Fighting for Julia [Panther Cove 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) by Melody Snow Monroe Page B

mind.
    “I know you said you’d meet us, but we didn’t see the need for you to drive all the way up the mountain when we just had to drive back down.”
    “How did you know where I lived?” She motioned they come in.
    “Babe. It’s our job to know. We need to protect Panther Cove and have to keep our finger on the pulse of the community.”
    That was a bullshit line, but she let it be. “Great.” She picked up her pack and slung it over her shoulder.
    Daven moved closer. “You going to be warm enough?”
    “While the sun’s up, I’m good in this.” Hiking always kept her warm.
    “Okay. Let’s go climb a mountain.”

Chapter Seven
     
    The hike in to the woods had been glorious, especially with having a large rushing river run parallel to the path.
    She hadn’t taken the time to commune with nature in a long time, and she’d missed the oxygen-rich environment and the pristine forest. Daven motioned to a break in the trees that led down to the water. “Want to sit by the stream and have lunch?”
    “Sounds wonderful. The climbing wall is less than a mile away, so it’s a good idea for us to load up on carbs before we summit.” There was a lot of daylight left, and they might be able to get in several climbs.
    To her surprise, the men hadn’t brought up their bedroom play or talked dirty to her during the hike. It was as if they were happy to get out from the intensity of the training and planning for a potential Sword attack. Actually, they acted like they really did just want a guide to the site.
    I am not disappointed.
    She chuckled.
    “See something funny?” Daven held out his hand to guide her down the slope. While she didn’t need help, she wanted to touch his skin again.
    “No. Just thinking of something.” Of late, she’d been caught daydreaming too much. Good thing she wasn’t a member of some security detail. No telling what might have happened.
    The sunny day made the late October quite warm. Breck pulled out a blanket and spread it on the ground close to the rushing river. The water sparkled and the calm enveloped her, making the whole concept of The Shield and The Sword seem far away. Believing nothing bad could reach her here, she plopped down on the blanket and let the men serve her.
    For the next half hour, they had her laughing over some of their tales of growing up.
    “Daven, I never would have pictured you as the bad boy.”
    He grinned. “Everyone thought I was the little angel since Breck was such a goof, but I think I might have been craving attention.”
    Breck puffed out his chest. “Yeah. Seems like everyone wanted to be just like me.”
    She leaned back on her elbows and laughed. “How does it feel working at Panther Cove? I bet there’s no time for pranks.”
    “Definitely no time for pranks, but I love the excitement.”
    At first she didn’t want to talk about their livelihood, but then she realized that she needed a dose of reality, as these men were getting under her skin. Somehow, when she was with them, it felt right.
    You aren’t their mate, so it can never be.
    She blew out a breath, content to have latched on to some solid reason why this relationship wouldn’t work.
    Breck picked up the leftover food and put it back in the sack. Something was going on, and she spoke before she thought. “You’re not going to try and seduce me?” There was no place more romantic than lying on a picnic blanket in the woods by a rushing stream.
    They glanced at each other as if they had no clue what she was talking about. “You said this was strictly a friend adventure. No sex, remember?”
    She remembered, but that didn’t mean a little kissing wouldn’t be nice. “You’re right.”
    Breck moved closer. “Now, if you beg us nicely, I imagine you might be able to change our minds.”
    “No.” She was proud of her control.
    His shrug implied he didn’t care one way or the other, but the bulge in his nylon shorts said otherwise.
    Don’t give in .
    Daven helped