Read Online His to Protect: A Fireside Novel by Stacey Lynn - Free Book Online

trail that will follow, and then
how
are you going to get anywhere?”
    “You just have this all figured out, don’t you?” She looked away and that niggling feeling that I was being an asshole returned, but there was too much at risk here for me to stop.
    “I’ve asked a woman I don’t know, who could be some major scam artist or in huge trouble with the law, into my home. I’m doing this taking the chance that you’re neither of those things, but you have to understand why I need to know, Trina. I would have asked you this last night when we were talking, but Derrick was here and it wasn’t the right time.”
    I forced my voice to soften and leaned back in the couch, hoping I was showing her that I wasn’t a threat. I didn’t mean to turn the tables on her, let her think I’d brought her into my home out of the goodness of my heart just to trap her, but I hadn’t said anything that wasn’t true, either.
    “I’m not in trouble with the law,” she whispered, and sucked her lip in between her teeth.
    “Just running from the man who hurt you?”
    She nodded and her chin quivered. I closed my eyes and imagined finding the prick, throttling him with my bare hands, and then beating the shit out of him so he felt more pain than he’d ever inflicted on this woman.
    The strength of the protective instinct I was feeling was scary. Even around Mara I’d never felt the overwhelming urge to pummel some asshole for looking at her the wrong way. I had a feeling that the first leering glance some guy gave Trina, he’d have my fist in his face before he could blink the vision of her cute, tight ass out of his thoughts.
    “My husband,” she admitted, eyes blinking rapidly. I had figured that out on my own last night. “I left him a week ago.”
    “Is he going to come looking for you?”
    Another chin quiver, another bite down on her lip as she refused to meet my eyes.
    “Not trying to hurt you, Trina. Not trying to push you, either, but I know someone who might be able to help you.”
    Her head jerked and our gazes met. “Who?” she drawled, slowly and suspiciously.
    “I got a friend, Tyson Blackwell. He lives in town now, but he works for the FBI.”
    “No.” She jumped to her feet. “No cops. No law enforcement of any kind.” Shaking her head wildly, she paced toward me and pointed. “I’ll leave. I don’t know what I’ll do without the money, but you have a point. I
do
need to get rid of my car. I’m not sure how yet, but I’ll figure it out. You’ve been kind, I swear. But this…this isn’t going to work.”
    “Woah.” I stood and held my palms out, eyes wide. “I don’t know what just brought that freak-out on, Trina, but are you forgetting some asshole not only broke the law by almost breaking your face, but you’ve also had shit stolen from your hotel? You don’t think those things are connected? I’m just suggesting having Tyson look into it.”
    “They’re not connected.”
    “How can you be so sure?”
    “Because.” She laughed coldly and sat back down. As I watched her try to get comfortable, I returned to sitting on the couch. “Because I left a note for my husband telling him I went on a spa trip.” Her eyes flickered to mine, but the look I returned showed how confused I was. When she spoke again, her voice was softer…sadder. “It’s what I usually do…well…after…when I can’t be seen in public. He’s not even expecting me home until tomorrow.”
    She sucked her lip between her teeth and I knew we both realized she’d said too much.
    What in the hell did this guy do, where his wife had to leave town when she was too bruised to be seen in public?
    Something important, that’s what.
    I didn’t let on that I thought there was anything strange about what she’d said. Instead, I asked, “He hasn’t tried to call?”
    “Don’t know.” She shrugged. “I threw my phone out before I crossed the city limits, and I bought one of those pay-as-you-go ones before I