His to Protect: A Fireside Novel (5 page)

“It’s fenced in,” I said, watching Trina try to maintain control of her excited dog. “And the gates are padlocked. It’s safe for him.”

“It’s beautiful.” She bent down and unclasped Boomer’s leash from his collar. He sat at the door, whining for his freedom, but waited for Trina’s command before he took off.

Her soft laugh filled the air. “Thank you for this.” She turned to me with an appreciative smile. “It’s been a long time since he’s been able to run free.”

“Yard’s small.” I shrugged and slid my hands into my back pockets.

“It’s perfect.” She turned to look out back and I took a minute to figure out what she saw. The yard was small, but mostly private. In the back corner, I had a small triangular area of pines and other bushes that not only offered privacy, but a spot for the fire pit I built last summer when Mara wanted to roast marshmallows.

She refused to do it over our charcoal grill, so I spent the weekend building her her own private area in the backyard.

I’d feel like a pussy for it now, being so whipped, but my dad would still do the same crazy shit for my mom if she looked at him the right way, asked him in the right way.

The problem I had, that I’d learned since Mara walked away, was that she didn’t look or ask the right way—the right way being nicely. She just demanded and nagged until it got done, erasing the joy of providing something for her that would make her happy.

I shook my head and stepped back from the doorway as Trina slid the screen door shut.

Outside, Boomer barked.

“I’ll give you a quick tour if you want,” I told her, and headed toward the kitchen.

She gave another glance at the dog running in the backyard. I didn’t hide my smile as I watched Boomer jump into a small spread of dead leaves and roll all over them.

With a wave of my arm, I gestured toward our right. “The kitchen is that way. You saw the living room and we’re in the dining room. Follow me and I’ll show you your room.”

I heard her soft steps tapping on the tile floor behind me as I headed toward the staircase. It turned halfway up the stairway and when I reached the corner, I looked over my shoulder to ensure she was still following me.

“You okay?” I arched a brow. Her bottom lip was sucked between her teeth again and there was a rosy glow to her cheeks. When her eyes met mine she glanced at the floor and nodded.

I frowned at her sudden nervousness. She was probably second-guessing if this was the best decision.

Because of that, I stopped at the doorway closest to the stairs and waited for her.

“You can sleep here.” I reached forward and opened the door, but I stayed in the hallway. The room wasn’t much. A small double bed with a plain, white comforter. The walls were a pale yellow and the bed frame was some gray metal thing Mara bought. The room was totally girly, but this was where my parents usually stayed when they came up from their retirement home in Scottsdale, Arizona.

The roof slanted on the far end where the bedroom window overlooked the backyard. I rarely came in here because I had to duck almost as soon as I was fully inside. Since Mara moved out, the door to this room had stayed closed.

Her chest brushed against my shoulder as she leaned forward, and a small electric jolt buzzed along my skin when she stepped past me.

I took a step back into the hallway and gave her space to look around.

As she did, her eyes softened. That wistful look was back after she’d spun in a complete circle and stood in the middle of the room, looking directly at me.

“You have the best home ever.”

She couldn’t possibly mean it. She probably grew up in mansions with servants…probably a lot like my buddy Tyson’s girlfriend, Blue, whose dad was a legit mafia king, until Tyson put the asshole in jail. But I still found myself nodding my appreciation before I gestured down the hallway.

“My room is at the far end of the hall. I have my own bathroom, so you can have the one in the hallway. Between us, there’s a third room that I use as an office. You can use the computer if you want, but ignore the mess.”

“I’m sure it’s not too bad.”

“Sure.” I shrugged and slid my hands into my front pockets. “If the equivalent of a grenade exploding in a nine-by-nine room could be considered not too bad, I’m sure it’s fine.”

Her lips twitched at the edges. It was the first hint of a smile I’d seen on this woman since I’d met her. I wanted her to keep it, even though I knew I was about to make it evaporate.

“Trina,” I said and stepped forward, resting my shoulder against the door frame. “Do you want to tell me who hurt you?”

I was right. Her smile vanished along with the softness in her eyes.

