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“Two reasons. One is that I owe your father.”
“For what?”
“He jumped in front of a bullet for me, saving my life. That’s why your mother left him.”
I was shocked, the story not one I’d heard. “How did I not know that?”
“Because you were at your last summer camp. Remember? By the time you returned, your father was healed. If he hadn’t done what he did, I’d be dead.”
Swallowing hard, I was beginning to understand that heartache, my mother’s fury, and my father not trying harder to bring me into his life. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s a part of my world and one you shouldn’t be dragged into, but as I said, I owe him my life.” He started to walk away, and I tensed all over again.
“What’s the second reason?”
He stopped short, slowly turning his head so I was able to see his profile. “Because I care very much about you, Delaney. I meant what I said. I would be the one who jumped in front of a bullet to save your life. However, what happened between us can’t happen again.”
The man I’d once called my uncle didn’t need to remind me or convince me. I knew in my heart the line we’d crossed couldn’t under any circumstances happen again.
However, that didn’t mean it wasn’t something I’d ever forget.
Francois was everything I’d ever wanted and nothing I could have.
CHAPTER 11
Francois
The woman drove me absolutely insane.
Delaney had ceremoniously challenged everything I’d said to her, the rules that I’d laid out. She’d defied me at every turn, acting as if my appearance was a tremendous breach in her lifestyle, a hindrance she didn’t deserve. Didn’t the feisty vixen understand that her life was on the line?
And the words the monster had painted on the wall had been kept from me likely to hold a clue back in attempting to track down the killer. Still, it pissed me off that the detective had failed to mention it.
There was no doubt she’d been targeted because of her father’s association with the family. Warning Brandon was the right thing to do, but unnerving him unnecessarily wasn’t in anyone’s best interest, especially since he seemed stressed about leaving already.
I raked my hand through my hair, still grumbling under my breath, flicking to another screen on my laptop where I’d captured her picture. She was laughing, the wind blowing through her sun-kissed hair, the boat she was on worth millions of dollars. In her hand was a glass of champagne, on her ring finger a sparkling diamond from the jeweler she was representing. And the man standing only a few inches away dressed like what he was, someone who’d just stepped out ofGQmagazine, was freaking gorgeous. Even his golden tan was utter perfection.
It was all fake as fuck.
Yet it made me jealous, so much so I slammed my fist onto the desk, jarring two pictures off the edge and onto the floor. No woman had ever managed to do that to me. Not once. What the fuck was wrong with me?
God. I was such an idiot. I couldn’t believe I’d touched her. Tasted her. Fucked her. I had to get the entire situation the fuck out of my mind or I wouldn’t be able to protect her.
Yet all I could think about was her soft moans, the way she’d looked when I’d grabbed her earlier, the fight in her stunning deep green eyes. And her blessed defiance. I’d want to rip off her clothes, fucking her right there outside her father’s office.
What in the hell did that make me? A pervert. That’s what.
But fuck, she felt like she belonged to me.
Sadie lifted her head, staring at me with her dazzling eyes, one blue and one light brown, both shimmering as her tail thumped against the floor. She was an Australian Shepherd, so highly intelligent that not only did she know my moods, calming mebefore I realized how angry I’d become, but she’d brought more smiles than I could remember in a long time.
“Don’t look at me that way.”
She was also condescending when necessary. I could see it in her eyes. Huffing, she lowered her head, issuing a single whine. Laughing, I shook my head, noticing one of her favorite balls near my chair. No wonder she was furious with me. Reaching over, before I had it in my hand, she sensed what I was doing, jumping up and barking several times. I held it into the air, cocking my head exactly like she did when trying to figure out what I was saying.
I woofed back at her on purpose before tossing the ball, wishing my life could be as joyful as hers. She had a comfy bed in every room, four baskets brimming with dog toys, and was regularly taken to Starbucks for a pup cup by my housekeeper. Or Rocco or Daniel. Or about a half dozen of my other soldiers with house privileges.
To say she was spoiled was a complete understatement.
