No Turning Back (Man-Maid) Read Online Free PDF Page B

deserve to be treated like an adult.” Her voice hitched with emotion. “I won’t break as easily as you and Axel think.”
    “I didn’t see it that way.” He took her in his arms. “I underestimated your strength, and I’m sorry. It’s just that Axel and I saw you hurt once. Exactly two years ago today, we watched you fall apart.” He cleared his throat and whispered, “You were pretty broken, Markie. I won’t let it happen again. Not ever.”
    His words, so soft, were comforting. She only wanted her brothers to see her as an equal, not as a fragile piece of crystal. “If I get hurt again, it’s on me. Not you.” She shook her head. “Not Axel either. And I won’t break this time, I assure you.”
    He pulled back and looked down at her. “Yes, I know. I guess I miss the little girl who needed her big brother to protect her. You’re so independent now.”
    She smiled and kissed him on the cheek. “I’ll always need you.” She touched his cheek with trembling fingers.
    “Did I miss something?”
    Marquetta and Gavin visibly jumped at their brother’s booming voice. His big body filled the doorway to the office.
    Gavin rolled his eyes. “Just me being an idiot.”
    Axel’s piercing eyes narrowed on his sister. “Anything I should know?”
    A smile crept over her face as she walked toward him. “The only thing you should know is that it’s closing time, and I’m going home where a nice, hot bath awaits.”
    Axel moved away from the door to let her leave. “Hey, before you go, there’s someone out there who’s requesting you.”
    “Me?”
    “He wants the artist. The one who’s so well known for her awesome paintings on sports cars and motorcycles.” He tapped her on the nose. “That’s you, sis.”
    “I’m hardly well known.” She pulled her hair up and secured it with an elastic band she kept on her wrist. “After I’m through with him, I’m out of here.”
    “If he stares at your ass, just knee him in the jewels,” Gavin said as if imparting some brilliant piece of wisdom.
    Marquetta decided to tease Gavin. After his little stunt, she figured he deserved it. “I might want him to stare at my ass. Ever consider that?”
    “Brat,” she heard him yell as she left the room to greet their customer.
     
     
    Jensen checked the time on his cell phone and wondered what was taking so long. He and his brother had come to Hayes’s Custom Paint and Body to have his motorcycle painted, and also to talk to the town's top artist about working up a logo for Man-Maid. His brother had told him about the artist who had a reputation in town for some seriously stellar work. Since a lot rode on the company's presentation, and his motorcycle was his baby, he wanted only the best for both jobs.
    “You sure this woman is the best?”
    “Relax, bro, she’s an amazing artist.” Jason took in the neat appearance of the spacious shop and said, “Remember the skull Bobby had painted on his bike?”
    Bobby was a guy they knew from high school who just happened to be completely obsessed with motorcycles. “I do remember that. It was a work of art.”
    “He brought it here,” Jason said. “In fact, he brings all his bikes here.”
    Jensen shrugged. “If it’s good enough for Bobby, then it’s good enough for me.”
    Without warning, Jensen’s mind strayed from motorcycles and on to more pleasant things—like a blonde-haired woman who wielded an umbrella like a friggin’ ninja. God, it’d been a week since he’d seen her, and he couldn’t stop thinking about her—despite the woman’s bad attitude. Normally, Jensen liked a woman who was a bit more agreeable. And he never gave a woman the notion he wanted anything more than a mutually satisfying relationship of a few laughs, some good sex and easy companionship.
    Somehow—and in a damned short amount of time—Marquetta Hayes had managed to wiggle her way around all the barriers he’d set up. And the funny thing was, she’d done it without