Page 25 of Property of Stone
Her mouth dropped open and hung there. He tucked a thumb under her chin and closed it for her.
“I’m sorry, but what?” she whispered.
“Makin’ you a deal. One that’ll benefit us both.”
“You want me to take care of your daughter?”
Why did she look so damn shocked? “Yeah. I mean, she goes to school and shit so it wouldn’t be full time.”
“I’m—”
“You too fuckin’ good for that?”
She plucked at her chef’s coat. “Maybe you missed it, but I already have a job.”
“Don’t mean you still can’t do it.”
“Maybe you didn’t notice him that day, but I also have a son.” The sarcasm in her voice was thick.
“Of course I fuckin’ noticed. He was bawlin’ and blowin’ snot bubbles. But you havin’ a kid means you already know what the fuck you’re doin’. Don’t gotta train you.”
“Don’t have to train me?” she repeated slowly.
“Yeah. Already take care of one kid, what’s another?”
She grimaced. “Umm. Well…thank you for thinking of me, but I’ll have to pass.”
“Can protect you better than that useless protection order.”
“Maybe I don’t need personal protection.”
He grabbed her chin and tilted her head this way andthat, making it obvious he was inspecting her face. “How long were you in the hospital?”
Her mouth gaped open for a few seconds before she answered, “Two days.”
“Two fuckin’ days too many.”
“I agree.”
“Never should’ve been alone with him.”
“I agree with that statement, too.”
“Will make sure that never happens again.”
Her blue eyes went wide. “Are you saying you’ll be my bodyguard twenty-four-seven?”
He could practically taste her disbelief. “No.”
She threw up a hand. “Then…”
“Got a whole fuckin’ club behind me. If you’re under my protection, you’re under the protection of twenty-three of my brothers and eight prospects.” And a Presa Canario that probably weighed as much as she did and had much bigger teeth.
“What’s a prospect?”
This woman didn’t know shit about MCs. Time would tell if that would work for him or against him. “Dog shit.”
“How would dog shit protect me?”
