Snatched (Coronado Series Book 2) by Lea Hart Page A

from the shop, and then we’re going to get something for dinner.”
    “I’m going to have one of the guys come down and stay with you until you’re ready to go to the house. The only way I agreed to this, is if you were going from point A to point B. No stopping in between.”
    “I feel like I’m having a conversation with my parents. I don’t care for it at all.”
    “I’m not interested if you like it or not. I am interested in keeping you safe. Baby, if I don’t have eyes on you, I get real uncomfortable.”
    “God forbid you should be uncomfortable. What about me?”
    “Sweetheart, please give me a break. I just want to keep you safe.”
    “Why didn’t you just say that? Why do you have to be so controlling?”
    “Said the pot to the kettle. One of my guys is going to come down and stay with you until you go to Birdie’s house.”
    “Fine.”
    “When you say fine, you don’t actually mean fine… right? This is some kind of secret language that I don’t know about.”
    “Pretty much. Live and learn Max… live and learn.” She disconnected the call and walked into Birdie’s shop. “I’m here and we are drinking martinis tonight.”
    Birdie came out from the back, “From your mouth to god’s ears. What kind are we going to make?”
    They hugged and held hands just like when they were in second grade. Not much has changed since then, except they drank martinis and ate sushi instead of Oreos and milk. “Max is sending someone over to keep an eye on us until we get to your house. He is paranoid and overprotective and is starting to bug me.”
    “Unfortunately, I have no words of solace. I think this is how they’re made. The good comes with the annoying. The idea of someone being after you is probably making him crazy. If he could put you in a bubble to protect you, he probably would.”
    “I’m beginning to learn that. I appreciate what he’s doing along with his team, but it’s overwhelming. I went from complete freedom to no freedom. Can I do anything to help clean up before we go?”
    “No, I’m done. Let’s go home and make martinis.” The bells above the door jingled as a big block of a man walked in. “Hi Chris, we’re almost ready to go.”
    He nodded and waited patiently. He was as wide as he was tall and always had a serious expression. Birdie liked to see if she could make him smile. So far she’d been completely unsuccessful. “Chris, are you going to have a martini with us tonight?”
    “No ma’am, I’m on duty.”
    “When do you get off?”
    “When the boss says so.”
    “Ok, maybe next time.”
    He nodded as if it was a possibility. Which they both knew wasn’t true. Chris had been under Mark and Max’s command at one point in his career, and he respected the hell out of both men. He didn’t want to have to answer to them if anything happened to the women. That was never going to be a conversation he was willing to have.  
    Rory shrugged, “It’s you and me Birdie.” She flipped Chris the keys, “We’re going to walk. Would you mind taking Max’s truck back to Birdie’s house?”  
    “I will follow behind you and meet you there.”
    True to his word, he drove slowly behind Rory and Birdie as they walked home. Once they arrived, he checked in with Max and confirmed the package was secure. He watched the ladies go in, and wondered what they were in for. Those two seemed like they were up to trouble. He would be a lot more comfortable if he was in a firefight with a five to one ratio. He would prefer to be surrounded by the bad guys than being responsible for these two.  
    Birdie walked in and counted the number of men in her house and did a quick calculation. She called up her favorite Italian restaurant and ordered enough for everyone. Mark had taught her how much a man could eat, and she felt confident there would be enough for everyone.  
    Rory went upstairs, pulled out an extra set of clothes that she kept at the house and changed. She was ready