Colton's Secret Bodyguard

“You were a child.”

“This one time—I must have been about eight—I decided I’d had enough. When I heard my dad beating my mom, I left my room and tried to drag him off her. I was yelling at him, punching him as hard as I could. He knocked me across the room. I blacked out.” He gave a shaky laugh. “I remember coming to and hearing him telling my mom she’d have to say I fell. I still dream about that punch.”

He drew her tight against him again, holding on to her as if he would never let go. After a few minutes, Jekyll jumped onto the sofa, his cone making him clumsy. Determinedly, the little dog pushed his way between them and settled on Bree’s knee. With a heavy sigh, he shoved his head under her hand.

Rylan laughed. “I think that message is fairly clear.”

“Yes. Let’s not get things out of proportion by letting our human problems intrude on the important dog stuff.”

Bree felt unaccountably cold as she shifted position to sit at Rylan’s side. Their embrace had been about consoling each other, nothing more. She was still wildly attracted to him, but the days of anything else between them were over. That was what she kept telling herself. Although, at times like this, when he was up close, with that smile in his eyes, she had a hard time believing it.

It was getting late, but a glance at the darkness beyond the window brought her fears crashing back down. It wasn’t the full-on panic attack of earlier. Just a shivery reminder that he was out there, somewhere, thinking about her.

“Will you be okay?” Rylan followed the direction of her gaze. “I could bring Papadum in to sleep in your room.” He nodded at Jekyll, who was sprawled on his back across Bree’s legs. “But I don’t think that would be a popular move.”

“I don’t want to be alone.” Her gaze caught on his and held. “I’m not ready to go back to where we were, but...”

His smile was sad and charming in equal measures. “I will never stop wanting you, Bree.” She opened her mouth to speak, and he held up his hand. “But I can sleep in your room without spontaneously bursting into flames.” The smile deepened. “I think.”

What about me? For an instant, the words hovered on her lips. She wondered if they showed in her eyes. Fear. It could make you think the strangest things.

“Thank you.” It seemed the safest thing to say.

Chapter 13

“Um, so how do you want to do this?” Bree looked utterly adorable in pale blue pajamas, with her hair tumbling loose about her shoulders.

Rylan almost groaned aloud. How did he want to do this? What sort of question was that? If she was offering him a genuine choice, he would start by kissing her until she was weak at the knees...

Focus.

“There’s a folding bed in one of the other rooms. I could bring it in here.”

She smiled. “That’s a big bed. We’re both grown-ups. I’ll keep to my side if you stay on yours.”

He held out his hand. “Deal.”

Since just touching her fingertips sent flames scorching through him, he wasn’t overly optimistic about his ability to get a good night’s sleep. His hopes sank even further when a pitiful howl echoed through the house.

“What the actual...?” Rylan scratched his head. “He was fine on his own last night.”

“I think he can sense we’re both in here together. He must be feeling left out.” As Bree clasped her hands under her chin, another volley of canine cries reached them.

“Left out?” Rylan growled. “He’s spent his whole life feeling left out, the little—” He caught her eye. “You want me to see if I can settle him?”

“Thank you.” The glowing smile she gave him didn’t quite compensate for having to dog-sit tonight, but it did put a spring in his step.

Ten minutes later, Jekyll and his dog-bed had been transported into Bree’s bedroom. Jekyll, having barked with delight when he saw Bree, developed an overwhelming desire to curl up on the mattress next to her. His tiny legs, coupled with the cone around his neck, meant jumping wasn’t easy for him. Not one to be deterred, he persisted.

“No, darling.” Bree lifted him from his chosen position on her legs for the fifth time and placed him in his own bed.