Page 12 of Protected

Chapter Six

Dread coursed through Chelsey as a multitude of emotions wreaked havoc inside her.

Parker wouldn’t be there holding a gun on this guy if he didn’t have a good reason. His question sparked several of her own. Like, why was he there? How’d he know her date’s name? And what crime had Terrance done to warrant a gun to his head?

“I know him well enough,” Chelsey snapped as that sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach sunk lower.

“Did he tell you that he lives with his longtime girlfriend? A woman he’s been with for the last three years. Did he tell you that last week they celebrated his two-year old’s birthday?”

Shock rocked Chelsey, but she didn’t respond. She had done a preliminary background check on him to make sure he didn't have any warrants. Nothing more than that, though.

“By your silence, I assume you didn’t know any of that. Which means you’re probably not aware that his baby’s mama is seven months pregnant,” Parker said dryly, then added, “Oh, and congratulations Terrance, you’re having a boy.”

Chelsey could feel steam coming from her ears as she glared between Parker and Terrance. Parker because he probably only added that last comment for good measure, but Terrance…

“Is this true?” she whispered and studied her date who looked as if he was about to soil his pants. She was the biggest fool on the planet. Her man-picking skills were worse than she originally thought.

Whether Terrance responded or not, Chelsey already knew every word of it was true. Like the rest of his Atlanta’s Finest team, Parker was one of the most resourceful people she knew. How he found all of this out didn’t matter at the moment. What mattered was that she hadn’t known any of it.

“Go home to your baby’s momma, and stay the hell away from my woman,” Parker said, and still didn’t lower his weapon.

“Was anything you told me true?” she asked Terrance—but really, did it matter? “Never mind, I don’t need to know. I suggest you leave before I let this idiot shoot you.” When he didn’t move, she stepped closer. “He’s an impatient asshole, but he’s an excellent shot. Now get lost and lose my damn number!”

Terrence slowly lowered his hands and slowly moved away from Parker as if fearing the gun might go off if he moved too quickly. Parker knew everything about every gun, and he was a master at using them. There was no doubt in her mind that the gun’s safety was on, but still, accidents did happen.

When Terrance had put some distance between them, his bravery must have returned and he said “Chelsey, I’m sorry. I—l never meant…”

Turning, Chelsey gave him her back and she also ignored Parker who hadn’t moved. She was so pissed at him. It was best they didn’t talk right now. She pushed open her front door and started to enter when Parker touched her arm.

On reflex, Chelsey jerked away and swung at him, but he caught her wrist seconds before her fist connected with his handsome face. Thanks to boxing, his reflexes were lightning-quick.

She yanked out of his hold. “Don’t touch me,” she ground out, anger and embarrassment charging through her body like a live wire. “What you did was way out of line.”

When tears suddenly filled her eyes, she lowered her gaze.Dammit. No way was she going to cry, but she was furious; she could barely keep her emotions in check.

“Sweetheart…”

She lifted her hand and glanced at him. “Don’t,” she croaked out. “You hurt me when you broke things off, but I guess that wasn’t enough for you. You had to embarrass me too, huh? Because what you just did—”

“Sweetie, I am so sorry. If you give me a chance to—”

“No. We’re done, Parker. Now get the hell off my porch!”

He started to say something else, but Chelsey slammed the door in his face.

How is this my life?

Once inside the house, she flipped on the light for the foyer and locked the door before leaning against it. A few rogue tears slipped down her cheeks, but Chelsey quickly wiped them away.

No way was she going to cry because of a stupid man. Ortwostupid men.

“Ugh!”

Maybe they weren’t the stupid ones. She’d been a cop, for goodness sakes. How had she read Terrance so wrong? How did she not know he was hiding so much baggage? She had asked if he was married and if he had kids. He’d said no to both, but she never thought to ask if he was in a long-term relationship or screwing some woman. Had she been stupid enough to have sex with him and then found out this information, Parker would’ve had to pull her off that asshole.

Parker...Gawd!

She pushed away from the door and headed to the stairs that would take her to the second floor. “I hate the male species. Ihate them. I hate them. I hate them,” she shouted with each step she took until she reached the primary bedroom.

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