She blinked and looked away before shrugging. “Someone who I will never let do the same thing again.”

Her voice quivered, belying her feigned strength and courage.

It didn’t matter.

I didn’t have to know who hurt her to admire her. She was strong enough to walk away, to decide enough was enough. This could have been the first time it happened, but I doubted that, too.

Somehow, this pulled me to her. Even knowing that letting this woman into my home was going to be a complete mind-fuck, it still didn’t change the fact that the more I saw her, the more I wanted to learn.

I wanted to know who hurt her so I could beat the living shit out of them, even as my brain screamed at me to stay far, far away.

She was exactly like Mara.

A woman used to having everything and doing nothing to work for it.

As I felt my lip curl into a sneer at the thought of my ex, I forced myself to remain calm.

“I need a drink. Want anything?”

“Water. Thank you.”

I nodded toward the stairs. “Come on down when you’re ready.”

“How long have you lived here?” she asked, sitting down on the living room couch. Boomer had curled up over her feet on one of the cushions after I’d assured her I didn’t give a crap if the dog got up on my furniture.

The first time he jumped up, her face paled as she pushed him off to the floor.

The second time it happened, she visibly stiffened when I caught her gaze.

Based on the terror flashing in her eyes, I realized this was most likely considered a punishable offense by the person who had beaten her. I also figured, based on the tan line on the ring finger of her left hand, that that person was her husband.

I actually didn’t want the slobbery, shedding mess of a dog on my couch, but I assured her it was fine.

Mostly, I was damn tired of her flinching and cringing away from me.

I’d buy a fucking better vacuum to get rid of the dog hair if I had to.

“A few years. Mara and I…my ex,” I clarified, when she arched a brow, “bought this house just before we were married two years ago.” I pressed my water glass to my lips and took a sip. “She took off just over six months ago.”

“Is she coming back?”

I snorted. “Not bloody likely. She’s back in Chicago trying to find a sugar daddy.”

“Oh.” Trina drew the word out and looked away, as if lost for words.

I didn’t blame her. I didn’t talk about Mara to anyone except for maybe Tyson and Aidan. Our other friend David was in the middle of finishing up his ER residency at a hospital in Chicago, so he was too busy to talk to any of us frequently, although he did know that Mara left.

We got drunk one night via Skype on one of our infrequent nights off and toasted heartless women. David’s own girlfriend since college had recently broken up with him after deciding that she was tired of being alone all the time.

Not that he blamed her. Being a resident was hard work.

He put in even more hours than I did in the restaurant, and I knew Mara got sick of being alone all the time, too. The difference was that I thought this was something we were building together, but apparently, I was wrong.

Someone banged loudly on the door, making both of us jump at the sudden sound.

Sitting on the couch, Trina’s fingers dug into Boomer’s fur, and her eyes shot wide open.

“I’ll get it,” I said and pushed up off the chair. “But, Trina.” I waited for her to look at me as I walk past her. “While you’re here, no one will hurt you. You have my word.”

“Thank you,” she whispered and I looked away, frowning while I tried to figure out who could be here.

“Aw, hell,” I muttered and dropped my head back as I reached the door. “It’s fucking Friday and I totally forgot.”

“What does that mean?” Trina said from behind me.

“You’ll know in just a minute.”

Because it was Friday night at nine o’clock, and I’d promised Aidan that his son Derrick could crash at my place. At thirteen, he was old enough to stay alone at his own house for the night, but Aidan still wasn’t comfortable with that.

And since Aidan rarely dated, too busy being a single dad and owning his own construction company, I always let Derrick stay here on the nights I was off from the restaurant—which was about as often as Aidan dated.

“You ready for company?” I asked Trina, turning to see her standing behind me. “Because shit’s about to get interesting.”

Interesting?

I didn’t have time to consider what Declan said when realization began to dawn as he opened the door.

He had a date?

My jaw dropped at the thought of a woman coming to get him for a date, then that idea was blown to smithereens as soon as I heard masculine voices drifting inside.

“I totally fucking forgot, Aidan.”

