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A man who’d stand between my Leighton and anyone trying to harm her.
“No one but Hazel, the realtor who sold me the property, my contractor, and the two people he hired for the job.” When I see that my answer hasn’t satisfied Leighton, I continue ticking off the safety measures off my list. “You know I texted your parents through an app on my computer letting them know you’re prolonging your stay in Cancún. My patients were notified I’m on indefinite leave. I have more than enough cash here to live off for decades. Everything’s been taken care of.”
Leighton, unlike me, doesn’t hide her relief well. Her body goes slack in my arms, and I hug her tighter.
“I’m going to drive over there and talk to Ry. In person.” My voice is steel. “By myself. We’ll have to handle this situation carefully. She’s unpredictable when she’s upset. I can’t imagine what weeks of frustration have done to her.”
“Okay. Uh. Thank you.” I don’t miss how quiet she becomes.
“Out with it.” I frame her face in my hands, massaging her scalp. “Whatever you’re thinking, tell me. No secrets.”
“What if she never forgives me?” Tears leak out of Leighton’s eyes. She isn’t afraid for her life; I can tell that much.
It’s losing Rylan that hurts her worse than anything. The lifetime of love and friendship they shared.
“Rylan will have to see reason.” Please, God, or whoever’s up there, let that be true. “If it means I’ll have to tie her up and convince her you’re still her best friend and I’m still her father, then that’s what I’ll do. It’ll work out, baby. Everything will work out at the end.”
Ice trickles up my spine, coating them in hardened resolve.
For Leighton, I’ll do whatever it takes.
Whatever.
It.
Takes.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Leighton
The sun caresses my bare skin on this beautiful afternoon.
I’m lying peacefully on the lounge chair by the pool. There’s no one around to watch me. No neighbors. No other family members milling around. Marcus hasn’t asked Hazel to drop in today—and even if he had, she’d have been here at sunrise to drop our groceries.
I’m free to sunbathe in the nude.
In fact, I’m free to do anything I want. And what I want is to stay here a while longer. With my man.
I can’t deny the way my heart twisted when I emailed my new workplace. Quitting before I even started wasn’t a part of my plans. My future boss looked like a really cool lady. The job sounded interesting. I was looking forward to it.
Was.
There would be other places, Marcus promised. He convinced me anyone with half a brain would hire me in a heartbeat. That life would make so much more sense if we both worked in the same city.
In a home and a city that we’ll choose together.
Speak of the devil. The very handsome, extremely sexy devil. Cool water drops splash on my thighs. My belly. All over my face.
“Asshole.” I swipe the back of my palm on my closed eyes, laughing.
“I’m the asshole?”
His taunting voice has my smile lingering. “Who else?”
“You’re the one lying there with your legs spread.” When I open my eyes, I see my Marcus, perched, his sexy forearms on the edge of the pool. “You think just because I’m doing laps that I don’t see your fuckable pussy on display? Tempting me?”
He’s been grooming his stubble, and it’s a little fuller than usual. His eyes, those dark, black wells of hunger, zone in on me. Starved for me.
