Page 126 of Cross Checked
On me, it looked controlled and protective. This fucker was the type that enjoyed scaring women.
That was the difference.
I wasn’t trying to own her fear. I wanted to burn it out of every room she walked into.
Daniel yelled from the grill, “Bug, you grab those buns or did they join witness protection?”
Pip jolted slightly. “Crap. I forgot.”
“I’ll go,” I said.
“No.” The answer came too fast. She caught herself and softened it. “No, I’ll get them. You’ll get lost.”
“In a house?”
“You grew up with staff. Domestic layouts confuse you.”
“Rude.”
“Accurate.”
I turned her in my arms so she faced me, keeping one hand at her waist. Her hair fell over one side of her neck again.
That fucking hair. I wanted to move it aside and see if he marked her because if she had a mark she was hiding absolutely nothing would stop me from ending him.
Her eyes flicked to Luke, then back to me.
There.
That tiny little check.
A hit of fear. A calculation. A warning she didn’t want me to see.
Too late.
I dipped my head lower, voice pitched for her alone. “Fuck that guy.”
Her breath caught.
“Cade.”
“No.” I held her gaze, letting the yard blur around us. Music, smoke, laughter, her brothers yelling, Luke pretendingnot to listen. None of it mattered for that second. “Be untouchable with me, Pip.”
Something moved through her face. Not relief exactly. Not safety either but recognition, like part of her had been starving to hear it said that way. Not soft, not gentle, not wrapped in careful little therapy language.
Her mouth parted, and I could tell she wanted to argue.
She didn’t.
Instead, she nodded once.
“That’s my girl,” I said.
Her eyes widened slightly.
Good.
Let her feel that too.
