Page 18 of Defender

“The power company said they’ll be out here first thing in the morning, so that’s good.”

“Yeah.I’m glad it’s not too cold out yet.We should be able to sleep comfortably.”But her eyes darting around the room said otherwise.

“Summer, are you going to be okay?Do you want me to stay?Camp out here on the couch?”

Or so much more.He wanted to do so much more.

She studied him for a minute but then swallowed whatever it was she’d considered saying.She wrapped her arms around herself.“No.You’re tired, I can tell.We’ll be fine.Like you said, just kids, no danger.”

Disappointment hit Ashton in the gut.He hadn’t realized how much he’d wanted her to ask him to stay.Even if it had just been on the couch.

In any other situation, he’d just tell her that was what he was doing regardless.He’d wink at her and offer to be her own personal SWAT security.

And tell her she was welcome to join him on the couch if she got scared at any time.Or he’d be happy to bring the security detail into her bedroom.

But he couldn’t laugh and wink and make jokes and charm his way into staying.

There were too many secrets between them.Too many lies.

He walked over to the door.“I’ll call you tomorrow to make sure the power got turned back on.If not, I can call the power company again.”

“I’m sure it will be.”She opened the door and looked at him again like she wanted to say something, but then her gaze slid to the ground.“Thanks again, Ashton.”

He touched her arm, wanting to do so much more than that.

“Good night.”

He heard the door shut and lock behind him and he walked down to his truck.He eased his sore body into it then, staring back at her condo, started the ignition.

Then promptly turned it back off.

He wasn’t leaving her.

Yeah, it was probably just kids trying to scare people, but Ashton didn’t care.On the off chance it was someone with a more sinister intent directed at Summer, he wasn’t leaving her alone.

He slid his seat back in an effort to get more comfortable inside his truck.

It was going to be a long night.

Chapter Six

Summer could make a list of all the ways she’d been an idiot tonight, but it would probably take too long.

But Ashton offering to sleep here and her turning him down?That would be at the top of said list.

She’d been fascinated with the man for months, hoping he would ask her out.Finally he’d done something that could be categorized as romantically encouraging—or at least protective—and she shut him down.

Not to mention they still didn’t have power and she was pretty nervous.It was past midnight already.She wondered if she’d be able to get any sleep.

Even though she’d already double-checked them all, Summer went around to make sure she’d locked the windows.When she got to the bay window, she saw Ashton’s truck still parked out front.

Why was he still here?

She moved the curtain more to the side so she could get a better look.Maybe he was on the phone or something and just hadn’t left yet.

It didn’t take long to realize Ashton was watching out for them in his truck.

Warmth bloomed in her chest and tears actually welled in her eyes.

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