“Yeah.” Caroline rose from the chair.
While Sydney was saying goodbye to her parents, the doorbell rang.
As her sister made her way toward the front door, her dad called out, “Check through the living room window, first.”
Adrenaline had Sydney pulling her weapon from its holster. Her dad flicked his gaze in her direction. “Put that away.”
“I’ve got a target on my back.”
Seconds later, Caroline returned holding hands with Grey, the biggest smile on her face.
“Grey!” Her mom gave him a hug.
And then, Tank entered the kitchen, his massive size filling the space while his picture-perfect smile lit up his handsome face.
Sydney’s pulse shot into triple digits. Thanks to Tank, she got that much-needed power hit.
He is so damn hot.
When his gaze found hers, she couldn’t miss the shift in his energy. Their connection was immediate, it was raw, and it felt so damn good.
“Hey,” she said as she hugged him.
When he wrapped her in his strong arms, she feltcomplete… and protected in a way she’d never felt before. Not from her dad, not even from her weapons. For a woman who’d learned at a very young age how to protect herself, the feeling overwhelmed her.
And she soaked it up like her life depended on it.
“Syd, re-holster your weapon,” her dad said.
After breaking away from Tank, her fingers tingled, the desire to touch him that strong. Like a magnet, she took a step closer to half the distance between them.
“Hey,” Tank said, the grit in his voice rumbling through her like thunder.
“Dad,” Sydney said. “You have got to chill. The safety is on.”
“Sydney Annalise Austin.” Her dad wasnotmessing around. “You are waving that gun around like a mad woman.”
“Yes, sir.”
As she re-holstered the weapon, Tank said, “Mr. Austin, I’m Theodore Santini, Greystone’s younger brother. I’m here to make sure your daughter stays safe.” After the men shook hands, Tank addressed her mom. “Mrs. Austin, it’s a pleasure.”
His mom gave him a warm hug. “Welcome, Theodore. It’s good to meet you.”
“Okay, so I’m gonna take off,” Caroline said.
“Did you drive together?” Kathrine asked.
“Greystone and I had dinner together,” Tank replied. “We split up after, met back here.”
“I’m following Caroline home,” Grey said.
“Please be careful,” their mom said.
“Mom, I’ll text you guys when we get back to the condo.” Caroline hugged her mom and dad before regarding Sydney. “Text me when you get back.”
“You’re not staying at the condo?” her mom asked.
“No.”
