Rugged Daddy

I watched her peel out of the driveway before I shut the door. I leaned my head against it, tears pooling behind my eyes. I needed my friend. I needed my best friend to talk to about all of this. I needed someone who wasn’t Cameron or his daughter.

I felt a pair of hands come down onto my shoulders, massaging the tension from them as I leaned into the door.

“Are you all right?” Cameron asked.

“No,” I said. “I’m not all right.”

His hands worked their way down my back as a tear slipped down my cheek.

“I’ve been thinking.”

“About what?” I asked.

“I have people to talk to about this. Hudson—my connection in the FBI—and my trainer, Brad.”

“The guy you were fighting with the other day?” I’d frozen with panic at first, thinking Cameron’s fears had come true, before I’d noticed them starting and stopping, clearly practicing and then talking in between rounds. Once my alarm had passed, I couldn’t help admiring his hot, sweaty body working hard, moving with grace and power like some kind of feline predator.

“That’s him. He’s a retired Navy SEAL, and he knows what’s going on. It’s why I’ve hired him to teach me how to fight.”

“That’s good,” I said as I wiped the tear away. “That’s really good.”

“But you don’t have anyone to talk to outside of me.” His hands dropped to my lower back and pressed right into the spot that had been bothering me for hours.

“Oh yes,” I said with a groan.

“Next time Nicole comes back, I want you to tell her.”

I whipped my head up from the door and almost lost my balance. “What?”

He turned me around in his arms and pulled me flush against his strong form. “You need someone to talk to, someone you can trust like I trust Brad and Hudson. The next time she shows up, talk to her. I know you need your friend. I can see how much she means to you, and I don’t want you to hurt. Though you have to understand that talking with her and inviting her here makes her a possible target.”

“I know. Thank you.” I leaned into him, appreciating him more than ever. He’d noticed my distress over Nikki’s misunderstanding and cared enough to relax his precautions to include my best friend.

“Don’t thank me. I’ve been an asshole about all of this.”

“You’ve been protective. There’s a difference.”

“I’m sorry for what I’ve thrown you into.” His hands running through my hair felt incredible. Relaxing. His touch alone melted me into his body as I wrapped my arms around him.

“We’ll get through it,” I said. “Together.”

His arms tighten around me before his lips dropped to my head. “How about some loaded potato soup for dinner?”

“That sounds fantastic, but I’m making it tonight,” I said.

“You made dinner last night.”

“You make breakfast, I make dinner. That’s the rhythm we’ve fallen into, so that’s the one we’re sticking with.”

I started to argue but he quieted me with a quick kiss that stole my words and left me staring dumbly at him with my mouth open.

His chuckle sent shivers along my arms before I pulled away from his grasp. I went into the kitchen and started pulling things out I needed for the soup. I looked up at the window above the sink and saw Cameron’s eyes on me, his light reflection in the glass as he leaned against the counter.

“Enjoying the view?

” I asked.

His eyes connected with mine through the reflection, and I watched him lick his lips “Always.”