Page 36 of Treasured
I heard his footsteps behind me. “I already have the best view.”
I turned around and my face heated as I saw that he was staring at my ass.
He winked at me then returned to the couch and picked up Bruce. “Let’s get him in his bed.”
Bed? I followed him and saw that one of the rooms was a nursery with green frogs, blue fish, and orange cats with a white crib in the middle. “You had a crib delivered?”
He set some stuffed animals around my son and stepped back. “My team… my brother’s friends had children who had outgrown it, so it’s a loaner.”
I took a deep breath and swallowed. As we walked out, I said, “Good. I don’t want you to spend a crazy amount of money on me.”
He playfully bumped into my shoulder with a smile on his face. “It’s not a bother. I’m just happy you’re here.”
Across the room, a chandelier caught my eye. It probably cost more than the rent at my place. “Your house is super fancy.”
He pointed out the obvious. “It’s empty. Maybe while you’re here, you can tell me what to put where. I have things my mother sent in the garage, and I’ve never had time to figure out where to put what.”
At least I had a job here, then, and I wasn’t useless. I nodded. “Done.” I glanced at the white walls and peeked into his room. Even his bedroom only had a bed. I turned around and said, “I was my brother’s interior decorator when he moved into his place.” We went to the next room, the one closest to the beach, and I saw a desk facing the window. “Is this your office?”
He shrugged. “It’s where I fill out papers my lawyers send when I’m home.”
His wrapped his arms around me. My heart shifted, like I could breathe for the first time, but I pressed my hand on his muscular chest and said, “If you need to do something…”
He let me go, but his dimples were out in full force. “I need you to help me figure out what we’re ordering for dinner, especially for Bruce.”
I rushed out of the office. Honestly, I couldn’t stay still, and a mission sounded good. I went to his kitchen and said, “I’m sure your refrigerator…” So he had milk in his fridge that must have been delivered but otherwise nothing. I closed the door and said, “Hmm, what’s the closest restaurant?”
“Greek,” he said.
Restaurants cost more money, and he’d already spent a lot on us, but I shifted my weight and said, “I love kabobs.”
“Perfect,” he said then added, “You can help me fill my online cart, so we have groceries coming too.”
Right. I could handle this as it was temporary, and I would figure out how to repay him, somehow. Depending on someone wasn’t my specialty. Not anymore. Dependence was like addiction to me, but I inhaled and tried to ignore the thought. We were temporary.
Chapter Thirteen
Dwayne
Mary still seemed off. She’d lost her color and some of her shine that morning.
The car bomb was dramatic, and she could use sleep. Hopefully, that was all that was wrong, but my heart ticked, like there was something unsaid that needed to be.
I hoped I was wrong, but after we ordered our groceries and kabobs at my computer, she still seemed forlorn. So I kissed her cheek and hoped she would open up. “You are safe here,” I told her.
Her gaze went to my nose, but she sucked in her lips as if she would seal them shut. I waited as she blinked and finally glanced up at me. “I am worried I put you in danger.”
“Nothing to worry about.” I took her hand in mine, and our knees brushed together as I turned my chair toward her. “Arthur would have a death wish if he came here.”
She let out a snort. “There is no predicting.”
I traced her soft thighs that covered the sacred altar she’d let me taste. “Sweetheart, I was a SEAL. My security team, who delivered the crib, were also SEALs. His wife works for the CIA. My house is equipped with the best security system in the country, and I won’t let anything happen to you or Bruce.”
Her face turned a little pinker as she said, “You know how to make me feel safer.” Her eyelashes fluttered, and my lips tingled to kiss her. However, a jarring noise interrupted the moment, and she sat back. “But your phone is ringing.”
I glanced at it. Fucking Mark. I had waited all day. He had info we needed, so I stood up and said, “I need to take it. Get me when the delivery arrives so I can show you how to unlock the door.”
She stood up as well, but she tilted her head and asked, “Opening is complicated?”
