Free One to Protect (One to Hold Book 3) by Tia Louise Page A

You and the baby are my first priority now.”
    Shaking my head, I push my hair behind my ears, working hard to regain my composure. “I can go to Mom’s office tomorrow and work. I’ll be okay. It’s like I keep saying, he cannot win. I won’t let him.”
    Elaine calls from the kitchen. “Feel like eating something?”
    Touching his rough cheek, I nod. “Let’s have dinner. You and Patrick keep your plans for tomorrow.”
    His lips press into a smile, and he takes my hand in his, kissing the backs of my fingers before walking with me to the table. Elaine smiles and steps around to squeeze my shoulders. “If you ever want to hang out with me at school, I can always use an extra set of hands.”
    “Thanks.” I pat her back. “I think I’ll spend the afternoon with Mom tomorrow, but I’ll keep your offer just in case.”
    “We’ll have the information we need by tomorrow, I expect.” Patrick joins us at the table. “Then it’ll just be a matter of timing. We can plan it all out from here, where we can keep an eye on you.”
    He winks at me, but when Derek speaks, his voice is serious. “I appreciate you watching her for me these past weeks.”
    Shaking out my napkin and putting it in my lap, I pretend to be offended. “All this time, I thought you kept inviting me over because you enjoyed my company.”
    Elaine passes the basket of bread. “You’ve been eating us out of house and home. Jeez! I’m glad Derek’s finally here.”
    “I have not!”
    She bursts out laughing. “I was only teasing! But I want some beachside dinners at your place now.”
    “You got it. I love having you guys over.”
    The rest of dinner conversation is devoted to easy subjects—the weather, Patrick’s newfound desire to own a Harley, Elaine’s loud protests over the dangers of motorcycles. It’s not very late when we call it a night, and as we say our goodbyes, I catch Patrick’s arm, pulling him aside. Derek and Elaine continue talking.
    “Thank you for watching over me.”
    He smiles and shrugs. “I promised Derek. Besides, it wasn’t any more than he’d have done for me.”
    My eyes narrow. “You say that, but I know better. I also won’t hear anything bad about you ever again. Everybody’d better look out.”
    “That might be hard. There’s plenty of bad about me that’s true.”
    “Not for me. It’s all good now.” He breathes a chuckle, but I’m not through. “Would you promise me something this time?”
    Golden-hazel eyes meet mine. “What?”
    “Promise you’ll look after him now. For me.” I touch his arm. “Don’t let him do anything…” What’s the right way to say it? “Anything that could mean he’ll be taken away from me?”
    His warm hand covers mine. “You mean anything illegal or potentially deadly?”
    “Exactly.”
    “I promise. I’ve got his back.” Patrick isn’t smiling, and I know I can trust him. He means what he says.
    Derek’s with us, and we drop the subject, acting casual, like we were just discussing how to get Elaine onboard the Harley train.
    My fiancé takes my hand, pausing before we go out the door. “I’ll meet you at ten. We should be there by noon to wrap this up and make a plan.”
    “See you in the morning.”
    The cottage is dark and quiet when we arrive. Derek stops in the kitchen to check his messages, but I go straight through the house, flipping on lights, refusing to be timid in my own place.
    I go to the bathroom and switch on the hot water. An oversized, jetted bathtub is one of the perks of living in an intended vacation residence, and tonight my whole body craves the comfort of a steaming, swirling bubble bath.
    Digging under the cabinet, I find the jar of foaming bath salts I bought at the spa in Scottsdale and add several scoops to the stream rushing from the faucet. Once the temperature is right and the bubbles have risen, I strip out of all my clothes, tie up my hair and slide down into the cactus-flower-scented jets.
    The water is