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“Thank you!” He clapped, startling her. “It is a bit sickening, isn’t it? That’s why we have to shake things up every now and then. If it wasn’t for a few bar brawls and some pranks, no one around here would have anything to moan about.”
Lord.
“You’re trouble.”
“I try my hardest. But, seriously, baby. You know I won’t spank you if you tell me no. Although as your guardian, I’ll have to come up with some other punishments.”
“So you’ve just declared yourself my guardian? Without my consent?”
“Would you rather have someone else be your guardian? Linc is going to act as guardian for Ryleigh and Opal.”
She wrinkled her nose at that idea. Linc might have apologized but she didn’t think that meant he liked her.
“Jake would do it.”
Still not ideal. She didn’t know him, and he was the sheriff. Lilac wasn’t sure she could entirely trust him.
“No. Not them.”
“I’m sure Alec would.”
She licked her lips. “Alec?”
“Yep.”
“He’s a very nice, scary man,” she said carefully.
Tanner grinned. “He is. I’m not sure he’d appreciate the nice part, he has mellowed over the years. Especially since meeting Mia. Although, threaten his family and there is nothing he wouldn’t do to protect them.”
Would he consider her a threat to them? When he found out who she was?
“I don’t think I want Alec as my guardian.”
“Sure? The women in this family sure have him wrapped around their little fingers. Even though he thinks he’s in charge, he’s really not.”
That was . . . sweet. It was hard to believe that such a big, dominant man might be wrapped around the finger of a woman. But she knew that not every man was like Stefan.
Not every man hurt the people he was supposed to care for and protect.
But she didn’t know Alec, couldn’t trust him. And what would that say to Tanner? That she trusted his brother, a stranger, more than him?
Nope. She wouldn’t do that. Not to her Tanner. Not after everything he’d done for her. Not after what he meant to her.
“I’m sure. If I wanted anyone, it would be you.”
The smile that took over his face could only be described as boyish and charming. As though he couldn’t quite believe she’d chosen him.
God, who wouldn’t choose him?
“There’re other benefits of being punished if you break a rule,” he said.
She eyed him sceptically.
Like what?
“A punishment wipes the slate clean. No more guilt for breaking a rule. No bringing it up over and over and hashing it out. Both parties move on.”
Oh. Now, that was something she did like the idea of. Lilac tended to overthink everything. To punish herself over and over.
