Page 73 of No Mistake

As if on cue, Chloe yawned. “Sorry, yes, of course.”

“Great. I’ll leave you both now.”

Sophie swallowed as he turned to face her. “When you’re ready to leave, call me. I’ll come and get you.”

“I’m going to stay here, but thank you.”

“Oh no you’re not.” Chloe yawned again. “I am going to go to sleep, and I’ll likely be out for a while. Go. You can come back later.”

“No. I’ll stay in case you need anything. Ryan, you go. I can grab a taxi home.”

“No can do, honey. You’re still under my protection.”

“What? I thought it was over?” Sophie said with alarm in her voice.

“Until we have confirmation that Ricardo is back on Mexican soil, we’re not taking any chances. Chloe is safe here, and you have to put up with me a little while longer.”

“I’m sure Sophie can put up with you for quite some time,” Chloe said, a huge smirk on her face.

“Chloe! Ricardo is still out there and you’re joking around?”

“I would rather not hear Ricardo’s name again. But if we need protecting a little longer, then that’s what we do. I trust Ryan and his team, and so should you. When they say we are safe, then we can put this all behind us. Now will you please go, so I can go to sleep not worrying that you’re sitting here waiting for me to wake up.”

“Alright.” Sophie grabbed her purse. “But can we go to my house. I’d really like to get a change of clothes.”

Ryan nodded. “Yes, we can stay there. That’s fine.”

Sophie leaned down to kiss Chloe on her cheek.

“Go and take advantage of that fine specimen of a man. When you get back, I want details,” Chloe whispered in her ear. Sophie stepped back, rolling her eyes.

“Go to sleep. I’ll see you in a little while.”

SOPHIE SAT QUIETLY in the passenger seat as Ryan drove her home. She should be feeling over the moon at Chloe being safe, and she was, but right at this moment, she was very distracted by the sexy, handsome man sitting next to her.

“You doing OK, honey?” Ryan reached over, grabbing her hand. It was such a normal, nice thing to do, but her hands were shaking. She did her best to still them.

“Yes.”

“Are you sure? Your hand is trembling,” Ryan asked with concern.

Of course, he would notice. What was she going to say? I’m trembling because I’m scared. Because I’m nervous that when we get to my house, you’ll want sex. And it excites me and petrifies me all at the same time.

Instead she said, “I think it’s just relief. It hasn’t really sank in yet that she’s going to be OK.”

The answer seemed to satisfy him, and they drove the ten minutes to her house.

“Wait here,” he said. Putting the SUV in park, he took his gun from his waistband.

“Is that really necessary.” She looked at the gun.

“Hopefully not. But I like to be prepared. Give me your key.”

She handed it to him.

“I’ll be right back.” He leaned over, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek, before getting out. She watched him disappear, reminded again about how dangerous his job could be. It was one thing knowing what guys like Ryan did for living. Hell, she saw the injuries that passed through Westside. But seeing Ryan wielding a gun made it all much more real.

Ryan reappeared a few minutes later, walked around to her side of the SUV, and opened her door.

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