Page 48 of Close Protection

Before Amelia has a chance to say anything more, thedoor opens again and Daphne steps out wearing the same huge diamond necklace but this time in a strapless baby pink dress with a slit running from her lower thigh to the floor.

She looks beautiful. Graceful, elegant… and hot.

Before anyone can say anything, we hear a muffled shout from downstairs. I cross the room in an instant and pull the door open to see if I can hear any better.

‘George!’ an unrecognizable male voice calls.

‘Teddy?’ Daphne whispers, frowning as she hurries past me, calling the name again on her way down the stairs.

‘Miss Green,’ I shout after her, ready to walk out before turning around to face Hallie and Averie. ‘You two stay here.’ My tone leaves no room for argument so they both nod as Amelia comes to join me.

‘Who the hell is Teddy?’ I ask Amelia, jogging down the stairs after Daphne. But before she can answer, Daphne comes back into view with George at her side as they make their way over to a curly-haired guy standing at the front door. His face is half covered but as soon as he turns around I hear two gasps.

‘Teddy?’ George gasps.

‘Oh my gosh, Teddy, what happened to you?’ Daphne says, her voice laced with concern as she reaches up to gently move his face to see the extent of his injuries.The guy has a busted lip and is sporting a mean black eye. He’s completely soaked even though it’s sunny outside.

‘I’m sorry, George,’ Teddy breathes heavily, dropping a small duffel onto the floor. ‘I didn’t know where else to go.’

21MILOSH

‘Hand off her thigh, Teddy,’ Henry instructs coolly as I walk into the snug. I look around the room and spot Teddy and Daphne on the couch, sitting way too close together for my liking.

She’s holding a washcloth in her hand and is almost face to face with him. Amelia and Henry are sat opposite on the other couch, with a scowl etched onto Henry’s face as he watches them.

Teddy’s hand is still lingering on Daphne’s leg so I clear my throat, letting my presence be known, and it’s almost comical how fast Mr Build-A-Bear shrinks back.

Almostbeing the operative word.

Everything about this guy irritates me.

From his curly blond hair to his polo shirt and sweater combo, he oozes charm. His glasses frame his face, despite the black eye, and really help him lean into the whole Prince Charming look that I’m sure works real wellwith Daphne’s princess girly vibe.

Physically, he looks a lot like Eddie, Daphne’s cousin’s boyfriend. But the big difference is, Eddie seemed like a decent guy.

Teddy is simply a dick.

After Teddy showed up, George took him to get changed into some dry clothes, while Amelia went to get Henry. Daphne got changed back into her regular clothes and I helped Hallie and Averie pack up and leave. I know before they left they agreed on a dress for Daphne, but I don’t know which one it was.

‘Stop moving,’ Daphne sighs, dabbing the washcloth to the side of Teddy’s mouth, her other hand gently holding his jaw in place.

‘Sorry, sorry,’ Teddy chirps, smiling at her, then wincing in pain.

Good.

‘So, Teddy,’ I say, and all at once four heads turn to me. I lean against the wall, slipping my hands into my pockets as I look at him. ‘How exactly do you know Daphne and her father?’

My eyes involuntarily wander to Daphne as she starts nervously biting her lip.

‘Well,’ Teddy starts, ‘I’ve known the Greens since I was a child. Spent way too many Christmases here. Our parentsare close friends.’ He motions between him and Daphne, grinning. ‘And I actually started working with George this year as an apprentice, of sorts.’

As if on cue, George walks through the door holding a hot drink.

‘Here you go, Teddy.’ I don’t miss the subtle tremor in George’s hands as he places it onto the coffee table and takes a seat next to Henry. ‘All right, now we’re all here, Teddy, take us through what happened.’

‘Well, when I got back home after my workout everything was ruined. My apartment had been completely ransacked, with torn books, flipped tables, broken glass – you name it. I ran to my bedroom to check what else had been damaged but when I opened the door there were two huge men waiting for me. I tried to run but they were fast and caught up with me.’ Teddy takes a dramatic pause. I look over to Daphne to see her brows are knitted together in concern and empathy. Amelia and George have similar expressions. Henry, however, is sitting there looking completely unimpressed as if this is the most mundane story he’s ever heard.

‘They started punching and beating me,’ Teddy continues, ‘and I honestly didn’t know why. I thought this was a home invasion and they were after my stuff, so why didn’t they just take it and go?’ As Teddy is speaking a freshscab on his lip bursts, causing blood to start dripping down his face. Daphne is quick to catch it with the washcloth, holding it firmly to his face while her other hand rests on his shoulder.

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