Page 109 of Tactically Acquired

“This is not your fault,” Thumper said, pushing me up against the house. “I see where your head is. Get out of that hole.”

“I just?—”

“She burned her hand. She’ll be fine,” he said calmly, as only Thumper could in these situations. “You did not do this,” he said slowly, waiting for it to sink in.

I nodded, but did I really believe it?

He gripped the back of my neck and forced me to look at him. “You’re on protection detail, okay? It is not your fault that she burned her hand. It was an accident.”

“But she’s mine,” I choked out.

“I know,” he said with a sigh. “I get it. But you’re overreacting. In ten minutes, she’s gonna be fine. IRIS is taking care of her, and he’ll have her laughing in no time. But you cannot go in there, beating yourself up because of an accident.”

I nodded, shaking my head to clear the negative thoughts running through my head. It was an accident. “She must have taken a step back and didn’t realize how close she was.”

“Exactly,” he agreed. “It’s not like you pushed her into the stove. Not even you would think that’s a good way to win a woman over.”

My lips twitched at his teasing.

“That’s more likely something FNG would do.”

“Or Fox.”

“Well, that’s pushing it. He’d only do that if he wanted to skin you and eat you.”

Laughing, I slid my hand over my head and sighed. “Fuck, that scared the shit out of me.”

He gripped my shoulder and squeezed. “Welcome to the life of domestication.”

I wasn’t so sure about that. Not that I wouldn’t give my left nut to be with Audrey, but we had different lives. She was an action star and I was a protection agent. We didn’t even live in the same state. How would we make this work?

“Come on. I’m sure IRIS is done by now. Your girl is still hungry, and you’d better not let her down.”

The thought of even turning on the stove with her anywhere nearby made my stomach churn. But he was right. I couldn’t show her how much that had freaked me out. She needed me to be calm and in control. I followed Thumper back inside, and like he said, IRIS was finishing up the wrap on her hand and he had her laughing at something he was saying.

“I can’t help it, I’m clumsy in the kitchen!” Audrey laughed. “Ask Spencer. I use the stove to store my extra shoes.”

“She does,” Spencer sighed. “The last time I tried to bake something, I didn’t realize until after I preheated the stove that we were having Baked Manolos for dinner.”

IRIS chuckled. “I’m assuming that’s some sort of shoe.”

“They were my favorites,” Audrey sighed, wincing as she cradled her hand against her chest.

“Then why were they in the stove?” IRIS asked.

“Well, somebody invited over his sister, who just so happens to love to raid my shoe closet whenever she stops by. I had to keep them away from her.”

“You could always tell her no,” Spencer grumbled.

“You know she gets to me. She has those big eyes and that pouty look that she uses against me every time.”

“It’s called guilt,” Spencer pointed out. “She’s guilting you.”

Audrey laughed, about to say something when she spotted me in the doorway, watching her intently. She held up her bandaged hand, grimacing slightly.

“Maybe I’ll play a pirate in my next movie,” she teased.

I strode over to her, gently taking her hand in mine, examining the wrap. “IRIS did a good job.”

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