Page 29 of Her Delta Force Protector

“Not a chance.”

Because she couldn’t resist, she said, “I was talking to Duke.” As she stood, she peeked over at him. Yep, mischief was in his eyes, and she sucked in her bottom lip to keep from smiling as she waited to hear what was about to come out his mouth.

Then he blinked the mischief away. “Sorry, that was out of line.”

She wanted to stomp her foot like a toddler having a tantrum. Why was he being so stubborn? This chemistry between them might be new, but it was there, and not just for her. Turning her back on him, she headed for the house.

Duke scrambled to his feet and trotted ahead of her. “Where does Duke sleep?” she asked Kade to get things back to normal.

“With Everly.”

Again, she wondered if she’d lost her dog to the Church family.

“I’m hungry,” Kade said. “Let’s get some breakfast.”

In the kitchen, Parker was churning up something green in the blender. Everly was sitting at the island with a plate of scrambled eggs and a pickle in front of her.

“Did Duke find you, Miss Harper?” Everly said...well, more like yelled. “I gave him something of yours so he’d go look for you.”

Kade’s lips twitched, and he whispered something to Parker. Harper caught the wordpanties.

“Everly Church, we do not take other people’s things without asking,” Parker said. His gaze slid to Harper, amusement in his eyes. “Tell Miss Harper that you’re sorry and you’ll not take her things without permission.”

“What’s permission?”

“It means what I just said, without asking.”

“But Daddy, Duke needed to find her.”

“Don’t ‘but Daddy’ me. Tell her you’re sorry.”

“Sorry,” Everly muttered.

The girl wasn’t at all sorry, and although Harper wanted to laugh, Parker was right to reprimand her for doing it. She put her hand on Everly’s shoulder. “I’ll forgive you this time, but I might not next time, okay?”

“’Kay. But what am I supposed to do if Duke needs to find you again?”

“Tell you what. I’ll give you a pair of my socks to keep just in case. That work for you?”

Everly clapped her hands. “Yes! Then my daddy won’t get mad at me.” She gave her father sad eyes and pouty lips. “I don’t like when Daddy’s mad at me.” She put her hand on her chest. “It hurts in here.”

Aaannd Parker Church just about melted right in front of his daughter.

Harper stepped next to him. “She’s a future star of stage and screen.”

“Don’t I know it.” He laughed as he shook his head. “I’m shaking in my boots at the thought of her teen years.”

“You don’t have boots on, Daddy.”

“And you’re not dressed for school. Hop, hop like a bunny.”

Everly hopped out of the kitchen. Parker picked up his glass of green stuff and followed her out, muttering something about teenage daughters.

“She’s a trip.” Harper leaned back against the island.

Kade nodded. “That she is.” He opened the refrigerator door. “How’s an omelet sound?”

“Sounds perfect. You cooking or me?”

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