Page 42 of Landry

Again, he was at a loss for words. He’d taken them out in the bayou and almost gotten them killed or at least stranded for who knew how long it would’ve taken to get them back home safely. Maybe he was the wrong person for this job. Something about Camille made him lose focus, turn off his logical brain and do stupid shit.

He'd talk to Remy in the morning and get him to assign someone more competent to protect Camille and Ava. Someone who could think about something besides wanting to kiss this woman.

As soon as the thought popped into his head, Landry knew he had to get away from her before he did exactly that. He headed for the door, intent on leaving the room.

“Your bed has clean sheets. You should get some rest,” he said. When he stepped through the door out into the hallway, she reached out a hand and caught his arm.

That familiar jolt of electricity spread throughout his body like wildfire. His pulse quickened, and his groin tightened.

Camille’s brow furrowed as she stared up into his face. “I know you were only supposed to come out and check our window and door locks this evening. Now, here it is, the middle of the night. We should be okay for what’s left of it. You don’t have to stay if you don’t want to.”

He stood frozen to the spot, fighting for control, afraid to move lest it unleash the sudden rush of desire rising inside.

“Landry?” Camille’s hand moved from his arm to rest against his chest. “Have I done something to make you mad?”

“No,” he bit out. Her hand on his chest burned a hole through his resistance. “Go to bed, Camille. I’ll fix the back door frame so you can lock the door, then I’ll sleep in my truck to keep an eye on things.” He brushed past her and went out the front door to his truck to get the tool bag he kept under his back seat.

Moments later, he was back with a hammer and nails. He beat the splintered doorframe back into place, secured it with nails and tested the deadbolt. It would work well enough for the night. He would stop at the hardware store when it opened and get what he’d need to shore up the door and the lock as well as fix the trellis as he’d promised Ava. Then he’d have Remy find someone else to protect them. Someone who wasn’t getting too attached to the woman and her child.

Because that was what was happening, against everything he believed to be true. He was not the kind of man fit to be a father or have a family. Camille and Ava deserved a man who knew how to love unconditionally, how to care for another person above his own life, business and career.

Once he finished with the door, he locked it and hurried back through the house, praying he wouldn’t run into?—

Camille stepped out of the bathroom into the hallway, blocking his path.

With her hair wrapped in a towel, and wearing a filmy baby-blue nightgown that draped her body and barely covered her ass, she stole Landry’s breath away.

“Why are you acting so weird?” she demanded.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You hold me one minute and the next you shove me away and announce that you’re going to sleep in your truck.” She shook her head. “To say I’m getting mixed signals is an understatement. What’s wrong? Why are you pushing me away?” She stepped up to him and laid her hand on his chest again. Her warmth burned through what little resistance he had left; it was hanging by a thread.

He captured her hand in his and held it away from his body.

Yeah, that didn’t slow the burgeoning desire building inside like carbonation in a shaken soda bottle. If she didn’t step away quickly, the cap on his control would pop, and he’d do things he shouldn’t.

He stared down into her eyes. “I’m not the man for you.”

She lifted her chin. “Not that I said you were, but why?”

“I’m not interested in a long-term relationship.”

She raised her chin higher. “Neither am I. And?”

“You deserve someone who could love you unconditionally.” He shook his head, drawing her closer. “That’s not me.”

“If I wanted unconditional love, I’d get a dog,” she said. “And?”

“I won’t be around after the threat is neutralized,” he continued.

“I knew that when you signed on.” Camille cocked an eyebrow. “And?”

“I won’t fall in love with you or anyone else,” he stated. ‘It’s not in my nature.”

“Good. Other than my love for my child, I don’t believe in love. It’s overrated, a burden I don’t wish to bear, which is often not reciprocated.”

Landry’s brow rose. “That’s harsh,” he said without thinking.

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