Page 216 of The Bluffing Game

“I’m going to start thinking you’re sabotaging my dates, Mr. Leone.”

She gives me a look, and I hold my hand up.

“Scout’s honor, I would never do such a thing.”

“Not this one at least,” I murmur under my breath.

She tilts her head to the side and gives Toby a quick hug. “Well, it’s good to see you, Toby.”

She holds him gently like she thinks he might break, and he hugs her tightly. Her face lights up with happiness, and I can see she is touched.

“It’s good to see you too. I told Daddy I wanted to come to the beach and that you told me you’d buy me ice cream, and he said that you had a date.” He presses his lips together and looks over at the man. “Who are you?”

Parker pulls his sunglasses off. There’s a hardness in his eyes, and I can tell he’s not impressed. “I’m Parker. I’m on a date with Sage here. And you are?”

“I’m Toby,” he says.

Parker looks at Toby, then at me, and then looks at Sage. “Is there something going on here that I should know?”

“No. Dalton is just my boss, and he’s my friend, and sometimes I babysit Toby.”

“I’m her favorite,” Toby says as he gets onto her lap. “Aren’t I?”

She strokes his head and gives him a kiss on the cheek. “You’re a cutie pie, Toby.”

“You know what? Let’s get a drink,” Parker says, jumping up. “You want one, Dalton?”

“I am⁠—”

“I think you’d like to get one with me,” he says.

“Okay.”

We walk over to the concession stand in silence. When we get close, he finally speaks. “I don’t know what your problem is. I don’t know if you wish you had a shot with Sage, but she’s mine now, so you need to back off. I don’t know what game you’re playing, but it’s not funny.”

“I am not playing any game,” I say, but I realize this man is definitely not as cool, calm, and collected as he seemed. He’s playing a part, and he’s definitely not someone I trust to be around Sage. “I look after Sage. She’s very important to me.” I stare at him. “I won’t let anything happen to her.”

“And neither will I,” he says. “She’s exactly the sort of woman I want on my arm, you know?”

“No, I don’t.”

“Well, I’m just saying that she and I are getting to know each other, and this could potentially be something very special between us, so I’m going to speak to you man to man and tell you and your son to back off.”

“I’ll be watching you, Parker.” I smile, but there’s no mistaking the venom in my tone.

“Keep watching.” He tilts his head up, as if in challenge. “This one’s mine, Leone. Stick with who you know. Little boys shouldn’t get involved in big men’s games.”

“And wannabe soldiers shouldn’t go to war with veterans,” I hiss back, all the while waving at Toby and Sage. “Only one of us will survive this, Parker, and it sure as hell won’t be you.”

“I’ll remember you said that when she’s screaming in my bed tonight.” He pushes his sunglasses back up his nose and turns around. “Sage will be mine.”

I don’t trust him, and the last thing I’m going to do is back off.

I look over toward Sage and Toby, and I can see he’s looking up at her with big, wide eyes. My heart sinks because, at this moment, I realize something. I’m falling for Sage, but it’s not only that; so is Toby, and that’s a much more dangerous thing to worry about.

I’m not going to let Parker worm his way into her heart, but I have to make sure to protect Toby just as much as I protect Sage. Even if it means breaking my own heart.

Chapter 23