“Jesus, Declan. Watch your language.”

“Not like you don’t say it, Dad.”

Dad?

I moved away from the entryway as the door widened and Declan stepped back, still explaining. “The last few days have been crazy and I’ve got some company.”

“You’ve got a date?” the older male voice said. Something inside my chest warmed and flipped at the question.

I wasn’t on a date. Neither was Declan.

“No,” Declan said, “A friend…staying for a while.”

“I know all your friends, Declan,” the male voice continued to say as he pushed his way in. I saw a flash of dark brown appear from behind Declan’s shoulder and then those eyes widened. I could barely see him, but based on the way his eyes then crinkled at the edges, he was also smiling. “Well, hell. I don’t know this friend though, do I?”

“Watch yourself,” Declan growled, his voice low and thick.

His friend’s eyes darted to Declan before he nodded once. The smile disappeared as Declan took a step back and waved them in.

“Trina,” Declan said as the guy and his son—a teenage son—walked in. The boy had a bag thrown over one shoulder and his eyes were glued to Declan’s. “This is Aidan and his son, Derrick. I feel like an ass—”

“Language,” Aidan interrupted.

“Heard it all from you,” Derrick muttered, his lips twisting into a grin.

Side by side, the two guys look almost like spitting images of each other. Derrick was lanky, a young boy growing into a man, whereas Aidan had filled out…much more nicely.

He was attractive in that blue-collar, hard-worker kind of way, and his smile was friendly when he held out his hand.

“Trina, huh?” He grinned. If I were that kind of girl, or looking for that kind of guy—or any guy—I might have felt that smile down to the tips of my toes. “Didn’t know Declan had company tonight, but it’s nice to meet you.”

I shook his hand, much less tentative than I would have for Declan. My eyes shot over to see him standing with his arms crossed over his chest, his gaze fixed on where Aidan’s hand was wrapped around mine.

I yanked my hand out of his grip and stepped back, nodding. “Sorry. I was sort of—”

“A last-minute surprise,” Declan said for me. “And I’m sorry. I totally forgot about tonight,” he finished, turning back to Aidan.

Aidan gave me a look I barely caught before meeting Declan’s gaze. “I need to cancel?”

“You okay with Derrick hanging out here tonight?” Declan turned to me and I frowned, uncertain why he was asking. It was his house. “Want you comfortable,” he explained, his voice lowering, although there was no point. Aidan and Derrick both gave me a strange look that I felt more than saw.

“It’s fine,” I muttered, taking a step back into the living room.

And it was. In fact, it was better. A teenage boy in the house meant Declan and I wouldn’t be alone, and while I saw and felt that he was a decent guy, and so far had treated me with care, that didn’t mean a night alone with him would be comfortable.

“I can go.”

“No,” Declan said, pinning me in place with his voice. “You stay. And if you’re okay with Derrick being here, he’ll stay, too. This happens sometimes when Aidan has a date.”

“I can reschedule,” Aidan chimed in, although the way he said it said he wouldn’t be happy about doing it.

“You don’t get out enough.”

Aidan smirked. “Pot meet kettle.”

Something simmered between the two of them as they stared each other down. The tension sparked and crackled, and I jumped when Derrick dumped his bag on the hard floor. “You got pop, Declan? Because Dad’s all out and I’m thirsty. I’m also ready to kick your ass tonight.”

At my expression, whatever that might have been, Derrick simply said, “Call of Duty. It’s a game we play when I’m here.” He walked by me, disappearing into the kitchen, and shouted loud enough for us all to hear, “Although it’s a bunch of crap because I am thirteen and old enough to be on my own for a night.”

“Yeah,” Aidan muttered, grinning at his feet. “Except I remember what I was doing when I was a few years older and since Derrick there is the result, no way in hell is he ever staying alone.”

Aidan looked so young that I’d figured he must have been a young dad, but at that surprise, a laugh escaped my lips before I could stop it.

Both men looked at me. Aidan shrugged his shoulders, unashamed of his actions or the result, and Declan’s eyes went soft, soft in a way I didn’t fully understand.

