Page 10 of Protector Daddy

“Yeah. It’s getting dark, you know.”

I did know but Crescent Cove-slash-Turnbull was hardly a bustling metropolis. Our crime rate wasn’t zero but it wasn’t far from it. Still, I was touched this big, strong cop was hurrying to come pick me up as if I was this fragile flower who hadn’t grown up with cops for older brothers and a mom in the FBI who’d insisted I take self-defense classes as a teen.

“I’ll be okay.”

“I’ll feel better.” A door closed in the background, silencing the sound of chimes. I figured he’d gotten into a vehicle, probably his police cruiser.

“Okay.” I bit my lip to hold back a smile. “So, how was your day?”

“Honey.”

My smile grew. “Every time you say my name, it’s with different inflection.”

He fell silent as the engine purred to life.

I dropped down on the grass, sitting cross-legged as the breeze kicked up. A row of giggling kids in costumes trooped up the street toward me, their joy contagious.

Maybe I wouldn’t have to spend Halloween alone, after all.

Not that I knew that for sure, since Christian was currently…being Christian. Silent and protective and an entire puzzle.

“Are we going to reschedule the interview?” I asked, merely to get a reaction from him.

“Not necessary.” His tone was clipped.

I’d already surmised as much. “I’ll put in an application at Every Line A Story. Maybe I can take an evening shift—”

“Also not necessary.”

“I need another part time position. I have to pay my rent.”

“Tabitha isn’t giving you enough hours at the bakery?”

“She’d give me more if I asked but she has expenses too. I don’t want to be a burden.” I snapped off a blade of grass. “I hope you didn’t get too detailed in your report regarding today’s interview. Just say I got unexpectedly sick.” Horny was closer to it.

“You’re sitting too close to the road.”

I lifted my head as a police cruiser with lights blazing swerved to the right and came to a halt in front of me. At least he hadn’t used the sirens. Jeez.

As he climbed out and stalked over to me, I spoke into the phone. “Speed much? Guess you think that badge makes you all powerful, huh?”

He simply cocked a brow as I rose unsteadily and brushed the leaves off my dress. Dear Lord, he was tall. Standing in front of him brought his sheer size back into unavoidable focus. Not just height. His shoulders were impossibly broad and his thighs flexing in his uniform pants made my mouth go dry.

“You’re very big.”

Nice one, Honey. Very astute.

Saying nothing, he moved to the cruiser and opened the passenger door, indicating I should get in with a jerk of his chin. I clamped down on more of my nervous babble and slipped inside. He shut the door and circled the hood to get back in on the driver’s side while the kids I’d noticed a few minutes ago clustered together on the grass and watched us as if I was a fugitive from justice Christian had just apprehended.

“Maybe next time skip the cruiser?” I muttered, resisting the urge to hide my face with my purse. Amazing how just being in a cop car made me feel furtive.

“I was at work. I didn’t have my truck with me.”

Yeah, try to be grateful, huh? Even if he felt that coming to collect you was worth the use of the flashers, which was kind of sweet.

“Was it okay you left?”

“Yeah, my shift was almost over. The Chief was coming on duty.”

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