Page 4 of The Tech Guru's Heart

“Well, you’re half right,” the big man countered, his voice deep and gruff.With narrowed brown eyes, he flicked his gaze toward where Gary tightly gripped Amelia’s arm.“Youare leaving.”He pointed a thick, tanned digit at Gary, then shifted to Amelia.“Amelia, however, isn’t going anywhere with you.”He took a menacing step forward.“Let her go, Gary.”

Obviously, the stranger knew who Amelia was, even though Ezra’s neighbor was staring at the newcomer as if she’d never seen him before.

When Gary still didn’t obey, the guy took another step forward.He struck out with one hand wickedly fast, but he didn’t punch Amelia’s father.Instead, he grabbed Gary’s pinky and ring fingers and yanked backward, the opposite direction of their usual bend, forcing him to release Amelia or have his fingers broken.

As it was, Gary still cried out and twisted away from the man as he released his daughter.

The stranger immediately let go of Gary.He used his thickly muscled arm to push Amelia backward as he pivoted, moving her behind him protectively.Then, to Ezra’s surprise, he grabbed Ezra’s upper arm in a surprisingly light grip and did the same to him.

“Get out, Gary,” the guy ordered once more.“And take your hateful slurs with you.”

Gary rubbed his obviously hurting hand with his other as he stared at him with a hate-filled gaze.“This isn’t over,” he declared, but at least he went.

The stranger followed Gary to the door, perhaps making certain he truly left.Then he closed and locked the door before turning to face them.

“Are you both okay?”he asked, glancing between them.

Ezra felt his face heat just a little when the man’s attention lingered over him, sweeping up and down his lanky frame.

“Y-Yes, thank you,” Amelia replied softly.Cocking her head, she asked, “Um, not that I’m not grateful, but...who are you?”

The man’s bearded lips curved up into a wide smile.The move transformed his features from formidable to friendly...and downright devastatingly handsome.Even his brown eyes appeared to fill with warmth.

“Rigel called me, and I was in the area,” the man revealed.Moving toward them, he held out his big paw of a hand.“I’m Link Rawlins.I work with Rigel.”

“Oh, you do?”Amelia’s entire body seemed to relax as she took his hand.“Are you a—” She hesitated, glancing toward Ezra before refocusing on Link.“Um, I mean—”

Chuckling, Link nodded as he released her hand.“Yeah.I’m in security, too.”Then, if Ezra wasn’t mistaken, the guy’s cheeks took on a hint of pink behind his thick beard.“Cyber-security, though.Different area but still...”Link shrugged one massive shoulder.

“Oh, so, like, you work with computers and stuff?”Amelia asked, sounding just as surprised as Ezra was feeling.

“Yeah.”Link glanced discreetly at Ezra before adding, “With computers and stuff.”

No way.This huge man’s a computer nerd?

“Well, cool, and thank you for coming.”Amelia sighed deeply as she rubbed her right upper arm.“I never should have opened the door.”

“Probably not,” Link confirmed.

Amelia turned to Ezra and smiled at him.“And thank you so much for stopping my father, Ezra.”Her cheeks darkened in an embarrassed or frustrated blush.“He was ready to drag me home as if we were in the Victorian Era or something.”Lowering her voice, Amelia grumbled, “Or I’m a recalcitrant teenager in need of a spanking.”

Ezra held his hands up, palms out.“Hey, I didn’t stop him.Hedid.”He used a thumb to point at Link.With a grin, Ezra added, “I just delayed him a little until the true hero arrived.”

“I sure as hell ain’t no hero,” Link muttered, looking away from them both.

That time, Ezra was absolutely certain Link was blushing.

How cute.

Not that Ezra would ever tell the big man that.He liked his features the way they were, thank you very much.

“Well, you’re both heroes to me,” Amelia insisted with another smile.Focusing on Link, she asked, “When you talked to Rigel, did he say if they were coming?”

Link nodded.“Yeah.Should be here in twenty-five.”

Amelia moved toward the kitchen, saying over her shoulder, “Well, if you need to go, I’m sure I’ll be fine until they get here.”She smiled Ezra’s way, too.“You, too, Ez.Thank you again for stopping.”

Even before Amelia had finished speaking, Link began shaking his head.“Nope.Told Rigel I’d stay until they got here.”

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