AllFreeNovel
Share Us
It was a gift from King, along with a dog bed, collar, leashes, toys, and a copy ofDogs For Dummieswhich I’m sure was meant to be a dig at me and not Payton.
“You told me not to go outside,” Payton continues our conversation, and it takes me a second to remember what we were talking about.
Her fine ass bent through the doorway.
“Not exactly following the spirit of the law,” I mumble but let it go. I don’t want her standing in open doorways either, but I am the one who just gave her a dog that will need to piss in the yard several times a day. “How do you feel about dinner and a movie?”
Payton bites her lip and glances down at Toto who is now lying flat on his side on the cool floor, panting from his recent adventure outdoors.
Reading her reticence, I explain. “We won’t leave the house.”
* * *
“Wow!”Payton drags her hand across the back of the large leather sofa. “I thought we were gonna watch a movie in the living room.”
I press a button on the wall and the curtains covering the front wall part to reveal a large screen, causing Payton to gasp.
Unfortunately, I had to spend most of the day in my office, getting things ready for my unplanned trip to Chicago. The Alliance shit is easy because I’m the boss no matter where I am, but there were a few meetings at my security company I had to reschedule. I’ve hired good people to fill every role, so I don’t have to spend much time at the office, but of course this would be the week I was actually needed. Which means I wasn’t able to give Payton the full tour of the house I’d promised. And it might’ve been practical to do it tonight but eating takeout pasta then watching a movie with her plastered to my side seemed like a better idea.
“This is quite impressive.” Payton stops at the far side of the room, taking in the rows of sofas and large recliner chairs.
“You can come watch movies in here anytime you want.”
“I wouldn’t know how to turn anything on.” She’s looking up at the projector on the ceiling.
“If I’m not home, all you need to do is call me and I’ll walk you through it. Same as anything else in the house you need help with. Except that espresso machine.”
She grins. “How about I teach you how to use that when you teach me how to use this?”
“Deal.” I see another question churning behind her eyes. “What is it?”
“Is there anywhere you don’t want me to go?”
“In the house?” She nods, but I’m already shaking my head. I can tell she’s asking because she doesn’t want to overstep, not because she intends to defy me. “You go wherever you want. Open drawers, use whatever you find. The only place you can’t go is the armory, but that’s because it’s locked.”
“There’s an armory?”
“More than one,” I answer. “Rocco, my Second, is the only other one with access. But I’ll get your biometrics added to the system once you’re trained.”
“Trained?” Her voice pitches up and I know I’m overwhelming her.
“Yes, trained.” I close the distance between us and place my palm against her cheek. “I’m your weapon. If you ever need to scare anyone, you tell them you’re mine.” I brush my thumb across her soft skin. “I will keep you safe, Payton.” I touch my lips to her forehead. “But you’ll still learn how to shoot a gun.”
Payton blows out a breath, giving me a tiny nod.
“And I bet you’ll be a crack shot.”
She snorts a little laugh as I successfully lighten the mood. “Guess, I’ll be learning all sorts of new things.”
“That you will. And speaking of new, I have a new phone and laptop for you up in our bedroom.”
“But I have a phone.”
“Baby, your phone sucked.” Her mouth pops open at my insult, but she knows I’m right. “If you really want to keep your old number, I’ll get it switched. But I already transferred your data into the new one, so it’s all set up and ready to go. Same with the laptop.”
“You,” she stops herself and sighs. “I was going to say you didn’t have to do that, but you already did. So, thank you.” Payton gives me that soft appreciative smile that warms my insides.
“You’re welcome,” I tell her. “And tomorrow at noon you have a virtual meeting with an interior designer.”
