In Need of Protection by Jill Elizabeth Nelson

Author:Jill Elizabeth Nelson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2020-11-07T23:12:03+00:00

* * *

Ethan gulped down a big breath of air. That was a close call. He’d come within a millisecond of kissing the woman he was supposed to be protecting. Next to him, Lara sat stiffly sipping her tea and not sparing him a glance. Had she, too, felt the urge to join their lips together? If so, did he dare hope she was disappointed the kiss hadn’t happened? Or was she offended that he had again sent her that conflicted on-again, off-again message?

Clearly, he’d have to level with her 100 percent. He needed her to trust him protect her the way she deserved to be protected. Lara was a gem in every way, and he couldn’t—wouldn’t—allow the Draytons to deprive the world of her or take possession of little Maisy.

Ethan rose and went to the rocking chair. “I’m sorry about that. Usually, I’m able to maintain complete professional distance, but honestly, with you, I’m struggling. Not because I don’t like you but because I do. Too much.”

Color washed up Lara’s neck and onto her cheeks. “Really?” The word squeaked out her mouth.

“But that’s not okay. Not right now. This feeling reminds me of the time I let my guard down with someone under my care. Innocent people were nearly killed because I allowed the relationship to become so personal that my professional judgment was impaired.”

Her eyes narrowed and she canted her head at him. “I see. Well, sort of, since you haven’t finished your story, but I totally agree that now is a terrible time to allow feelings to develop and relationships to become personal. I’m struggling with that myself.”

“Really?” It was his turn for a word to pop out in a higher-than-normal tone of voice.

His heart did a little jig. She was attracted to him? That was great. No, that was terrible. Ethan scrubbed a hand over his face.

“I guess I’d better finish telling you what happened. Then maybe you’ll understand the risks of clouded judgment in our sort of situation better.”

“Go ahead, please.” She set her mug on the side table and fixed her gaze on him.

“My partner at the time and I were sequestered with this family for several weeks. The toddler was adorable but active and a challenge. The kid didn’t seem to take to me, hence my earlier comment about questioning my compatibility with children. The boy’s mother was jittery and scared, which may have contributed to her child’s wild behavior. The father was determined to do the right thing by testifying and putting this dangerous man behind bars, but I could tell he was scared, too.”

“Understandable.” Lara nodded at him.

“Right. But Grandpa seemed the cool, calm and reasonable hand at the helm of the family unit, and by the end of three weeks, I respected and trusted him completely.”

“But?”

“Yes, big but in there. What I didn’t know was that he was the most frightened of them all but hid it behind a jolly mask. I had started equating him with my grandfather, who was a true stalwart, steady as a rock.

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