Free In Blood and Worth Loving 2: Lost Without You by Marilyn Lee

fly a little or risk losing her.”
    “To who? To what? We’re her family and no one could love or cherish her more than we do.”
    “I know, but she wants a man in her life who we don’t find excuses to scare away.”
    “Are you saying she’s unhappy with us?”
    He saw the alarm in his older brother’s eyes. While they all loved Rayna, Conner had always been just a little more fiercely protective of her than he and Adrian. It was Conner who insisted she be home schooled and who had then taught himself everything he needed to know to become her teacher. He had done such a good job that when Rayna finally convinced him to allow her to enroll in a private high school, she had graduated first in her class and been class valedictorian.
    “No. I’m not saying that, Conner. I’m saying it’s time we let up a little. She is fifty-one now.” Conner sighed. “Maybe. I’ll think about it.”
    “Great.”
    Conner tilted his head. “How are you?”
    “I’m fine. Why do you ask?”
    “As you must know by now Rayna has her sights set on you.”
    “I know but that doesn’t mean I plan to cooperate.”
    “Hmm. I believe that was also Adrian’s stance and look at him now—hog-tied and happy as a pig in slop.”
    “I’m not Adrian.”
    “Meaning what, Jay?”
    “Meaning I’m not ready to settle down like he was.”
    Conner shook his head. “Surely you don’t think that will matter to Rayna?”
    “It’s time we stopped allowing her to dictate to us.”
    Conner laughed and clapped. “Well said. Now you take the lead and see you don’t fall in with her plans for you or I’m done as well.”
    “I’m not falling for her friend.”
    “And yet you’ve been sending her roses and unless I’m mistaken, you took her out tonight.” Jayvyn shrugged. “She helps relieve my boredom while I wait for Eliza to return.”
    “I thought that was Toni’s job.”

    “I thought that was Toni’s job.”
    “She’s not nearly as entertaining as Cayenne.”
    “That’s a bad sign, Jay.”
    He sprawled on one of the sofas. “Why?”
    “Finding a human more exciting than a fem—especially one as eager to please you as Toni is, means you’re half way there.”
    He closed his eyes. “I like her,” he finally admitted.
    “Oh, damn.”
    He opened his eyes and looked at Conner. “She intrigues me.”
    Conner sighed. “Pretty?”
    He nodded. “And funny and sexy and doesn’t take herself too seriously.”
    “And fond of you?”
    “Not so you’d notice—at least not yet.”
    “Ah. So you’re wooing her the old-fashioned way?”
    “I didn’t say I was wooing her at all.”
    Conner arched a brow.
    He closed his eyes. “Okay, so maybe I am—but—”
    He felt a hand on his shoulder. Opening his eyes, he saw Conner standing over him. “Believe me, I know how persuasive Rayna can be, but there’s a reason we stopped dating human women. They can be very exciting. No doubt about that, but they’re also needy, clingy, easily hurt, and can present all kinds of problems for us that we’re no longer emotionally capable of handling.”
    “I’m doing Rayna a favor.”
    Conner sighed and slapped his cheek. “You keep telling yourself that until you find yourself hog-tied and happily wallowing in martial slop with a woman who insists she’s not going to allow you to take her humanity from her.”
    “I’m not going to marry her and her humanity is none of my concern.”
    “Hmm. So where the hell is your car?”
    He shrugged. “I gave it to her.”
    “You gave a woman you’re not going to get serious with a $70,000 car on your second meeting? The same car you only grudgingly allowed Rayna to drive?”
    “I can do as I like with my car.”
    “I can’t argue with that assertion. So when do we get to meet her?”
    “There’s no need. She’s just a distraction.”
    “Then you wouldn’t mind if I shared the distraction?”
    He sat up slowly. “Share it how?”
    Conner shrugged. “If she means nothing to you