Page 34 of Shattered Secrets

Bean

I’ll let you know what I find out about the break-in at Scarlet’s. Later.

Matt

Wow, thanks. Appreciate both your help.

Gavin

Welcome to the team, brother.

A smile tugged at his lips as he reread the messages. Any lingering doubts he’d had about joining Hudson Security evaporated. He wasn’t sure how Bean and Esme were able to get things done so quickly—and frankly, he knew better than to ask—but he was glad they were on his side.

Pocketing his phone, he made sure to not jostle Daisy, whose warm, tiny body remained snuggled against his side.

“Okay, I think I’m ready,” Scarlet said from the hallway. Returning to the living room, she came to an abrupt halt. Her lips parted in obvious surprise.

Matt glanced down at Daisy and shrugged. “Pretty sure she’s out cold.”

He shifted Daisy off him and laid her fully on the couch, making sure to keep her tucked in the soft blankets. When he straightened, he faced Scarlet. “Lots of excitement, I guess.”

Scarlet nodded, and he took her in. Standing there in casual clothes and half asleep, she looked unbearably beautiful. She’d changed from her shorts and tank into black leggings and an oversized T-shirt. Her hair was in a bun on top of her head, and her feet were clad in a pair of pink Converse sneakers. Her stress and exhaustion were apparent. Not that he could blame her. But there was something else in her expression, something he couldn’t quite read.

Every fiber of his being wanted to make everything better for her, fix every damn thing. Scarlet was extraordinary—strong and vulnerable, sweet and spunky. And so damn pretty. But she was so damn young. Andthatwas something he needed to remember, to actively remind himself of. But regardless of her age, he hoped like hell the woman knew that he’d never do anything to hurt her or Daisy.

Clearing his throat, he gestured to the door. “Let me find Quinn and make sure he has everything secured. It should only take a few minutes. Then we can get out of here.” He strode from the apartment before she could respond.

Cowardly? Sure. But Scarlet stirred up something in him he wasn’t sure he wanted to feel. Something protective and... possessive. He had no business feeling either way.

God knew he wasn’t a good bet. History spoke for itself.

CHAPTER TEN

Seeing Daisy curled up against Matt’s side had stunned Scarlet.Daisy. The girl who took forever to warm up to people. The girl who was so shy that she rarely made eye contact. But there she’d been, sound asleep, practically on top of Matt.

Scarlet knew Daisy recognized him as a friend of Poppy and Cade’s, but she was certain that prior to Daisy breaking her arm, they’d only interacted once. That time, months ago, when he’d stepped in when Poppy’s ex was being an asshat at the playground. The day that Scarlet’s crush on the man had grown to astronomical proportions.

Now here she was, with the sunrise less than an hour away, standing in her destroyed living room waiting for Matt to return. Well,destroyedwas a bit strong. The front and sliding doors were wrecked, but the rest of the place was just super messy, like a little tornado had touched down.

But that wasn’t what had her heart threatening to beat out of her chest. No, that was her agreement to stay with Matt for the next couple of days. At least.

Mr. Wayland wasn’t returning from vacation until Sunday, and she had no clue how long it took to repair stuff, but she did know that getting the rental apartment back in shape before thenext guests arrived on Friday would be his priority. It had to be since he charged her so little for rent. Once that was done, he could focus on her place.

“Hey,” Matt said, reentering her apartment. “Quinn and Chase have secured the main door downstairs. The back door—which is how they think whoever did this got away—wasn’t damaged. The locks are good on that one.” He gestured toward her bedroom. “Quinn will get your slider boarded up before he takes off, but he said we’re good to go. You ready?”

Was she ready? Probably not, but she nodded anyway.

Giving her living room one last look, she sighed. A part of her wanted to clean up, but the other figured that was a chore for another day. “Do you mind carrying our bags? I can get Daisy.”

“No problem.” He reached for her bags, then hesitated. “Wait. Daisy’s car seat. If you give me your keys, I can transfer it to my truck before you bring her down.”

Car seat. Right. She hadn’t even thought of that.You’re a shit mom.

Scarlet rubbed her temples as she scanned the room for her keys. She spotted them on the table by the door and pointed, sending up a prayer of thanks that whoever had done this hadn’t taken her car.

“Be right back,” Matt said, grabbing the keys and both of her bags.

He returned in under five minutes. She scooped up Daisy and followed him down the back staircase.

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