Page 70 of Protector Daddy

“It’s your job too now. Not being in the field but handling the calls that come in.” Mav squeezed my upper arm. “He’ll be fine. It’s honestly just routine. We all pick up a couple of those shifts per year usually. The chances anything will even come of it are super rare.”

I looked at him dubiously as I followed him out of the bathroom. “If you say so.”

“I do. Trust your all-knowing brother.”

“Uh-huh. Trust Mav. Got it.”

I’d just keep telling myself that as I went home to sleep off my pregnancy. Should only take eight plus months or so.

FOURTEEN

It had beena pisser of a day.

First, I’d spent over seven hours waiting for a suspected smuggler to attempt to move his stolen goods so I could catch him in the act and nab the predicate felon before he carted the goods across state lines.

Instead, I’d acted on the tip that he was preparing to move so I’d called on Brady for backup before we’d invaded the motel room—only to find it empty of both the perp and the goods. He’d somehow snuck out hours ago, heading for parts unknown.

And in the middle of sweeping the area, Brady had decided to remind me once again that he had his eye on me regarding his sister and I’d better watch my step. For all I knew, Mav had shared with him what I’d told him in confidence. I wouldn’t be surprised.

The whole day had been a waste.

Sleeping with my colleagues’ sister had been…a choice. I didn’t regret it. But holy shit, it caused me issues.

Good thing she was more than worth it.

When we got back to the station, Miranda was still manning the Dispatch desk. “Went home sick,” she announced as I stopped beside her chair.

I frowned. Honey hadn’t seemed at all sick this morning. “Went home sick meant she came in at some point?”

“Yeah, just long enough to take off with Mav for lunch. Then she called in and swapped shifts with me for Sunday.” She shrugged.

“Sunday?” I felt like my frown was permanently etched into my face at this point. “What time Sunday?”

Was that her way of getting out of dinner with my folks and the rest of the assembled Mastersons? Never knew who would show up until the final head count although most of us did our best to be there so we didn’t disappoint Mom.

Including your daughter.

Thanksgiving was in just a few days and there would be no getting out of that event unless you had to work or suffered some kind of injury that involved blood. So I half expected Travis to claim at the last minute he had some VIP shindig he just couldn’t miss.

He was the least into the whole family deal despite his young daughter. She either stayed with her mother when she was in town—she was also a model, though mostly locally—or she took her homework on the road with her father.

Even with his slightly vagabond lifestyle, Trav knew his daughter far more than I did my own.

“Early shift,” Miranda said vaguely as she typed quickly and consulted a clipboard. “Short one. She got the better end of the deal.”

“Thanks.” On my way back to my desk, I pulled out my phone to check it once more. I’d been focused on watching the motel room so I’d purposely turned off my phone, figuring I’d see Honey when I got back to the station. Not so much.

So strange she’d gotten sick all of a sudden. I hoped she was okay. I’d just catch up on paperwork here and see if I could head out. Maybe I’d grab her some soup on the drive home.

Or no, she’d probably be at her apartment, which meant I could leave my vehicle in the lot here and walk down the street. The diner should still be open and I’d grab some of the chicken tortilla soup she loved.

I had a couple of texts waiting for me. One from Reagan, one from Honey, and one from my mother.

I opened Reagan’s first.

Reagan

I got here a day early to see Gigi & Gramps. I’ve been checking out the town. So quaint. I’m gonna do another tour of Syracuse U tomorrow. Thought mebbe you’d want to go with? Is ten okay? Figured I’d drop off my bags then hit the college? LMK.

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