Page 24 of His to Protect

He gave me one last look as my smile grew.

“Those aren’t really so bad,” I told him, knowing exactly what he was doing. He was finding a way to give me money without me having to ask…which I wouldn’t, anyway. “Is Aidan gone?”

“Yeah. Derrick will take the couch tonight, which works because we’ll be up late playing games. Like I said, you can join us or not, whatever you’re comfortable with. Aidan will be here tomorrow around nine to pick him up.”

He stepped inside, closing the sliding door behind him, once again giving me space.

I turned back to Boomer and looked up at the dark sky that held the slightest haze of clouds. I wondered what my life would have been like if I had seen Kevin for the kind of man he truly was before we were married.

Would I have been able to have a man that seemed as kind as Declan, willing to hang out with his friend’s teenage son while the dad went out on a date? Would I have had the small but warm house that felt cozy and lived in, instead of massive and sterile like mine?

I felt like I’d lost my time. I would never know, because there was no way I would ever truly be free of Kevin.

He would never grant me a divorce, regardless of where I ended up.

At least not without a fight, and he had the resources to make that fight nearly impossible for me to win.

Which left only one option—I had to figure out a way to get myself someplace safe, where he couldn’t find me…

And figure out a way to live the rest of my life alone, knowing I’d lost out on the dreams I’d had since I was a little girl.

—

I sat up with a start and my hand flew to my chest. My heart beat erratically against my mostly healed ribs. There was only a slight pain from the sudden movement as my eyes took in the strange room.

I wasn’t in my bedroom. I wasn’t in the hotel. I was in a bed that was at least a thousand times more comfortable than that ratty, lumpy mattress.

After taking several breaths, I remembered where I was.

Declan’s house. He was essentially a stranger with a wicked scowl and large muscles, but with a kind voice, which I figured could sometimes be scary too, if he wanted it to be.

Not that I had seen or heard that.

With my heart rate slowing, I tried to remember the dream that caused me to wake up so abruptly. As I tried to grasp it, I came up short.

I was left with the lingering sensation of fear, and an echo of a woman’s voice screaming “Never again!” but that was all I could recall.

It took me several more moments to realize Boomer was no longer in the room with me, even though the door was still closed. I also caught a quick whiff of bacon, and heard masculine voices downstairs.

I didn’t know whether to be scared that someone had been in my room and took Boomer out, or grateful that for the first time in a week, I didn’t wake up to my dog licking me to consciousness.

Digging through my bag, I pulled on a pair of pink-and-blue pajama pants and threw a baggy but comfortable sweatshirt on over the pink cami top I slept in.

After using the restroom to wash my face and brush my teeth, I headed downstairs, walking slowly and focusing on the noises coming from the kitchen.

“She’s pretty, though,” I heard Derrick say. My feet paused before I turned the corner into the kitchen.

There was a clink of silverware before Declan replied, “She’s a friend and in trouble. I’m just helping.”

“Yeah, but my dad says you haven’t been out since Mara left, and now you got a hot chick in your house.”

Before Declan could respond to that, I hurried into the kitchen, hoping that my cheeks weren’t as flushed as they felt. “Good morning!” I chirped, and glanced around for the coffeemaker.

“Hey,” Declan said from his chair at a small two-person table in the tiny eating area.

He shot Derrick a quick glare, and I watched as the young teenager shoveled his mouth full of eggs before he grunted a hello in my direction.

I shook off the unease of the conversation they were having and asked, “Do you have any coffee?”

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