Page 42 of Her Delta Force Protector

His eyes tracked her as she left the room. Was this attraction to her simply because they’d been thrown together in a dangerous situation? High-octane situations got tense, got the adrenaline going. If that was what this new wanting her was, adrenaline lust, then he’d cut off his arm before touching her. She was special and deserved more than... She just deserved more.

He slid his hand into his pocket and touched the hair tie he’d never given back to her.What if she was the—

He shut thatwhat ifthought right down. She was not the one. There was no denying a head doc would have a field day with him, from the time his father had walked away, then a few years later when his mother decided she’d rather be free than be a parent to her sons, and then his years as a special operator, experiences that would screw with any man’s mind.

But he wasn’t going to try to fix the unfixable. No head doc for him. He was just fine with his life and his acceptance that he’d always be alone. Sure, there would be hookups, but they’d forever be just that, a few fleeting hours when he lost himself in a woman’s body and forget that he’d never have what his brothers did. He’d never see a woman wearing his engagement ring like Tristan with Skylar. He’d never have a beautiful daughter like Everly.

There’d never bethe onefor him.

“You look... I don’t know, a little sad,” Harper said, walking up to him with her duffel over her shoulder and rolling a suitcase behind her.

“Me sad? Never.” There was nothing to be sad about.

Chapter Twenty-One

After all the cops left, Harper gave Tristan her laptop and password, then zipped her duffel bag back up. “I’m ready.”

Kade held his hand out. “Give me your phone.”

She pulled it from her pocket and handed it to him, curious why he needed it when he had his own phone.

He gave it to Tristan. “Destroy it.”

“What? I need it.” How was she supposed to make her scheduled calls to her dad?

“There’s another one waiting for you.” He picked up a small black device and trailed it over her duffel and then the suitcase. When he finished, he dropped it into his jacket pocket.

“You have a bug detector?”

“He has all kinds of toys,” Tristan said. “Wait until you see all his goodies at his cabin.”

Kade shrugged. “Hope for the best but prepare for the worst. Words to live by.” He whistled. “Let’s go, Duke.”

Duke raced into the room, followed by Everly. “Where’s Duke going, Uncle Kade?”

“With me and Miss Harper.”

“No!” She wrapped her arms around Duke’s neck. “He has to stay with me.”

“Duke is Miss Harper’s dog, Everly,” Kade said, his voice gentle.

“But he loves me.” She glared at Harper. “He doesn’t love you.”

Harper wasn’t sure why Kade wanted Duke to come with them, especially if it was going to upset Everly. She glanced at Kade and raised her brows.

“He comes with us,” Kade said with no room for argument in his voice.

“Sweetie.” Harper kneeled in front of Everly. “I know he loves you so much, but he has to go to work now. You know, like when your daddy and uncles have to go to work. They might not want to, and I’m sure Duke wants to stay with you, but he has a job to do.”

“Is it an important job like my daddy’s?”

“So important. I promise you, though, that when he finishes his job, he’ll come right home to you.”

“Tomorrow?”

“Well, probably not tomorrow, but soon. Okay?”

Jellybean strolled into the room and let out a drawn-out meow.

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