Her Unbreakable Protector: A Rescue & Protect Romance Suspense Novel (Red Mark Rescue & Protect Book 1) by Alessa Kelly

Author:Alessa Kelly [Kelly, Alessa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-02-14T00:00:00+00:00

21

CASSIDY

“Mom, come and play with us.” Grace stands by the bedroom door, donning a Major League Baseball cap that keeps drooping down her forehead. No doubt it’s Sam’s.

I sit up, although I wish I could keep my heavy eyes shut, just like Maximus, who’s lying on the floor next to the bed. My unfinished conversation with Sam loops in my head like a bad record.

“You had your breakfast?” I ask Grace with a guilty tone. A bout of migraine just now had forced me to enlist Sam’s help to feed my daughter.

Grace taps a ball against her gloved hand. “Of course. Sam makes good pancakes.” Her crooked smile tells me his were better than mine. I make no protest and smile back.

I run a hand over my hair as I glance out the window. The morning sun shines through the fir trees that line the backyard. In the spotlight is Sam, doing his warmups—whatever they’re for, he’s just going to play ball with a five-year-old.

He faces away, but I bet he knows I’m watching.

His shorts ride up and down following his movement. They keep him decent, but there’s no hiding his Herculean legs. Meanwhile, his tank top exposes his buff arms. Against the light, its thin white material gives me a glimpse of the silhouette of his torso—and the bandage around his midriff. No matter how hard he tries to mask his injury, my mind is conditioned to sense his pain.

I enjoy the view, nonetheless.

“Are you coming?” Grace cuts short my indulgence. She taps the ball even harder against the leather glove as if preparing herself for Sam’s throws.

“I’m still feeling a bit tired. Go on, you play with Sam,” I encourage her. “But be gentle, okay? His side is still sore.”

“Okay,” Grace says. “Come, Max.” She tries to lure him with the ball, but the mutt isn’t budging. “Alright. Don’t say I don’t let you play!” she complains and walks away.

“You okay, Max?” I nudge him with my foot and then brush him with my toes.

The mutt rolls over, belly up. He soon throws me a doggy grin when I rub him vigorously.

“Why did you choose me?”

He simply writhes left and right; I know I’m hitting his ticklish spots.

“You pounced at me, remember?”

It would have been almost an ordinary afternoon if not for the fact that I debuted Fallen Angel at The Thirsty Fox—a pale ale crafted in my own brewery using my mother’s recipe. I’ll never forget Max’s ferocious lick. Up to that point, I don’t think anyone had ever been so excited to see me.

“What did you see in me, huh?” I play with his ears. “Or smell in me?”

Max whistles a soft woof.

“I’m no good for him, you know.”

I couldn’t even handle his joke. I can tolerate him being a clown. First thing this morning in the shower, although it annoyed me, I could take the ‘buffalo sauce’ comment when I caught a glimpse at his blood-stained bandage. But his remark about his head being screwed to his body?

I let out a loud sigh, prompting Maximus to watch me closely.

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