Page 38 of Protect and Serve

Too bad there was no one to silence Cody. “Damn it, Claire. We can’t leave you alone with him.”

“Why not?”

“Because.”

She stared at Cody, waiting for him to finish the thought, but he didn’t. Apparently because was enough. “This was your idea,” she said in an arctic tone.

Cody put out a lip. “I changed my mind.”

“Damn it, I am a grown woman.”

“You’re my baby sister.”

“I’m not a baby. And I don’t appreciate being treated like one. And I most especially dislike the evidence that you don’t trust me to make my own decisions.” And then, just when she had them on the ropes, she dropped the bomb. “Maybe it’s time I moved out.”

You could have heard a feather drop in the silence. It was clear both men were devastated. The stared at her with open mouths, their eyes wide.

“You can’t move out,” Cody burbled.

“Can’t I?” She turned to Charlie and grabbed his hand. “Come help me pack.”

He had no idea why both Cody and Cade suddenly fixed him with feral frowns. It hadn’t been his idea. In fact, he hadn’t said a word.

“Claire… Please.”

It was pretty clear Cody rarely used that word, because Claire stopped short and sent him a questioning glance. He grumbled a bit and raked his hair with his fingers and finally muttered, “Oh, all right. We’re going.” He flicked a look at Charlie. “But I want updates on the hour.”

“On the hour?” That would be awkward at two a.m.

“The numbers are on the fridge.”

“Numbers?”

“You know. Our hotel, our cells, her doctor…”

It was so surreal, Charlie had to ask, “And what time is bedtime?” Because, since he was babysitting, it would be helpful to know.

Apparently they didn’t appreciate the joke. They glared at him and then glared at her and picked up their bags. As they left, Cade shook his finger in Claire’s face and said, “You behave, young lady,” the way any good father would.

When the door closed behind them, Claire ran to the window in the dining room and watched them drive away. When they were gone, she huffed a heavy sigh.

“Finally,” she said, spinning toward him with a wicked smile. “We’re finally alone.”

Chapter Eleven

Oh, good glory. The moment was finally here.

She and Charlie were alone for the whole weekend.

She didn’t know why the nerves hit her so hard, why she suddenly felt shy. She was planning to seduce him—surely that was something a bold woman did.

But all of a sudden, she couldn’t meet his gaze. Not really.

“Are you hungry?” she asked, out of pure desperation.

He chuckled. “I could eat. But first…” He took her shoulders in his hands, pulled her closer, and kissed her. “I’ve been dying to do that.”

Feeling very encouraged, she nudged against him and looped her arms around his neck. “Me too.”