Page 37 of Rescuing Baylee

“Baylee,” he said.

She paused, looking back at him.

He gave her a wink. “Keep that gun beside you.”

She snorted and nodded, continuing up the stairs.

Siggy settled into the bed like he owned it, and she took her toiletries into the bathroom to freshen up. She brushed her teeth and stared at herself in the mirror. Usually, she forgot about her scars until she looked in the mirror and tried to put makeup on, or one of the kids’ parents looked at her weird. Ninety-nine percent of them had the manners to move on, but every once in a while, there was a stinker.

She didn’t mind when the kids asked what happened. They were genuinely curious, and sometimes her history gave them a common ground to connect on. She would tell them she got injured in the war, and that was usually enough, and then they would compare scars. They accepted her for her sense of fun and her kindness, not her outward appearance.

Baylee went through her nightly ritual and turned for the uncomfortable bed. She slid into the sheets and groaned, her mind still racing with everything that had happened that day. She’d been in a freaking car chase! Looking back, though, she’d been confident in Landon’t ability to get them out of it. Hehadn’t hesitated, and he’d driven more competently than she ever could have.

In that respect, she was thankful that she was here with him, under his protection. Under Austin PD’s protection.

Turning on her side, she drew Siggy close. “You had more excitement today than you’ve had in a long time, too, huh, old man?”

He snuffled at her and let her pull him into the curve of her body. She could tell he needed the closeness, too, tonight.

Hopefully, something would change tomorrow.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Landon was bored out of his mind.

He was still kind of amped up from the night’s events, and he didn’t really have a release for the energy. Normally, on nights like this, he’d stop by the gym on the way home from work. Or if he was really desperate, he’d go for a jog. Not his preferred method to burn off energy, but it worked in a pinch.

Every time he thought about what Baylee had told him, his blood pressure crept up.

Nightshade had happened years ago. So, the fact that she was still dealing with the aftereffects what had been done to her, eleven years later, pissed him off on her behalf. Baylee seemed to have a kind heart, and she definitely had a hopeful personality. The thought of someone laying their hands on her…

Sitting back in the chair, he took a deep breath. There was nothing he could do about those men or what happened to her. What he could do was support her now, in any way he could.

Was he turned off that she’d been raped? Hell, no. He only worried about how it affected her now. Was she able to have sex without being traumatized? Did she evenwantto have sex? He’d caught a few looks from her that made him think she wasinterested in him. And the sensual tension was definitely there, on both sides, he thought. The kiss had knocked him on his ass.

Could he realistically deal with a woman that had been attacked that way? For several minutes, he thought about the question, and he eventually decided she was worth trying for.

It would just have to be up to her to make the moves. Which would be hard for him, because he was usually the aggressor in most relationships.

Aggressor. That word had just taken on a very different connotation.

He would have to take it slow and not let his libido get out of hand.

Landon slept a little, but it wasn’t a comfortable sleep. The chair wasn’t meant for sleeping, per se. So, he moved to the couch. It was even worse. This place was not built for comfort.

By six, he was up and moving around. The place did have a coffeemaker, which he desperately needed today.

When Baylee walked into the kitchen a few minutes later, she gave him a sidelong glance. “You all right?”

“Yeah,” he growled, pulling the cup from the coffee machine. Luckily, creamer had been on Morgan’s list, and he poured some in, liberally. He needed something to sweeten his mood today.

“I’m sorry. I think you should take the bed tonight. I didn’t sleep well either.”

Landon glanced at her. There were bags beneath her pretty eyes, and lines grooved around her mouth. “Why didn’t you sleep?”

She gave him a wry smile as she opened the fridge. “Well, I kind of have a list.”

Yeah, she probably did.