Page 29 of Protecting Player #73
“Erika is a problem I don’t want you dealing with, so T.J. is going to help me figure something out.” Tears well up in her eyes, and the floor feels like it’s crumbling beneath my feet. “Pup, please don’t cry.” Stepping forward, I cup her cheeks in my hands and tilt her face up so I can see her eyes.
“I’m fine. It’s fine.” She waves a hand like she’s swatting her tears away. “Erika followed me today. Adeline interrupted her when she was trying to intimidate me, so I’m just really glad you’re going to deal with her.”
Feeling like an asshole, I draw her into my arms and hold her tightly, making promises to get things dealt with. I hope to hell she believes me because I won’t rest until Erika is no longer a problem for my girl.
In comfortable silence, we eat the taco soup she’s made. Brea is really talented in the kitchen. She’s cooked a few other things, but nothing I would have deemed overly complicated and could probably do on my own. This soup is next level, though. I’ve never tasted one this good before.
“What’s your secret?” I finally ask. She looks at me like I caught her with her hand in the cookie jar. “No other taco soup compares. How’d you make it so damn good?”
She shrugs, but it’s clear I’ve pleased her. “I make my own seasoning blend, slow-cook the ground beef, and add the seasoning while it’s browning, then some more once it’s in the pot with everything else. I top it off with a medium salsa that I also make.”
“You could make a fortune off this stuff; it’s damn good.” Addicting, really. I could easily live off the mixture forever.
Brea is so damn modest, though. She accepts the compliment but brushes it off as nothing special…just how her mom taught her to make it. I couldn’t imagine loving her any more, yet here I am, twice as in love with her as this morning.
After cleaning up the dinner dishes, I drive Brea to meet up with Alex, ducking down when she spots Brea exiting my car, a frown on her face. Alex is a fantastic agent, but she’s an even fiercer protective big sister, and frankly, she scares the crap out of me when I fuck up. Knowing I’m with her sister most certainly will piss her off.
I stick around until Brea is inside the diner, sitting across from Alex, then drive to catch up with T.J. My nerves get the best of me because I worry there will be no recourse or punishment for the things Erika is doing, and Brea won’t be safe.
Chapter 20
Brea
Not going to lie, walking into PB & J’s Diner after Alex spotted me getting out of T.K.’s car makes me more nervous than that time I nearly crashed her car after getting my license. In that case, Alex was protective and concerned that I could have been hurt. This time, she’ll probably be angry that I didn’t listen to her or that I’m breaking my contract, which I still haven’t figured out how to deal with.
“Brea.”There’sthe scolding tone I anticipated, as she stands to hug me. Her sneakers are the first thing I notice. Usually, Alex loves her heels.
“I know, I know,” I sigh, and we both sit down. “You warned me, and him, and here I am more in love with him now than when I was sixteen.”
With a frustrated exhale, my sister eyes me up and down and mutters, “You’re different.” I feel different. “Did you have sex?” Her pseudo-whisper as she leans forward draws a few eyes. Thankfully, the diner is mostly empty.
“No, we haven’t had sex.” I roll my eyes. “But he’s asked me to marry him.”
Dumbfounded, Alex blinks a few times and sits back. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her speechless before.
“Marriage.” She repeats the word, longing resonating in her voice. She yearned for that with Bray but regrets how things ended between them. “How?”
“Good evening, girls. Your usuals?” Betty, a waitress who has been here since the eighties, greets us with her signature smile. She’s been serving us since the first time Alex brought me here.
“Can I get fries, too, and a dozen sour cream donuts to go, as well?” T.K. will appreciate me bringing him something.
“Make it a large plate of fries,” Alex requests.
The salty sweetness of fried potatoes dipped in the cool milkshake makes my mouth water in ways I haven’t craved before. It sounds like pure heaven.
“You got it, girls. Back in a jiffy!” The woman is gone before we can thank her.
We sit silently for a few minutes before Alex leans forward and grips my hands. Her delicate floral tattoo peeks out from the sleeve of her sweater, making me wonder if I could be brave enough to get one of my own one day.
“Marriage,” Alex says again, and I chuckle. She’s stuck on that singular word.
“I realize you’re disappointed and worried about all the issues it’ll bring up, and I know I might lose my job, but T.K. is everything I didn’t know I wanted.” I sound like a lovesick fool.
“Oh, Brea, no. I’m not disappointed. Worried, sure, you’re my baby sister. My best friend. I think you and T.K. are an odd pairing, but can I be real as real can be?” Nodding my head hesitantly, she continues, “You’re perfect for each other.”
Surprised, I sit back. “You think so?”
“God, yes. You’re a little wild, in your own safe way. He’s untamed, but he’d never allow anything to happen to you. You’vealways been on the precipice of being ready to settle down, while he’s been…”
