The woman’s cute as fuck dimples deepened with a smile that made his heartbeat skip and his dick stand up and take notice. With that smile came a blanket of relief that seemed fall over herwaves, sending a rush of glistening tears to her beautiful, round gaze.
“Thank you so much, Liam.” Allison stood and held out a trembling hand. “You have no idea what this means to me. Tous.”
That last part was added in a rush, and Liam understood the ‘us’ to include her young daughter. An innocent child who probably had no idea the man who should love and protect her wanted to end her mother’s life.
If she’s telling the truth about all of this.
The more skeptical side of his brain reminded him that she could be making up the entire sordid story. He didn’t think that was the case, but he’d have that answer soon enough.
As the team’s technical analyst, background checks were a part of Liam’s daily routine. It wouldn’t take long for him to verify the biggest parts of her story.
“Happy to help.” He swallowed Allison’s delicate hand with his.
Like before, he felt an electrifying, almost intoxicating jolt as it arced from her palm to his. The sensation was powerful, enticing, and confusing as hell, but rather than jerk his hand free like he’d done downstairs, Liam found himself unable to pull himself away.
So he just stood there like an idiot, held captive by her stunning blue gaze as he found himself thinking?—
I don’t want to let her go.
Allison made the choice for him by letting her hand slip slowly from his. Ignoring whatever the hell it was he was feeling, Liam silently motioned to the door. Minutes later, they were back inside the elevator with only a few feet separating them from one another.
Just as it had been on the way up, the ride down to the parking garage was filled with awkward small talk and spansof uncomfortable silence. By the time they’d reached Allison’s car, Liam was all but convinced he’d imagined the confusing emotions running through his veins.
But even if he hadn’t, it didn’t matter. She was an official Delta Team client which meant he needed to keep himself in check. He had to remain focused on keeping her safe…and keeping his hands to himself.
Why? It’s not like the other guys ever drew that same line.
His inner voice had a valid point. Over the course of the past couple of years, four of Liam’s five teammates had each ended up marrying women they’d been protecting. And while his friends’ wives hadn’ttechnicallybeen clients of the firm back then, bearing witness to what his friends went through when they thought their women would be lost to them forever was all the deterrent Liam needed.
There was already a hefty load of his own personal baggage weighing him down. The last thing he needed was to add that particular brand of hell by falling for a single mom on the run from her abusive ex.
CHAPTER 3
“She was tellingtruth about the shelter.” Liam sat hunched down behind the wheel of his car.
For the past several minutes, he’d been parked down the block from the building where Allison had claimed to be staying.
“That’s a good start, at least.” Jagger Brooks’ deep voice filled the vehicle’s interior. “And if that part’s true, it stands to reason the rest of her story is, too.”
“Kind of what I thought,” he responded using the car’s hands-free connection.
After following her to the unmarked safe haven, Liam had waited to leave until after she’d gone inside. Rather than driving straight home, as he’d led her to believe was the plan, he’d circled the block so it would only appear as though he’d left for the night.
But he hadn’t left. He was still very much here. Watching. Waiting. And praying she didn’t do something stupid like take her daughter and run.
“I’m assuming you’re going to look into the husband?” Jagger spoke up again.
“As soon as I leave here.”
“What are you waiting for?”
I want to see her again.
Liam blinked, mentally shaking the thought clear from his head. “Just want to see how well she follows instructions.”
“Instructions?”
“I suggested she stay put for the night,” he explained. “Figure if she really is in fear for her life and that of her daughter’s?—”
