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she was going to find the dreams she’d worked for all her life.
    * * *
    She was slipping out, making her way across the darkness of the porch, two traveling
     bags in hand.
    Jedediah lowered his head for a second before lifting his gaze and forcing himself
     to watch her make her way from the inn. Curling his fingers into fists, he held back
     the urge to follow her. To stop her.
    If he stopped her, he’d be no better than her brother or her cousins. They were doing
     all the wrong things for all the right reasons, but that didn’t make it bearable for
     the impulsive, bright, beautiful little star they were smothering.
    Crossing his arms over his chest, he leaned against the heavily leafed tree he hid
     beneath and just watched her. There was no need to follow her. She wasn’t headed to
     a party, a friend’s house for a night out, or even one of the local bars.
    He’d known that when he’d talked to her on the phone as he’d watched her through the
     closed-circuit wireless camera that had been installed in the bedroom when her sister
     occupied it. It hadn’t been removed when Eve had moved out.
    As he had watched her pack he had known she was heading out of town.
    With a friend? Most likely a lover, he thought wearily, wondering at the sense of
     possessiveness tightening his gut.
    Hell, he’d waited too long to secure her to him, left it too late. He’d sensed that
     as he watched her packing earlier.
    He was always careful when checking on her. He never interfered, never looked in on
     her when there was a chance of embarrassing her if she found out he was watching.
    Sometimes, he just wanted to see her. See her relaxed, sleeping, or amused. Sometimes,
     he just wanted to make certain she was safe, nothing more. He’d seen her packing,
     though, and he’d been unable to resist calling her, hoping she’d confide in him. Hoping
     that talking to him, remembering the pleasure they’d shared, would change her mind
     if she was heading out to stay with a lover.
    It hadn’t.
    She disappeared around the side of the house.
    Lowering his head, he stayed in place. He didn’t dare move, even under the pretense
     of returning to his own room. Because he knew he wouldn’t make it there.
    Hell, no, he’d end up following her, and he’d make her hate him when he couldn’t help
     himself and persuaded her to stay. Persuaded her in a way that would ensure her pleasure—and
     her hatred.
    Fuck, it was hard letting her go.
    Rubbing at the ache in his chest, frowning at the tightness there, he wondered at
     the feeling he’d identified years before as a premonition, a warning of danger.
    Who or what could be in danger?
    Maybe it was better that Piper was leaving for a few days after all. Her sister had
     nearly died the year before because she was too close to his partner, Brogan Campbell.
    God help anyone who dared to threaten Piper Mackay. He would kill. Perhaps not for
     the first time, though it would definitely be the first time he’d killed over a woman.
    She was worth killing for.
    She was worth dying for.
    The brilliance that was Piper Mackay couldn’t be contained. She was wild and free,
     bright and burning, and there were already too many men determined to tame that fire.
     To lock it in. To take the freedom she fought so valiantly for.
    He refused to become one of them.
    Jed forced himself to move, to walk slowly and easily across the stretch of lawn that
     led to the inn and the suite he had taken next to Piper’s.
    She was gone and he had no choice but to let her go.
    That didn’t mean he liked it.
    It sure as hell didn’t mean it was easy.

THREE
    A my’s sister, Gypsy Seavers, was waiting exactly where Piper had directed her to the
     day before.
    The small clearing just past the inn was far enough away that if the other woman had
     turned her lights off before pulling in, then there was no way in hell Tim could possibly
     see them. Yet it was close enough for her to jog to, even carrying the