Reluctant Surrender Read Free Page B

caught her arm “I’ll see to them. You stay put.”
    “No.” Jerking her arm free she kept on going. He wasn’t her keeper.
    “Sir?”
    “Colin.”
    She recognized an angry tone of voice when she heard one, so she quickened her pace.
    “Ms. Reneaux.”
    Glancing over her shoulder, she noted he was following her and even though he wasn’t rushing, his stride was twice the length of hers. Inevitably he’d overtake her.
    Remaining calm, she turned and continued walking backward. “I appreciate your concern but I can take care of myself. Besides, I need to find Casper.”
    “No. I want you to stay inside.”
    He was nearly within reach of her, which blew the last of her remaining calm out of the water. Doing an about-face, she took off running. “I’m sorry,” she yelled, as she turned a corner, “but Casper is my responsibility.” She refused to think about all the other reasons she was running from him because none of them were good.
    A minute later she burst through the front doors and skidded to a halt. The pristine gardens looked like a war zone. All manner of guests were fighting and wrestling. A number of women rolled on the ground by the gravel walkway while a group of burly, leather-clad men attempted to pull a guy away from his victim whom he was drowning in the fountain.
    “Casper?” She scanned the melee. Searching the area where she’d set up her stuff, she saw the tripod there, but her camera was gone. “Casper!”
    He was nowhere in sight. She brought her hand up to shield her eyes from the sun and examined the expanse of ground between the potted shrubbery and the patio. Nothing. She checked back to where they’d positioned themselves and studied the area. Casper’s tool bag and gloves were gone. That was a good sign. It meant that he’d made a purposeful departure. If he’d been forced away from his position he would have abandoned those items.
    A huge clap of thunder exploded and she fell back against one of the four columns on the porch. A resounding silence followed, which was odd because the courtyard was still alive with activity. She gave herself a shake and swallowed to unblock her clogged ears. The action had no effect as the buzzing continued to roar inside her head.
    Automatically her palms covered her ears and she would have completely lost it if Ethan hadn’t grabbed hold of her. He checked her from head to toe. His mouth was moving and even after she dropped her hands she still couldn’t hear a thing.
    “What?” she shouted as panic set in. What if she was deaf? “I can’t hear you.”
    Suddenly his voice penetrated the vibrating hum. “Asshole’s got a gun. Stay here.” He spoke calmly, pressing her back against the pillar. “Stay right here. I’ve got to find out who’s packing before someone gets killed.”
    He took a step and she stopped him. “I can’t find Casper.”
    Something caught his attention. “Stay here.” She nodded and a split second later he catapulted over the porch banister, heading toward the drive. Without thought she rushed to the railing.
    That’s when she saw him. “Casper. No. ”
    Some bald guy with a tattoo on the back of his head was trying to take the camera from him. Casper refused to give it up and the guy hauled back, ready to swing. Ethan made it there just in time and launched himself between them, blocking Casper with his big body just as the blow landed, catching him between the shoulder blades. Colin winced, but Ethan didn’t take any notice. In a flash, he was facing his assailant, lips pulled back in a cold smile. He head-butted the guy with one snapping thrust, cleanly knocking him out.
    It wasn’t over, though. Baldie had friends. A wiry young guy had just snatched Casper’s tool bag and was going to take off with it when he spotted his bud’s dilemma. He let loose a cry, dropped the bag and ran full tilt at Ethan. They went down fast and rolled a few times before Ethan had him pinned. He didn’t hesitate to use