Page 21 of His to Protect

Chapter 5

Trina

Interesting?

I didn’t have time to consider what Declan said when realization began to dawn as he opened the door.

He had a date?

My jaw dropped at the thought of a woman coming to get him for a date, then that idea was blown to smithereens as soon as I heard masculine voices drifting inside.

“I totally fucking forgot, Aidan.”

“Jesus, Declan. Watch your language.”

“Not like you don’t say it, Dad.”

Dad?

I moved away from the entryway as the door widened and Declan stepped back, still explaining. “The last few days have been crazy and I’ve got some company.”

“You’ve got a date?” the older male voice said. Something inside my chest warmed and flipped at the question.

I wasn’t on a date. Neither was Declan.

“No,” Declan said, “A friend…staying for a while.”

“I know all your friends, Declan,” the male voice continued to say as he pushed his way in. I saw a flash of dark brown appear from behind Declan’s shoulder and then those eyes widened. I could barely see him, but based on the way his eyes then crinkled at the edges, he was also smiling. “Well, hell. I don’t know this friend though, do I?”

“Watch yourself,” Declan growled, his voice low and thick.

His friend’s eyes darted to Declan before he nodded once. The smile disappeared as Declan took a step back and waved them in.

“Trina,” Declan said as the guy and his son—a teenage son—walked in. The boy had a bag thrown over one shoulder and his eyes were glued to Declan’s. “This is Aidan and his son, Derrick. I feel like an ass—”

“Language,” Aidan interrupted.

“Heard it all from you,” Derrick muttered, his lips twisting into a grin.

Side by side, the two guys look almost like spitting images of each other. Derrick was lanky, a young boy growing into a man, whereas Aidan had filled out…much more nicely.

He was attractive in that blue-collar, hard-worker kind of way, and his smile was friendly when he held out his hand.

“Trina, huh?” He grinned. If I were that kind of girl, or looking for that kind of guy—or any guy—I might have felt that smile down to the tips of my toes. “Didn’t know Declan had company tonight, but it’s nice to meet you.”

I shook his hand, much less tentative than I would have for Declan. My eyes shot over to see him standing with his arms crossed over his chest, his gaze fixed on where Aidan’s hand was wrapped around mine.

I yanked my hand out of his grip and stepped back, nodding. “Sorry. I was sort of—”

“A last-minute surprise,” Declan said for me. “And I’m sorry. I totally forgot about tonight,” he finished, turning back to Aidan.

Aidan gave me a look I barely caught before meeting Declan’s gaze. “I need to cancel?”

“You okay with Derrick hanging out here tonight?” Declan turned to me and I frowned, uncertain why he was asking. It was his house. “Want you comfortable,” he explained, his voice lowering, although there was no point. Aidan and Derrick both gave me a strange look that I felt more than saw.

“It’s fine,” I muttered, taking a step back into the living room.

And it was. In fact, it was better. A teenage boy in the house meant Declan and I wouldn’t be alone, and while I saw and felt that he was a decent guy, and so far had treated me with care, that didn’t mean a night alone with him would be comfortable.

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