Page 5 of Protector

I put a hand on my mom’s arm, and Catherine and I exchange anI told you solook. It’s become so common we both know how Adele will react. Yes, she’s that predictable. I’d laugh if I wasn’t hanging on Brooks’s every word. “Let the man talk, Mom.”

One corner of Brooks’s mouth bumps up so fast I’m probably the only one who notices, since I was staring at his mouth.

“You’re right, I don’t specifically know them, but I know a lot. The big, hairy one… He’s nothing but an intimidating-looking muscle. If anything goes down, I guarantee he’ll do more harm than good. Roger…he keeps it cool, sure. And he may look good on a resume, but he hasn’t seen any action.”

“How do you know that?” Mom says.

“Wait— Roger?” I turn to my mom. “That’s Han’s real name, right?”

I hear Brooks chuckle at my nickname and feel my cheeks flush, so I don’t look at him, waiting for my mom to answer. “Yes. Their names are Roger and Eliot, and I’m sure they would appreciate you addressing them that way.”

Ignoring Adele’s lecture, I turn back to Brooks, more than curious. “How did you know? Did you talk to them?”

Brooks eyes me for long seconds before he reaches into his pocket, pulls out a wallet, and tosses it onto the table.

The three of us stare at it before Catherine reaches over and picks it up. “I’m guessing this isn’t yours?”

Brooks shakes his head, and Catherine opens the wallet, a crooked grin on her face. “Roger Henley, age thirty-two. Has a Kohls card.” She snickers and looks up.

“You stole his wallet?” Mom says incredulously.

“That’s not the point, Mom, obviously.” But I’m not looking at her; my gaze is glued to Brooks, impressed by his skills and his bold attitude. The kind of man who takes control of a situation.

“Look, I’m not here to entertain you with sleight of hand tricks. I was just proving a point. Your boy didn’t know what hit him. And it took one quick search on my phone before I walked to the table to tell me all I need to know about those two.”

“Okay, fine. You proved your point. But how do we know you’re any better?”

“Mom, seriously?”

“What? Obviously, I made a mistake hiring those two. I won’t make another.”

“That’s fair,” Brooks says.

“Trust me when I say Brooks is qualified,” Catherine says, handing the wallet to my mom. “He was a SEAL too and now works for Jackson’s security company.”

“That may be the case, but two bodyguards have to be better than one.” Mom looks from Catherine to me. “Don’t you agree?”

Brooks scoffs. “I work alone.”

I hear my mom sigh, but I can’t take my eyes off Brooks. Maybe I’m imagining it, but it feels like he’s willing me to say something. Then in an instant, he’s on his feet, sliding the chair back to the other table. “Seems you all need to discuss this. Catherine knows how to reach me, so let me know what you decide.”

He turns to leave, and my heart sinks. A rush of adrenaline has me shouting, “Brooks, wait.”

Mom puts her hand on my arm, but I pull it away, not wanting her to talk me out of this. I don’t know, maybe I want to spite her, or maybe I’m just tired of her trying to take control of everything. This is my career. My life. She hired those two rejects without even consulting me. But as Brooks moves back to the table, I know it’s neither of those reasons. It’s just a sense that Brooks will keep me safe. I barely know him, but I trust him. And if I’m being totally honest, I can’t let this god of a man walk out of my life. Maybe I do have daddy issues, butmm-mm, I want to sit on his lap, and if that makes me unprofessional, then so be it.

“Yeah?” Brooks’s deep, commanding voice shocks me from my inner psychological diagnosis.

“I want you…” I blush. “I mean, I’d like you to be my bodyguard.”

CHAPTERTHREE

Brooks

“Let’s talk about your panties.”

“Excuse me?”

Despite the fact I couldn’t get the image out of my head, I actually do have a legitimate reason for asking her.

---