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Bad Rylee.
I cough, hiking Layla up again in an attempt to hold her longer. Something in the widening of his green eyes is familiar, but I ignore the niggling thought.
"Hello, can I help you?" I would palm my face in embarrassment and exasperation if Bug wasn’t in my arms and if it wouldn’t be obnoxious. I don't know how long I've been ogling this specimen on my doorstep, but I'm positive it was way too long to be normal.
He clears his throat, and damn if I don't notice how deep those vocal cords can go. "Hi. Rylee, is it?" I narrow my eyes and give him a single nod. "My name is Jackson Jones. I own this property, but that's not why I'm here."
Unable to hold Layla up anymore, I drop her down behind my leg, feeling much better when she latches onto the belt loop of my shorts. I look down and see her eyes narrowed on the man as well. She doesn't seem afraid, though, just wary and maybe a little miffed that it wasn't Gabby here to play again.
Looking back at Jackson, I can't help the tilt of my head when his face softens as he looks at Layla. His throat works a swallow. "I came to apologize. I was one of the guys who picked up Gabby last night."
At the reference of our new friend, Layla perks up. "Pixie Gabby?" My cheeks flush. I referred to the woman as a pixieonce,and now she’s never going to let it go.
He smirks, and I fight like hell to keep my jaw off the ground. I swear I hear the devil laughing at the sin he just threw my way.
Jackson crouches, and damn if I don't picture him on his knees instead. When he gives my daughter a wide smile, I about melt.
"Hmm, pink hair and acts like sunshine?" Hands clasped in front of him, he addresses Layla with his question.
My stomach swoops with displeasure when she releases my shorts and comes to stand beside me. "I don't know about the sun, but she has the coolest pink hair."
I'm stumped between being really fucking glad that she's not cowering in the face of an imposing man and trying not to show how absolutely terrified I am over how easily she stepped towards him.
He nods with a smile still in place. "Yeah. She's my sister. I came and picked her up last night with my friend."
"That's so cool. Is she here?" Dismissing the man, she goes up onto her tippytoes to look over his shoulder. "I don't see her."
The chuckle that rumbles out of him has me a little weak in the knees. "No, little Miss. I didn't bring your pixie. I think I upset your momma last night, so I'm here to say sorry. Is that okay?"
All curiosity burns from her dainty little features. "You made Mommy sad?" I watch his smile falter in the face of Layla's distrust and anger.
"Hey, Bug." I pull her away a few steps and kneel in front of her. "Why don't you go pick out what swimsuit you want to wear to the beach, and I'll come get you when it's time to eat, okay?" At some point, Jackson must have stood up, because Layla's gaze flickers to the top of the doorway.
Her little nose scrunches up even as her body angles away from the stranger. "Are you sad?"
The whispered words make my eyes burn with how considerate and protective she is, but she’ll learn that it was never her job to protect me. It's mine to protect her, even from my own negative emotions.
"I'm not sad, I promise. Jackson came to be nice. Now you go find a swimsuit, so we can go." I give her a sloppy kiss on the cheek, absolutely relieved when she giggles and runs up to her room.
I attempt to make my shuddering breaths unnoticeable and ignore the fact that I utterly fail. Hands on my thighs, I stand and face the man who's making my panties damp, and my hands moisten with anxiety.
"Why are you here, Mr. Jones?"
ChapterEight
JACKSON
"Why are you here, Mr. Jones?"
I barely contain the groan that fights to escape when she addresses me so formally. At the same time, my chest aches at the distance she is clearly trying to put between us. I then scold myself internally for being so hurt by the action when I have literally only heard her speak to me twice now.
What the hell is wrong with me?
I literally have no idea what is going on. I came here to apologize, and the blonde cutie who opened the door completely took me aback. My attention was immediately snatched by the stunning woman who swooped the little one up in her arms with a fierce look that threatened to castrate me if I made one wrong move.
I don't want to say Rylee is different in the light of day since I don't know her, but with her daughter involved, she is not a shaking, fearful woman. No. Rylee is a ferocious momma ready to rip the head off of any predator who upsets her little girl.
Her daughter was the same. Unnervingly protective of the woman who gave her life. The questions and fear of what happened to this beautiful duo pound at the forefront of my mind.
