Page 13 of Protect My Heart

The women around all hoot and holler.

Daphne props her hand on her hip. “Seriously?”

“Absolutely, Firecracker. I would never lie about BINGO,” I say.

“Fletch knows what’s what,” Gladys says.

Daphne walks over to me to check my card. “Yep, you definitely won.” She points behind her to the table where the various prizes sit.

“He wants a kiss for his prize,” Mabel says.

The ladies around me all say ‘ooh’ in unison.

I nod. “It’s true. I want a kiss.” I wrap my hand around the back of Daphne’s head and pull her face to mine, then I gently press our lips together.

From this close, that spicy citrus scent of hers sends blood straight to my dick. She pulls back from our chaste kiss and swallows visibly.

“So, how did you two lovebirds meet?” Helen asks.

I stare at Daphne and see the panic in her face. I would never disclose the truth of how we met. So I just smile. “I rescued her.”

“Oh, how romantic,” Mabel says.

“Yeah, she got locked out of her car in the grocery store parking lot and I was able to get it unlocked for her. She was the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. Really, it was her eyes. I love your eyes,” I say to Daphne directly.

She gives me a weak smile.

“I just knew. One look at her and I just knew,” I say.

“And the rest is history,” Daphne says quickly, making her way back up to the front of the room.

The rest of the games go by in a blur and while I’m genuinely having a good time, I’m ready for some alone time with Daphne.

I promise the ladies around me that I’ll be back.

Helen pulls me into a hug. “Be patient if she tries to run,” she whispers to me. “Her mama died when Daphne was just a little girl and all she’s ever known is taking care of her brothers and dad. She might not even recognize what she truly wants, even if he’s standing right in front of her.”

We separate and I squeeze her hand slightly. “Thank you for telling me that.”

She gives me a knowing look and then I’m leading Daphne to my truck.

“They loved you. No big surprise,” Daphne says with a chuckle. “Though Mabel is a die-hard romantic and she’s gonna be just heart broken when we don’t get married.”

I put a finger beneath her chin and turn her face to mine. “Who says we aren’t getting married?”

chapter ten

Daphne

By the time he says those ridiculous words he’s parked his truck in front of my apartment. I’m annoyed at how much my heart perked up like a happy little puppy at the thought of marrying this overgrown boy scout.

I open the door of his truck and hop out. “Well, this has just been super,” I say.

But then he’s right there, giant bear-sized hand on the small of my back leading me up the staircase to my apartment door.

Once we reach it, I unlock it, then spin on him. “Can we just be done with this charade?”

His brow furrows. “What charade?”