Page 4 of Protecting Bree
Fuck. He was doomed. Every time he made this woman smile, he felt a surge of pride and contentment coursing through him. He’d spend the rest of his life saying stupid things and making a fool of himself if it meant seeing the current look on her face.
And if having a job, a roof over her head, and friends to hang out with was all it took to make her happy, he could easily give her all those things. He wasn’t sure he was boyfriend material, he was too…hard. Too cynical. But if having a boyfriend was also something she wanted, he’d bend over backward to be the kind of man she could rely on.
Smiley wasn’t even freaking out that he was thinking long-term when it came to this woman. She’d been the center of his world for months now. He’d worried about her every minute of the day and night. And now she was here. Safe. On his couch. It was no wonder he didn’t have any concerns about giving her anything she needed to be happy.
“How about you get some more sleep,” he suggested grumpily.
“What about you?”
“Whataboutme what?” Smiley asked.
“Are you going to sleep? You can’t sit in that chair all night, watching me. I promise not to leave, Smiley.”
The hell he couldn’t stay here all night. He’d slept in this chair more times than he could count. And damn straight she wasn’t leaving—he wouldn’t let her. She needed help. Help only he and his connections could give her.
Bree Haynes was about to find out that coming to Riverton was the best decision she’d ever made. She wanted friends? She was already close with Kelli; it wouldn’t take much for her to be integrated into the fold with the other women, especially Addison. She would want to meet the woman who’d saved her daughter and stepdaughter. And Caroline Steel and her crew would definitely take her under their wings too.
Bree had no idea how much her life was about to change.
“Smiley? Did you hear me? I promise not to sneak out in the middle of the night.”
“You think you could? Iama SEAL, after all,” he told her.
“Is that a challenge?” she asked, with a lift of her chin.
“No!” he barked, suddenly afraid she’d decide to prove that she could sneak out without him knowing.
“Relax,” she told him, laughing again, “I’m too tired to do anything more than sleep…tonight.”
“Fuck,” he swore, realizing the can of worms he’d inadvertently opened.
Bree giggled.
Honest-to-Godgiggled—and Smiley knew he was a goner.
He’d spent the first thirty years of his life being annoyed by giggling. And now he found himself getting hard by the sound ofthiswoman doing that exact thing.
Settling into the chair, Smiley pulled a blanket hanging off the back over his lap. The last thing he wanted was to have Bree notice his erection. It was inappropriate, and given everything happening with her life, it would probably scare the shit out of her.
“Sleep, Bree,” he ordered gruffly.
“Smiley?”
“You aren’t sleeping,” he told her.
She smiled again. Each one burrowing further and further into his heart.
Then her smile disappeared. “I appreciate any help you can give me, but if things don’t work out, if he finds me…you aren’t allowed to feel guilty.”
Guilt was a part of Smiley’s life. He carried the mantleof guilt that he hadn’t done anything to help his mother, and it wasn’t about to disappear now.
As much as he wanted to tell Bree that whoever was after her wouldn’t find her, he couldn’t. He knew better than most people that bad shit happened in life. Hell, she did too, which was why she was bringing this up now. But he could make her a vow.
“If he finds you, I’ll come after you. I won’t stop until I’ve found you—and he’s got my bullet in his forehead.” It was a violent and depressing thing to say, but Smiley didn’t regret it.
“Promise?” Bree whispered.
“Promise.”
