Page 53 of Protecting Little Phoebe

“You are?” she asked. “Will you be able to do that?”

“I have to get a few things wrapped up, but hopefully. Now, what was it?”

“Well, I was just going to say that I don’t want to keep you from your work. It seems important and like you have a lot going on, and I feel guilty that you’re stuck here with me.”

“Listen to me, little girl,” he said in a low, deep voice. “I am not ‘stuck’ anywhere. I am right where I want to be. Yes, I have a lot going on, but you are not second to my work. It should be second to you. I should’ve left my laptop in the room.”

“No, no, I’m not saying this to make you feel guilty for working. I’m saying… well, I’m not sure. Maybe that if you need to go back to your home… your job… that you should.”

He tensed and she could sense him withdrawing from her.

“And away from you?”

“What? No! I don’t want you to leave me. I was hoping I could come too.”

He stared at her.

“I mean, not move in with you. I could just come with you. Maybe I could stay close by. I’d have to drive Cherry so it would take me a few days to get to Connecticut, but… it was just an idea. Probably a silly one. I’m so sorry.” Phoebe attempted to climb off his lap, but he placed his hands on her thighs to still her.

“Stay right where you are,” he said firmly.

She froze. Was he going to break things off with her?

“I think that is the best idea I’ve ever heard.”

He… what?

“You do?”

“Yes, well, not the part where you drive there or that you live in a hotel or something.”

She hadn’t actually figured out the accommodation part since a hotel might not be manageable. “Ahh, then what part did you like?”

“The part where you come and stay with me so you’re close by when I come home from work. I’ll try to cut back my hours which will be easier if I can work from the office for a few hours a day. That’s a brilliant idea, Phoebe.”

Well. Sometimes she had them.

“It doesn’t feel like it’s too soon. I mean, I’m not moving in, just staying,” she said hastily.

“Sweetheart, stop worrying,” he murmured. “I think it’s a great idea. I want you close by, where I can keep an eye on you. But can you manage that? You said you’re between jobs, but what about your family? Are they expecting you back soon? You won’t need much money since you can stay with me, however, do you have bills to pay?”

“I, um, I’m fine. I don’t need to be anywhere for a while, and I can call my brothers and let them know I’m going to stay away for a while.” She wouldn’t call them. But she could if she had to.

“Perfect. Just like you.” He wrapped his hand around the back of her neck and kissed her.

Long and hard and deep.

Her body stirred. She was all too aware that they hadn’t moved that step further and slept together. Although they had slept in the same bed together the last few nights. A whimper of need escaped her as he drew his mouth away.

“I’ll get my assistant to book us plane tickets.”

“Plane tickets? But I have to drive Cherry.”

“Sweetheart, I’m not going to let you drive Cherry across the country by yourself. We’ll put her on a car transporter.”

She bit her lip. Was getting on a plane a good idea? If she didn’t use her credit card, surely no one could trace her, right?

She’d managed to catch Zeus, the mechanic, when he’d dropped off Cherry. While Barren had been busy checking Cherry over, she’d given him enough cash to pay for the repairs and some extra for the hassle of driving it to Rawhide for her.

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