Page 72 of Guardian Daddy

“You think Ethan would hurt me?” she asked.

“I think Ethan seems like a great guy. But after all this, he’ll leave, and I don’t want you to be upset.”

Oh. Rhodes was worried that she’d miss him? Well, she guessed that made sense.

“You need to worry less about me,” she told him. “You have a lot going on, so you should concentrate on yourself.”

“I just want to protect you.”

Reaching out, she squeezed his hand. “I love you, Rhodes. You’re the best brother I could ever ask for. I wish I could be as good a sister to you.”

“You are,” he said intently. “You might not see it, but you take care of me as well. Whenever I need you, you’re there for me, no matter how uncomfortable it makes you.”

She didn’t believe him, but she wasn’t going to argue.

“Rhodes!” Samantha called out.

“You’ll be all right with her living here?” he asked.

Shoot. She tried not to lie. And saying she would be all right with Samantha would definitely be a lie.

“I’ll adjust.”

“It’s just for a short while. Until we can pin down this stalker. I still think she’d be safer staying away from me, but she doesn’t agree. She’s scared. I know Samantha can be a lot, but she has a kind heart.”

She did?

“I’m glad she’s good to you. You deserve that. I’ll manage.”

And if she couldn’t, there was always the lake house.

Ethan walked away from the pool, leaving Rhodes and Cate to their talk. He stepped into the living room, where he could hear voices.

“Polly? Took you long enough to answer,” Samantha snapped into the phone. “Yes, I know it’s Sunday. Are you trying to say that I can’t call you on a Sunday? Good.”

Ethan glanced over at Seth who was frowning at Samantha with his arms over his chest. Samantha was turned away from them both, so he wasn’t sure if she was aware they were listening to her.

How did Rhodes not see this woman for what she was? Although he guessed she acted differently around the other man.

“I need you to arrange a moving company. No, I’m moving in with Rhodes. Yes. Yes, this week. Everything will come here, of course. I don’t like most of his furniture, so we’ll get rid of it. Also, I’ll need you to contact the landlord and get out of the lease. I don’t care how you do it.”

She was planning to move all of her stuff here?

“I thought you were just moving in here while there was a threat,” Ethan said as she ended the call.

Samantha let out a small cry and turned to him. A smile filled her face as she stared at Ethan hungrily. He raised his eyebrows and gave her a stern look back. He wasn’t sure why she looked at him like he was a snack. Seth was usually the one women flocked to.

“Sorry, I didn’t know you were there. Are you coming with us to my place?” She strolled toward him.

“Pretty sure Rhodes told you Seth is going with you.” He crossed his arms over his chest.

She slid closer to him. “But I’d rather have you.”

“Too bad you can’t have me.” He turned away and walked toward Seth as Samantha let out a huff of annoyance.

“Rhodes,” she called out as she walked over to the doors.

“She likes you,” Seth said to him. “Sure you don’t want to go? I could stay and read by the pool with Cate.”

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