Page 89 of Guardian Daddy

Oh, dear Lord.

That thought shouldn’t make her want to smile. But the fact that he was angry on her behalf . . . that meant something to her.

Another yawn caught her by surprise.

“Let’s get you home, baby.”

After tidying up their mess, Ethan put it in a bin in the parking lot before returning and pulling the blanket up over her legs once more.

“Next time, you’re wearing more clothes,” he bossed.

She rolled her eyes at him.

“Are you getting sassy with me?” he asked.

Was she?

Hmm. Perhaps. And it felt . . . fun.

“Who me? I’m never sassy. I’m always very serious.”

“And lying now? Tut-tut, someone is a naughty girl.”

Thankfully, being called naughty didn’t have any bad connotations, so she found herself relaxing back against her seat as he pulled into the street.

When they got home, she saw that Rhodes was back.

“Wait for me to come around and open your door,” Ethan said after parking.

She raised her eyebrows. “But we’re back home. You’re off bodyguard duty now.”

He huffed out a laugh. “I’m never off bodyguard duty. Especially when it comes to you.”

What did that mean?

Hadn’t they agreed to be friends? And yet, he’d taken care of her while they were eating. Feeding her and wiping her hands and face.

She wasn’t quite sure what to think. All she knew was that she had a full belly. She was warm and tired.

So she sat where she was without complaint and watched him walk around the front of the SUV. He glided more than walked.

Like a large, dangerous cat.

Wow. She really needed to get some more sleep. She was becoming fanciful.

Ethan opened her door. To her surprise, he reached across her. She very nearly leaned into him, nearly took a hit of his scent. Then she realized he was undoing her seatbelt.

Reaching down, he grabbed her briefcase and held out his hand to her.

She took it, feeling shy and giddy.

Was this what it felt like to be attracted to someone? To want them?

This man isn’t yours and he’ll be leaving soon.

Somehow, her body didn’t care about any of that, though. It just wanted more of this man.

More of his care and attention.

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