This whole situation was overwhelming and awkward.

“All right,” Aidan said, clapping his hands.

That must have been what finally got Boomer’s attention, because all of a sudden he barked and I heard his paws hit the floor.

He rounded the corner, his tail wagging like it did when he was excited, and before I could stop him, his front paws were on Aidan’s chest, shoving him back into the front door.

“Holy fuck,” Aidan gasped, his hands immediately flying up in the air.

“I’m so sorry,” I gasped, and tried to jump toward Boomer to grab his collar.

Declan beat me, his large fingers wrapping around Boomer’s collar before I could get to him, and something about that quick motion made me snap.

“Get off him!” I shouted, and lunged forward, somehow shoving Declan out of the way. “Get your hands off him!” My hands wrapped around Boomer and I yanked him down, pulling him to my side.

When he was back at my feet, I heard a harsh whisper. “What in the hell?”

“Cool it, Aidan,” Declan said.

He crouched in front of Boomer, hand out, palm up, completely nonthreatening.

“Trina.” I didn’t catch the concerned tone in his voice. All I heard was my name, and I knew my dog had done something wrong. Again.

I flinched and curled myself around the animal when a shadow fell over us. I pressed into Boomer’s fur harder until Declan whispered, “It’s okay, babe.”

Babe.

That one word echoed inside my head and I realized what I’d just done.

I’d just made a complete fool out of myself.

Blood rushed from my face and I stepped back, protecting Boomer at the same time. “I’m so sorry,” I whispered, my limbs beginning to shake. “I don’t know…I just saw you reach for him…”

Tears blurred my vision and before either man said anything, I gripped Boomer’s collar and turned to rush him outside.

I completely ignored Derrick, who I barreled past on our way to the sliding door, but once the door was opened, I shoved Boomer through it and then my back hit the cement wall. I slid down until I was sitting on the cold cement, my feet pulled up to my backside. I dropped my forehead to my knees while my body shook and trembled.

Would I ever stop being so afraid all the time?

A shiver rolled through me when the quiet latch of the sliding door disengaged and opened.

I sensed Declan step outside and felt his body lower down until he was crouched low, next to me.

When I turned my neck, resting my cheek on my knees, he was squatting down, elbows on his knees, hands clasped together, looking out at the yard where Boomer was trying to catch the bugs that flew near the solar lights around the fire pit area.

“I made a fool of myself in there.”

He said nothing, just watched my dog with a blank expression. The only indication he heard me was a slight tic in his jaw.

“It’s just a dog, Trina. And it was just an accident. No harm done.”

I thought of how I must have looked when I shoved Declan’s hand off Boomer’s neck, crazed about my animal because someone touched him. “I’ll leave if you want. You were kind to give me a place to crash, but I don’t know you or your friends, and it’s probably not smart—”

Without looking at me, Declan interrupted. “I’m going to be straight with you.”

I flinched and pushed myself to my feet. Declan mirrored my movement, taking a step to the side and putting that distance between us that I appreciated.

Was he aware he always seemed to give me more personal space than should be necessary?

“I’ve gathered from the faint tan line on your ring finger there”—he stopped and pointed to my left hand—“that you’re either married or very recently separated. I’m also guessing that the asshole who put that ring on your finger is responsible for the bruise on your cheek, and I’m willing to bet it wasn’t the first time he did that. But because of that, you need to know that I have never…would never…raise my hand to a woman or an animal. Especially over something as pointless as a dog being a dog, which means he might do something stupid. I wouldn’t do that, and my friends wouldn’t do that.

“I also wasn’t bullshitting you when I said you’re safe here, so if you want to fucking leave, I can’t stop you. But don’t do it because you’re afraid of being in these walls.

“Now, I’m going to go blow shit up with Derrick on the PS4. You’re welcome to join us or watch. If not, you can go take a bath or a shower and relax, or do whatever the hell else it is you do when you want to just chill out.”

Chill out.

I couldn’t remember the last time I did that.

And a bath sounded heavenly.

