“Boss—”
“It’s fine, Collin. Get back to your desk.” He frowned but then left me alone.
Apparently, my crush was obvious. Sure, I created a job for her and then hired her, bypassing all the usual HR procedures. Even after discovering her true purpose for being here and giving her access, limited access, but still. I rearranged my schedule to be near her and spend time with her.
Why was my having a crush on her so mortifying?
Well, I was her boss, and she did most likely think I protected men who trafficked women. It was all messed up. I should probably go to her and explain. Assure her that despite my feelings, I would remain professional. Maybe play it off as a joke. Not the most direct approach, but I had few options. I didn’t want her to leave, but I didn’t want her to be uncomfortable around me either.
“Oh, fuck me.” I laid my head down and willed the last five minutes to erase themselves from the universe.
“Daddy. He’s sleeping.” Tinley loudly whispered. I lifted my head and found Tinley and Josh standing in my doorway.
“See, Tinley.” He pushed her in. “Even adults need naps every once in a while.”
She pouted and stopped. Josh bumped into her. “Then maybe we should let him continue his nap.”
“I wasn’t napping.” I waved her in. “What’s up? Is itbring a little to workday?No one told me.”
Tinley’s giggle brightened my mood. A little. She exuded joy, but only a select few got to see it. I considered myself honored.
“Then what were you doing?” Josh guided Tinley closer.
“Thinking.”
“Okay, but if you were napping, that’s okay.” Tinley frowned. “You shouldn’t nap at your desk, though.” She knocked on the wooden surface. “Not very comfortable.”
“True, if I were napping.” I winked at her. “What’s up?”
“I just wanted to thank you for hiring Kylie. I really like her, and she’s super nice, and I like the idea of having an FBI agent as my personal bodyguard. Rayna likes her too, but she thinks the FBI hunts down ninjas. I told her they didn’t because they only hunt down criminals, and ninjas aren’t criminals. Well, some criminals may have ninja skills, and in a group of people, some might be bad or turn bad. Anyway, I am sure Kylie won’t need to hunt us down because we aren’t criminals. But sometimes good people have to do bad thi?—”
“Tinley.” Josh stopped her rant, but they were so few and far between I wish he would have let her continue. “Didn’t you have something to give Patrick?”
“Oh, yeah.” She set her backpack on the chair, pulled out a folder, and handed it to me.
Inside was a folded piece of blue construction paper with the words Thank you and a heart drawn across the front in white marker. Inside, Tinley had drawn a picture of the buildings ofthe Quad. She scribbled a name on each building: Tyler at Quad I, Randall in Quad II, Kyler, Rayna, Josh, and Tinley in Quad IV and then an enormous umbrella drawn over it all with my name written in block letters.
Love, Tinley,written at the bottom.
“Oh, it’s beautiful.” I bit my lip. “Thank you, Tinley.”
She stepped next to me. “Do you like it?”
I hugged her and kissed the top of her head. “Very much.”
Josh rolled his eyes. “Come on, Tin Tin.” He gestured for her. “Let Patrick get back to his work.” He winked.
“I wasn’t napping.”
Tinley’s laugh traveled down the hallway.
Her childlike picture made me sad. Even after what she’s been through and despite my own failing, she saw me as the protector. I would always protect my family, but I wanted a little of my own as well. I wanted what they had, and I knew who I wanted it with. Hopefully, I didn’t scare her away.
I headed toward Kylie’s office next door. Her door was closed.
I knocked.
“Come in.”
