Page 8 of Protect My Heart

We laugh.

“I was a fool once and let the one get away, so unless I can somehow convince her to move back to town and get her to fall in love with me, then I’ll just be on my own.”

“I’m sorry,” I say. “What’s her name?”

“Felicity.”

“Well, I hope she gives you a second chance.”

“Me too. I’m not holding my breath though. She’s a pistol, that one.”

“Those are the best kinds though, right?” I ask. Because I know Daphne is a pistol. A full loaded one too.

“Dammit,” Garrett growls.

Did I say that about Daphne out loud?

I look where Garrett is glaring and find Daphne sitting at one of the makeshift picnic tables with her cousin Jade. The problem isn’t with them though, it seems to be the guy standing too close to Daphne.

“Who’s that?” I ask, my voice sounding gruff.

“Just this fucker who used to chase after her in high school. I think they went out a couple of times. Something about him bothers her though. She’d never tell me any details and swears he didn’t do anything to her. But I don’t like that he’s here and sniffing around her again.”

He sets down his bottle of water and I put a hand on his arm.

“Let me,” I say.

One of his brows shoots up.

I smile. “I’ve got this.” Then I march directly to her. I can only hope that this doesn’t piss Garrett off too much.

When I reach her, I kind of shoulder him out of the way, pick her up and sit in her spot with her on my lap. “Hey baby, did you get some barbecue?”

I band my arm around her waist and hold her back to my chest. Then I kiss her temple just like I’d seen Hayes do to his wife a few minutes ago.

Beside me, Jade chuckles.

Then I look over at the guy like I’m just now seeing him for the first time. I hold a hand out. “Hey man. Fletch. How you doing?”

He ignores me and looks back at Daphne. “Daphne, is this guy bothering you?” he asks.

I don’t know what he thinks he’s gonna do about it considering I’m at least half a foot taller than him and probably have sixty pounds on him.

Daphne clearly catches on to my plan quickly, because she leans her head back, snuggling into my chest. “You mean my boyfriend? No, Trip, he’s not bothering me.”

“Boyfriend?” the douche named Trip asks. “When did that happen? I haven’t been out of town that long.”

“Doesn’t matter, Ted. They’re together so scoot along,” Jade says.

He shoots a glare at her. “I told you not to call me that.”

“Can’t help it. When your initials spell out a word, you have to be willing to go by that name. Pretty sure that’s a rule. Right, Fletch?” Jade asks me.

“I can affirm that as a rule.”

“So it’s either Ted, or I call you Trip Edward Duncan the third. Take your pick,” Jade says with a laugh.

“Bitch,” Trip mutters and walks away.