Page 20 of Her Protector Daddies

Suddenly, a heavy clunk from behind me had me leaping away from my suitcase with a cry and I spun around in fright. My heart pounded rapidly for a few short seconds until I caught sight of Tyler in the doorway, holding both his hands up.

“Hey, you’re okay. It’s just me. My gun belt…” He dropped one hand to where his belt had knocked into the doorframe, creating a noise that scared me.

Seeing that didn’t calm me, though and I placed one hand over my racing heart as a prickling, heated sweat flushed over my body.

“Fuck, I thought…” I trailed off, unsure of exactly what I thought. That someone else was here to kill me? That the man with the snake tattoo was back?

“You’ve been through a lot,” Tyler smiled sadly. “You don’t have to explain.”

“Just… don’t scare me like that,” I snapped, taking a few deep, calming breaths.

“I’m sorry.”

His puppy-dog softness did warm my heart and a small rush of guilt crept up. I shouldn’t have snapped at him.

“It’s okay, I’m just… jumpy.”

“Understandable.”

Despite his words, it didn’t feel very understandable to me. I didn’t want to be flinching at sounds and jumping at shadows. I wanted to go back to my life, back to before I’d even left the store. Would my life be different if I hadn’t headed to the station that day?

“How long have you lived alone?” Tyler asked, remaining by the door as I returned to packing.

“Since I was sixteen,” I replied. “My mother left. She couldn’t handle what my father was like anymore so one day she left. I used to blame her but now? Now I understand.”

“I’m sorry,” Tyler said softly.

“Don’t be. I’m not. She did what was best for her and when I turned sixteen, I did the same. My dad cared more about his job, and then his drugs than anyone else so it’s whatever.”

Despite having my back to him, I could see Tyler’s reflection in my wall mirror. His eyes hadn’t left me, and with both hands resting on his gun belt, the muscles of his arms were defined just enough to raise my temperature a little.

“How long do I have to stay with you guys?” I asked. It hadn’t been clear when I arrived but I quickly learned that they all lived in that house together, although Bailey also had another apartment somewhere downtown.

“Just until we know exactly why the Dorame are targeting you and how to get them to stop.”

“How long will that take?”

“Unclear.” Tyler sighed audibly. “But, until then, you’re under our protection. Especially since you hired Jay.”

“So I’m just supposed to put my life on hold? I have two jobs, y’know,” I muttered. Part of me didn’t mind not having to go there for a while but in the back of my mind, I was already planning on how to move forward when this was over. If I could contact my dad, get him to hand himself in, then this would be over quickly.

“Bailey is checking in with your workplaces today,” Tyler replied. “You’re covered.”

“Yipee.” I’d lost my phone at the hospital and ever since then, there hadn’t been any privacy that allowed me to contact my father. I was going to have to get creative.

“I’m going to take a shower,” I declared, turning to face Tyler.

He glanced at his watch. “We can’t stay here too long. You can shower back at Jay’s.”

“No, I’m showering here.”

“There isn’t time,” Tyler repeated and a sexier, slightly harder edge slipped into his tone.

“Well, unless you plan on manhandling me out of here, there is time,” I said. For a moment, he looked to be considering it and admittedly I wouldn’t be against someone as sexy as him doing just that, but it would defeat my attempt at a phone call.

“I have to keep an eye on you at all times,” Tyler said and his brow dipped slightly.

“Well, in that case.” Grasping the hem of my t-shirt, I pulled it over my head. Once removed, I looked at Tyler and he was very politely trying to divert his gaze. “You’re welcome to come and watch.”

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