f**k. He shouldn’t have yelled at her. Her body trembled. Elizabeth was about to have a meltdown. What the hell was he supposed to do if she became hysterical? The muscle in her jaw twitched and her hands clenched into fists. “Elizabeth.” Her right hand flicked up. “Just don’t.” Her voice was weak, but he knew she fought to make it sound strong. He wasn’t sure what to do with an emotional woman. He’d never had one around long enough to see her get emotional. Except his sisters. A hug always worked with Maggie and Moira. He stepped closer and wrapped his arms around her. Immediately, he questioned the move. Excitement stirred when he saw the fiery anger on her face, but actually holding her in his arms was a mistake. Her back stiffened and she resisted for a minute. Once she realized

