better call off my guys before they all run into each other and start a riot.”
    It took Quinton a second before he burst out laughing. He too left the car, grinning at Jude over the roof as he pocketed the keys. “How long have they been watching over her?”
    â€œThe night of our rehearsal dinner, we learned that Elton had slipped under the cops’ radar. Denny put men on her then and there. Before she’d even gotten home, they were tailing her.”
    â€œI’m relieved to hear it.”
    Jude looked out over the land surrounding his home, came to some inner decision, and gave Quinton an incomprehensible nod. “Wait until you see May and Ash together. They have a special bond that goes deeper than even they realize.”
    Whatever Jude tried to tell him, Quinton didn’t get it. “Meaning?”
    Jude just shook his head. “I love May, so I’m not about to let anything hurt her. That means protecting Ashley, too.”
    That rubbed Quinton the wrong way, and he slowly straightened. “You can relax on that score, because from now on, I’ll be taking care of her.”
    Of course, Jude didn’t back down an inch. “Denny won’t like it.”
    â€œHe’ll get over it.”
    â€œAsh might not like it, either,” he warned.
    â€œI’m working on her. She’ll come around.”
    With a laugh, Jude started them on the path to the back of the house. “So. Have you had any training?” he asked. “You have the cockiness of a fighter.”
    â€œActually, I have. Mostly for exercise and just because I enjoy it. I’m nowhere near the league of the SBC guys, but I can hold my own.”
    Jude clapped him on the back. “Good. With a woman like Ashley, you’re going to need every advantage you can get.”
    Â 
    Stiff in the pink gown that showed too much of what she didn’t really have to show and made her feel like confection, Ashley paced around the spacious bedroom. The wall fountains didn’t catch her interest any more than the incredible artwork on every wall.
    Except for the hairdresser who still toyed with May’s hair, everyone had left. Ashley was now coifed, painted, buffed, and polished. In some ways she felt uniquely feminine.
    In others she felt like an utter fraud.
    What would Quinton think when he saw her?
    And damn it, since when did she care so much what anyone else thought?
    Across the room, her cell phone rang inside her purse. Was Quinton calling her? Like an anxious schoolgirl, she dashed across the