Page 198 of Guardian Daddy

This had been her safe place for years . . . but she got the feeling that her safe place was becoming less a place and more a person.

Him.

Cate buried her face into his neck as he grabbed her pacifier, popping it into her mouth.

There was a knock on the closet door about fifteen minutes later, which made her jump. She’d been close to falling asleep, which was weird. She guessed it was the adrenaline drop.

Suddenly, she noticed how much her cheek was throbbing, and so were her wrists.

Ethan tensed.

“It will be Rhodes,” she whispered after taking her pacifier out.

“Who is it?” he called out.

“Me. Is Cate okay?” Rhodes asked frantically.

“I’m fine,” she said. “I’m coming out.”

“You sure, baby? We can stay in here longer,” Ethan told her.

“I want to check on Rhodes.”

Ethan helped her stand before he stood and grabbed her hand. He held onto her hand tight as he led her out of the closet.

Rhodes’ gaze ran over her. She moved to him and Ethan let her go so she could wrap her arms around him.

“I’m so sorry, honey,” Rhodes told her. “She’s mad because I told her last night that I wanted her out of here by tonight. I thought she was going to be out all day getting things set up to move into a hotel. If I’d known she was back, I wouldn’t have gone into my office with Kevin. Are you all right? Please tell me you’re okay.”

Rhodes leaned back and stared down at her.

“I’m all good.”

His gaze narrowed in on her cheek. “Polly said she slapped you. Fucking hell. There’s a red mark on your cheek. And she grabbed your wrists? Are they all right?”

“I promise, I’m fine.”

“We’re pressing charges,” Rhodes said. “She can’t get away with this.”

“Where . . . where is she?” she asked instead of answering him.

Cate wasn’t sure it was a good idea to press charges.

“She’s in my bedroom. I told her to pack a bag and get out. Then I’ll have someone get all her stuff and deliver it back to her place.”

“What about the stalker?”

“Cate, you don’t need to worry about her. She’s not your problem,” Rhodes told her.

No.

However, while she might not like the woman, she didn’t want her to die.

“And she can take the local bodyguard we hired,” Rhodes told her. “Go to a hotel. I’ve offered to pay for it all.”

“That’s nicer than I’d be,” Ethan grumbled.

“It’s still my fault that she’s in danger.”

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