Still, I found myself saying none of that. Instead, my mouth moved before my brain could catch up and I blurted, “You swear a lot.”

My mouth dropped open, awareness that I’d just corrected him hitting me. Kevin wouldn’t stand for that, and I stepped back, bracing myself, when Declan smiled. If he saw me flinch, he chose to ignore it.

“Yeah, babe, I do. Probably a fuck of a lot more than I should, but I gotta be honest. If my mom hasn’t broken me, my brother, or my dad of that habit since the day I was born, the chances of it stopping now are about zero.”

He winked, and something warm blanketed my skin.

He was teasing me, or taking the time to explain something, and he had a point. I learned the hard way men didn’t change no matter how badly you wanted them to.

Still, I had another brain-to-mouth malfunction when I suggested, “You could start a swear jar. Especially when Derrick is here, since even Aidan says he doesn’t want you cursing around him.”

He threw his head back and laughed.

The sound was rich and deep, and that warm blanket wrapped around my skin, heating me further, in a way I hadn’t experienced in possibly ever. I looked away, afraid he’d see me blushing. He just shook his head and walked away.

“You want to start me a swear jar while you’re here, go for it. I’ll do one better,” he said and looked at me over his shoulder in the doorway. The light from inside the house hit his face, making him seem bright. “All the money you collect, you can take with you when you fucking leave.”

My lips twitched when I realized what he’d done. “That will cost you a dollar.”

“No shit?”

“That’s two,” I whispered, feeling my lips stretch in a smile. It was genuine and real and felt foreign on my own skin.

“Well, hell,” he said and turned to walk away. “I’ll need to hit the damn ATM tomorrow.”

He gave me one last look as my smile grew.

“Those aren’t really so bad,” I told him, knowing exactly what he was doing. He was finding a way to give me money without me having to ask…which I wouldn’t, anyway. “Is Aidan gone?”

“Yeah. Derrick will take the couch tonight, which works because we’ll be up late playing games. Like I said, you can join us or not, whatever you’re comfortable with. Aidan will be here tomorrow around nine to pick him up.”

He stepped inside, closing the sliding door behind him, once again giving me space.

I turned back to Boomer and looked up at the dark sky that held the slightest haze of clouds. I wondered what my life would have been like if I had seen Kevin for the kind of man he truly was before we were married.

Would I have been able to have a man that seemed as kind as Declan, willing to hang out with his friend’s teenage son while the dad went out on a date? Would I have had the small but warm house that felt cozy and lived in, instead of massive and sterile like mine?

I felt like I’d lost my time. I would never know, because there was no way I would ever truly be free of Kevin.

He would never grant me a divorce, regardless of where I ended up.

At least not without a fight, and he had the resources to make that fight nearly impossible for me to win.

Which left only one option—I had to figure out a way to get myself someplace safe, where he couldn’t find me…

And figure out a way to live the rest of my life alone, knowing I’d lost out on the dreams I’d had since I was a little girl.

I sat up with a start and my hand flew to my chest. My heart beat erratically against my mostly healed ribs. There was only a slight pain from the sudden movement as my eyes took in the strange room.

I wasn’t in my bedroom. I wasn’t in the hotel. I was in a bed that was at least a thousand times more comfortable than that ratty, lumpy mattress.

After taking several breaths, I remembered where I was.

Declan’s house. He was essentially a stranger with a wicked scowl and large muscles, but with a kind voice, which I figured could sometimes be scary too, if he wanted it to be.

Not that I had seen or heard that.

With my heart rate slowing, I tried to remember the dream that caused me to wake up so abruptly. As I tried to grasp it, I came up short.

I was left with the lingering sensation of fear, and an echo of a woman’s voice screaming “Never again!” but that was all I could recall.

It took me several more moments to realize Boomer was no longer in the room with me, even though the door was still closed. I also caught a quick whiff of bacon, and heard masculine voices downstairs.

I didn’t know whether to be scared that someone had been in my room and took Boomer out, or grateful that for the first time in a week, I didn’t wake up to my dog licking me to consciousness.