Page 38 of Fierce Protector

The cops had the knife he’d used to injure the Graceys’ horse, the one that could have been used on her.

He stomped the pedal to the floor, cursing the distance to town, and arrived at Demi’s house just as she was getting into her vehicle.

Braking hard, he squealed tires and whipped the truck into her driveway, blocking her from leaving.

Her jaw dropped, and then anger rippled across her face.

He leaped out. Advanced on her. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

“I’m going back to work, Ledger. You can’t stop me.”

He stepped closer, invading her space. The heat of her body struck him like a wall of flame.

He wanted to grab her, twist her thick hair in his fist and bend her over his arm, to kiss her until she surrendered to him.

She was right—he couldn’t stop her. He had no hold over her. She could claim the child wasn’t his, and until he could prove otherwise with a paternity test, he’d have no sway over her. With a doctor’s clearance, she was able to go anywhere and do anything she wanted, and he didn’t have any say in any of that.

He needed to find another reason to keep her by his side.

“Hunter missed two wolves last night.”

She froze, blinking up at him. “You didn’t tell me that.”

“I didn’t see the point. You couldn’t go out with us and dart them anyway. But now that you’re in the clear,” he emphasized the word, “we could use your help.”

He read the indecision in her face. She wanted to help with the wolves. To prevent more animals from being attacked.

That mattered to him too—but more than anything he felt a bone-deep need to take care of her.

He held out a hand, palm up. “Will you come back?”

* * * * *

A shiver ran through Demi, unbidden and unwanted. Why did Ledger’s voice have to affect her so damn much?

He didn’t sound like he was asking her to return to the Gracey Ranch to help fight the wolves.

It sounded like he was asking her to come back to him.

She never even belonged to him in the first place.

But she was growing a tiny piece of him inside her.

She tilted her head, meeting his stare. “I’ll come back tonight. After I see to my patients.”

Even her agreement didn’t appease the man—his jaw was still clenched.

“I don’t like the thought of you being out there alone. Anyone could get to you.”

She pursed her lips. “I was only attacked because I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I’ll be fine.”

His gaze washed over her. “I’ll come with you on your calls.”

Her brow hiked up. “I don’t need a babysitter.”

The struggle was plain in his eyes. Ohh, those eyes. They glinted in at least four—no, five—shades of gray.

He grabbed her car door and held it open. “I’m going. Get in.”

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