The Winter Groom (Hollow Oak)

“My advice to you is to keep your distance.” When I don’t answer right away, he sighs. “Look, Curt, I know you, and whatever you’ve gotten yourself into is probably something I don’t want details about. But I also know that you’re stubborn as hell and won’t be told what to do.”

“What’s your point?” I’m trying to rein in my anger, but it’s not working.

“My point is, if you’re going to try and save this girl, you’d better watch your back. When they find out you’ve got her, there’ll be a giant target on your back.”

“You mean if they find out.”

He shakes his head. “Not with these people. It’s only a matter of time before they’re going to come for you. I suggest you keep a low profile down in Hollow Oak and stay off the radar.”

“I plan on it.” I reach up and rub the place between my eyes where I can feel a headache forming.

“In the meantime, I’ll ask around quietly and see what else I can stir up. Maybe someone out there is willing to make a deal.”

“I’d appreciate anything you can do, Tim.”

When we end the video call, the sun is finally up, but I’m left with just as many questions as when I started this search. At least it confirms what I already knew about her family. Although she was right that her mom needs help. If she owes money to the Shapovals for drugs, they’re going to collect one way or another. Maybe that’s what taking Demi was really about.

How can I convince her to stay here long-term to offer her protection? How much longer can she stay under my roof without me giving in to temptation?

I push away that last thought because she’s not legal yet. Her birthday is tomorrow, but I won’t go down that path until she’s eighteen. I’ve done a lot of things in my life that I regret, but touching her too soon won’t be one of them.

Now all I have to do is figure out how to keep my hands off of her until then.

The door to my office creaks open, and then I see Demi standing there looking sleepy and soft. Every part of my body comes to attention as my eyes rake up and down her small frame.

“Everything okay?” I swallow and clear my throat. “Did you sleep all right?”

“Yeah, I just got scared.” Her smile is shy as she shrugs. “It’s the biggest house I’ve ever slept in and when I woke up, I was worried you’d left.”

“Let’s get you something to eat.” Her hair is a mess, but somehow that tousled look makes her even sexier. I immediately chide myself for thinking about her being sexy and focus on feeding her. “Pancakes?”

“Really?”

“Why do you sound so surprised?”

She bites her bottom lip and looks down at the ground. “Those were for special occasions like Christmas when I was growing up.”

“Well, it’s not too far off, but around here you can have special things every day if you want.” I walk around my desk, and she looks up at me with bright eyes. “All you have to do is say the word.”

“Thank you,” she says quietly as I take her by the hand and lead her into the kitchen.

Five

DEMI

He’s so dang nice that it’s almost overwhelming. It puts me at ease until I remember I’m going to be indebted to him too, which means my debt is stacking up. Too bad my body isn’t opposed to the idea of owing Curt.

There had only been terror at paying back the Shapovals, and I was trying to find an exit plan from the start. With Curt, I’m sitting here letting him make me breakfast, not wanting to go anywhere. When I think about how he might want to demand payback, my face heats, and a rush of heat floods through my body, pooling between my thighs. Something is seriously wrong with my head.

“Bacon?” Curt asks, placing a plate full of fluffy pancakes in front of me.

“If there’s extra…” I lick my lips as he pours the syrup.

“There doesn’t need to be extra, angel.” My heart does a silly flutter at him calling me that. It’s sweet, and I enjoy it way too much. He’s going to make it hard for me to leave.

“Thank you.”

“You’re a guest. You don’t need to thank me for feeding you.” I open my mouth to say thank you again but quickly close it, making him smirk. He’s a bit more relaxed today, and it makes him even sexier than I already thought he was.

When I woke up this morning, I was sure I was in a dream. My first thought was to go find Curt when the reality of what really happened yesterday came flooding back to me. Anxiety made me want to panic, but for some reason I knew if I got close to Curt, it would fade away.