“What do you think?” she asked, pouting her lips attempting to imitate a model . . . or a duck. I wasn’t sure which.”

“Still think she is worth it?” Mahon asked quietly.“Of course. She is my mate.”Mahon sighed. “So you decided then.”“Do you think we’d be laying here bleeding in the snow if I wasn’t sure?”“Good point.”

“Pulling her eyes away, she figured it was best to keep such questions to herself. “You could have just, you know, asked me out instead,” she offered, though she wasn’t sure why. John let out a soft chuckle. “Very true. I guess I just…I wanted to keep you safe.”“Safe? From what?” Evangeline suddenly felt heat rush her face. Was this man just paranoid or what? “Safe from this? Or from you?”He looked up, placing his fork down on the plate. His stare was expressionless and she suddenly regretted her brazen accusation. “Both.” His reply had been simple, direct, stern. “Those people who did this to me, they’ll do worse to you if they think that we’re involved…if they think that their message wasn’t clear enough.”

“You wouldn’t be here if you didn’t care, Abby.”“I don’t.” She glared at him, so full of life she almost glowed.“You do.” He kissed the pouting lips lightly. “And I’m going to keep you.”

“Just remember to do what makes you happy, okay? Don’t lie to yourself because you think it’s safer. Realitydoesn’t work like that…. I think I told you that before.”She had.But I’d been running for so long I wasn’t sure what I wanted anymore.”

“The world still wants to ask that a woman primarily be pretty and if she is not, the mob pouts and asks querulously, 'What else are women for?”