Page 28 of Broken Daddy

We straightened that out quickly, both of us clearly feeling awkward and embarrassed at the misunderstanding.

When I was asked what my relationship to Nate was, I’d hesitated. He was my…boss? Brother’s best friend?

Fuck buddy?

Nothing really seemed to fit, which is how I’ve been feeling about Nate more and more lately. I just can’tdefinehim.

His reaction to the vandalism, and now this, are sending my mind into a tailspin.

Nate:Stay there. I’m coming to get you.

A blush colors my cheeks at the command, but obviously, I can’t refuse. Instead, I stand close to the car, trying to block the view of the flat tire. Two of the other three are slashed as well. I can’t even imagine how much this will cost Nate. I should offer to have him dock it from my pay.

It takes him half an hour to get to the store, and by then, I’ve come down from the adrenaline rush, but I’m still worried.

“This isn’t a coincidence, is it?” I ask when he steps out of the Alpha and eyes the damage.

He shakes his head slowly, green eyes like the sky before a tornado comes in. “It definitely is not. Get in the car, I already called the insurance company.”

I reach for the grocery bags, but Nate beats me to it. His large hand brushes mine and a shiver of electricity goes through me.

* * *

The driveback to Nate’s house is quiet.

He’s been a grump the whole time I’ve known him, but now…I don’t know what to think.

His hands grip the steering wheel, knuckles tight, eyes staring straight ahead at the road. Brow furrowed.

I can feel the anger rolling off him like clouds, and it makes me nervous, but I don’t feel unsafe. Actually, it’s the opposite.

Facing these things alone, I’d have been terrified.

But as soon as Nathan showed up—both at my apartment and today—something inside of me quieted.

“I want you close.”

He says it so abruptly, all I can do is stare at him.

Close?

My brain conjures images of just how close we can get, and I mentally slap myself. Notthe time to daydream.

“Close, like…?”

“Like I want you to move all of your things into the house when we get back. No more pool house.”

Scoffing, I sit up straight and cross my arms. His eyes dart my way and he lifts a brow, slightly amused.

“Nate, that’s ridiculous. Both times I’ve been in the city—they obviously still think I live in the apartment building—”

“But if they’re watching you, now they know you don’t. And they’ve seen you with me. And the public knows who I am.”

He looks at me and his eyes pin me to the seat. I feel all the fight go out of me.

What is with this man? He could tell me to service him right here, right now, and I’d do it.

“And you need to call the police to report this, too. I’ve already made sure my insurance company has it on file.”

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