Page 68 of Serve ’N’ Protect

Markus was a big man by anyone’s standards, but he’d never been up against the Morgans. She hooked an arm through his, resting her other hand on Ghost’s head and giving the dog a quick scratch behind his ears. “This is—” Was he still introducing himself as Alex Adessio?

“Markus York,” he said without missing a beat, then extended a hand to her father. She shouldn’t have been surprised that he’d taken the initiative. Somehow, she didn’t see Markus cowering in front of anyone or anything. Including her father’s legendary disapproving glare.

For a moment, her dad hesitated. She was well over the age of needing permission from him to go out with a guy, but still…

Cassidy breathed an inward sigh of relief when he shook hands with Markus. “Ian Morgan.”

After repeating the process with her brothers, Markus focused on her mother and sisters. “Ladies, it’s nice to finally meet Cassidy’s family.”

Kaitlyn giggled. “The pleasure is ours. Really.”

“Kaitlyn!” Brianna elbowed her younger sister. “I’m Brianna.”

“And you must be Mrs. Morgan,” Markus said, bestowing a full white smile on her mother. “Cassidy talks about you all the time.”

Wow. For a guy who didn’t talk much, he certainly knew how to work it. Charm practically oozed from the man.

“Really. How nice,” her mother said, smiling back and looking as if she’d just met the King of England. “Call me Fiona.”

“Fiona, then.”

Oh my God. Was her mother actually batting her eyelashes? Must be all that Secret Service training. And let’s not forget the fact that Markus’s half-naked body is cut with more muscles than I can count.

“You should have told us you installed a security system,” Jimmy said. “That thing scared the sh—heck out of us.”

“Cassidy, sweetheart.” Her mother rushed forward, taking Cassidy’s chin in her fingers and turning her face to the side. “What happened to your face?”

Her hand flew to the bruise on her cheek. “I, uh…” Suck it up and get it over with. They’d freak out, but it had to be done. No way could she lie to them. “My house was burglarized, and I kind of interrupted the burglar.”

She let out a breath, waiting for the barrage to come and grateful for Markus’s protective arm as it came around her waist.

“He hit you?”

“When did this happen?”

“Did they catch him?”

“Why didn’t you call us?”

“Sweetheart.” This from her mother, who practically dragged her from Markus’s embrace into her own maternal bear hug. “My baby. Oh, my heavens. Are you all right?”

“Yes, Mom.” She returned the hug but inwardly hated being the singular subject of her entire family’s attention. As if the last year hadn’t been enough.

“Why don’t we let her tell us what happened over breakfast?” Brianna suggested.

“Breakfast?” Jimmy huffed. “Apparently, she’s too busy for Christmas breakfast.”

“I can see why,” Kaitlyn muttered.

Markus cleared his throat. “Excuse me while I get dressed. Ghost, come.”

Her family remained silent as Markus and Ghost went up the stairs.

“Did you see all those muscles?” Kaitlyn grinned.

“He sure puts Hugh to shame,” Brianna added. “I hope it’s safe to say you’ve finally moved on, Cass?”

Cassidy nodded. “I’ve definitely moved on.” Even if Markus moved on, too. There was no way in hell she’d ever take Hugh back now.