Page 67 of Her Delta Force Protector

A cold chill traveled down her spine when the third photograph appeared on the screen. “That’s him, the one who hurt me.”

“Detective Theo Watson, Rex Sorenson’s cousin.”

She gasped. “He really is a cop?” She was so hoping they’d been wrong about that. It was hard to believe a police officer would hurt a woman the way he had.

The guys had come over and were standing behind her as Kade showed her the photos. Cupcake put his hand on her shoulder. “They’re going to learn that they messed with the wrong people.”

She wanted justice for Abby Warton and for what they’d done to Lisa, and she wanted to stop being afraid. She wanted her father to be able to return home and not fear one of these men showing up at his house. The men surrounding her were going to help her make that happen. How was she ever supposed to thank them? A lobster-and-steak dinner—which she’d include all of them in—seemed inadequate.

What would it have cost if she’d actually hired them? However much, it would be an amount she never could have afforded. She shifted in her chair and met each of their eyes. “Thank you. The past two months have been a living hell. I didn’t see how my dad and I could make all this go away. If anything had happened to him because of me...” Her throat closed up on her. She swallowed past the burn. “When this is over, send me a bill for your time.” It might take her a decade to pay those bills, but it was the least she could do.

A chorus of snorts sounded around her. “Stop talking silly, H,” Kade said. “There’s not a one of us who’d be here if we didn’t want to be.” Grunts of agreement filled the air. He took her hands in his. “Nothing gets us more excited than taking down scumbags like these people. We’d pay you to let us play.” He lifted his chin at the guys, and they melted away.

When it was just the two of them, he smiled. “There might be one thing that gets me more excited, but that’s none of their business. We can revisit that later tonight. You okay?”

“Better now. Thanks. It’s just all a little overwhelming. I’ve gotten so used to being afraid, and it’s hard to believe it might be over soon.”

“Notmight. Itwillbe over.”

“I need to call my dad.”

“Why don’t you do that while the guys and I walk the property? I want them to get the lay of the land before it gets dark.”

“Okay.” She wanted to rest her head on his shoulder, to snuggle into his arms and just be. No worries about tomorrow, no bad men coming for her.

Chapter Thirty-Five

In the morning Harper was a bundle of nerves, so Kade got everyone together for a game of volleyball before lunch. He hoped some fun and the exercise would take her mind off what was coming. After they ate, she would log on to her laptop. How long it would take their targets to arrive was anyone’s guess. They had a pool going on that, which Harper thought was ridiculous, but she’d ended up playing.

Viper and Cupcake had taken the twin beds in the guest room, Chase had spent the night in his sleeping bag in the living room, and that had left his bed for Harper. He’d thought she might balk at sleeping with him since they had company, but he hadn’t even had to tell her that was where she was sleeping. After dinner, she’d said she was tired, and had left him to spend time with the guys. She’d gone to the guest room, collected her stuff, and moved everything to his room. By the time he’d come to bed, she was asleep. He’d showered, then eased into bed, wrapped his arms around her, and had slept through the night. Something he never did.

He’d awoken to the best thing ever, her kissing her way down his chest, and when her mouth had wrapped around his erection, he was sure he’d died and gone to heaven. When he could take no more, he’d pulled her up and made love to her.

Made love to. He loved thinking of their time together like that, but it wasn’t him. Not long term. No matter how much he might wish otherwise. He’d left her in bed when she’d fallen back asleep. He’d told himself he needed to get up because he had a lot to do, but in truth...he didn’t know how to handle these feelings for her that were growing inside him. He didn’t want them.

By the time she appeared, all sleepy-eyed and beautiful, he and the guys had everything ready for their trap. Her sniper stand was in place, all sorts of weapons were stashed inside and outside the cabin and in the woods, and they’d gone over the plan several times. Now all they could do was wait and play volleyball.

He, Harper, and Duke were playing against Viper, Cupcake, and Chase. Yes, Duke. The dog had watched for a few minutes, and then when both he and Harper had missed the ball, Duke had bounced it back up in the air with his nose for Harper to hit it back over the net. He was faster than the humans playing, and anytime the ball sailed over Kade’s and Harper’s heads, he was under it, bouncing it back to them. The only problem was he didn’t understand out-of-bounds.

“It’s really not fair that you have super-dog on your team,” Cupcake said. “I’ll trade you Viper and two cases of beer for him.”

“Hey!” Viper thumped Cupcake’s head.

Cupcake tackled Viper, and both went down. Duke thought that was a great new game, and he joined in the wrestling match.

“How old are they, anyway?” Harper asked with laughter in her voice.

“Thirty going on twelve would be my guess.” He slung an arm around her shoulders as they watched the show.

Chase ducked under the net and came to stand next to him. “You have an unusual dog.”

“Not my dog,” Kade said. “He’s Harper’s.”

She shook her head. “Was.”

“What do you mean?”

“How can I take him away from everything he loves? The lake, you, Everly. She’d never forgive me if I took Duke with me when I leave.”

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