Page 22 of Protected By the Billionaire Ex-SEAL

When I don’t say another word, she goes back to the kids, checking their activities one by one and offering sincere praises. She’s not as bubbly as Honey Lee, but there’s an ethereal quality to her that calms them down, and I realize they’re not as jumpy and overactive as they were earlier.

I wander off to check on Aaron again and chat him up a bit, then return to the room to find the kids busy with another activity. Raven strolls through the tables to check on their work, then returns to Honey Lee’s side. They chat about something before Raven throws her head back in laughter, a honeyed sound that warms the atmosphere up.

It’s such an open, raw gesture that my body tightens in places it shouldn’t and the oxygen leaves my lungs. The attraction takes me in a chokehold, one that won’t let go no matter how I yank.

It’s an attraction I don’t want. It’s certainly one I don’t need.

And it takes everything inside me not to march toward her and…what? Carry her to her car? Drag her home and taste that mouth again?

Taste all of her again?

Raven approaches me once more, her successful day shining on her face and touching something inside me. So, I close down my emotions and keep my voice neutral. It ends up sounding brusque, maybe even grumpy.

“Done with class?”

Surprise lines her features at my question before she nods. “Yeah.”

I nod back, blunt and cold. I can’t help it.

Not when the other option is to give in.

“Good. Now let’s go home.”

Chapter 8

Raven

If Christian’s charming wit and sexy, flirty drawl is a dangerous thing to experience, his grumpy attitude is another experience altogether—one I also don’t like. Beyond that, it drives me crazy, especially when I have to wake up to it and deal with it every day that we’re stuck together in the house.

And we’re stuck together a lot.

Preschool is a nice distraction, though it can be frustrating, too, as every time I try to wake up super early to get away from him, Christian just wakes up earlier and is more than ready whenever I roll up the garage door. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone that determined to one-up me all the time, yet what can I do?

Glare at him until he goes away? Snap at him to leave me alone?

“You paid me to protect you. I’m going to tag along, Raven.”

“I didn’t say anything.” Though I have so many things to say. Instead, I shut my mouth and wait for him to slide in the passenger seat, his long legs folding tightly into the small space.

I glare at him and try not to notice. He scowls back. It’s practically a routine this time, and we end up driving to work in silence.

At school, I get a little bit of reprieve since he hangs out with Aaron a lot, but then I hear his familiar laughter in the background and become distracted for different reasons. But I use it to fuel my determination to teach what I know, eventually taking over for Honey Lee most days so she can take a break. Then, the school break is in progress and I no longer have any reprieve.

And it’s driving me crazier.

I try to stay in my room as much as I can, sitting in my favorite corner: the nook, where I get to peek at my neighbors coming and going and draw inspiration from them. I’ve met a few to and from school, some of whom are friendly while others question my presence, especially in Christian’s house. Luckily, Christian knows how to navigate these things, telling everyone that I’m an assignment while grinning to win them over into not asking for more details.

I don’t know how he does it, but even the most hawk-eyed of them are charmed enough to leave the topic alone. Secretly, though, I’m pretty sure everyone—except Honey Lee and Aaron—thinks we’re sleeping together, and I don’t know what to think of that.

I glance down at my tablet, where I’ve been penciling in details of the character I have in mind for my new children’s book. I always draw the main character last, and I frown as I finish the face details and feel like something isn’t right. I switch to the writing part, staring at the page where I started talking about Newt’s first day in school.

Except my mind is blank.

After minutes of writing and erasing, I put my tablet down and leave my room, frustrated that the words aren’t flowing now when they usually flow so smoothly. Walking the streets or going out with my co-workers helps when I get stuck in a rut, but a look at the living room reminds me that, no, I’m no longer in the city.

I’m in a nice town but stuck in a house that’s not mine.

“What’s wrong?”

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