Page 79 of Protecting Love

Fletcher went back to eating. “Yes. I hadn’t figured out how he got my number. I was running the organized crime division.”

“Which would have appealed to him with your knowledge of business and security.”

“That’s what he said. He needed someone with my experience. With my connections. It’s almost as if the timing couldn’t have been better knowing that Lorraine was moving shortly.”

Did he think West had looked into his personal life?

He wouldn’t put it past the guy, but he’d never asked. Maybe he didn’t want to know.

Not when the job helped mend the relationship with his son.

“So that is why you retired? Because of West’s offer?”

“He made it so I couldn’t refuse.”

“Do you like it?”

“Like sitting in an office and checking out businesses that he wants to buy? Looking for dirt, increasing security and personnel on his building and for his family? Sure, it’s a blast a minute.”

She burst out laughing. “You’re bored, aren’t you?”

“I’d never say that to West.”

“And you didn’t say it to me. You’re probably not bored as much as you just need more action.”

“Seems I’m getting it now,” he mumbled. “As long as I didn’t fuck up too much. And if I did, we can just move on like this morning didn’t happen.”

She blew out a massive breath. “Is that what you want?”

“Does it matter what I want? I’ve got a job to do either way. One isn’t going to interfere with the other. That was going to be my conversation.”

“Well then. I said my piece. You say yours. Then we’ll decide what happens moving forward.”

He wasn’t sure why it felt as if a gauntlet was just slammed between their plates.

19

GOING TO BE RULES

She got it. She really did.

Fletcher Wilcox is this big, bad, mean bro.

He carries a gun. He flexes his muscles. He talks, people listen.

And maybe she was okay with that in her life.

Maybe she’d never had it before and though she always said she never wanted a guy like that, she was finding comfort in having someone in her space that she could lean on.

Could support her.

Protect her, though she really hated she needed that part.

Then they go from mind-blowing, body-tingling orgasms to fighting over her lukewarm breakfast that she’d slaved over this morning hoping to seduce him.

Guess she didn’t need to spend so much time in the kitchen.

“I don’t want to change course with this conversation if you’re not done saying what you need to,” he said.