Page 92 of Her Protector Daddies

Water splashed loudly, spraying chill droplets across my bare feet. Reflex had me pulling my legs away and I looked past my tablet to where Jay and Dae were playing in the pool. A version of Marco Polo that involved pool floaties and breath-holding competitions. True to his strength, Dae appeared largely unaffected by his experience. There’d been intense nightmares for the first month or so but now he was back to his happy self and it was the sweetest thing to see. Even Jay seemed to have a weight lifted from his shoulders.

As they play, waves splash across the pool, and Tyler emerges from the depths. He placed his hands on the tiles and hauled himself upward, shaking the water from his dark hair. Then he hugged the rim of the pool. His head tilted, and he lazily walked his gaze down my bikini-clad body.

“You’re looking beautiful as ever,” he smirked.

I waved him away with the tablet. “I feel like a beached whale.”

“A very sexy whale,” he pointed out with a smile. “Polka dots suit you.”

“Thank you.” Warmth not from the sun spread across my cheeks, and I bit my lip slightly, watching water droplets run down Tyler’s muscular shoulders. “You look good too.”

“Oh, I know.” That familiar, boyish smirk made my heart skip a beat.

A shadow fell over me and I lifted my head, peeking over the top of my sunglasses to Bailey, who leaned over and offered me the chilled glass of fruit juice I had requested.

“M’lady.”

“Thank you, sir,” I smiled, taking the glass and immediately placing the straw between my lips. The cool drink was beautiful in this heat. Honestly, everything had tasted and felt infinitely better since we moved into this beach house. It was like I was finally experiencing life.

Bailey leaned down and gently kissed my forehead, then settled on the lounging chair next to me, his eyes on my discarded tablet.

“They’re finally locking that fucker away, huh?” he murmured, his bare chest flexing as he settled himself. “How do you feel?”

“Me?” I asked around the straw. “I feel good. Safe. Although being pregnant in this summer heat is pretty damn intense. But I’m glad. Things finally feel like they’re over and I start my life as the boring housewife and mother.”

“There’s nothing boring about you,” Bailey chuckled. “Although it will be really nice not to fear for everyone’s life every two minutes.”

“Amen to that.” Tyler pulled himself from the pool and loosely shook water free from his body, then he settled at the bottom of my lounger and started to massage my aching feet.

These men were attentive before I ever thought about asking, and a satisfied bliss settled across my shoulder.

“Do you have plans for today?” Tyler asked as Jay and Dae continued their antics behind him.

“I have to visit my father.” He’d been placed in a special facility after giving evidence to serve a light sentence for his robbery and drug-related crimes while receiving treatment for his addiction. It was the best Captain Aubrey could do for him, and more than he deserved in some opinions.

“How is he doing?” Bailey asked, his eyes lingering on my legs.

“Better. I want to take him the latest ultrasound pictures. It’s weird, he seems…” Searching for the right words, I tipped my head back and forth. “Sometimes, it feels like I’m getting my dad back, and it feels amazing, but then I catch myself because I don’t want to put too much stock in it. Just in case.”

“It’s okay to be wary,” Tyler said softly. “You’ve been hurt by him so many times in the past. Let him do the making-up, y’know? In time, it might come easier to you.”

“I know. Thank you.” Draining the rest of my drink, I reached out for Bailey’s hand and his warmth immediately soothed my ice-chilled fingertips. “You’re all too good to me.”

“Just remember that,” Jay laughed with a mouthful of water. “When you’re changing shitty diapers at 3am.”

“Oh I will,” I chuckled.

“Speaking of being good to you.” Bailey exchanged a look with Tyler. “We have something to tell you.”

I retracted my hand and glanced between the two of them, nerve suddenly churning in my gut.

“What is it? What’s happened?”

“It’s nothing bad,” Tyler soothed, sliding one hand up my leg. “Bailey and I… we’ve decided to step down from Vice.”

“What?!”

“With the baby on the way and everything that’s happened, we want something safer. Something that’s a little more stable. Plus,” Bailey shrugged. “With my suspension from threatening and attacking Andrés coming to an end, it’s a good time to make a change.”

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