Protect Me Not ((Un)Professionally Yours 2)

“It’s been a long day.” She rubbed a hand over her neck. “I’m sorry you have to stay, Ty. This must be so tedious for you.”

It was the first time she had ever acknowledged as much to him.

“It’s my job.”

“Still, it must suck to have to follow some boring woman around all day, every day.”

“You’re not boring.”

“My life is. And you’re what? An ex-soldier? You can’t tell me this is riveting stuff.”

“Marine,” he muttered. “Ex-marine.”

She sighed, a long, strained inhalation, followed by a blast of air out of her mouth. The exhalation disturbed an errant curl on her forehead, and Ty clasped his hands behind his back in an effort to curb the temptation to reach out and tuck that curl behind her ear.

“I’m finishing some requisition forms, then I’ll have to make a wreath. They’re collecting it first thing in the morning. It may take a few hours. Why don’t you call Chance?”

He could call Chance, sure, but Ty figured if Vicki could gut out another few hours, then he could damned well stay by her side while she did so.

“Nah, I’ll be fine. Do you…uh…do you need any help?”

She scrubbed her hands over her face, displacing her glasses in the process. When she looked at him, they were askew, and the owlish expression on her face nearly made him smile. He caught himself in time and kept his expression neutral.

She must have spied some semblance of amusement in his gaze though because she offered him a smile. It was a tentative baring of her perfectly even, pearly whites.

He was unable to resist that sweet gesture and reluctantly allowed his lips to curl at the corners.

Her smile widened, and she cocked her head, her eyes glued to his lips. “Jeez, Ty. You’re so pretty when you smile. You should do it more often.”

Her cheeky words surprised a chuckle out of him, but he ruthlessly tamped it down.

“Uh-uh, too late,” she said, with a gleeful giggle. “You laughed. I win!”

“I didn’t realize we were competing. What did you win?”

“A laugh from you. And a smile before that.”

“Paltry prizes,” he muttered, hating how self-conscious her words made him feel. He shook his head and steered the awkward conversation back on track. “Well? Do you need any help?”

The smile fell from her lips, but lingered in her eyes for a few long moments, before fading completely. Ty regretted its loss, but he could not foster that kind of familiarity between them. Not now. Not ever.

“I appreciate the offer,” she said. She set her glasses straight and tucked that stray curl behind her ear. For a second, Ty felt an irrational surge of resentment toward her for stealing the task from him. “And I may take you up on it later, when I start on the wreath. But for now…if you don’t mind? I would love a cup of coffee and some company while I finish this.”

“You sure you want the company? Wouldn’t it be a distraction?”

“It’ll keep me awake. I’m knackered.”

Damn it, how could he resist the appeal in that lovely gaze? He couldn’t. With that vulnerable, hopeful look in her eyes, she could damned well ask him for the moon, and he’d find a way to get it for her.

“Yes, ma’am, one cuppa joe coming right up.”

Chapter Six

Vicki watched Ty take the two large strides toward the coffee maker, purpose and determination in every hard line of his body. He was a man on a mission, and it looked like he would get her that coffee if had to kill for it.

She stifled a grin; the man took himself entirely too seriously. It had been such a pleasure to see him smile and hear the spontaneous laugh that had followed. Knowing that she’d been responsible for it, was a high she could get used to.

A pity she was too damned tired and stressed to enjoy the moment for very long. She sighed. It was only Monday, but it felt like an entire week had passed in just one day.

Her phone chimed, and she glanced down. Bella’s name floated onto the screen, and Vicki lifted the device. She needed a break anyway. Besides, Bella had been trying to reach her since before lunch. Vicki just hadn’t found the time to reply yet. They hadn’t spoken yesterday, except to check that each was fine after the night before.

Bella’s first message made her grimace: Hey Vic, fully recovered after Saturday?

No more tequila for a year!

Bella sent a crying-with-laughter emoji in response. I think it’s the Jägermeister that tipped the scales.

Ugh, don’t remind me. Ty wouldn’t drop it either.

Not surprising. I’m a bit blurry on the details, but he had to carry you to the car. And you took the opportunity to feel him up.

WHAT?!

What???????

Bella had to be joking. Still, this warranted proper face-to-face conversation. Darting a furtive look at Ty’s broad back, Vicki chewed on the inside of her cheek and considered her options. There was really only one place she could conduct such a call in complete privacy.