Page 8 of Lone Star Country Protector
“Krav Maga training,” she admitted with more than a hint of pride.
“That’s good training right there,” he said with a nod ofappreciation. She didn’t need it, but the approval was nice anyway. “And most likely the reason you survived the attack.”
An involuntary shiver rocked her body at the last word. Chase stirred but immediately fell back to sleep. Between running around on the soccer field, the chicken nugget dinner the medical examiner had brought for Chase—she made a mental note to thank him for it later—and stress, Chase was out like a light not long after his belly was full. He smelled like grass, dirt and little boy, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Plus, there was no way she would have been able to pry Chase off her long enough for him to take a shower.
As long as he was in her house, though, he was potentially in as much danger as she was. For once, she wished Bethany would break the no-cell-phone-on-date-night rule and check her voice mail.
Sending an officer to her sister’s home would freak Bethany out, causing undue stress. Plus, she planned elaborate outings involving tents, camping or hotel rooms sometimes. Blakely wished she’d taken more interest and asked more questions about where Bethany would be tonight. Since Blakely had emergency authorization to make medical decisions for Chase, a precaution no one ever expected to need, her sister had the freedom to do whatever she wanted.
Blakely shifted her gaze to the sex-on-a-stick marshal. “Should we get to know each other a little better, considering…” Her voice trailed off as heat flushed her cheeks.
“I’m assigned to keep you safe, Your Honor,” he started.
“We’re well past being formal when there’s no one around, don’t you think?” she asked, trying to let some of her embarrassment roll off. The man still affected her.His voice alone was the equivalent of whiskey poured over crackling ice.
Dalton was tall, six feet three inches if she had to guess. His hair was just long enough on top to curl. The sides were tighter clipped. Small waves of the blond tips contrasted against dark roots that were almost black. He had a dimpled chin covered by a day’s worth of scruff and the most piercing set of intense dark eyes hooded by thick black lashes.
For someone so tall, he was built like a brick house. His biceps were stacked. Greek tragedies could be written in honor of his God-like bod and the carnage left behind when he was done with a relationship.
If he wasn’t so damned intelligent, he’d be written off as arm candy. But hewassmart, so that was out.
The way he’d looked at her when she was reunited with Chase earlier said he had a soft spot and was kind underneath all those intimidating good looks.
“Point taken,” Dalton finally said with a half smile that warmed places in her that didn’t need to be focused on.
The phone alarm caused both of them to jump. Dalton stared at the screen. “There’s a woman walking up to the front door who looks similar to you.” He glanced over at Blakely and tilted the phone so she could see the screen.
“That’s my sister,” she said, immediately standing up and making a beeline for the front door.
The marshal was half a step behind. A trill of awareness skittered across her skin at his closeness.
But she was about to face her sister, so she dismissed it.
Even after the fact, she struggled to find the words to tell her sister that Chase had gone missing for a couple of hours. Those were words no parent wanted to hear and no sister wanted to deliver.
Based on the look on Bethany’s face, all hell was about to break loose.
Chapter Four
“Keep your voice down or you’ll wake him,” Blakely whispered to her sister. She gave a quick rundown of the situation.
Bethany pushed through the door and then marched straight into the family room. Wild brown eyes scanned the space before landing on the sleeping boy.
Bethany couldn’t get to her son fast enough. She scooped him up, waking the sleepy boy.
“Mama,” Chase said as he wrapped his arms around his mother’s neck and buried his face in her hair.
“Where’s Greg?” Blakely asked as Dalton leaned against the wall.
“We had a fight,” Bethany explained as she clung on to her son like he was a life preserver, and her head was dipping underwater.
“Makes sense why you checked your phone,” Blakely reasoned as Dalton watched from the sidelines.
Bethany turned toward the front door and then startled when her gaze landed on Dalton. “Who is this?”
“My name is Dalton Remington,” he said before Blakely could. “I work for the US Marshals Service,” he added when her forehead wrinkled. “And I’d offer a handshake if yours weren’t already full.”
Blakely’s twin offered a pinched smile before she turned to her sister. “I’m taking Chase home. I’ll call you later.”
