Page 21 of Securing His Heart

The mention of what happened was another douse to his ardor for her. “Not on my watch. Even though I like the idea of you giving everything up for me, I don’t believe that will make you happy.” Chris took a couple of steps away. If he remained as close as he was, he’d forget his intentions to keep his hands to himself and kiss her again. “I think there are a few things we need to do.”

Lindy tucked her shirt in and ran a hand down her hair, smoothing it out. “Yes, and I really need to check in with the office as well.”

“Let’s do that then.” He held out his hand, inwardly sighing in pleasure when she slid her palm against his, entwining her fingers with his.

As they walked out, he lifted his chin in Steve’s direction and received a wide grin in return, his gaze dropping to his and Lindy’s hands.

Yes, he may want the woman next to him. Yes, he’d momentarily forgotten about the danger lurking around her. However, Chris wasn’t going to get so distracted that he let his guard drop totally and the assholes who had tried to hurt Lindy wouldn’t get the opportunity again.

Once he got to her office, he planned to observe those around her. Watch for any indication of who may want her out of the picture. If they thought the task would be easy, they were in for a big surprise. Lindy now had a guardian.

Lindy flopped on the couch, her head hurt, her wrist began to ache and every muscle in her body felt as if it had been pummeled.

As the day had progressed, the tension inside of her had grown. Even with Chris walking beside her, scanning every place they went into, she still expected someone to come out of nowhere and attack her.

Her assistant, Ian, had assured her that he was able to reschedule all her meetings and would email any reports he received to her. For the last hour, the new phone she’d purchased, had been pinging with incoming emails but the thought of opening her laptop and looking at what she was receiving, sat like a lump in her belly.

The couch depressed beside her and strong arms encircled her, tugging her gently, so that she fell against a warm chest.

“I can hear your mind working. Relax for a bit, your work isn’t going away.”

“I know.”

“But?” Chris’s fingers were brushing up and down her bicep in a soothing manner. With each stroke the tension was leeching out of her.

A yawn wracked Lindy’s body and she snuggled into his hard chest. “I’m so tired,” she whispered, but that wasn’t what she’d planned to say when he’d first asked the question.

“Have a little nap. It’s been a chaotic few hours.”

“I want to, but I don’t have the luxury.”

“What if I promise to wake you in thirty minutes, will that work?”

Lindy lifted her arm to see her watch, the motion feeling like she was pulling her limb through mud. Exhaustion was taking over, and even if she tried to get up and go to her desk, she’d probably fall face first onto her laptop. “Yes.”

“I promise I’ll wake you.” Chris’s voice sounded like it was coming from the end of a long tunnel.

She should really fight this sleepiness but the comfort of letting herself fall into it, was too tempting to ignore.

Lindy fell and hoped for a soft landing.

Chapter

Nine

“Time to wake up, sleepy head.” Warm lips brushed her cheek and she smiled, reveling in the light touch.

“Hmm?”

Her body moved up and down in time with the chuckle caressing her ears. “You’re thirty minutes are up, Linds.”

Dammit, hadn’t she gone to sleep like three seconds ago?

“No.”

The chuckle turned into a full laugh. “Hmm is this how you normally wake up? You weren’t quite so cranky this morning.”

“Fine,” Lindy grumbled and blinked slowly as the outline of her coffee table took form.