Page 47 of When He Protects

He took the bear. Handed it to the mom.

The girl stopped crying.

More people gathered.

“We should call an ambulance,” someone said.

“What if her back is broken?” From someone else.

“What’s up with all the blood?” A third voice. Younger. Cracking.

“Pretty sure that’s my pasta sauce.” Esme curled her fingers around Tyler’s hand. “Help me up, would you? So unglamorous to be sprawled this way in front of everyone.”

Screw glamour. He didn’t just help her up. He lifted her and cradled her against his chest. Tyler was aware that his whole body seemed to shake. And, fuck it, he’d called her Esme in front of the crowd. She’d asked to be called Elizabeth, andhe’dbeen the one to screw up. So not like him.

But these weren’t normal circumstances.Esme could have been killed.

Her lashes lifted as she peered at him. “You all right?”

No. For a moment there, he’d been afraid she was dead. He pressed a kiss to her temple. A worried husband would do that, wouldn’t he? Kiss his wife. Hold her like he’d never let go. Feel fear sink into his very bones.

It’s just a role. I’m doing this for the audience.

So why did it all feel real? In her ear, he whispered, “This really how you keep a low profile?”

Esme trembled. “I fucked up.”

Yeah.

All eyes were on her.

“But if I had to,” she told him, voice husky, “I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat.”

A siren cut through the curious voices. Then, a few moments later, a door slammed. Rushing footsteps joined the party, and Tyler wasn’t overly surprised when he heard Clay demand, “What in the hell is happening here?”

“People hidingout in safe houses are supposed to keep low profiles.” Clay paced in front of the old fireplace in the den of their safe house. “They don’t attract attention. They blend.” He stopped and pointed at Esme as she sat on the couch. “You do not blend.”

She bit her lower lip. “Sorry, but, ah, not sorry, too.” Like she could regret saving that adorable girl.

A long exhale came from Clay even as his hands fell to perch on his hips. “Bobby Miller wasn’t paying enough damn attention. Little Kady Jo was too freaking small—he wouldn’t have seen her in time. You saved her life.”

Her knee still ached. So did her palms. And Esme shifted uncomfortably on the couch. “It wasn’t a big deal.”

Clay stared at her. “You get that if Bobby hadn’t finally turned his head in the right direction, he would have hit you? That you’d be seriously hurt, if not dead right now?”

She swallowed. “Yeah, I get it. But thanks for the reminder.”

Clay’s attention shifted to Tyler. “I thought she was supposed to be some master criminal.”

Her shoulders stiffened.

“What’s the deal?” Clay demanded. “Because right now, my whole freaking town thinks she’s a hero.”

“Never been that before.” Esme rose. “Should be a fun change of pace, don’t you think? Especially for a master criminal like me. I’m second only to the wicked witch, you know. Absolutely heartless.” Her gaze darted to Tyler.Is that what you told him I was?“Excuse me. It’s been a big day.” It had been. Tyler had insisted she get checked out by an EMT even though she’d been fine. Just a little bruised and banged up. No biggie. Then they’d gone to the sheriff’s station. There had been questions. So manyof them.

And, of course, they’d had to pick up groceries again. Though the store had given them to her for free, so…win.

In the end, the whole day had slipped away. Now she wanted to escape from the men and their grilling and their accusations and go upstairs. “I think I’ll take a shower and turn in. Night, gentlemen.” She headed for the stairs.

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