Page 9 of When He Protects

He bounded down the circular staircase that led to the first floor, and, sure enough, right next to the mansion’s entrance, he saw Esme. An FBI agent in a bulletproof vest waited at her right side. Not Garcia. An agent that Tyler didn’t recognize.

“A ride home would be great,” Esme was saying to the agent. “And I’ll come in tomorrow to answer any follow-up questions. It has just been such a grueling experience. I think I’m about to crash.”

Tyler rushed up behind her.

“Having the gun shoved at me, being locked in the library…” She fanned herself. “Oh, my. I feel a little faint just remembering about it all.”

“You don’t look faint,” Tyler informed her.

Her shoulders stiffened. The light from the massive, overhead chandelier poured down on her golden skin. She slowly turned so that she could stare straight up at him.

“Nope,” he added. “Not faint at all.” Damn gorgeous, though. He reached out and caught a lock of her hair.

“Wh-what are you doing?” Esme breathed in that husky, tempting voice of hers.

He tucked the lock behind her ear. His fingers lingered against her cheek. “Your hair is a little damp.”

“I just walked outside with the agent. I wanted to get some air. It was raining, though, so we came back in.”

The agent beside her nodded. “We’re waiting for the rain to slack up, then I’ll be taking her home, Marshal Barrett.”

“Marshal?” Her brows rose. “Is that what you are? AU.S. Marshal?” Then her brows lowered. “What is a marshal doing here?”

“Joint task force.” And he’d been doing a favor for a friend.

“Oh.” Her tongue swiped along her lower lip. “I thought U.S. Marshals hunted big-time, federal fugitives.”

“We do.” He kept staring at her. “Esme, I’m afraid that I can’t allow you to leave.”

She took a step toward him. “Why not?” A blink. “Because you met me, fell in love at first sight, and decided that you just can’t live your life without me?” A soft sigh. “That is so beautifully romantic.”

Tyler shook his head.

“No? Too bad.” Her lips curled down.

Yes, it was too bad. For her. “I need to search you.”

“Excuse me?”

“Diamonds are missing from Jorlan’s safe.”

A slow blink. “And that has what to do with me, exactly?”

“Your hair is wet.”

“Yes, I told you that I just went out with the agent.”

Good try with a cover story.He might have bought it, if he hadn’t touched her hair in the library. “It was damp when I kicked in the library door.”

Gray rushed off the staircase and hurried toward them. “What is happening right now? Why did you go barreling off, Tyler?”

Esme didn’t spare Gray a glance. Her whole focus seemed to be on Tyler, and she looked fascinated. Not scared or intimidated. Fascinated.

Like that made any sense.

But damn if he didn’t feel fascinated by her, too. Almost admiring, Tyler shook his head. “You nearly got away withit, didn’t you? Hell, getting locked in the library was a stroke of luck for you, wasn’t it? It put you in exactly the spot you wanted to be. And I left you alone, so there were no witnesses to see…” He trailed off.

“To see what?” Gray demanded. “Could you clue me in?”

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