“He doesn’t have to know.” His dark eyes stay steady with mine. “My goal is to keep you safe, not intrude on your life. I’ve made a promise to your parents, and I plan to respect that.”
He’s saying the wordrespect, but his eyes tell a different story, and I know from this moment forward, the plans I had for my big move to the mountains are about to get complicated.
Chapter Two
Silas
I shouldn’t be here. I’d be an idiot if I didn’t understand how deranged this entire situation is. Ellie is my son’s ex-girlfriend, the one fucking person on the entire planet I should never look at with lust, and yet, I’ve spent the last two years jerking off to thoughts of her.
It has gotten unbearable. Hell, once I even jerked off in the truck while I watched her at the beach. I wasn’t following her, but we both happened to be at the same place at the same time. She was wearing a hot pink bikini that left nothing to the imagination. To this day, I still think about the way her ass swallowed up that bottom and the way her tits bounced as she sprung up out of the water.
Which, again, is why I shouldn’t be here!I crossed one line at the beach, and I crossed another the night she and Adam broke up.Apparently, my morality loves hopscotch.
One would think that at the very least, I would start regretting the choices I make. Instead, I’ve spent the year ruminating on them, wishing I’d done more.
Take the night Ellie and Adam broke up, for instance. He got upset and backed her into a corner. I should have taken her away right then and there. Instead, I just grabbed Adam and forced him to calm down before making him leave my house.
I was addressing my son when I should have been focusing on her. I knew she wanted me as badly as I wanted her. I saw the way her eyes lingered on me in the hallway, in the way she leaned in when I spoke. She wanted a man. A man who’d protect her, care for her, and touch her body like he knew what he was doing.
I could’ve been that for her.
It wasn’t until I went back to her that I saw the pain my decision caused. At first, I tried consoling her. I held her against my chest, letting her tears soak my T-shirt. I told her I’d always keep her safe, that I’d look out for her, that I’d never let Adam or anyone else hurt her. I could tell my words were falling on deaf ears.
It was the light sigh she made as she buried into me further that broke me. That one tiny noise and the beast I’d been trying to suppress clawed its way to the surface and said things that shouldn’t have been said.
I drag in a deep breath and let it out slowly as I stand in the hallway, making small talk with her father. He’s best friends with my brother Cash, which means I’ve known the guy casually for the past twenty years, and well enough that he and his wife are trusting me with their daughter’s safety.
I can’t mess this up. I can’t let these urges get in the way of the trust these people have in me.
“She’s not afraid of anything.” Her father steadies a small ornate plate in his hand as he slices his fork sideways into the chocolate cake. “Her mother and I just want to know she’s safe. That’s all.”
I nod once, my arms crossed over my chest as I try to focus on him, rather than Ellie, who’s arguing with her mother in the next room. “You have my word. I’ll keep her safe.”
Her father nods. “This thing with the notebook… has Adam ever done anything like this before?”
“No.” I exhale slowly, wondering when my son fell off the tracks. “This is a first, but believe me, I won’t let anything happen to your daughter. She’s my top priority.”
Her father lands his hand on my shoulder. “I appreciate you. I know this is a difficult spot you’re in. I’m not sure I could do it.”
“Like I told Annabelle,” I scrub my hand down over my beard as I glance toward Ellie, who’s sitting at the dining room table rolling her eyes at her mother, “the last time I worked security was in the Marines, but given the circumstances, I see the importance. Adam isn’t acting like the kid I raised. He needs help.”
I never thought I’d say those words about my own son, but it’s true. He’s not the kid I raised. The kid I raised was tough but kind. He helped strangers and wounded animals on the side of the road. The kid I raised cared.
This guy is obsessive, and he doesn’t give a shit about anyone but himself.
“Do you know where he is?” her dad asks, scraping the edge of his fork against the plate to gather up the last of the chocolate frosting.
“Not currently, no. He ran off the night I found the notebook. Haven’t seen him since. My guess is that he’s in the woods. I know he’d been building a place of his own, though I have no idea where. From what I gathered by the designs and a checklist in the book, he seemed to be fairly far into it.” I tilt my head to the side. “I’m not going to chase him down. He’ll come to me and I’ll take care of him then.”
“Man,” her dad shakes his head, still scraping at his plate, “are you sure you’re up for this?”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” I groan, my gaze drawing back toward Ellie as she stands, her little, round titsbouncing as she walks. I’d do anything for her, though given the look on her face, she isn’t yet convinced this is what she needs.
“Look,” she says, stepping into the space between her father and I, “I don’t know what these people are on, and I get that Adam has some weird notebook with ideas I should be worried about, but I don’t want a bodyguard.”
“This isn’t up for discussion,” her dad mutters. “It’s done. Mr. Wilder is here, and he’s offered his help. So, we’re taking it.”
She glances up at me, eyes wide. “Oh,” she pauses and crosses her arms over her chest as though she’s caught me in a lie, “heoffered his help, did he?”
