Free Bodyguard (Shifters Unbound #2.5) by Jennifer Ashley

arousing.
    She swallowed and made herself not look at
Ronan as Kim snuggled Katriona under her chin.
    "I can't wait to see what her wildcat looks
like," Kim said. "We won't know for a few years. Shifter-human cubs
are born human and then shift when they're about three. Pure
Shifter cubs do it the opposite."
    Kim bounced Katriona as she talked, Katriona
looking at everyone with round blue eyes, while trying to stuff her
entire fist into her mouth. Kim moved across the room to the
swordsman, who relaxed his grim stance to touch the baby's
nose.
    Ronan was the only one not at ease. "What do
you want, Liam? Elizabeth's had a long day. I brought her here
because I thought she could relax a little and then go home."
    "She will." Liam retained his nonchalant
pose, feet on the desk, hands now laced behind his head. He was
watchful, alert while pretending not to be.
    Ronan took a step closer to Elizabeth, and
she felt the tight muscles of his arm brush her shoulder. "What do
you want, Liam?" he repeated, an edge to his voice.
    "Just a chat. First, to tell Elizabeth that
we're grateful to her testimony that kept you out of jail." Liam
gave her a nod. "It was brave of you to stand up for him."
    "It was brave of Ronan to rush a guy with a
pistol," Elizabeth said. "I couldn't let him take the fall for
that."
    "But so many humans would." Liam's gaze held
no hostility, but at the same time, his blue eyes fixed on her,
catching her like a fly in a web so finely spun it was undetectable
until too late.
    "You're unique, Ms. Chapman," Liam said. "So
unique that I can't find out anything about you. Not one single
scrap of information. Correction-- Sean can't find out
anything about you, and Sean is a master at it." He glanced at the
swordsman across the room who said nothing.
    Elizabeth's mouth went dry, and she felt
control of her life washing away like a branch caught in a flash
flood. She'd thought herself safe--she was supposed to be safe. No one will ever be able to crack this, her friend
had told her, and she'd paid good money for him to make sure it
never happened.
    "But you know all about me," she said,
forcing her voice to remain steady. "I own SoCo Novelties, I'm
Mabel's sister, and I don't mind Shifters coming into my store.
That's all there is to know."
    Liam's voice remained soft, but he had no
need to shout to let her know he held the authority in this room.
"You see, Elizabeth, it's my job as Shiftertown leader to protect
my Shifters. You were great to help Ronan, and I'm happy that you
were. But Ronan's putting himself on the line to take care of you,
and that's a big risk to him. A risk to him is a risk to me and to
all the Shifters living in his house. Maybe your secrets are
innocent ones; maybe they represent no danger." Liam's feet came
down, and he rose, tall and intimidating, his charm gone. "But
maybe they do. So I need you to tell me the truth, Elizabeth
Chapman, before I let you out of here. Who exactly are you?"
     
    * * * * *

Chapter Eight
     
    Ronan scented the sharp spice of Elizabeth's
fear. He also scented her defiance, even before she spoke.
    "That's really none of your business, Liam,"
she said clearly.
    Liam's eyes widened, and despite Ronan's
disquiet, he wanted to laugh. The arrogant Feline had grown used to
people obeying him without question. People meaning everyone
but his wife, his brother, father, and nephew. All other Shifters
pretty much fell in line.
    "When you're in Shiftertown, you're under my
jurisdiction," Liam said. "It is my business."
    "We're not in Shiftertown right now."
Elizabeth took a step forward. She was afraid to, Ronan knew, but
she did it anyway. "My past has nothing to do with Shifters, and
it's nothing that can hurt Shifters."
    "Will you let me be the judge of that?" Liam
asked.
    "No. I said it's none of your business."
    "Lass." Liam's voice gentled, which meant he
was falling back on the coaxing approach. "I have one of my very
best fighters guarding you. I want to know who he's