Page 28 of His to Protect

It made no sense, I just knew that’s what I wanted.

“Can I come with you? Maybe help out or something? I think I’ll drive myself crazy if I’m here all day with nothing to do.”

A thought came to mind and I grinned. “How good are you with computers?”

—

“You’re a fucking genius,” I told Trina.

Her eyes sparkled in a way I hadn’t seen before.

As if she had to summon the strength to sass me, she bit her lip before saying, “I think you’re up to ten dollars now.”

I grinned. Last night, when she’d looked terrified at the realization she’d talked back to me, I couldn’t help but make a joke to ease her fear. The thought that she hadn’t been able to speak her mind unnerved me, further increasing my rage toward whatever asshole had been married to a sweet piece like her and abused it.

My old man always said you could take the measure of a man by who he chose to stand by his side.

I’d never doubted that saying until now. Trina seemed like a hell of a woman, and proved it all day as I showed her my accounting software and the piles of shit on my desk. Within hours, she’d whipped my office into shape. I planned on paying her for her time, even if I couldn’t afford it.

“Saturday nights are busy nights,” I said as a knock came on the office door. Moving to open it, I looked back at her. “You’ll hear a lot fucking worse before the night is over.”

Her lips twitched, like she wanted to add up my tally, but stayed silent.

Emily stood on the other side of the door, cheeks flushed and eyes wide. She was early for her shift, which wasn’t a surprise, but her pale skin concerned me.

“What is it?” I asked, opening the door further and letting her in. When she caught sight of Trina sitting at the desk, her eyes widened further.

“Trina, Emily. You two saw each other yesterday,” I said by way of introduction. As soon as both women said hello, Emily turned to me.

“I’m so sorry to do this to you,” she said, her hands twisting together. “But I just found out my older sister is in labor. Her baby’s coming three weeks early and her husband is still deployed. My mom is stuck at work, so my sister is headed to the hospital on her own.”

“Go,” I told her, not needing hear any more. “We’ll figure it out.”

“Are you sure?”

I nodded and waved her toward the door. “Do what you have to do. Don’t worry about it.”

She nodded quickly and exhaled.“Okay. Thank you, Declan. You’re the best.”

“Just go help your sister.”

She turned around and hurried out of the kitchen, hitching her purse over her shoulder as she walked away.

“Shit.” It was thirty minutes before her shift started and it was going to be hell finding a server to replace her on such short notice. Our afternoon server, Maggie, had to head home soon to be with her kids before her husband left for his night shift at one of the auto plants, so she couldn’t stay.

A snicker behind me caught my attention.

“So, now that we know you’re good on computers,” I asked, grinning, “any chance in hell you know how to take orders or seat people?”

Trina rolled her eyes and pushed her chair back from the desk. “When I suggested hanging out here today, I didn’t realize I’d be put to work.”

It was the first time she’d outright teased me.

“I’ll pay you. Plus you’ll get to keep whatever tips you make.”

“It’s not a hardship, Declan. I did do some waitressing in high school, so I’m sure I can figure it out.”

Pressure eased from my chest at her words. I turned to call out to Maggie.

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