Page 47 of Island Protector

Behind Miles, Jess smothered a laugh. “I think it’s safe to assume Sharon’s judgment is solid, regarding her personal life and anything else.”

“Thank you,” Sharon said, regal as a queen.

“We’re settled?”

She nodded and Miles released her slowly, trading her hands for the back of a chair. Once again, she found herself thoroughly distracted by the way his forearms flexed. She had no idea why that appealed so much, but right now she welcomed the warm sizzle that chased away the earlier panic.

She handed her phone to Jess. “Can you get this stuff off my phone? I never want to see it again.”

“Fair enough.” Jess studied the device. “I don’t want to block the sender, just in case whoever it is does something more to incriminate themselves.”

Suppressing a shiver, Molly agreed.

“This can’t be the Graingers,” Sharon said. “From the start it hasn’t felt right. And this ugly intimidation effort feels like a scam. A low-rent kind of tactic.”

“Our team will get to the bottom of it,” Jess assured them.

An alarm sounded on her phone as Jess cleared away the offensive messages. “Time to get Bryce?”

“Yes,” Molly replied.

“I’ll drive,” Miles said. “It’ll give us a chance to talk to him together. Explain how we’ll be seeing more of each other.”

“Please, without going into all the gory details of why.”

His brow flexed. “Of course not.”

“Take the car seat,” Sharon reminded them. “None of this is your fault, Molly,” she added. “I’ll keep reminding you as many times as it takes.”

Jess smiled. “Count me in for that too.”

Molly stifled a groan. She felt like a burden to every one of them, but voicing that thought would only extend the lecture. In truth, she needed all three of them. She appreciated how they rallied around her, not just in recent days, but all the time. Jess was new to Molly’s personal circle, but she recognized the potential for a closer friendship.

“Thank you. All of you.” Molly waved as Miles whiskedher out of the house. “Bryce will love seeing you in the pick-up line,” she warned. “You’d better brace for impact.”

“No worries there.” He installed the booster seat in record time and then held open the front passenger door for her. “Your son is one of my favorite people.”

The statement hit her square in the heart, leaving her a little breathless and floaty. And at a loss for words. Before she could squeak out an appropriate reply, he’d closed her door and headed around the car to the driver’s side.

Then it just seemed too late to say anything. She didn’t want to make a mushy emotional mountain out of a small kindness.

Her son seemed to be an excellent judge of character, choosing Miles as his current hero and idol. And she wasn’t too proud to admit she found it easier to pretend things would work out and get back to normal again when Miles was close.

Chapter Eleven

Hours later,after what turned out to be a fun—and educational—experience in the school pick-up line, Miles was still fuming over the manipulated photos and the threat. He’d never seen Molly so scared. He recognized the signs of someone about to bolt. He couldn’t let that happen.

When Knox showed up in answer to his call, Miles led him straight back to the office and closed the door.

“I heard what happened,” Knox began. “You okay?”

Miles glared at him. “You should haveseenwhat happened,” he snarled.

“Why is that?” Knox’s voice iced over. “My job is you, not the woman you’re hung up on.”

“Yeah.” Miles shoved at his hair, forced himself to calm down. “I know. Sorry. I’m being an ass.”

Knox grunted, bracing a shoulder against the wall. “You picked up on that quicker than usual. That’s a good sign.”

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