Page 37 of When He Protects

Tyler’s hands closed around her shoulders. “He’s being a dick, darling.”

First “sweetheart” and now “darling” as an endearment? Oh, they were on a roll. “I don’t think you’re supposed to call the sheriff a ‘dick,’ darling,” she returned without missing a beat. “At least not to his face.”

“Yes, well,in my experience,” the sheriff drawled—and there was definitely a faint southern drawl that dipped and pitched in his voice, “Tyler never does what he’s supposed to do.”

Her head whipped back toward the sheriff. “You two know each other?”

“Served together once upon a time. Semper Fi.” Both of the sheriff’s hands were at his sides now. “When Tyler called and said he needed a safe place to crash for a few days, I was happy to offer this place. Not like I was doing a damn thing with it.”

She quickly realigned her ideas about the sheriff. He was not a bad guy there to sniff them out. He was…Tyler’s friend? This man had not come up in her recon/intel work. But there were only so many classified files that a woman could access. Only so many secrets that she could unearth. Especially in a world where people’s actions were buried by the government. Pasts were erased. And new lives were created.

Case in point, I’m now a married woman.

The sheriff grimaced. “No ring. A pillow and blanket on the floor. Not like I want to tell you how to do your job, Tyler, but I’m pretty sure this isn’t the way to run an operation.”

Tyler let her go.

“If I had been a real neighbor—you have some of those, by the way, and you should expect to meet them eventually. People in Asylum tend to be a curious lot. If I had been arealneighbor and was supposed to buy that you were madly-in-love newlyweds, I would have some questions.”

“Excuse me.” Esme cleared her throat. “Asylum? As in…insane asylum?” Where on earth had Tyler taken her?

The sheriff—she still had not caught his name—laughed. It was a warm, rich sound. “We prefer to think of it as a place where people are given shelter. Right now, in case your hubby hasn’t informed you and it seems he hasnot, you are in Asylum, Alabama. We’re a small little town nestled along Mobile Bay. Tight-knit. Quiet.” A pause. “Safe.”

She could use some safety.

“I’m Clay Banks.” His head dipped toward her. “And I hear you’ve got yourself into a bit of trouble.”

Not exactly a bit.

“This won’t cut it.” Clay motioned toward the blanket and pillow. “And you are not acting like a husband at all, Tyler. Even in small towns, folks notice when shit is off. I get that you’re usually delivering prisoners and dropping off witnesses to their new lives, so you don’t have a lot of experience at playing parts.” He ambled around the room. Tugged sheets off furniture and tossed the balled-up material to the side. “But here are a few pro tips for you. One, don’t sleep on the den floor when you have a gorgeous bride upstairs.”

“Oh, darling…” She reached out and patted Tyler’s arm. “Your sheriff friend is absolutely charming and so insightful.”

“Put a ring on her finger,” Clay continued. “That’s pro tip number two.”

She stopped patting Tyler’s arm and instead lifted her hand so she could wiggle her ringless fingers at her husband.

Tyler’s jaw tightened.

“Number three? Maybe act like you can’t stand to keep your hands off her. You’re tense and glaring. Body language speaks volumes. Yours is screaming at me right now. Change it up. She’s the love of your life, remember?”

“That’s me.” Esme touched her heart. “Love of your life.” She batted her lashes at Tyler.

A muscle jerked along his clenched jaw.

“He’s not a morning person,” she explained to Clay.

“Yeah, tell me some shit I don’t know.” He thrust back his shoulders as he kept his eyes on Tyler. “Hit town soon so we can go ahead and get this cover established for you. Come to the station, and I’ll introduce you as an old Marine buddy. I’ll let word spread that I’ve rented the house to you and your new bride.” He sauntered back toward the door. He tipped his head to Esme. “Nice meeting you.”

“The pleasure was all mine.”

His gaze swept over her. “Out of curiosity, what were you thinking to do with the knife?”

She didn’t blink. “I forgot I was even carrying it. I just came out to say hello.”

“Right. Sure. And if I’d been a bad guy when you came out to say hello, would that knife have wound up in my chest?”

It was her turn to give a soft ring of laughter. Though her laughter was forced, and she didn’t think the sheriff’s had been. “You aren’t a bad guy, are you? So I guess we’ll never know.”

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