Page 31 of His to Protect

Chapter 7

Trina

I should have returned home from the Arizona Spa three days ago. If Kevin didn’t know I was gone before, he certainly knew now.

My stress levels were through the roof, and as each day went by, I found myself looking over my shoulder more often, becoming jumpier at every small sound.

I searched the Internet repeatedly to see if there was any mention of my name or his. I knew that if he suspected I’d left him, he would have kept it from the media, but the fact that he wasn’t in the media at all made me more nervous than not. It was only a year before the presidential election. Presidential hopefuls were campaigning, traveling the country and attending state fairs all over the Midwest. While candidates didn’t generally come to Kentucky’s state fair, we got a fair share of conservatives trying to push their agendas and slogans and basic political fodder down our throats at this time of year.

Kevin was usually swamped, attending press conferences and meetings, as well as rallies and dinners.

That I hadn’t seen him in photos from any of them concerned me.

It had also been three days since I started working and helping Declan at Fireside Grill. The work was often mind-numbing, but I found my body sore in that good, hardworking kind of way when we left the restaurant after closing up.

Sometimes I helped him with his computer system, and not only did I figure out his payroll system, I simplified the process and made it more user-friendly. I also spent time getting Declan caught up on all of his filing and accounting for the quarter.

I planned on tackling his filing system, because trying to slide receipts and invoices into his current system—which lacked any true organization—almost caused more than one migraine.

Sometimes he called me out of his office and had me work a few tables. Sometimes I helped the bartender on busier nights, even though I could only help with bottles and drawing drafts. Other times, I worked at the hostess station. Emily was still out, spending time with her sister, who had not only delivered three weeks early, but had had a complicated delivery. Emily wanted to spend as much time with her sister and new niece as possible. Declan told her to take her time and be with her family, and that I would help him out in the meantime.

I didn’t truly believe he needed me at all, but the fact that he was giving me jobs where I could pocket cash was wonderful.

Surrounded by people who had no idea who I was, what my past was like, or what I was running from, I was beginning to relish living without constantly wondering if every move I made was being judged or criticized.

But at all times, in the back of my mind, was the niggling whisper warning me that I needed to leave soon. Unfortunately, every day I spent at Fireside, around Declan, not to mention his friendly staff and even friendlier—and generous—customers, I listened to that voice less and less.

It wasn’t possible for me to stay in Latham Hills forever.

It was probably the worst idea ever.

Yet I hadn’t been able to bring myself to leave, either.

“You going to be okay here, on your own?”

I was sitting on the couch and the question startled me. I jumped.

I twisted around to face the stairway Declan had just descended, and I watched as he twirled his key ring around his thumb. Next to me, Boomer’s head jolted up. He sniffed and then began panting before he leapt to his feet and trudged over to Declan.

Not only was I not excited about leaving anytime soon, I suspected Declan had been providing Boomer with a plethora of treats over the last few days. Every time he entered the room, Boomer was right there at his feet, sitting patiently in a way that was rare for him.

Perhaps leaving the stress of our home had been good for him, too.

I ignored the way this made my chest feel warm and tingly and nodded. “I’m just going to take Boomer for a walk and then chill out here. Get caught up on my television.”

At Declan’s insistence, I wasn’t going in to Fireside today. He demanded I put my feet up and rest. After years of having no one care about me or my needs, I decided to ignore the warm tingle that sent to my chest, too. Declan was becoming dangerous for me, for reasons antithetical to the reasons Kevin was.

My lips twitched as I watched Declan scowl. “I don’t like the idea of you out walking by yourself.”

“It’s not even dark out.” It was only three in the afternoon and night wouldn’t fall for hours. I would have thought that after being controlled for so long by Kevin, this over-protectiveness would bother me.

Yet, with his concern, that silly warmth suffused my blood and made it pump a little faster.

“You’ve got the phone numbers for Fireside, right? And my cell?”

“Yes.” I waved him away with a quiet laugh. “Go to work, Declan. We’ll be fine.”

His lips pressed together as we stared at each other, neither one willing to back down, before I finally saw the fight leave him.

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