Page 38 of Damned
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So... Bree didn’t want him hanging around, and she didn’t love him, huh? Kruze tried to ignore the buzz from the Banks’ family conference in the hall, and hoped Robin couldn’t hear it. But whispers always carried farther than people thought.
He had one word for that stubborn woman chatting about him behind his back with her parents.Yet.Bree didn’t love him—yet.She was right. They’d only been together twice, intimate the one night. But to Kruze, Robin was a damned good reason to marry her mother, to spend the rest of their lives together, making sure Robin and however many more brothers and sisters came along after her, were well cared for. Loved. That was what moms and dads did, they loved their kids and put them first, no matter what. Like Scarlett had. This might be the biggest challenge of Kruze’s life, convincing a stubborn woman to love him, especially after the way he’d bailed on her. But he was a SEAL, and this woman obviously didn’t know SEALs never gave up.
Things were about to change. Kruze hadn’t told Bree about Berfendebeing in the States yet. Since she and her parents had stepped away and were obviously holding court without him, he put a quiet call into Senator Sullivan. It might be late, but Kruze doubted McQueen was home, more likely at his office.
Sure enough. The man from Texas answered his own phone with a terse, “Sullivan.”
Kruze winked at Robin as he replied, “Senator, Kruze Sinclair here. I’m sorry to disturb you this late, but have you heard any more on our friend from Turkey?”
Robin’s eyes lit up. Kruze hoped she was thinking Thanksgiving turkey. He winked again. She scrunched her nose and squeezed both eyes tight. That was a kick, her winking like that.
“Nothing yet. Why?” Sullivan sounded grumpier than usual.
“Permission to act as personal bodyguard to the target in question.”
“You mean Miss Banks? Good idea. Do you know where she lives? I can get that information for you.”
“Already on it. In fact, I’m visiting with her parents at the moment.”
“Good. Anything else?”
“No, sir.”
“Then get it done.” The connection ended.
“Yes, sir,” Kruze mumbled to himself as he slipped his cell back into his rear pocket. “Should we go see your mommy?”
Robin ducked her head into her shoulders, a definite gleam of mischief in her eyes. “Can I say boo and scare her?”
“Sweetheart, you can say anything you want.” Straightening, he held out his arms.
Robin scrambled off her chair and barreled into him with a delighted, “Let’s go!”
This child wasn’t afraid of anything. When she snuggled under his chin as if she belonged there, Robin stole his heart all over again. Kruze stood there, a sinner lost in paradise. There was no way in hell he deserved this child. She was perfect and her mother was a saint. They deserved better, but he was damned if he’d let them go.
His nose was deep in Robin’s curly hair, and his heart was in his throat. Just breathing. Just beating. Daring to believe that everything was different now. After all these hard years alone, he had something excellent to live for.
“I love you, Robin,” slipped easily off his tongue.
She burrowed in closer, her arms tucked between them. “I love you too, Mister Kruze. You smell really good.”
What could a guy say to that? Kruze already loved this little girl more than he’d ever thought possible. And one way or the other, hewouldmake amends for being an ass, and heabsolutely wouldmarry Robin’s stubborn mother.
