Page 78 of Lowering His Guard

“No.” I hold up my hand. My sheet slips and Brock moves to stand in front of me. I peek around him. “No buts. Brock’s the dad. End of story.”

“When are you going to give me grandbabies?” Mom pouts.

I should have known the best night of my life would be followed by devastation. First, Brock wants to run away from me. And now Mom is reminding me of the biggest hurt in my life. My inability to have children.

“Lin,” Dad warns. “Leave her be.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

He smiles at me but when his gaze meets Brock, it disappears. “You better treat my baby girl right.”

“Dad,” I warn.

Brock squeezes my hand. “He’s your dad. He’s allowed to be protective. It’s what a good dad does.”

And Brock would know since he is a good dad. It’s one of the things I like the most about him.

“I’ll get dressed so we can get going,” I say as I head to my bedroom. “I’ll see you tonight,” I holler to my parents before ducking into the room.

I throw on a clean bikini, shorts, and a t-shirt. There’s no time to shower but I can clean up at the resort. The employee locker rooms include showers and a sauna. Hudson doesn’t mess around when it comes to the people who work for him.

When I return to the living area, my parents are gone and Brock is waiting in front of the door.

“I’m ready.”

“Ready and waiting!” Plank squawks and I startle. I forgot all about the bird.

I reach for his cage but Brock gets there first. “I’ve got it. You lock up.”

I don’t tell him I don’t usually lock my door. There isn’t much need to lock up on Smuggler’s Hideaway. The worst thing that can happen is a drunk tourist raids my kitchen. No worries there since there’s no food in my cupboards.

“What are you going to do with the parrot?” Brock asks once we’re driving away from Smuggler’s Rest on our way to the resort.

I check the time on my phone. “I can drive him to Pirate’s Perch this morning. I have another hour before my first class begins.”

He frowns. “I can’t go with you.”

“It’s a good thing I’m a big girl who’s been driving for fifteen years now.”

“What if the Perchers are mad at you? What about their tridents?”

“As if I don’t know you made a deal with them to let me ‘steal’ Plank.”

“How do…” He trails off and pinches the bridge of his nose. “Never mind. I will never understand the mysterious ways of Smuggler’s Hideaway.”

“But don’t you want to?” The question slips out before I can stop it. I open my mouth to tell him never mind, but to my surprise, he answers.

“Maybe.”

My breath catches. Maybe? Is he serious? Would he retire on this island?

I have about a gazillion questions I want to ask, but we reach the resort before I can gather my thoughts into coherent sentences. Probably for the best. I don’t want to sound like a clingy girlfriend when I’m not even his girlfriend. We spent one night together. One night does not a relationship make.

Unfortunately.

He pulls into a parking spot. “I need to get to Jace. He’s not answering his phone or my messages.”

“Okay.” I jump out of the seat. This time I don’t bow to my imaginary audience. Nothing worth bowing about this morning.