Under His Protection (Protect and Defend 1)

“I’m creating my own action here at home.” Jerry chuckled. “Chasing and corralling my kids. Fat lot of good it’s doing me, though. They’ve overtaken the house.”

He sounded pissed, but Mason knew Jerry loved his children more than anything. “You’re loving every minute of it.”

“Yeah, you’re right.” Jerry chuckled. “Just stay strong, boss. Do your time, do your job and everything’s going to be fine.”

Mason wished he could believe what Jerry said.

Everything’s going to be fine.

It was all a crock of shit. Given the chance again, he’d probably pounce on Blake and tear her clothes off with his freaking teeth, he was so hot for her. Maul her body with his hands, mouth and cock. Make sure she loved every minute of it too. Hell, he’d have her begging for more. She wanted him. He knew it.

Jesus. He sounded like an out of control asshole even in his thoughts.

“You’re right, Jer. I’ll be fine. Don’t you worry about me.” His reassurance sounded weak even to his own ears.

“Oh, I’m not worried about you. I’m worried about that poor little Blake Hewitt. She’s a lonely one, boss. You can’t tinker with her heart, you know. She’ll fall apart.”

Just the reminder he needed to hear. She acted like she was made of steel but her vulnerability hovered right there on the edge. She desperately tried to keep it under control, always trying her best to appear strong, prove to the world she was a fighter. But she wasn’t. She was scared, so very lost, though no one seemed to notice.

He did.

“I’m not going to tinker with her heart.”

“Well, don’t fool around with that sweet body of hers, either, my man.” Jerry blew out a harsh breath. “If Lacy heard me talk like this, she’d have my hide.”

Mason didn’t like hearing him say those things about Blake, either. “And with good reason too. Neither of us should be talking about her this way.”

“Hell no, we shouldn’t.”

Yet another reminder Mason needed. The wrath of James Hewitt would be deadly. Something Mason never wanted to deal with.

“I gotta go,” Mason finally said, sinking further into the plush chair. “Sorry to bug you.”

“Hey boss, I’m sorry I couldn’t help you out. Blake doesn’t act the same way with me as she does you. Of course, she’s not trying to tempt a chubby old fart like me, either.”

They laughed, Mason hanging up soon after but Blake still haunted his thoughts.

As usual.

He’d wondered more than once if her behavior toward him was how she acted toward every man she met. Deep down, he knew it wasn’t.

Maybe, just maybe, she wanted only him and no one else.

Mason snorted and shook his head. Hell, a man could dream.

Chapter Five

“You’re not causing any trouble out there, are you?”

Blake sighed. Unbelievable. Her father sent her away almost a week ago so he wouldn’t have to deal with her. She hadn’t heard from him in days, yet he called her up out of the blue and accused her of bad behavior.

“Causing trouble is never my intent, Father. You know this.” She called him father on purpose, keeping it formal. She’d kept it formal for years.

“I don’t want to hear any outrageous stories coming from Russell. You need to stay home, stay low key.”

Anger spiked her blood pressure and she closed her eyes, searching for peace. He always thought the absolute worst of her. She was sick of it. “I’m not doing anything outrageous, trust me.” She actually started painting a couple of days ago, all the gorgeous fall colors, the turning leaves inspiring her. She’d locked herself up in her studio for hours each day, painting furiously. Not bothering to talk to Mason or tell him what she was doing.

Earlier today, she had lunch at the Whitney Café, visiting with Suzanne and making plans to get together later in the week.