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“But he’s still a dog that’s being left alone for the first time in a new home,” she protested.
I grinned. “I think you’ve fallen in love with a dog.”
Lucky. Fucking. Dog.
She smiled sheepishly. “Maybe. He’s such a good boy, Chase. All he really wants is to play, be near his people, and get a bunch of cookies every day.”
“Sounds like the perfect life to me,” I said wryly as I signed the receipt the waiter had brought me and put my card away. “Do you want anything else before we go, sweetheart?”
Actually, the mutt and I had similar goals and needs, so I guess I could sympathize with him if he was missing Vanna right now. Hell, I missed her, too, when we weren’t together.
Axel and I both wanted to protect Vanna and keep her safe.
We’d never turn down treats if she offered them.
And we both wanted her to pet us, albeit in far different ways.
“No thanks,” she replied.
I waved the waiter away before I asked, “So I’m forgiven for insisting that we get Axel?”
I had to admit that I really liked the mutt, too, but my main purpose in getting him had been to add an extra layer of protection to Vanna.
The way she adored him was just a huge bonus.
“Of course,” she said softly. “I’m perfectly willing to compromise, but I can’t do the human bodyguard thing, Chase. Ever. It would drive me completely crazy.”
Honestly, I couldn’t blame her. I wouldn’t be able to tolerate it, and Vanna had her own life. Normally, I wouldn’t have given this much credence to an obvious lunatic, but something in my gut was nagging me about this one.
This person was excessive and obsessive. They wanted Wyatt and me to pay because, in their twisted mind, we were responsible for their father’s death. That meant the people we cared about could be in more danger than we were.
Something didn’t feel right, and even Wyatt agreed with me.
Cooper was taking every precaution possible with Torie.
Which pretty much just left…Vanna.
Fuck!I couldn’t stand the thought of her being vulnerable.
I had no problem admitting that both Vanna and Torie were my Achilles’ heel.
Now I just had to make sure they were safe until this psycho wasn’t a possible danger anymore.
“I understand, Vanna, and I don’t want to stifle you,” I answered truthfully. “Just be careful right now. Don’t let your guard down.”
Christ!I wasn’t even willing to consider what my life would be like without Vanna in it anymore.
It was highly likely that nothing would ever happen. I’d tried to remind myself of that every single day since those letters had started to arrive, but then the apprehension would inevitably show up.
What if something happened to Vanna?
What if this person was serious?
What if I couldn’t protect her?
“Are you ready?” Vanna asked as she stood.
“Yeah,” I said distractedly as I rose from my seat. “Let’s go home.”
