Page 3 of When He Protects

A growl broke from Tyler.

“He doesn’t like it when people talk about my ass,” the woman said with a shrug.

“Too fucking bad.” Then the masked man grabbed her hand.

Tyler surged forward.

“It’s all right!” she cried.

The prick was prying the rings off her fingers.

“I’m okay.” Her head turned, and she stared at Tyler. No flashing grin. No dimples. Tears filled her eyes. “The ruby belonged to my grandmother.”

Tyler’s chest ached. There was just something about her voice that basically made him want to beat the shit out of every bad guy in the room and then spread their bodies at her high-heeled feet.

“Now it belongs to me,” the prick crowed. He dropped the rings into a black bag at his waist. Then he yanked Tyler’s mystery brunette with him. The gun was positioned dangerously close to her head. “Come on, boyfriend. I’m betting that you won’t make a move if I have her.”

Don’t be so sure.

“Pat him down!” A bark from the jerk in charge. “Take his gun and any weapons you find!”

And one of his cronies was instantly there to pat down Tyler and to take the gun from his right ankle. Then the knife Tyler had strapped to his left ankle. When Tyler was fully disarmed, the leader grunted in approval. He also dragged the woman toward the room she’d indicated moments before. He looked inside, nodded, and then told Tyler, “Get your ass inside. And if you come at me, I will pull this trigger. Fed or no Fed.”

The robbers hadn’t killed anyone in their attacks…yet. But there could always be a first time. Dammit. Tyler went into the room. A library. One with massive shelves full of old, hardback books. Probably collector’s items.

“Take her!” With that snarl, the woman was thrown at Tyler. The prick in the mask kept her small bag, and, presumably, her phone.

The woman’s body collided with Tyler’s. His arms automatically rose and curled around her.

And the library door was hauled shut.

He put her to the side and leapt for the door.Too late.It was already locked.

“It locks on the outside,” she told him. “The key was actually right there—I think Jorlan might have wanted people to stay out of his library and he intended to lock it and forgot, but now…” She rubbed her arms. “I guess we’re trapped in here.”

He couldn’t be trapped in there. He had a job to do. A job that involved taking out those punk bad guys and not letting them lock his ass up like he was some green cop on a first case. A growl vibrated from him.This shit could not happen. He turned and scanned the room, searching for another way out.

“No, I’m fine. No need for concern.” Her droll voice. “Maybe a few bruises on my arms but nothing to be alarmed about.”

Tyler whipped back toward her. “He bruised you?”

Her smile came and went on her face. The smile transformed her from a cold beauty into something absolutely breathtaking.Way too tempting.“I bruise easily,” she told him. “But don’t worry, I heal quickly, too.” A little hum. She stepped toward him. “I was happy to save your life. Think nothing of it.”

He blinked. “Excuse me?”

She waved her hand. A hand that no longer had rings glinting on it. “When I jumped in front of you and shielded you with my body? I was happy to help. Not like I could have a federal agent getting shot in front of me. How terrible would that have been?”

“Never said I was a federal agent.” He whirled away from her. His gaze locked on the balcony doors.Pay dirt.He stalked toward those doors.

“You never said you weren’t, either.” Her steps rushed after him. “And did I just hear a note of Texas in your voice? I’m pretty sure I did.”

He spun. They almost collided.

He caught her shoulders. “Stay in this room.” Her scent teased him. What was that? Kinda reminded him of sweet vanilla cream. A dessert treat that he wanted to gobble right up.

So the wrong time. And place.He didn’t get to gobble up gorgeous women in the middle of robberies.

“Well, we both have to stay here,” she pointed out with a blink of her incredibly dark eyes. “We’re locked in.”

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