Page 15 of Challenging Her Protector

“The first time after the charity thing, yes. After that, I didn’t fight it. I didn’t want to prolong what I knew was going to happen.” She straightened on the sofa, placing her feet on the floor.

“Fuck.” He stood up and paced. Anger poured from him in pulsing waves. He stopped by the wall. The muscles in his back rippled with each breath he sucked into his lungs, then he returned to the couch, slowly kneeling on the floor with his prosthesis first.

“I’ll never think less of you for doing what you had to survive. Real men don’t force a woman. He’s a rapist and a narcissist.”

“You’re shaking.” The strong man kneeling at her feet was substantially larger and stronger than Scott. He could easily overpower her. Hurt her. All she felt in his presence, though, was comfort.

“Yeah, sweetheart.” The muscles in his neck were corded. “I’m fucking furious someone took something from you that wasn’t offered freely. I might not be the best bet as a protector, but you never have to worry that I’ll take advantage of you. I’d die before I hurt or disrespected you.”

“You don’t have to tell me that. I already know.” His hands on her knees and the close proximity had something fluttering in her belly.

She moved her hands from the top of her thighs and linked her fingers with his. “My first thought when I saw you get out of the SUV at the country club was your sheer strength and size. I was intimidated, but also appreciated the way you hung back and explained who you were and why you were there. Your eyes are so steadying. Makes me feel less alone.”

“You’re not alone. Not anymore. We should be back to Virginia tomorrow. I’ll make sure you know how to use the security system at Hannah’s house so you feel comfortable before I leave.”

She removed her hands from his and wrapped her arms around her waist. Iron leaving was something she was becoming increasingly concerned about. “How far are you from Hannah’s house?”

“It’s a ten-minute drive. We’re going to keep your phone to monitor the messages, but we’ll pick you up a new one and I’ll program my number in, that way if you need anything at all, you can get in touch with me. If you need a ride somewhere, need to talk to someone in the middle of the night, you call. If you ever feel threatened or worried, no matter what time it is, you’ll call. Right?”

She nodded past the painful lump in her throat. The only other person who treated her with such kindness was Thalia, and she’d repaid her by letting her family take her.

“I have an auto collision center downtown, so if I’m not at my house, I’m mostly there.”

“Can I come see it?”

His head jerked, like he was taken aback by her question. “You want to see the shop?”

“Yes,” she smiled. “This morning you said you wanted to get to know me better. That we could be friends. I want to be friends with you, Iron, but I also don’t want to overstep, if you have a girlfriend or wife or just need space—”

“Vee, I never would’ve held your hand. Hell, I never would’ve held you period if I had a woman waiting for me at home.”

Her heart thumped and her blood seemed to roar to life. “I thought you wanted my friendship.”

“I do, but I wouldn’t want that if my heart belonged to someone else. I would be spending time supporting her because it would be disrespectful as hell and wrong to share my time with another woman. Maybe that’s an archaic way of thinking, I don’t know. Doesn’t matter either way because there’s no one in my life.” He stood, making it look easy with his prosthetic, and sat beside her.

“Why?” She smoothed her hands down her legs.

His gray eyes were unreadable. “Why what?”

“Isn’t there a woman in your life.” She angled her body to face him, tucking her legs beneath her.

“There are things about me, Vee. Things that can’t be fixed. I like my privacy. Being alone suits me.”

“Are those things you tell yourself because you’re afraid? Because sometimes I do that too. Tell myself that no one will love me for who I am. That once they find out I’m dyslexic, they’ll think something’s wrong with me. I think that’s why I’ve only ever engaged in the things I can understand, but at the same time, I want more. Does that make sense? I’m constantly trying to be someone put together and polished on the outside, when inside I feel so inadequate.”

“Just because you’re dyslexic doesn’t make you less intelligent, less kind, less of anything. If I’ve learned anything from working with kids who have disabilities, it’s that they might learn and communicate differently, but there’s not a damn thing about them that needs changing. They don’t need to limit their goals to things that are easily achievable.”

“You work with kids?”

“I sponsor and coach a baseball team. Your nephew is on it along with a bunch of his friends from school and kids from neighboring towns.”

There was a lightness in her chest and a push of excitement within her. “I want to help!” She rose up to her knees and clasped her hands together “Please let me?”

Chapter Six

Vee was vibratingwith excitement over the idea of helping with the baseball team. Between her wide grin and sparkling eyes, there was nothing he could deny her, and fuck if he didn’t secretly love the idea and the enthusiasm pouring off her.

“Sure, you can,” he chuckled, surprising himself. He wasn’t sure when the last time was he’d spontaneously laughed. “Welcome aboard.”

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