Page 70 of When He Protects

Nope.Tyler closed the distance between them in about three fast steps. His hand flew out and curled around her wrist. “Not so fast, sweetheart.” He felt the jump of her pulse beneath his touch.

Her head turned toward him. “As if I would dream of leaving without my twenty-four, seven protection.”

“We aren’t leaving. Not yet.” He shot a glance at Kane. “Gonna need to use your tech room for a bit. Make yourself scarce, would you?”

“Ah, you’re telling me to make myself scarce, in my own home?”

“Glad we understand each other.” Tyler used his grip on Esme’s wrist to tug her after him as he marched for the tech room. Tech room. Study. Whatever the hell Kane wanted to call the hub with all his screens and computers. Once inside, Tyler shut the door. And locked it.

Esme’s gaze lingered on the lock before she slowly shifted her attention to him. “Is there something I’m missing?”

“We’re not done here yet.”

“No? We’re not? Why? Did you want a private space so you could snarl at me about sleeping with Jorlan again?”

Fuck.A black wave of jealousy rose within him. “Did you?” Had Esme slept with that bastard?Want to break him into a thousand pieces.

“Didyoujust pull me in this room to grill me about past lovers? Wecouldhave this discussion in the privacy of our safe house.”

They needed to have this discussion right where they were. He’d just gotten derailed, dammit.

With her free hand, Esme brushed back a lock of hair. “Besides, I thought you said—quite clearly last night—that you didn’t want to know about my exes.”

“Jorlan isn’t just an ex. He’s a suspected murderer, arms runner, drug dealer, and all-around freakingmenace to the whole world.” And he couldn’t stand the idea of Jorlan’s pampered hands being on her body. “He was a prick in boarding school, and he’s a monster now. Why the hell would you ever get involved with someone like him?”

“Some women like a bad boy.” She tugged against his hold. “You can let me go now. The door is locked. I’m not planning to run away.”

He let her go, but he didn’t back away. “Do you like playing with bad men, Esme?” He just wanted the truth from her. Why was that so much to ask?

“Not particularly. It’s too easy to get hurt with them.”

“Are you sleeping with Jorlan?” Tyler bit off.

“Told you last night—I haven’t been with anyone in over two years. So, no, I am not sleeping with Jorlan. I am sleeping with you. Now, can we leave?”

No. “Gray says you’re going to marry the sonofabitch.”

She sucked in a breath. “Where would he get an idea like that?”

“From your father.”

Her shoulders rammed into the closed door as she whipped back. “Gray has been talking to my father?”

A note of fear had definitely entered her voice.Why is Esme scared of her father?Though he’d already had suspicions forming. Time to push more. “Your dad is the one who told Gray that you were involved with Jorlan. On and off is the way he described it. Why would your father say that if it wasn’t true?”

“Why, indeed? Maybe some people just like to lie.”

Esme’s father is important.“How did you get the invitation to Jorlan’s party?”

Her shoulders still pressed into the wood of the door. “He personally extended the invitation to me. I’m popular. People invite me to parties. In fact, some would even go so far as to say I am the actuallifeof a party.”

He was sure plenty of people said that. She was bright and shining and she could disarm with a smile. In the real world, she’d never be with someone like him.

Fuck. This is real. I am protecting her.No, he was doing one hell of a lot more than that. But he needed answers. “How did you know about the secret passageway? Did Jorlan tell you about it?”

She didn’t look away from him. “No, I discovered the passageway when I got the schematics for the house. I was doing some recon work. Had to figure out how best to take those diamonds.”

Enough.“Sweet liar.” His hand drove into the pocket of his jeans. His fist came back up and went right between them. “You didn’t give a shit about the diamonds.” And then he opened his hand. “You were after this.”

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