Page 25 of Snowed in with My Protector

“Play stupid games, win stupid prizes,” I mutter to myself.

When I step out of the shed, I dial Higgin’s number. He answers on the first ring, “We’re about to head your way.”

“No need. I’ve neutralized the threat and,” I pull my phone away from my face and send the pictures to Duncan, “I’ve just sent pictures of the three intruders to Duncan for identification.”

Blake grunts, “You have a plan for disposal?”

With a scoff, I assure him, “Mother Nature has a way of making things disappear up on this mountain. It’ll be taken care of.”

“Good,” he rumbles, but he sounds more relaxed than he did when he answered the phone. “We’ll track the men maybe it’ll be the break we need. If we can link them to someone at Luxe Notes, then we can use it as leverage. Corporations telling lies is one thing, a murder plot is another. No one wants to be caught up in that kind of scandal.”

“Whatever needs to be done to protect my woman,” I grunt.

There’s a little bit of a tease in his tone, but not even a little bit of surprise, “Your woman?”

“Yes,” I growl, “my woman.”

“I fucking knew it,” he mutters. “Duncan owes me $50.”

I bark out a laugh. “You two had a bet going? Wasn’t this what your little knowing looks was about?”

“Yeah,” he holds out the word, “Duncan bet me that you’d only admit what she is to you after the assignment was done and she was leaving the mountain.”

“What the fuck?” I scoff and shake my head, but my outrage is performative at best. “That would have been impossible to do.I’m not sure how I’m going to manage it, but I’m never letting her leave my mountain.”

Blake chuckles. “Yeah, that’s what I figured would happen.”

“Whatever,” I grumble. “I’m going to go and get my woman out of the safe room and make sure she knows she’s safe. For tonight,” there’s a warning in my words.

“We’ll figure it out,” he promises. “She’ll be safe, for good, soon.”

“She better.”

I don’t stay on the line to hear what he has to say as I make my way inside the cabin. I’m sure I have some arterial spray on me and who knows what else, but I don’t care. The need to see my girl has my steps quickening until I’m standing in front of the safe room door with my chest heaving.

My fist comes down hard in three fast knocks before I pause and knock another three times. The moment the door swings open, my gorgeous woman is a blur as she launches herself at me. I wrap her up in the safety of my arms, content to just hold her, reveling in the way she feels pressed against me.

I’ve kept her safe tonight. That knowledge has me breathing just a little bit easier.

CHAPTER 11

FALLON

Relief like I’ve never known before threatens to pull me under the moment I’m back in Hutch’s arms. I know we’re not in danger anymore or else he wouldn’t be here and wouldn’t have let me out of the safe room. That doesn’t mean all my worry has ebbed, but it does help me breathe a little easier.

People came for me. Here. Where I should have been safe.

But Hutch kept his word, he stood between me and the danger. I’m under no illusions, I know he took out the threat to me. I have no doubt that he would do it again and again.

My voice is a squeak, filled with the remnants of my fear and uncertainty, “You’re okay?”

“I’m fine,” he assures me as he carries me away from the safe room. “How are you?”

I let out a watery giggle, totally enraptured by this man who just had to go out in the middle of the night and face unknown opposition to keep me safe. And then, after that, he’s here and asking if I’m okay?

“I’m fine, Hutch. Much better now that I’m back in your arms.”

His fingers snake through my hair until he’s gripping thestrands at the base of my neck. His touch is firm, but gentle as he pulls my head far enough back to look down at me. There isn’t much light as we move toward the bathroom, but I don’t need it.

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