Page 68 of Untamed Protector

As the morning comes, Gabriel is no longer next to me in bed. Still sleepy, I stumble out of the bedroom and notice the door to his study wide open. He never leaves that room open when I’m around… this is new. I walk up to the doorway and see him working at his desk. His study looks just as minimalist and tastefully furnished as the rest of the house—perfect for a busy guy living alone.

“There’s coffee and groceries in the kitchen if you’re hungry,” Gabriel says, glancing up. “I’m just finishing something and will join you for a second coffee.” He’s got that jeans-and-white shirt thing going on, with his hair ruffled, smelling like citrus spice. Daytime Gabriel is a whole other person compared to the wild, passionate guy who had me weak in the knees with just one good hand.

“And good morning to you, too,” I grumble, heading back to the bedroom. “Me? Oh, I slept well, thanks. It was nice having you naked next to me,” I mutter to myself while pouring coffee into my mug. Beautiful, naked, mysterious, but quiet, keeping me at a distance.

Sure, he does it with tender gestures, but he still brushes me off when I try to find out more about him. I need a bit more courage myself to tell him what’s really bothering me, about my vendetta against the Maiers. But as long as he keeps me at arm’s length, I can’t fully trust him. I wish I didn’t have to carry this burden alone.

I’m not thrilled that in the daylight, I can’t find the same Gabriel from last night, but I’m glad he’s full of energy and seems to have recovered a bit from the sadness of yesterday’s events.

I grab my coffee, shut the bedroom door behind me, and text Lena: Don’t forget to meet me at ten at the Grain Inc. building. Wait for my signal.

Lena: Good morning. I take it the night you spent in Gabriel’s arms didn’t make you change your mind?

Me: How did you know?

Lena: You barely texted, so I figured you had your hands full.

Me: Maybe I was asleep.

Lena: Were you?

Me: Meet me there, please. It’s my only chance.

Lena ends our chat with three emojis—two of them slightly inappropriate, the third one a thumbs-up. I know she’s got my back.

I shower, put on a pair of comfy jeans and a blue T-shirt, and head to the living room. Gabriel’s already there, tapping away on his phone, dressed and ready to go.

“I need a couple of things if I’m staying here for a few more days. I’d like to drop by my place… well, Lena’s place,” I say, breaking the silence.

“Okay, we can stop by before I go to the office. It won’t take long, right?” Gabriel says, looking at his phone.

“Oh, we’re going to your office today?”

“Yeah. I have a few meetings. I’ll set up a corner for you with internet access so you can do whatever you want—look for a job or talk to your father.”

“Okay. But if you’re busy, Mike can give me a ride to Lena’s, so I won’t have to rush and forget things again. I really don’t want to bother you.”

“You’re not bothering me. I told you that yesterday. But the idea of having Mike around is actually good. I’m glad you’ve gotten used to having him around. It makes me feel more comfortable so I can deal with other things.”

I jump up and kiss him on the cheek. Okay, things are really falling into place. He hugs me back, but looks at me suspiciously. “Should I worry that you’re so excited to see Mike?”

“Is that jealousy I’m hearing, Mr. I don’t do relationships?”

He says nothing but gives me a long look, like he’s trying to figure me out completely. We should leave the house quickly before I lose my poker face. I make two sandwiches to go, and we head out to meet Mike.

We find his car parked on a side street. In true Lexi delivery style, Gabriel hands me over to him, and the second I buckle in, Mike speeds off to Lena’s place without a word. It looks like Gabriel filled him in.

I don’t want to waste time at home since Lena’s already downtown and waiting to meet up with me. So, I move on to the next part of my plan—I pretend to type on my phone and put on a worried face.

“I got an email from Grain Inc. Apparently, I need to sign some stuff for them to process my resignation officially. Can you swing by there real quick?”

“It’s not a good idea, Lexi. Let’s talk to Gabriel. I’ll have to keep everyone away from you again.”

“Let me see how important this is,” I continue as I text Lena, asking her to be in the parking lot and text me back immediately.

Seconds later, my phone buzzes, and I turn to Mike. “It’s important, and it won’t take long. I want to wrap things up with them. Peter’s secretary left an envelope for me at the front desk. I go in, sign, get my copy, and leave.”

Mike looks at me, unsure of what to do. I deliver the final blow. “You can come with me.”

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