Page 209 of Guardian Daddy

“I know so,” Rhodes replied.

He ran his gaze over her, wondering what was going on with her. His eyes snagged on her wrist. Was that a hair tie? Fuck. She’d agreed not to do that anymore.

Things were worse than he’d thought.

“Cate?” Ethan asked.

“Yes?”

“You said you wouldn’t use the hair tie anymore.”

He heard her suck in a breath.

“What does that mean? The hair tie?” Rhodes asked.

“Nothing,” Cate said quickly, hiding her wrists behind her back.

Rhodes frowned. “It’s obviously something. Tell me.”

“I . . . I . . .”

Fuck this.

Ethan turned on Rhodes. “Stop that. You’re upsetting her.”

However, there was something more than concern in Rhodes’ face. What was wrong?

“Show me your wrists, Cate,” Rhodes said firmly.

Cate really didn’t want to do that.

She didn’t want Rhodes to find out what she’d been doing. She couldn’t stand the idea that he might be upset with her. She’d already caused enough problems.

“Cate,” Rhodes pressed.

“What’s going on here?” Ethan asked, staring from him to Cate. “Why are you so concerned about her wrists? Because of the hair tie?”

“What is the hair tie?” Rhodes gritted out.

With a sigh, knowing she couldn’t keep refusing, she drew her hands out from behind her back.

Rhodes took hold of her hands, examining her wrists. “This hair tie? What’s wrong with it?” He fingered it.

Cate didn’t want to tell him. Why did Ethan have to mention it? She shot him a warning look, but he folded his arms over his chest, looking stern.

“I have a feeling that there’s something more going on here and I’m not keeping quiet if it has to do with your welfare and safety.”

Darn it.

Why? Why did she have to have such a protective brother and . . . and boyfriend? Was that what Ethan was? She guessed so.

But he seemed much more than that. He was her . . . everything.

That seemed silly to think, but she couldn’t think of a better way to explain it.

“I . . . sometimes I use the hair tie to flick it against my wrist. It helps. It’s like a reset for my brain. To get the thoughts out of my head.”

“It’s a way to punish yourself,” Rhodes stated.

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