Page 42 of When He Protects

Under-freaking-statement.

“Report to me. The sharks will be closing in.”

Right. His fingers tapped on the steering wheel. For that much money, he expected a great white to be swimming through his town any minute.

Chapter Nine

“Doyou mind if I turn on the radio?” Esme’s voice was muted. After their talk in the den, some of her vibrancy had vanished, and frankly, Tyler hated that shit.

He wanted flippant Esme back.

Smiling and charming and seducing and over-the-top Esme.

“Go ahead.” He sounded like a freaking bear. His hold tightened on the steering wheel. Tyler cleared his throat and tried again. “Turn on anything you want.” They were almost to the main part of town but if she wanted music, she could blast it as loudly as she wanted.

Hours had passed before Esme had come down the stairs again. She’d looked just as beautiful as ever, but the unease in his gut warned Tyler that maybe she’d been crying. Hell, there was no maybe about it.

She’d cried alone, upstairs. As if she hadn’t wanted him to see her tears.

Esme is the woman I carried out of that hellhole in Paris?He’d thought of her too many times over the years. The woman who’d seemed so fragile in his arms. She’d beentrapped beneath the rubble, and he’d had to heave half of a damn wall off her body. Her eyes hadn’t opened. She’d been limp as he carried her out. He’d worried so much about a spinal injury but leaving her hadn’t been a possibility. The whole place had shuddered around them. He’d had to pick her up and rush through the wreckage.

He’d barely gotten out and then…

I’ll never forget the sound of that building collapsing completely.The dust and ash had choked him. He’d stumbled forward with her cradled in his arms. EMTs had pulled her from him. Tucked her into the back of the bright ambulance. The siren had wailed but he’d barely heard it. And he hadn’t seen her again.

Rock music filled the car. Not soft rock.Hard rock.Of course, that somehow seemed perfectly Esme.

“Cute town.” Her head had turned as she gazed out at the main hub that was Asylum, Alabama. “Ohmygosh. Look at the gazebo in the middle of that park. I bet they put Christmas lights all around it for the holidays.” She sucked in a breath. “I bet they have a whole tree lighting ceremony here! That’s what they do in small towns, right?” She bounced. Some of her light was coming back, and the tightness in his chest seemed to ease even as Esme excitedly continued, “They probably have a whole event that everyone comes to attend with carols and hot chocolate and?—”

“Esme.” A smile tugged at his mouth. “We’re at the bottom of Alabama. Do you really think it gets cold enough down here for hot chocolate, ever?”

She rolled one shoulder. “I can drink it and still sweat.” Her head craned as she took in the sights. “Those buildings are adorable. Is that a tea shop?”

It was.

“An art gallery?”

“Try not to get sticky fingers.”

She sniffed. “You take one Rembrandt…”

He slammed on the brakes. “What?”

“And suddenly someone thinks you just steal everything you see. Relax, handsome. I’ll be on my best behavior.”

Had she really stolen a Rembrandt?But Tyler bit back the question as he drove forward. Tyler was curious about what Esme’s best behavior entailed. “We’re going to the hardware store. Our cover is that we’re updating the house, so we need to pick up some paint and a few supplies. Then we’ll hit the grocery store. We’re only paying in cash. Keep to our story line. Don’t go getting overly chatty with anyone.”

“Yes, sir.”

They’d check in at the sheriff’s station soon enough so that Clay could help spread word that Tyler was an old Marine buddy. But first, Tyler thought he and Esme should be spotted doing “normal” things in the area. He parked in front of the hardware store. She started to hop out immediately. “Nope.” He leaned over her and opened the glove box. “A few things to handle first.” He slapped a cap on her head.

“I’m a football fan now?”

“Hardcore.” He studied her critically.

“I can cut my hair. Change the color. Probably should have done that before we came to town, though.” Esme nibbled on her delectable lower lip.

“You’re perfect as you are.” She’d braided her hair. Loose tendrils tickled her cheeks. Golden hoop earrings curled from her lobes. Had Gray packed the earrings for her? If so, his buddy had been thorough. Esme was dressedcasually in jeans and a white t-shirt. Her voice held zero accent, and when she grinned at him the way she was currently doing…

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