Page 86 of Merciless Protector

I didn’t begrudge the woman her dislike of me. In fact, I wasn’t sure I wouldn’t feel the same if I’d been in her place.

“I should go,” I said, really not wanting to get into a war of words with this woman.

“It’s not you,” she began. “Well, it is you. You are the walking reminder that my husband cheated on me. And then you give him his first grandchild. It’s hard to like you when you are the epitome of my failures.”

I had the worst luck when it came to rich, older people. They either loved or hated me. “I really should go.”

Though I had many questions to ask my father, like why he cheated with my mother and lied to her and why he continued to pay child support for me when I wasn’t a child. But I’d gotten what I came for, even in that brief time we shared. Acceptance. He’d looked at me like a father looks at his daughter. There had been unmistakable pride in his eyes. I wasn’t just a bill to pay every month. I could be happy with that.

Time would tell if I’d see him again and try for a private conversation, just the two of us.

* * *

Days later…

“I’ve been thinking,” I said as we parked in front of my parents’ house.

“What about?” Shawn asked.

“I think I’m leaving the FBI.”

His mouth shut. It had been something I’d contemplated. I’d joined for all the right reasons, but there was too much red tape. Like they still didn’t know who the mole was. There were suspicions, but a long investigation was underway. Justice moved too slow for my liking. Besides, I had a better offer. One that would allow me to do what I loved and still work from home while our baby was an infant.

“You’re going to accept Griffin’s offer.” It wasn’t a question.

Griffin needed a new analyst. Kelsey had been doing it part time while using her computer expertise for the other half. His company was growing by leaps and bounds and Kelsey had less time to do the analysis work.

“I’m not going to lie. I’ll miss fieldwork. But I’d rather see our baby grow up more.”

“Whatever you decide,” he said.

I loved that he hadn’t thrown money at me and suggested I do nothing but enjoy the perks of being in a relationship with a millionaire or billionaire. I hadn’t asked for details about his bank account.

“Are you ready?” I asked.

He’d met my family before. Dad had pulled him outside for a little man-to-man chat. My mom was leery, mostly because of my bio dad. Two blond men with money. She was worried he wasn’t in for the long haul. My little sister, however, loved Shawn. Every time, he’d show up with little gifts for her. Nothing fancy. He knew I wouldn’t approve, but things like books or a paint set. Today, he’d spent a little more and gotten her a telescope. It was a learning one for kids, so I hadn’t balked.

He leaned over and kissed me. “I’m always ready.”

I giggled. “I know. But later.”

Much later because when we got home, Little Miss would likely want to breastfeed. But after, it would be all about Mommy and Daddy time.

What he didn’t know was how close I was to saying yes. Yes, to us setting a date. The date we’d make it official and be married.

“I love you,” I said and pressed another kiss to his lips.

“I love you more,” he said, jumping out of the car to open my door and help me out.

He got our daughter out next and cradled her like she was glass. “How’s my princess?” he cooed.

When she blew bubbles at him and his face lit up like it was Christmas morning, I knew I’d been right about him. He was a natural father and I felt like the luckiest woman in the world.

“That’s my pretty girl. Who’s the prettiest one of all?” he said to our little one.

I cocked my head in his direction. He had the grace to blush. “You know you’re the fairest one of all,” he said and winked. “But my baby girl here is going to steal hearts and I’m going to have to bury them because if so much as one boy touches a hair on my daughter’s—”

And there was my merciless protector, I thought as he made baby faces at our daughter. I took his arm and steered him toward my parents’ door because this could go on all night. And I was ready for Sunday dinner.

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