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At my slow nod, he pressed further.
“And is she safe there tonight?”
“I believe so. But tomorrow, I’m going to move her on, just in case I’m wrong.”
“Where?”
“I…don’t know.”
Valentine waited for a moment, that intensity in him building. “Ask for my help.”
“What?”
“I’m right here. I’ve heard your story and I have ideas.”
I recoiled, embarrassed that I had no answer. The sense of failing when I’d barely got started strengthened, and it wasn’t a nice feeling. “I didn’t tell you any of that to get your pity.”
“Do I look like I’m pitying ye? For fuck’s sake. I’m a bodyguard. Ex-military. I have the capacity to help, so open those lips and say the words.”
In a hot second, him telling me toopen my lipsfor him switched my turmoil into something darker.
A coil of lust twirled low in my belly.
Valentine dropped his gaze to my mouth. “Save that needy expression for a minute and tell me I can get involved.”
I’d be a fool to refuse, and I couldn’t afford the pride being rapidly buried by lust. “What were you thinking?” I managed.
“Bring her here. To the bunkhouse. It has a bed for her and a lock on the door. I’ll find somewhere else for the night so ye have the place to yourselves, then I’ll work like a fucking maniac to get the cottage finished.”
I cast my gaze around. The bunkhouse was an option, but I had back-to-back clients tomorrow, and Daisy had been so kind about today.
“You’re amazing for even offering it, but I’d need to find something for her to do during the day while I’m cleaning. I haven’t found weekend daycare yet.”
“When does she start school?”
“The new term begins on Monday. I enrolled her in the village but haven’t confirmed her first day.”
Another problem I hadn’t worked out how to tackle.
He took out his phone, his forehead lined in concentration. “So ye need cover for tomorrow and Sunday only. Let me get some minds on it. Plenty of families with weans her age around the estate.”
He typed a message, responses coming in fast that earned more frowns and tapping out of replies.
My mind was a mess. I’d prepared as best I could under the worst of circumstances. Mom’s death had left me reeling, while also propelling me to take action and change our lives. But I couldn’t do it alone. The most important thing in the world was getting Tobi back with me.
By the way Valentine’s mouth curved, he’d found a final piece to the puzzle.
“Sorted. After work tomorrow, I’ll take ye to fetch her so you’re nae risking being in the same car from yesterday, then we’ll come back here for dinner with Cameron and his family. His wee girl, Avery, has just turned four so she will be in the same year group as Tobi. Cameron worked on this team a few years back, and he’s happy to have your lass over for a playdate while ye work.”
My control snapped.
So easily, he’d fixed my problems. Not just in getting Tobi here but in gifting her a friend for her first day—something that had been taking up brain space and for which I had no solution.
A rush of need overtook me. I rolled up on my knees, got into his space, and kissed him.
Chapter 9
Mia
